British and Irish Skeptic - 1988 - Vol 2 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: The British & Irish SKEPTIC
Issue: Volume II, No. 4
Date: July/August 1988
Publisher: The British & Irish Skeptic
Country: Ireland
Price: £1.50

This issue of The British & Irish Skeptic is dedicated to the scientific examination of claims of the paranormal. It features a prominent article on Uri Geller, a listing of available audio and video cassettes for subscribers, and reports on skeptical activities and news from various European countries.

Contents

Cover Stories and Features:

• A Thorn in Geller's Side by Michael Hutchinson: This feature details an event at a Time Out exhibition where Uri Geller was scheduled to discuss ESP and bend spoons for charity. The author, a skeptic, recounts how Geller did not appear for the chat show but later performed a spoon-bending demonstration. Hutchinson claims to have replicated the effect and explains how Geller might have cheated by preparing the spoon beforehand. The article also touches upon Geller's previous interactions with the author.
• Sprite by Donald Rooum
• Skeptic at Large: Reagan, Regan and the Stars by Wendy M. Grossman
• UFO Days by Steve Donnelly
• Comparative Astrology by Stephen Moreton
• Dreams and Visions of Survival by Antony Flew
• Psychic Diary by Toby Howard

Reviews:

• Things that go bump in the night (Neil Inglis)
• Mind over Matter (Steuart Campbell)
• Mysteries of the Unknown (Michael Hutchinson)
• A Lack of Resonance (David Fisher)
• Missing Intruders (Hilary Evans)
• Encounter Theories (Peter O'Hara)

Letters:

Editor's Note:

• Editor: Wendy M. Grossman
• Editorial Board: Toby Howard, Peter O'Hara, Karl Sabbagh
• Typesetting: Toby Howard and Steve Donnelly

Articles and Reports:

Hits and Misses:

• Irish Chairman wanted: Peter O'Hara is seeking a replacement chairman for the Irish Committee and is looking for someone to work with him.
• Graphology: J. Alan Remfry responds to an announcement about a Graphology Centre, stating that graphology has no scientific backing and offering notices to attach to job application forms.
• Fatima Cross investigated: A fact sheet reported on Patricia Rose, Ltd., which sold a 'Golden Cross of Fatima' with a 'treasure chest' of jewels. Christies valued the items as commercially worthless.
• Moonies in Ireland: The Moonies have purchased a Georgian house in Dublin.
• Earthquakes: A humorous explanation from Gary Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip for a predicted LA earthquake failing to materialize.
• Yeti: Arguments over Chris Bonington's claims of seeing the Yeti, with the Natural History Museum suggesting wild sheep were killed by a snow leopard. Stephen Pile offers a skeptical view, suggesting the need for monsters in our psychology.
• Life Forces and the Guardian: Jillie Collings writes promotional pieces for alternative medicine in the Guardian, focusing on holistic dentistry and practitioner Paul Mendelsohn's methods.

Ghosts:

Reports from The Sheffield Star and the Daily Mirror about hauntings in pubs and a family driven out of their home by a 'spook'. The article mentions a priest's attempt to exorcise the haunting and a High Court judge's decision to allow a review of the case.

Morphic Resonance:

Discussion of Rupert Sheldrake's book 'The Presence of the Past' and arguments in the Guardian regarding his claims about morphic resonance. Steven Rose criticizes Sheldrake for making false claims.

Quantum Spies:

A review of Tom Stoppard's play 'Hapgood', which illustrates quantum mechanics, highlighting its witty representation of the two-slit experiment and the play's exploration of scientific concepts.

Faith healing on the NHS?:

A report on a series in the (Scottish) Sunday Express questioning whether faith healing should be on the National Health. Clinical tests are being organized to measure pain-killing powers, with hopes of acceptance into the National Health Service.

Zodiac Game:

An advertisement from the Evening Standard for 'Russell Grant's Zodiac Game', described as a family fun game of luck, intuition & strategy.

Lost and found:

A report from the Daily Mirror about twenty psychics being called to help find a lost cat, with the owner expressing dissatisfaction after paying over £200.

