British and Irish Skeptic - 1987 - Vol 1 No 1

Magazine Overview

This is the inaugural issue of "THE British & Irish SKEPTIC," a newsletter dedicated to the scientific examination of paranormal claims. Published in January/February 1987, Volume I, Number 1, it covers a broad geographical area including England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The issue begins with a call for readers to suggest a more distinctive name for the newsletter, offering a two-year subscription as a prize. It also includes a plea for articles, clippings, and other information to keep the newsletter going.

In This Issue

The table of contents highlights several key articles:

• James Randi: "A Few Comments... Hits and Misses"
• Lewis Jones: "Starting Anti-Science"
• David Berman: "Ireland's Knock Legend"
• Peter O'Hara: "Tolerating Continued Uncertainty"
• Leslie Shepard: "Moving Statues"
• Book Review: "Secret Cult"

James Randi: A Few Comments... Hits and Misses

James Randi, a prominent skeptic and magician, shares his observations on the concept of local, autonomous skeptical groups. He expresses strong personal favor for these groups, noting their significant contributions to investigations of paranormal claims. Randi specifically commends the Bay Area Skeptics and the Southern California Skeptics for their involvement in successful investigations, highlighting their willingness to perform extensive record-keeping and data preparation. He emphasizes that these local groups serve as valuable information-gathering units and watchdogs for CSICOP (Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal). Randi acknowledges that while the work is often difficult, involving insults and rough times, the satisfaction of exposing falsehoods outweighs the disadvantages. He concludes by inviting readers to join the skeptical movement.

In a separate section, Randi's appearance on the Johnny Carson show is discussed. Randi teamed up with Carson to bring a skeptical viewpoint to a wider audience. On one show, Randi presented a taped 'healing' by Peter Popoff, revealing Popoff's methods of receiving information via a hidden transmitter. This led to a drop in Popoff's believers, despite his denials. Randi also notes the difficulty in prosecuting Popoff due to his association with 'religion'. Other segments mentioned include demonstrations of psychic surgery, key-bending, and Randi's receipt of the Macarthur 'Genius' Award.

Science in the UK

A study funded by the Nuffield Foundation found that 65% of surveyed British adults were interested in science news. However, 75% believed astrology was scientific, with smaller percentages believing ecology, cookery, theology, and sociology were scientific. These findings were presented by Arthur Lucas of Kings College.

Launching the Irish Skeptics

This section announces the formation of a regional skeptics group in Ireland. Frank T. Chambers, Peter O'Hara, and Wendy M. Grossman are indicated as potential Convenors. David Berman is also involved. The group seeks volunteers willing to serve on an interim committee, warning of no pay, long hours, and potential hostility. They are particularly looking for individuals with expertise in magic, psychology, science, education, law, journalism, public relations, fundraising, and media handling.

Uri Geller on Wogan

This article discusses Uri Geller's appearance on the BBC's Terry Wogan show to promote his new book, "The Geller Effect." Wogan is described as aiding Geller's presentation, which included bending keys and restarting watches. The Mail on Sunday published a three-article series exposing Geller's tricks, compiled with help from Michael Hutchinson and CSICOP's British Committee. The Mail on Sunday offered £20,000 to charity if Geller could prove his psychic powers under supervision, but there is no information that he accepted the challenge.

Geller's Gold for Fools, Say Australian Skeptics

An article reprinted from The New Zealand Skeptic details how the Australian Skeptics exposed a mining company, Zanez, for paying Uri Geller over $Aust 150,000 and giving him stock options to search for gold in the Solomon Islands and Victoria. The Skeptics, led by Mark Plummer, argued that Geller, a magician with no geological qualifications, was hired for his ability to convince people he had psychic powers. Geller entertained guests with magic at the mine's opening, even bending a spoon held by the Prime Minister of the Solomons. The hiring of Geller led to shareholder dissatisfaction and moves to replace company directors.

The article also mentions other cases investigated by the Skeptics, including a meditation group claiming to teach people to levitate and a chemist claiming to turn teeth into gold, who was arrested for fraud.

