North Texas Skeptic - Vol 23 No 06 - 2009

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 23, Number 6, dated June 2009, is published by The North Texas Skeptics and features a cover headline of "Unintelligent design." The magazine explores skeptical viewpoints on various topics, with a strong focus in this issue on critiquing creationist arguments and promoting scientific reasoning.

"Unintelligent design" by John Blanton

This lead article by John Blanton directly addresses the concept of Intelligent Design (ID), a creationist argument that posits the universe and life were designed by a superior intelligence rather than evolving through natural processes. Blanton references prominent ID proponents like William Dembski and Michael Behe, who argue that complexity in nature cannot arise by chance and requires a designer. He also mentions Robert Koons, who reportedly supported ID by suggesting design should be considered first. Blanton questions the depth of thinking among creationists, suggesting they view the world through the lens of their own perceived intelligence and purpose, and that the universe was designed for them. He defines intelligence as the ability to solve difficult problems and notes that while software can solve complex math problems, it is the programmer's intelligence that is represented, implying a need for an ultimate source of intelligence. He contrasts this with natural phenomena like ant colonies, wasp nests, and beaver dams, questioning if these are manifestations of genius or simply products of natural selection and survival. Blanton concludes that intelligence, purpose, and design are only evident as a consequence of natural selection, where traits are acquired and retained through survival. He argues that creationists, in their attempt to impute a higher purpose, expose a flaw in their reasoning by not realizing the philosophical poverty of their argument. An anecdote about a patented invention illustrates how a seemingly arbitrary feature (a tapered clamp end) was preserved due to the design process and survival, paralleling how traits might persist in nature.

Events Calendar

The magazine includes an events calendar listing upcoming programs for The North Texas Skeptics. These include a talk on "Preferred Truth" by Aron Nelson on June 20, 2009, and an NTS Board meeting and social dinner on June 27, 2009, at Sweet Tomatoes in Dallas.

Officers and Board of Directors

The issue lists the officers of The North Texas Skeptics, including John Blanton as President, John Brandt as Vice President, Mike Selby as Secretary, and Barbara Neuser as Treasurer. It also lists the Board of Directors and Directors Emeritus, as well as Scientific and Technical Advisors, including academics and professionals from various fields.

"Got any ID?" by John Blanton

This article revisits the topic of IDEA (Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness) clubs, which are promoted by the Discovery Institute. Blanton initially surmised that these clubs might be past their time, but recent inquiries suggest otherwise. He notes that the IDEA Center has hired a new director and is actively helping students start clubs on campuses. Despite claims of IDEA's death, the number of inquiries has increased. Blanton then examines the IDEA Club Web site's list of university and high school chapters, finding many links to be empty, broken, or inactive. He provides a table detailing the status of various IDEA links, with many marked as 'Inactive,' 'Broken,' or 'Forbidden.' He concludes that the survival of these clubs, despite apparent inactivity, might be a parallel to how traits survive in nature, but suggests creationists should look at natural selection first before seeking an "Intelligent Designer."

Fees going up

This section announces an increase in membership and subscription fees for The North Texas Skeptics, effective July 1, 2009. The increase is attributed to the rising costs of printing and mailing newsletters. The new fee structure is detailed, with options for e-mail delivery and postal delivery, and a distinction between members and non-members. The article notes that membership fees have remained the same for twenty years, but the cost of providing a printed newsletter has increased, leading to the adjustment.

NTS in trouble

This short piece reflects on the creationist video "Expelled" and the broader trend of creationists promoting their views. Blanton notes that skeptics have historically pointed out the obvious flaws in creationist arguments, such as evolution being true and creationism false. He observes that more people are now stating these obvious truths, questioning what is left for skeptics to do. He mentions the National Center for Science Education and encourages readers to support rational thinking.

Sanity strikes

This section, likely written by Blanton, discusses a political development where the Texas Senate ousted Don McLeroy as chairman of the State Board of Education. McLeroy, a creationist who believed the Earth was 6,000 years old, was seen by supporters as being punished for his religious beliefs. The article questions this rationale, especially in the context of educating children about science. It also touches upon the issue of creationists inserting ambiguities into science standards to lobby textbook publishers, citing McLeroy's belief that the sudden appearance of fossils supports creationism.

What's new by Robert Park

This brief column by Robert Park discusses the Texas Board of Education meeting where creationism was a dominant issue. Park reports that "experts lost" in the debate, and creationists used tactics to insert ambiguities into science standards. He mentions Don McLeroy's view that the sudden appearance of fossils supports creationism, and Park counters that Texas's oil reserves (a fossil resource) have disappeared faster than they formed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critique of Intelligent Design and creationism, the promotion of scientific reasoning and skepticism, and the challenges faced by organizations like The North Texas Skeptics in maintaining their operations. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science, anti-creationism, and in favor of critical thinking and evidence-based inquiry. The magazine actively debunks pseudoscientific claims and advocates for a rational approach to understanding the world.