North Texas Skeptic - Vol 20 No 11 - 2006

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 20, Number 11, dated November 2006, is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on themes of skepticism, evolution, and the challenges of scientific education.

Stump the Skeptic

The lead article, "Stump the Skeptic" by John Blanton, details his engagement with individuals who challenge skeptical viewpoints. Blanton recounts interactions with a participant named Mark, who questions the possibility of comprehending nothingness and argues that belief in God is inescapable. Mark's argument suggests that since man's intelligence is supernatural and not attributable to evolution, evolution cannot be a natural law. Blanton responds by asking for further explanation, indicating Mark's argument is not making sense.

Another participant, Bruce, is quoted questioning the consistency of moral statements if evolution is true and there is no objective right or wrong. Bruce also points out that many great scientists were believers, suggesting that evolutionists are believers in a "false, discredited, unscientific 'theory' of evolution." Blanton notes that Bruce referred to a bin Laden cartoon on their website and that he agreed evolution is random in the sense that he is not in charge of it. He also conceded that many scientists were believers, and that the theory of evolution was developed by creationists. An interchange with Bruce about absolute authority follows, where Blanton explains that the need for an absolute authority does not imply its existence or that evolution is false.

Yvonne, identified as Bruce's wife, offers four observations. She states that absolute authority came from God over 6,000 years ago and that Nazi beliefs were a result of belief in Darwinism. She also argues that the Scopes trial was a single incident and not representative of a rule, and that believing in Darwinism requires faith, citing phrases like "We may suppose" in textbooks. She concludes that believing in God or Darwinists is a matter of faith, and that faith and reason go together.

Blanton responds to Yvonne, noting that creationists often run out of facts and excuses. He then addresses the argument about the age of the Earth, suggesting that if evolution is true, then Hitler's ideas about a master race could be justified. He also questions the idea of partially functioning eyes evolving, stating that it would require thousands of mutations that would likely be neutral or detrimental.

Later, Blanton recommends the book "Reasonable Faith" by Jay Wile, a Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry. Blanton then inquires about Wile's peer-reviewed papers and his claims that radiometric dating is unreliable, noting that Wile has not published scientific papers to support these claims. Bruce provides Wile's contact information.

Joe Taylor of the Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum is mentioned, who questioned the group's stance on global warming and evolution. Taylor suggests that people convinced of evolution don't consider its implications, linking it to a rejection of biblical morality and laws, including those concerning sex, theft, and lying. He argues that if evolution is true, then Hitler's actions could be seen as a logical extension of the idea of survival of the fittest.

Blanton then discusses the discovery of collagen filaments in a T-rex bone, which creationists argue is evidence against the 65-million-year age of the fossil. Blanton notes that while he agrees intact tissue is unlikely to be found after such a long period, strong feelings are not scientific evidence. He refers to research by Mary Schweitzer on hemoglobin breakdown products found in T-rex fossils, clarifying that this is not the same as finding blood or intact collagen. He asks for research on intact tissue being found, acknowledging that chemical activity tends to mineralize organic tissue.

Events Calendar

The "Events Calendar" section lists upcoming programs for November 2006. On November 11, John Blanton will present a review of L. Sprague de Camp's book "The Great Monkey Trial." On November 18, an NTS Social Dinner and Board Meeting will be held, featuring Dr. Wesley Elsberry. A hotline number (214-335-9248) is provided for more information.

Web News

John Blanton contributes a "Web News" section. One item reports that Poland's schools will continue to teach evolution despite a deputy minister calling Darwinism a "lie." The article notes that the deputy minister's statement was likely a mistranslation and that in Polish, it might mean he doesn't understand the scientific concepts.

Another section discusses the "There She Goes Again: New York Times Reporter Blind to Evolution's Pitfalls" article, which criticizes reporter Cornelia Dean for allegedly misinforming the public about the evolution debate. The article claims Dean mistakenly refers to intelligent design as the "ideological cousin of creationism" and asserts that evolution is the foundation of modern biology with no credible scientific challenge.

Skeptic Ink

"Skeptic Ink," by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, addresses the issue of intelligent design (ID) being called "creationism" by the media. It critiques the Discovery Institute's "Bibliography of Supplementary Resources" submitted to the Ohio Board of Education, which listed 44 scientific publications as challenges to evolution. The authors reviewed these resources and concluded that they did not pose problems for evolution but rather highlighted ongoing research.

Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Morphology in the Social Amoebas

This section summarizes a scientific paper published in Science (October 27, 2006) regarding the molecular phylogeny of Dictyostelia. The research found that dictyostelid taxonomy requires revision and that increased size and cell type specialization are dominant evolutionary trends.

Scientists push pro-evolution candidates for state board

This article, by Marilyn H. Karfeld, Senior Staff Reporter, details the political efforts in Ohio to elect pro-evolution candidates to the State Board of Education (BOE). The BOE had previously voted to delete a lesson plan that required students to critically analyze evolution, which was seen as a Trojan horse for intelligent design. The article highlights the debate over teaching intelligent design, which is described as a supernatural explanation for life's complexity. Scientists are working to elect candidates like Deborah Owens Fink, who is a proponent of intelligent design, and Tom Sawyer, who supports teaching evolution. The article notes the financial disparities in the campaigns and quotes Sawyer's optimism.

Evolution key to Ohio Board of Education race?

This piece, from the NCSE Evolution Education Update newsletter, focuses on the Ohio state board of education race, specifically the District 7 seat. It mentions an endorsement of Tom Sawyer by seventy-five professors from Case Western Reserve University, criticizing his opponent, Deborah Owens-Fink, for promoting intelligent design. The article contrasts Sawyer's support for evolution with Owens-Fink's stance. It also references the New York Times and Akron Beacon-Journal for further details and provides links to relevant organizations like Help Ohio Public Education and the National Center for Science Education.

Welcome back, Jack

This short section welcomes back Jack Hittson, a long-time NTS board member, after he detected cancer and opted for conventional medical treatment over alternative therapies. He is encouraged to attend meetings.

Application for Membership

The final pages contain an application for membership to The North Texas Skeptics, outlining membership benefits, subscription rates, and contact information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the defense of evolutionary theory against creationist and intelligent design arguments, the importance of scientific literacy and education, and the role of skepticism in evaluating pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science, pro-evolution, and critical of intelligent design and creationism, advocating for the separation of church and state in public education and promoting rational inquiry.