CSICOP's New Executive Director

Mark Plummer began a six-month term as CSICOP's Acting Executive Director on September 30, 1986. Plummer was a founder of the Australian Skeptics and served as its national president. He was also national president of the Australian Humanists and has appeared on numerous talk shows. He traveled extensively to address skeptical groups and conduct meetings across North America before taking up his position at CSICOP headquarters in Buffalo.

Lewis Jones: Starting Anti-Science

Lewis Jones critiques Central Television's "Starting Science" series for schools, which aired on June 12, 1986. He argues that the program presented pseudoscience, such as dowsing and card guessing, as praiseworthy examples of scientific procedure without proper testing. Jones contends that the program's approach undermines children's scientific understanding by making no mention of the numerous failed tests of such claims and by presenting them as unexplained phenomena. He criticizes the program for promoting gullibility and dismantling critical thinking, calling it a disgrace to dispense such material under the banner of science and education.

David Berman: Ireland's Knock Legend

David Berman, a philosophy lecturer at Dublin University, examines the Knock apparition of the Virgin Mary, which occurred on August 21, 1879. He notes that most publications on Knock are from Catholic supporters, creating an "air of unreality." Berman questions the historical evidence, particularly the disappearance of the original depositions taken by a commission of priests. He highlights significant discrepancies between two published versions of the depositions, one from the Weekly News and The Nation (Sullivan's version, S) and another from John MacPhilpin's book (MacPhilpin's version, M). Berman argues that the differences, such as the timing of the event and the description of the figures as statues, suggest that MacPhilpin's version may have been altered to counter a magic lantern hypothesis. He proposes that the witnesses may have seen the projection of a magic lantern slide, which was popular at the time and effective with images of statuary. While acknowledging difficulties with this hypothesis, Berman finds it more credible than a supernatural explanation.

Peter O'Hara: Tolerating Continued Uncertainty

Peter O'Hara, a practicing psychiatrist, discusses the human discomfort with unexplained events and the tendency to jump to conclusions. He uses the example of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), noting that while most reports are explained as conventional phenomena, a residual 6% remain "unexplained." O'Hara argues that this residual category should be treated with the same intellectual honesty as "unexplained cases" of death, where a definitive cause cannot be determined, and uncertainty is accepted. He suggests that sightings should be categorized as "either aircraft, or comets, or planets, or rockets, etc, but we don't know which," rather than assuming a paranormal explanation.

Leslie Shepard: Moving Statues

Leslie Shepard provides an update on the phenomenon of moving statues that occurred throughout the Republic of Ireland in 1985. He notes that the period was marked by cultural, political, and religious unrest. The reports of statues moving, bleeding, or weeping began on February 14, 1985, with initial claims in Asdee, Co. Kerry. The phenomenon gained significant attention in July with reports from Ballinspittle, Co. Cork, where thousands of pilgrims gathered. Shepard details reports from various locations across Ireland, including Mitchelstown, Dunkitt, Waterford city, Mooncoin, and counties Limerick and Wexford. He mentions that the statues were often described as changing expression, moving, or weeping. The article notes that the excitement subsided after vandals damaged the Ballinspittle statue. Shepard also touches upon the background of social and political unrest in Ireland during this period.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this inaugural issue are skepticism, critical thinking, and the scientific examination of paranormal claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational explanations and against the uncritical acceptance of pseudoscience, superstition, and alleged supernatural events. The articles collectively advocate for a rigorous approach to evidence and a willingness to question extraordinary claims, whether they involve faith healers, UFOs, apparitions, or alleged psychic powers. The newsletter positions itself as a counterpoint to sensationalism and a promoter of intellectual honesty in the face of the unexplained.

This document is the first issue of "The British and Irish Skeptic," a publication serving local interests in Britain and Ireland, with a copy date of March 20, 1987. It is published from Dublin, Ireland, by the British arm of CSICOP, the established community of British skeptics, and the forming Irish Skeptics.

Book Review: Secret Cult

The primary content of this issue is a review of the book "Secret Cult" by Peter Hounam and Andrew Hogg, published by Lion Publishing Co. in 1985. The reviewer, Wendy M. Grossman, notes that the book, contrary to initial expectations of a paranoid exposé, provides a rational and sober account of a world-wide cult originating in Britain.

