North Texas Skeptic - Vol 20 No 05 - 2006

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 20, Number 5, dated May 2006, is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on skepticism, science, and the debate surrounding evolution and creationism. The cover headline announces a "Monthly Meeting and Dinner a Success!"

Monthly Meeting and Dinner a Success!

This article by John Brandt details the North Texas Skeptics' May meeting, held on April 29th to accommodate guest speaker Dr. Wesley Elsberry. The meeting had a turnout of 10 people, including a creationist guest. Brandt describes the creationist's arguments, which centered on the perceived lack of "failed experiments" or deformed creatures in the fossil record, and the belief that fossilization must be common to account for the number of fossils if the Earth is young. Brandt refutes these points, explaining that fossilization requires specific conditions and that evolution is inconsistent with a young Earth.

The article also mentions a social dinner held that evening, where attendees discussed various skeptical and non-skeptical topics.

Events Calendar

The "Events Calendar" section outlines the "May Program," which was held on April 29th. It notes that there will not be another program in May, but the June program is scheduled for June 10th at The Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas. Future meeting dates through December 2006 are also listed.

Officers and Staff

Page 2 lists the officers and staff of The North Texas Skeptics, including John Brandt (President), Pat Reeder (Vice President), Mike Selby (Secretary), Mark Meyer (Treasurer), Keith Blanton (Newsletter Editor), John Blanton (Webmaster), and Mike Selby (Meetings and Social Director). The Board of Directors and Scientific and Technical Advisors are also listed.

Beware of the Blog

An article by John Blanton introduces the new blog feature on the NTS website, which was updated with a new hosting provider. Readers are encouraged to visit the NTS webpage, click on the Blog link, read posts, and participate in discussions. Contributions are open to selected Skeptics, and interested individuals are invited to contact bloggers via email.

Web News

This section, by John Blanton, presents several short news items and links:

Do planet cycles, history coordinate?

This item discusses historian Richard Tarnas, who argues that patterns in planetary cycles correlate with historical periods, suggesting a coherence between the macrocosm and human experience. Tarnas believes we are in a period of uncertainty and a potential crisis of faith, but also a time that may foster radical change, similar to the 1960s.

The real gap in evolution is between the evolutionists' ears

This piece, attributed to Don Walton of Time for Truth Ministries, critiques scientists' ability to explain the origin of the universe, using the example of a space capsule parachute malfunction. Walton then turns to evolution, arguing that scientists who cannot perform simple tasks correctly cannot explain complex phenomena. He suggests that the only gap in evolution is "between the ears of all who adhere to it."

Genesis of a museum

This section reports on the construction of the Creation Museum in Kentucky by Answers in Genesis (AiG), an organization led by Ken Ham. The museum is a $25 million facility intended to promote Young-Earth Creationism. The article notes that AiG believes the museum will attract visitors who will then pressure legislators to vote for their cause, highlighting a "suspicion of science and a suspicion of intellectuals in general."

Creationists, saying all the answers are in the Bible, put their beliefs on display in $25 million facility

This article by Lisa Anderson details Ken Ham's background and his role in Answers in Genesis. It mentions his speaking engagements and films, and his belief that the Bible's account of creation is literal and occurred about 6,000 years ago. The article contrasts Young-Earth Creationism (YEC) with "Old Earth" creationism (OEC) and Intelligent Design. It also notes that Gallup polls indicate a significant portion of Americans agree with creationist views.

Evolution should be taught as fact, says top scientist

This report highlights remarks by Richard Pike, chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, who stated that the theory of evolution is so well-established that it should be taught as scientific law, not just a theory. This statement is made in anticipation of a visit by John Mackay, who is expected to challenge evolutionary theory.

Study: Medical Manual's Authors Often Tied to Drugmakers

This brief item notes a study linking authors of medical manuals to drugmakers, with a link provided for further information.

Oklahoma Update

This section discusses legislative efforts in Oklahoma concerning the teaching of evolution. House Bill 2107, passed by the House, aims to protect teachers' rights to present scientific critiques of prevailing theories. However, the bill faces opposition, with concerns raised about its potential to adversely affect science education and lead to legal challenges. Other antievolution bills, including those promoting "intelligent design," are also mentioned. The article provides links to news sources and organizations involved in the debate.

Skeptic Ink

This is a comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, featuring a humorous exchange about a desire for a baby and accusations of being part of a "money-grubbing cult."

What's new

This section, by Robert Park, presents several short articles:

Miracle medicine: will going to church help you live longer?

A study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine suggests that people who attend weekly religious services live longer. Dr. Daniel Hall compared church contributions to the cost of membership in Bally's or Lipitor, concluding religion is cost-effective. However, Dr. Richard Sloan criticized the study as "silly," suggesting that failing health might lead to less church attendance.

Missing link: filling in all those “gaps” in Darwin's theory.

This article discusses the ongoing emphasis on "gaps" in Darwin's theory by those advocating for alternatives to evolution in schools. It highlights the discovery of Tiktaalik roseae fossils as bridging a gap between fish and land animals, suggesting that the fossil record has become more complete over time.

Missing genes: finding the key that opens Darwin's black box.

This piece discusses a report in Science about the evolution of a hormone-receptor pair, which intelligent design proponents might consider an example of "irreducible complexity." The article notes that the lead author, Joseph Thornton, believes such recruitment of existing molecules for new roles may be common in evolution.

Global warming: the heat is coming from the Bush White House.

This report mentions that NASA climate scientist James Hansen was pressured to "cool it" regarding global warming discussions. A new policy allows NASA scientists to speak their minds with notice, but other scientists complain of being "muzzled by the Bush administration."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the defense of evolutionary theory against creationist arguments, the promotion of scientific literacy and critical thinking, and the skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims. The North Texas Skeptics clearly advocates for the scientific consensus on evolution and the age of the Earth, actively engaging with and refuting creationist viewpoints. The magazine also serves as a platform for discussing current scientific news and societal issues through a skeptical lens, including legislative battles over science education and the intersection of science with religion and politics.