REALL News - Vol 13 No 05 - 2005

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 13, Number 5, dated June/July 2005, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This issue focuses on the intersection of science, religion, and education, with a strong emphasis on critiquing creationism and Intelligent Design (ID) as pseudoscience.

REALLity Check by Wally Hartshorn

Wally Hartshorn's column, 'REALLity Check,' opens with a startling statistic: 25% of Americans surveyed in 2001 believed the sun orbits the earth. He contrasts this with the acceptance of Copernicus and notes that this belief is more prevalent in Europe. The column then touches upon the media's interest in paranormal claims, mentioning Court TV's 'Psychic Detectives' series being picked up by NBC, with the hope that poor ratings will prevent additional episodes.

More significantly, Hartshorn reports on two instances where creationist ideology is being pushed into public spheres. First, the Tulsa Park and Recreation Board in Oklahoma ordered the Tulsa Zoo to create a Creationism exhibit, citing a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh and a globe inscription as justification for presenting a biblical account of creation. Hartshorn expresses disbelief at this 'logic.' Second, the Dutch Minister of Education, Maria van der Hoeven, proposed incorporating Intelligent Design into the educational curriculum as a way to integrate Muslims into Dutch society, which Hartshorn hopes will be a discussion of science rather than a retreat from it.

In This Issue

The 'In This Issue' section provides a table of contents, listing articles such as 'Some Thoughts on the Moore Amicus Brief,' 'Letter to the Editor,' 'Owen Twiddle,' 'Discovery Institute's Doctor Shopping,' and 'Foes of Evolution Set Sights on New Target: Gravity.'

Purpose of REALL

Page 2 outlines the purpose of REALL as a non-profit, tax-exempt educational and scientific organization dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method. REALL aims to conduct research, convene meetings, publish a newsletter, and disseminate information, primarily within central Illinois. It emphasizes the scientific method as the most reliable system for obtaining knowledge and does not reject paranormal claims a priori but insists on objective, critical inquiry. Annual membership rates are listed.

Board of Directors and Editorial Board

The Board of Directors and Editorial Board are listed, with Wally Hartshorn serving as Chairman and Newsletter Editor, and Clark Olson as Editor.

From the Chairman by Wally Hartshorn

Chairman Wally Hartshorn shares personal anecdotes, including an upcoming overnight trip with his 6-month-old son and a recent annual picnic that was briefly interrupted by rain. He also announces the July 5th meeting will feature episodes of Bill Nye's PBS program 'The Eyes of Nye,' which targets adults and discusses controversial topics like human cloning and nuclear power.

A Nod to Our Patrons

A section thanks REALL's patron members for their support, listing names and locations of individuals who have contributed generously.

Some thoughts on the Moore amicus brief by Timothy Sandefur

Timothy Sandefur, an attorney, critically analyzes an amicus brief filed in the Roy Moore case. He argues that the brief's claim that a sticker is not a 'law' is a manipulative legal argument, as the challenge is to the school board's resolution requiring the sticker on textbooks, which has the force of law. Sandefur contends that the Fourteenth Amendment, incorporating the disestablishment principle as an individual right, is the relevant legal framework, not just the First Amendment's text. He criticizes Moore's definition of religion and his 'politico-religious grandstanding,' including the argument that removing the sticker bans God from the discussion of creation. Sandefur concludes that Moore's arguments are 'silly, hypercritical' and that the brief misunderstands the legal issues.

Letter to the Editor by George Free

George Free responds to a letter questioning the importance of the evolution vs. creationism debate. Free argues that it is a significant cultural debate with social implications. He states that creationists have an ideological agenda to promote creationism in public schools as an alternative to evolution, or to remove evolution entirely. He emphasizes that creationism is not science and should not receive federal funding, posing a question about whether society is entering a 'new anti-intellectual dark age' due to a lack of critical thinking and attempts to censor scientific research.

Owen Twiddle Cartoon

A cartoon by Owen Twiddle depicts a conversation between a 'Galactic Guru' and another character. The Guru presents a 'fossilized crystal alien skull,' which the other character identifies as not a fossil because fossils are formed in sedimentary rocks, not quartz.

Discovery Institute's Doctor Shopping by Burt Humburg

Burt Humburg critiques the Discovery Institute's use of a survey that polled doctors on their views of evolution and Intelligent Design. Humburg, a doctor himself, notes that the survey results were predictable, with a majority of doctors accepting evolution. He points out that the Discovery Institute is 'shopping around' the idea that this survey provides evidence of scientists endorsing ID creationism. Humburg highlights that support for ID creationism is driven by socio-religious reasons, not science, and that most doctors are not scientists. He also notes that in medical school, evolutionary perspectives were foundational to understanding and research, unlike ID concepts.

Foes of Evolution Set Sights on New Target: Gravity by Cole Walters

This satirical article by Cole Walters, originally from the Swift Report, imagines a scenario where parents in Dover, Pennsylvania, are demanding that physics students learn 'alternative explanations of gravity' alongside Newton's theory. The article mocks the idea of treating gravity as just a 'theory' and the demand for 'balanced presentations' in science education. It also satirizes the potential for 'relativism' to become the next target, with a quote from Lorraine Dittie expressing concern about 'tax dollars going to pay for it.' The article contrasts the push for alternative explanations with the scientific consensus and the replacement of Newtonian physics with Einstein's theory of relativity.

Our Next Meeting: Eyes of Nye

The final page announces REALL's next meeting on Tuesday, July 5, 7:00 PM, at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois. The meeting will feature episodes of Bill Nye's PBS program 'The Eyes of Nye,' which discusses topics like human cloning, nuclear power, pseudoscience, and addiction, followed by a discussion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the defense of scientific rationality against pseudoscience, creationism, and Intelligent Design. The REALL News consistently advocates for the scientific method, critical thinking, and evidence-based education. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical of claims not supported by rigorous scientific inquiry and critical of attempts to inject religious ideology into science curricula. The publication positions itself as a bulwark against what it perceives as an anti-intellectual movement seeking to undermine established scientific understanding.