The book chronicles the birth and growth of a group known as the School of Economic Science (SES). Originally founded by Andrew MacLaren in London to promote economic ideas, the group's direction changed significantly under his son, Leon MacLaren. Leon guided the group towards the teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, techniques of TM (Transcendental Meditation), and the study of Sanskrit and Hinduism. The book also touches upon MacLaren's explanations of 'the Word' derived from trips to India to consult a spiritual teacher.

The review highlights the book's usefulness on several levels:

1. Information: The SES is described as secretive and relatively small, making information scarce. However, the book reveals that some members are prominent, including Roger Pincham, who was Chairman of the British Liberal Party in 1982. The SES "Measure" dictates members' lives, requiring five hours of sleep, twice-daily meditation, calligraphy, Sanskrit study, a limited vegetarian diet, and mandatory attendance at School activities, including cleaning and retreats. Tutors exert increasing control over members' lives.
2. Analysis: The authors trace the origins of the SES teachings to Hinduism, Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, and TM, revealing the often clouded and fuzzy reasoning behind them. The book contrasts these teachings with the answers given by cult members to public questions, exposing obfuscation when challenged.
3. Understanding: The book uses personal stories of ex-members to illustrate the gradual steps leading to cult-like phenomena, drawing parallels to the end results of fanaticism seen in events like Guyana or concentration camps. The reviewer notes that the SES teaches traditional sex roles, with men dominant and women subservient, which, combined with indoctrination, makes normal family life impossible. The SES also runs private schools, with mixed results for non-member parents.

The reviewer, Wendy M. Grossman, finds the book rings true and is well-written, though she notes she could only check a few details, such as the Irish branch addresses. She mentions that the authors tried to interview Leon MacLaren, but he refused. Grossman offers minor quibbles, wishing for more detail on the research methodology and references. She questions the SES's practice of TM as self-hypnosis, citing R. K. Heller's work on de-programming. However, she finds the ex-members' analyses of their motives (desire for superiority, guilt, fear, inadequacy, desire to please, and dependence on the group) more convincing explanations for suggestibility.

Grossman highly recommends the book as a partial answer to the question of how such phenomena can occur.

Moving Statues in Ireland

Following the book review, the issue includes an excerpt from the First Supplement to Shepard's Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, detailing reports of "Moving Statues" in Ireland. The excerpt describes numerous instances across various counties (Waterford, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Leitrim, Sligo, Cork, Dublin) where statues of the Virgin Mary were claimed to have moved, spoken, or exhibited other phenomena like bloodstains or face changes. Psychologists suggest these were optical illusions resulting from staring at statues in half-light, exacerbated by religious fervor and spiritual grace experienced by many.

Subscription Information

The publication seeks subscribers to determine its frequency. If response is good, it will be bi-monthly; otherwise, it will be quarterly. Subscriptions are for six issues, not including the current one. The cost is Irish£10 or £9.50 Sterling, payable to "The Skeptic" to Wendy M. Grossman at Queens Court, Queens Park, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Donations are also welcomed.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are extended to numerous individuals who contributed articles, clippings, advice, and information, including David Berman, Frank Chambers, Melvyn Harris, Michael Hutchinson, Lewis Jones, David Marks, Phil McKerracher, Peter and Angela O'Hara, Mark Plummer, Leslie Shepard, and Bill Steele.

The publication clarifies that opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Irish Skeptics, the British Committee, or CSICOP.

In Our Next Issue

The next issue plans to feature Doris Stokes as "psychic of the month," with contributions welcome. It will also include David Berman's update on Knock Airport and a profile of a small-time psychic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This inaugural issue of "The British and Irish Skeptic" clearly establishes a skeptical stance towards paranormal claims and unusual phenomena. The main focus is a critical review of a book exposing a cult, "Secret Cult," which aligns with the organization's mission to investigate and debunk claims of the unexplained. The inclusion of the "Moving Statues" phenomenon, analyzed through a psychological and skeptical lens, further reinforces this theme. The publication aims to serve the community of skeptics in Britain and Ireland, providing a platform for critical analysis and information dissemination on topics often associated with parapsychology and the occult, while maintaining a commitment to rational explanation and evidence-based reasoning.