REALL News - Vol 01 No 09 - 1993

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 1, Number 9, dated October 1993, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This electronic version serves as a publication for the organization, which is a non-profit educational and scientific entity focused on promoting rational thinking and the scientific method in the study of paranormal and fringe science phenomena. REALL's primary geographic region is central Illinois.

In This Issue

This issue features articles from previous contributors. Bob Ladendorf, the Editor, introduces the content. David Bloomberg, the Chairman, provides an update on REALL's activities, including manning a booth at the Illinois Science Teachers Association (ISTA) annual convention to inform teachers about creationist activity and promote REALL. He also mentions a family emergency that prevented him from preparing a "REALLity Check" column for this issue but promises a more substantial one next month. Bloomberg also announces an upcoming meeting on October 18th where he will speak about the ISTA convention and the creation/evolution controversy.

Articles

Who is Susan Blackmore?

Authored by Robert E. McGrath, this article profiles Susan Blackmore, whom McGrath considers a significant skeptic and scientist in the paranormal field. He praises her creative engagement, rational inquiry, and personal integrity, highlighting her scientific approach to studying paranormal phenomena. McGrath discusses Blackmore's seminal work, 'Beyond the Body,' which examines out-of-body experiences (OBEs) using extensive archives and data. Blackmore defines OBEs experientially, asserting their reality while denying that anything physically leaves the body. Her research also extends to near-death experiences (NDEs), lucid dreams, and altered states of consciousness, aiming to integrate these phenomena into conventional psychology. The article notes Blackmore's struggles with conventional parapsychological phenomena like precognition and psychokinesis, where her initial belief and observed evidence dissolved under tighter scientific controls. This led her to investigate the psychology of belief and skepticism, exploring why people believe in the paranormal. She developed the concept of "cognitive illusions" analogous to perceptual illusions, suggesting they reveal how people judge chance and infer cause and effect. Blackmore encourages an open yet critical approach to the unexpected, likening it to being a "flying horse."

The Omega Projection

Martin Kottmeyer reviews Kenneth Ring's book, 'The Omega Project: Near-Death Experiences, UFO Encounters, and Mind at Large.' Kottmeyer hails the book as a landmark in the study of UFO experiences, providing an empirical base for understanding the mental landscapes of those involved in the UFO phenomenon. He focuses on Ring's findings regarding world destruction fantasies among UFO experiencers, noting that 85% report increased concern for planetary welfare. Kottmeyer connects this to Jenny Randles' research on UFOs and imminent earth catastrophe. He discusses how apocalypse themes pervade UFO abduction literature, citing Betty Andreasson's experiences. While Ring suggests a "Mind at Large" concept that senses planetary peril and releases prophetic messages, Kottmeyer is critical of this interpretation. He argues that many alien prophecies lack ecological components and that world destruction fantasies are more likely projections of internal psychological crises, possibly triggered by individual crises, organic brain dysfunction, or hallucinogens, rather than literal omens of global fate. Kottmeyer suggests that UFO myths are more indicative of paranoid delusions than accurate predictions of the world's end.

Organization Information

The newsletter provides details about REALL's structure, including its Board of Directors: David Bloomberg (Chairman), Prof. Ron Larkin (Assistant Chairman), Wally Hartshorn (Secretary-Treasurer), Bob Ladendorf (Newsletter Editor), and At-Large Members Prof. Steve Egger, Frank Mazo, and Kevin Brown. The Editorial Board consists of Bob Ladendorf (Newsletter Editor) and David Bloomberg (electronic version editor), with one vacancy.

REALL's contact address is P.O. Box 20302, Springfield, IL 62708. The organization grants permission for other skeptic organizations to reprint articles, provided proper credit is given, and requests copies of any reprinted articles.

Membership and Subscriptions

The newsletter includes information on REALL membership and subscriptions. Patron members are recognized for their contributions of $50 or more. REALL also offers a 20% discount on Prometheus Books through them. The issue lists upcoming topics for future issues, including "Predictions for Future Issues," "Current Research Updates on Top Ten Paranormal/Fringe Science Activities," "Paranormal Beliefs in Medieval Times," "The End of the World!," and "Using Computer Bulletin Boards for skeptical information."

Skeptics Online

An announcement encourages readers with computers and modems to join skeptic message areas on BBS networks. It specifically mentions "The Temples of Syrinx" in Springfield, operated by David Bloomberg, which hosts FidoNet SKEPTIC, EVOLUTION, and UFO conferences, as well as ParaNet conferences and skeptic text files.

Membership Form

A membership form is provided, detailing regular membership benefits, including The REALL News. Subscription-only options and trial subscriptions are also available. The form includes fields for Name, Address, City, State, ZIP, Phone, and Interests, and lists membership tiers and prices.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism, the scientific method, and critical inquiry into paranormal claims. REALL's stance is to approach such claims objectively and critically, without outright rejection, but with a commitment to evidence-based understanding. The articles by McGrath and Kottmeyer exemplify this by examining phenomena like OBEs and UFO experiences through psychological and skeptical lenses, questioning sensationalized interpretations and seeking rational explanations rooted in psychology and cognitive processes.