Near-death experiences:

Dr Susan Blackmore critiques theories explaining Near Death Experiences, calling the assertion that they are 'just hallucinations' the weakest theory. She emphasizes that these experiences are important and life-transforming.

Gold flakes:

Report from The Guardian about the Japanese consuming tiny flakes of gold, called 'longevity noodles', in $30 platefuls.

Vitamins and minerals:

A critical article from The Observer about the increased consumption of dietary supplements. Tests on hair samples sent to Larkhall Laboratories showed completely different results for the same person, highlighting inaccuracies.

TM in Skelmersdale:

Report from The Guardian about TM practitioners in Skelmersdale claiming economic benefits from their practice.

Career opportunities:

An article from The Times discussing chiropractic and osteopathy as career paths, noting a shortage of practitioners.

Aetherius Society:

Report from The People about the Aetherius Society claiming to have logged over 500 calls on their UFO hotline.

Spitting Image:

Mention of a Spitting Image episode where a Doris Stokes doll consults Prince Charles.

Robert Morris:

A piece from the University of Edinburgh Bulletin on Professor Robert Morris and his 'Integrative Parapsychology' research, focusing on anomalous interactions between humans and computers, psychokinesis, and ESP tasks.

Alternative prize:

Announcement of the setup of the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Complementary Medicine.

European Report:

• France: Dr. Henri Broch reports on the Minitel service offering extensive paranormal information and a challenge for proof of paranormal phenomena. The prize is offered by a group formed by Jacques Theodor.
• Germany: The German group GWUP announces a conference in Bonn and discusses their newsletter 'Der Skeptiker', which reviews skeptical articles and paranormal claims, including those from Time-Life and Erich von Daniken.
• The Netherlands: J.W. Nienhuys Jr. reports on a UFO case and a spiritualist evening that turned into a nightmare.
• Bulgaria: Dr. Dobri D. Genchev discusses a critical article in the Bulgarian Journal 'Philosophical Thought' regarding Djuna, a faith healer, arguing that her healing can be explained by conventional means.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The British & Irish Skeptic consistently promotes a skeptical and scientific approach to paranormal claims. The magazine actively debunks pseudoscientific theories and practices, encourages critical thinking, and provides a platform for reasoned debate. The editorial stance is clear: to examine claims rigorously using scientific methodology and to expose fraudulent or unsubstantiated paranormal phenomena. The magazine relies on reader contributions and aims to inform its audience about the latest developments in skepticism and the paranormal world.

This issue of The British & Irish Skeptic, dated July/August 1988, features a range of articles critically examining paranormal claims, pseudoscientific theories, and related phenomena. The magazine maintains a skeptical stance, aiming to debunk or provide rational explanations for purported mysteries.

Cover Story: Introducing SPRITE...

The issue introduces a new comic strip titled "SPRITE" by anarchist cartoonist Donald Rooum. The strip features an elemental spirit and is presented as the beginning of a continuing saga. The editors note any perceived similarity between the character SPRITE and the Editor of the B&IS is purely coincidental or evidence of psychic ability on the editor's part.

Article: Uri Geller and the £250,000 Offer

This piece recounts an encounter with Uri Geller and his assistant Shipi Shtrang. It details an offer from London businessman Gerald Fleming, who proposed to donate £250,000 to charity if Geller could bend a spoon under controlled conditions. The offer was made via the ITV Telethon, but Geller did not accept it. Michael Hutchinson, UK distributor for Prometheus Books and Secretary of the UK Skeptics, is mentioned as being involved.

Article: Skeptic at large... Wendy M. Grossman on Regan, Reagan, and the stars

Wendy M. Grossman, founder and editor of The British & Irish Skeptic, begins a new column, "Skeptic at large." She focuses on Donald T. Regan's book "For the Record" and the extensive press coverage surrounding it. Grossman highlights that while Regan's book is primarily about the Reagan administration and the Iran-Contra scandal, the media has overwhelmingly focused on Nancy Reagan's reliance on astrology. She notes that astrology is mentioned on only 25 pages of Regan's 279-page book, yet it dominates media discussion. Grossman also references biographer Garry Wills, who suggests Reagan readjusted inauguration times based on astrological advice. The article touches on the broader theme of political leaders consulting astrologers and questions whether this undermines public confidence.

