REALL News - Vol 10 No 01 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue: Volume 10, Number 1
Date: January 2002
Publisher: Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)
Description: The REALL News is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting rational thinking and the scientific method. This issue focuses on the conflict between creationism and evolution, the scrutiny of psychic claims, and the demarcation between science and pseudoscience.

Creationist Speaks at Lincoln Library by Clark Olson

This article summarizes a talk given by John Henry, a math teacher and self-proclaimed creationist, at the Lincoln Library on December 10. Henry presented five criteria for identifying pseudoscience and argued that evolution fails to meet these criteria, concluding that evolution is a religion requiring faith. He suggested that creationism should receive equal time in education or that both topics be excluded until college. The author, Clark Olson, notes that Henry's talk was enthusiastic and slick, potentially misleading the audience. Olson critiques Henry's approach, stating that it was not a point-by-point discussion of evidence but rather a scornful dismissal of evolutionary science, while using approving language for creationist "scientists." The article also mentions that Henry had previously disrupted a talk by Malcolm Levin and had offered to speak at a REALL meeting, but REALL declined to give him a platform for his anti-scientific claims.

From the Chairman by David Bloomberg

In his column, Chairman David Bloomberg reflects on REALL's 10th year, noting the cyclical nature of public interest in paranormal phenomena and the persistent arguments of creationism, now often framed as "intelligent design." He highlights that both topics are covered in the current issue. Bloomberg recounts how John Henry, after disrupting a previous REALL meeting, offered to present his arguments against evolution in the newsletter. REALL offered him space for an unedited article followed by a review, but Henry declined. Bloomberg questions Henry's refusal, suggesting it indicates a reluctance to have his claims analyzed. He also mentions that Henry had previously been critical of psychic beliefs despite his own adherence to creationism.

The REALL News January Meeting

The newsletter announces a change in the January meeting's date and topic. Due to the library being closed on New Year's Day, the meeting is rescheduled to Tuesday, January 8. The original topic of the human genome project was postponed. The new topic, sparked by John Henry's talk and Clark Olson's interest, will focus on how REALL should respond to the growing creationist movement in Springfield, which has recently formed a club and drawn a large audience. The meeting will be held at the 1st Presbyterian Church, not the library, and will be a discussion session seeking member input. The organizers hope to attract outside individuals to contribute to the discussion.

Psychic Parasite Update by David Bloomberg

This section continues David Bloomberg's discussion of individuals he terms "psychic parasites" who exploit public grief, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. He revisits the "Psychic Twins," the Jamison sisters, who claimed to have predicted the WTC attack. Bloomberg analyzes their predictions, noting they were inaccurate in location and date, and that their claims were exaggerated. He also critiques their prediction of Y2K being a non-event as obvious by late 1999, and their claim about school shootings, which was also misdated. He also discusses James Van Praagh, who released a new book and appeared on "Entertainment Tonight." Van Praagh claimed a premonition of a war on US soil, but only revealed it after September 11th. Bloomberg questions Van Praagh's account of a reading for Bonnie Bakely, finding it vague. He concludes that these psychics offer no actual evidence and prey on emotions.

FBI Using Psychics, Or Psychics Using FBI?

This segment discusses Prudence Calabrese's claim that her "remote viewing" firm was hired by the FBI to predict terrorist attacks. The article questions the effectiveness and secrecy of such operations, noting that Calabrese publicly shared her firm's predictions. The author suggests that it is unclear whether the FBI is using Calabrese or if she is using the FBI and the tragedy of September 11th for self-promotion.

Conclusions (Psychic Parasite Update)

Bloomberg summarizes that many self-proclaimed psychics have tried to claim credit for foreseeing the September 11th attacks, yet none provided actionable information to prevent them. He reiterates his definition of "psychic parasite" as someone who lives at the expense of others without making a useful contribution, stating that these psychics prey on emotions like fear and grief, selling false visions to a public eager to believe. He concludes that they have acted as expected, providing no actual evidence of predictive ability and demonstrating they are merely psychic parasites.

Looking at the Border Between Science and Nonscience by David Bloomberg

This article reviews Michael Shermer's book, "The Borderlands of Science: Where Sense Meets Nonsense." Shermer, founder of the Skeptics Society, is known for his critical examination of fringe topics. The book explores areas close to the boundary of real science, including issues like human cloning and the nature vs. nurture debate. Shermer emphasizes that science is the "best knowledge filter" due to its self-correcting nature. The article highlights Shermer's discussion of how science identified the Piltdown man hoax, not as a failure of science, but as an example of its self-correcting ability. It also stresses the concept of "convergence of evidence" supporting scientific theories, comparing it to a building supported by many bricks rather than a single one. The review notes that even serious scientific theories like superstring theory or the inflationary theory remain on the borderlands until proven. The article concludes that Shermer's book effectively examines this realm between science and nonscience.

("Creationist Speaks" continued from page 1)

This continuation of the article on John Henry's talk addresses points 2 through 5 of the "pseudoscience" criteria. Point 2, "Think difficult," is discussed in relation to how quack science is claimed to be hard to verify. Point 3, "Rule of Paranoia," is linked to the idea of scientists seeing themselves as victims of persecution. Point 4, "Allow no criticism," is related to releasing findings to the press before scientific review, and the author contrasts this with Henry's refusal to write an article for REALL. Point 5, "Lonely hero of the lab," is discussed in relation to how scientific advances are normally communal, unlike the isolated discoveries of quack science. The author notes that these descriptions better fit creationism than evolution. The article recounts the author's brief interaction with Henry, where Henry admitted to believing in a six-day creation by faith and expressed skepticism about dating techniques. Henry also presented a statement signed by about 100 scientists questioning evolution and a private poll of professionals supporting creationism, concluding that creationism is on the rise. The author expresses concern about Henry's effectiveness in reaching people and suggests the need for a structured approach to engage with such arguments.

Our Next Meeting

This section announces REALL's next meeting on Tuesday, January 8, at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Springfield. The meeting's topic is "Responding to Springfield's Creationists," prompted by the formation of a creationism club and a recent talk that drew 100 people. The meeting is described as a discussion to prepare REALL to respond to the creationists.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the conflict between scientific consensus (evolution) and creationism, the critical examination of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, and the importance of the scientific method. The editorial stance of The REALL News is clearly skeptical and pro-science, actively debunking claims of psychics and creationists while advocating for rigorous, evidence-based inquiry. The newsletter aims to educate its members and the public about the demarcation between science and pseudoscience and to encourage critical thinking.