North Texas Skeptic - Vol 22 No 10 - 2008

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 22, Number 10, dated October 2008, is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on skeptical perspectives on various topics, with a strong emphasis on debunking creationism and promoting scientific understanding.

A Visit to the Creation Evidence Museum

Gabriel Mettlach, a Neuroscience graduate student from UTD, recounts a joint field trip with UT Arlington Freethinkers and UTD Atheists Skeptics and Humanists to the Creation Evidence Museum in Glen Rose, Texas. The museum, founded in 1984 by 'Dr.' Carl Baugh, claims that dinosaur tracks found nearby are less than 10,000 years old and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs. Mettlach describes Baugh's lecture on 'Design and Recent Creation,' which he found to be based on a fundamental misunderstanding of scientific theories, including the second law of thermodynamics and biological evolution. The group found the experience of visiting the actual Dinosaur Valley State Park, with its fossilized tracks, to be a refreshing contrast to the 'oppressing ignorance' encountered at the museum.

Events Calendar

The October Program features Rodrigo Neely speaking on September 18, 2008, at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas. Additionally, an NTS Social Dinner & Board Meeting is scheduled for October 25, 2008, at Sushi Ichiban in Dallas.

Web News

A royal reaming

John Blanton reports on the resignation of Michael Reiss, the Director of Education for the Royal Society of London, on September 16, 2008. Reiss stepped down following controversy over his remarks suggesting that science teachers should allow students to raise doubts about evolution and discuss creationism. The Royal Society stated that his comments were open to misinterpretation and had damaged its reputation. Richard Dawkins commented on the situation, suggesting Reiss might consider resigning his clerical orders rather than his position.

Rabbis back evolution

This section highlights support for evolution from Jewish leaders. Rabbi Gary Gerson of the Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion believes evolution strengthens religious belief, viewing creation as an expression of a highest order. An open letter drafted by Rabbi David Oler of Congregation Beth Or in Deerfield, supporting the teaching of evolution in public schools, has garnered 235 signatures from Jewish leaders across the United States.

Christian clergy wrote similar missive in 2004

Robert Mitchum reports on a 2004 missive from Christian clergy supporting evolution.

Teachers for creationism

Graeme Paton of The Telegraph reports that some teachers believe God had a role in creation and that pupils should be encouraged to debate it alongside evolution. This follows Professor Michael Reiss's controversial comments. Research from Southampton University suggests many teachers agree that religious beliefs should play a part in discussions about the origin of life. The article notes that these teachers associate creationism with religion, not science.

The Catholics, too

The Vatican has weighed in against creationism. A Vatican-sponsored congress on the evolution debate, organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture, will exclude proponents of creationism and intelligent design. Jesuit Father Marc Leclerc stated that the conference would be strictly scientific and would not include arguments that cannot be critically defined as science, philosophy, or theology.

John Derbyshire on Jindal

John Derbyshire, a conservative columnist, discusses Bobby Jindal's role in the Louisiana Science Education Act. Derbyshire suggests the Act will encourage unconstitutional behavior by local school boards, leading to expensive lawsuits that the Discovery Institute, which promoted the Act, will not fund, leaving the responsibility to local communities.

Teachers on the front lines

Amy Harmon of The New York Times reports on David Campbell, a Biology I teacher in Orange Park, Florida, who teaches evolution in a community where many students are raised with creationist beliefs. Campbell emphasizes that science explores nature by testing and gathering data, and it does not address ethics or religion. He uses examples to avoid directly challenging students' religious convictions, stating that science and religion ask different questions. He successfully navigated a student's assertion about Noah's ark wood, explaining that faith is not based on science and vice versa.

My Exorcism

Kristine Danowski, Vice-President of The North Texas Skeptics, recounts a humorous experience during her first year of college. Her house experienced loud clanging noises from the steam heating system, which maintenance could not fix. A fellow student, Alice, suggested the room was haunted and proposed an exorcism. Danowski and her roommate Lora, both atheists, agreed to the exorcism for amusement. The ritual, performed by Alice and another student Sandy, involved prayers, Bible readings, and sprinkling holy water. Surprisingly, the noises stopped that night, leading Alice to believe the exorcism was successful. However, the noises returned the next night, and were eventually fixed by the maintenance person adjusting the steam pressure, proving demons were not responsible. Danowski notes that Alice refused to believe the evidence, highlighting how some people maintain their beliefs despite contrary evidence.

Skeptic Ink

What's new

This section, by Robert Park, presents several short news items:

• EMF: are power lines causing cancer again? Reports of childhood cancers attributed to power-line fields are resurfacing, but the article dismisses this, stating that non-ionizing radiation cannot break chemical bonds like known carcinogens.
• Heavy metal: many ayurvedic medicines are toxic. A study found high levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicines, which are not regulated by the FDA unless proven harmful.
• Perpetuum mobile: the Newman “energy machine” again. The article mentions a local man creating a perpetual motion machine, noting that such devices do not work and that the author himself invented a similar non-working machine at age 10.
• Faith healer? the end of the “outpouring.” Todd Bentley, a revival preacher from Florida, is ending his 'Outpouring' revival and separating from his wife. The article questions the legality of faith healers and their practices.
• Cell phones and cancer: Dr. Larry King clears it up. The article discusses concerns about cell phone radiation and cancer, referencing a warning from the University of Pittsburg Cancer Center. It questions the scientific basis for such warnings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes scientific literacy and critical thinking. The magazine actively debunks pseudoscience, particularly creationism and intelligent design, advocating for the teaching of evolution in schools. It highlights the importance of evidence-based reasoning and challenges claims that lack scientific support. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, encouraging readers to question extraordinary claims and rely on the scientific method. The magazine also covers topics related to the paranormal, faith healing, and other areas where skepticism is applied.