Article: UFO days by Steve Donnelly

Steve Donnelly reports on two 'UFO Open Days' held at the Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre as part of an ITV telethon. Donnelly expresses concern that holding such events might imply scientific endorsement of UFO phenomena. He recounts a conversation with the Visitor Centre manager, Eden Carruthers, who separated the scientific institution from the charitable event. The event featured talks by Jenny Randles and Peter Hough, discussing UFO sightings. Donnelly notes that the speakers did not believe UFOs were intelligent visitors but rather natural phenomena beyond current scientific grasp. He also mentions that reports of abductions and sexual encounters were attributed to psychology, though Randles felt some close encounter reports showed too much consistency for individual fantasy alone.

Article: Comparative Astrology by Stephen Moreton

Stephen Moreton compares horoscopes from the News of the World, Sunday Express, and Today newspapers for 1988. He sought to identify contradictions and agreements between the predictions of astrologers Mystic Meg, Marjorie Orr, and Jonathan Cainer. Moreton found that while some predictions directly contradicted each other (e.g., regarding love life or travel plans), many were vague and could apply to anyone. He concludes that the horoscopes often disagreed on what issues would be important in a given month and whether those issues would be positive or negative, highlighting the lack of consistency.

Article: Dreams and Visions of Survival by Antony Flew

Antony Flew, a philosopher and author, examines near-death experiences (NDEs) and out-of-body experiences (OBEs). He questions whether these experiences are sufficient proof of life after death, referencing the work of J.C. Hampe and R.A. Moody. Flew critically analyzes the Badham's conclusion that NDEs/OBEs could be evidence for survival if no other plausible explanation exists. He argues that attributing these experiences to disembodied souls is unnecessary, suggesting they can be understood as ESP performances or the result of imagination, akin to forming mental images of distant events. He posits that the correct description of an OBE is simply 'In his bed, apparently unconscious.'

Article: Psychic Diary by Toby Howard

Toby Howard recounts his experience attending a Halloween séance event organized by debunkers in Silver Spring, Maryland. The event, featuring conjurers Jamy Ian Swiss and statistician Chip Denman, aimed to expose the methods used by psychics and mediums to deceive people. Howard describes the theatrical atmosphere designed to induce psychological domination, including darkness, strange sounds, and simulated paranormal phenomena. He notes that the event convincingly demonstrated that séances are exercises in psychological manipulation. Howard also briefly mentions the art of Dendron Pneumology (tree divination) and the controversial psychic surgeon Stephen Turoff.

Reviews

Events: Things that go bump in the night by Neil L. Inglis

Neil Inglis reviews the same skeptical séance event attended by Toby Howard, held in Silver Spring, Maryland. Inglis, a British expatriate, describes the event as a "distinctly skeptical flavour" séance hosted by debunkers. He details the atmospheric build-up, the use of theatrical techniques by Swiss and Denman, and how the event aimed to expose the methods of psychic deception. Inglis concludes that the séance convincingly established that such events are exercises in psychological domination.

Media: Mind over Matter by Steuart Campbell

Steuart Campbell reviews a BBC Radio 3 interview with Bob Morris, Professor of Parapsychology at the University of Edinburgh. Morris discusses his three research programs: telepathy, claims of physical world influence by will, and distinguishing psychic phenomena from self-delusion or tricks. Campbell notes that Morris's progress seems limited to collecting data on magicians' tricks and anecdotes, and that Morris's research appears to be preoccupied with computer operators' results. Morris's answers were often vague, and he suggested expanding research rather than abandoning it if psychic effects were not found.

Books: Mysteries of the Unknown by Michael Hutchinson

Michael Hutchinson reviews the Time-Life Books series "Mysteries of the Unknown," specifically "Mystic Places." He criticizes the series for sensationalism and factual inaccuracies, particularly regarding the Bermuda Triangle and the curse of Tutankhamen. Hutchinson points out errors in Time/Life's captions and text, such as misrepresenting the timeline of Tutankhamen's tomb excavation and the cause of Lord Carnarvon's death. He concludes that the series' hype is dishonest and that its "meticulous research" is questionable.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, critical analysis of pseudoscientific theories, and the exposure of fraudulent or misleading practices in the fields of psychic phenomena, astrology, and UFOlogy. The editorial stance is clearly that of promoting rational inquiry and debunking unsubstantiated beliefs, as evidenced by the critical reviews and investigative articles. The magazine aims to provide readers with a discerning perspective on topics often presented sensationally in the popular press.

