REALL News - Vol 14 No 06 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue Date: October 2006
Volume: 14
Issue: 6

This issue of The REALL News, the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL), focuses on a critical review of Mark Featherstone's book "Knowledge and the Production of Nonknowledge: An Exploration of Alien Mythology in Post-War America." The publication also includes a "Creationism Monitor" section, "Gleanings," and information about upcoming events and REALL's mission.

Knowledge and the Production of Nonknowledge: A Critical Review

The lead article, "Knowledge and the Production of Nonknowledge," is a review by Martin S. Kottmeyer of Mark Featherstone's 2002 book. Kottmeyer expresses skepticism about the book's postmodern approach, which relies on theorists like Foucault, Derrida, and Baudrillard. He fears the book may appeal to those seeking an appearance of intellectual depth without genuine understanding of ufology.

Kottmeyer highlights a passage discussing the "mimetic circuit" and the "satanic fall" of alien myth when it overtakes science, finding it opaque and difficult to interpret. He questions how Featherstone describes the trajectory of submyths, using the example of "mime goes bad" without providing concrete instances.

The review also delves into Featherstone's dense explanation of how decoded alien myths explain dominant class anxiety, linking political and popular myths to a "transcendental technological level." Kottmeyer struggles with terms like "undefined anxiety" and "pseudotransgressive," finding the argument convoluted and lacking clear examples or astute observations.

Kottmeyer criticizes Featherstone for not adequately exploring the connection between UFO mythology and Cold War fears, nuclear themes, or science fiction literature of the 1950s. He notes the book mentions only a few cases like Roswell, Adamski, Strieber, and the Hill abduction, and questions the inclusion of the Hill case, citing Featherstone's interpretation of it as representing the "messianic side of the repressive mechanism" and the "centre's racial anxiety."

Further critique is leveled at Featherstone's discussion of the "eroticisation of the atom," finding it incomplete and questioning how it "departed at regular intervals." Kottmeyer suggests Featherstone relies too heavily on the work of Peebles and David Jacobs, potentially sanitizing the history of UFO mythology and skewing the narrative to favor UFO advocates.

Kottmeyer concludes that Featherstone's book, despite a favorable review in "Science Fiction Studies," is unhelpful for the typical skeptic. He suggests it might be more suited for a niche academic audience or as "word art," rather than a source of clear insight.

Creationism Monitor

This section, written by Wally Hartshorn, addresses the ongoing debate surrounding evolution and Creationism. It notes that despite recent court decisions, proponents of Creationism continue to challenge evolution.

Pandas is a Banned Book?
Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute nominated "Of Pandas and People" for Banned Books Week, claiming it was banned due to the Kitzmiller v. Dover decision. However, Nick Matzke of "The Panda's Thumb" points out that the book was not actually banned by that ruling, as the remedy sought by plaintiffs was to ensure it wasn't used as a science textbook, not to remove it from the library.

Coffee = Evil?
PZ Myers, a blogger, humorously suggests coffee is evil, referencing Starbucks' practice of printing quotes on its cups. One quote, from Wesley Smith (a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute), discusses the moral value of human life and the potential for achieving universal human rights.

Gleanings

Written by Clark Olson, this section covers various news items:

• Anti-Evolution Sermon: A conservative religious program, "The Coral Ridge Hour," aired an anti-evolution sermon and an anti-ACLU documentary, though the advertised "Darwin's Deadly Legacy" documentary was not shown.
• Mammoth Tusk Find: An article on a mammoth tusk find at Lincoln College sparked debate with creationists, who argued for "balance of nature" rather than evolutionary evidence.
• David Lykken Obituary: An obituary for psychologist David Lykken mentioned his intrigue with telepathy between twins.
• The Pope and Evolution: A conference convened by the Pope discussed evolution. While not fully supportive of evolution as a "universal philosophy," the Pope's views were seen as potentially more nuanced than his predecessor's.
• Book Review: "The Evolution Dialogues": This book, edited by James B. Miller, is a product of a discussion group of pastors, teachers, and scientists on how to discuss evolution in church and school. It features a fictional narrative of a freshman coming to terms with biology.

"Lucy's Baby"

This brief item reports on the discovery of a 3.3 million-year-old fossilized skeleton of an Australopithecus afarensis child in Ethiopia, found near the site where the famous "Lucy" skeleton was discovered. The find was described in the journal "Nature."

Richard Dawkins Foundation

This section announces the creation of "The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science." Richard Dawkins explains the foundation's mission, noting the prevalence of pseudoscience (astrology, angels, psychics) over science in bookstores. He cites a Gallup poll indicating that nearly 50% of Americans believe the universe is less than 10,000 years old. The foundation's goals include sponsoring research into unreason, supporting scientific education, and facilitating charitable giving for humanitarian causes.

Our Next Meeting

The REALL News announces an upcoming meeting featuring a video screening of "The Privileged Planet." This documentary, popular with the Intelligent Design crowd, presents the view that the planet's features are evidence of purposeful design rather than random chance. The meeting will be held in Springfield, Illinois, on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:00 PM.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of claims related to ufology, the intersection of science and religion (particularly evolution vs. creationism), and the promotion of rational thinking and the scientific method. The editorial stance, as reflected in the review of Featherstone's book and the "Creationism Monitor," is skeptical of unsubstantiated claims and academic jargon that lacks empirical grounding, while advocating for objective, critical inquiry. The publication clearly aligns with a scientific and rationalist perspective, contrasting it with pseudoscience and religiously motivated challenges to established scientific understanding.