This issue of The British & Irish Skeptic, dated July/August 1988, presents a critical examination of various paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, offering skeptical analyses and reviews of relevant books and phenomena. The magazine features articles on Sheldrake's theory of morphic fields, UFO abductions, encounter theories, and debates surrounding creationism and crystal growth.

Article: Sheldrake's Theory

The review of Rupert Sheldrake's theory highlights its untestability due to the presumed 'morphic fields' and the lack of control samples or reproducibility. The reviewer contends that while the theory itself might be considered pseudoscientific, the manner in which current scientific understanding is misrepresented makes it a particularly insidious example of the genre. Sheldrake is accused of distorting, biasing, and inaccurately presenting evidence from fields like physics, chemistry, biology, and anthropology to support his claims. The reviewer points out Sheldrake's confusion between mathematical and absolute minima in crystal structures and his misrepresentation of scientific understanding regarding pattern formation in nature. The article also critiques Sheldrake's failure to acknowledge conventional explanations for phenomena like the group behavior of fish and insects, attributing it to a lack of awareness of electric fields and chemical agents used in communication.

Further criticism is leveled at Sheldrake's explanation for crystal growth, where he suggests that substances 'know' their structure due to morphic resonance. The reviewer dismisses this, noting that foreign agents often promote crystal growth more effectively than particles of the substance itself. The article specifically addresses Sheldrake's explanation for snowflake symmetry, which he attributes to morphic resonance, arguing that the simple answer lies in the environment and diffusion fields, not unknown phenomena. The review also notes that Sheldrake's examples of snowflake symmetry are from doctored photographs.

Article: Philip J. Klass on UFO Abductions

This section reviews Philip J. Klass's book 'UFO-Abductions, a Dangerous Game,' which critiques Budd Hopkins' 'Intruders' and Whitley Strieber's 'Communion.' Klass argues that abduction claims are often not credible, particularly Strieber's, whose personal credibility is questioned due to his admitted history of lying. Klass also reproaches the author Hilary Evans for not considering the 'psychological needs' of abductionists like Hopkins and Jacobs, suggesting they may be spreading the phenomenon through their own UFO fantasies. Klass criticizes the UFO community's uncritical acceptance of Hopkins' work and advocates for the importance of Alvin Lawson's 'imaginary contactee' experiments. The review praises Klass for his reasoned approach and his ability to distinguish underlying personal behaviors, endorsing his book as essential reading for understanding UFO phenomena and human behavior.

Article: Hilary Evans' 'Encounter Theories'

The review of Hilary Evans' 'Gods*Spirits*Cosmic Guardians—A comparative study of the Encounter Experience' expresses reservations about the book's methodology and conclusions. The reviewer finds the detailed examples of ET contact and abduction encounters to be excessive, even for a newcomer. While Evans presents alternative analyses of encounter experiences (witness belief, mistaken belief, or lying), the reviewer notes that Evans stops considering the lying hypothesis early on. The review criticizes Evans' psychological analysis as poor and his sociological analysis as good. A significant criticism is that Evans, despite presenting evidence favoring the mistaken belief hypothesis, does not draw this conclusion, possibly to remain acceptable to believers. The reviewer also points out Evans' ambiguous use of terms like 'real,' 'reality,' 'genuine,' and 'experience,' and his flawed understanding of psychology, particularly regarding hallucinations and their relation to evolution. The review concludes by stating that Evans espouses other paranormal ideas, such as the moon's phases influencing human behavior.

Article: Divine Creationism Debate

This section features a letter from Andrew Bloomfield responding to Stephen Moreton's critique of 'Divine Creationism.' Bloomfield clarifies that 'Divine Creationism' is based on research into the origins and original meaning of early Genesis texts, distinguishing it from 'Biblical Creationism' and 'Evolutionary' theories. He asserts that 'Divine Creationism' relates to science, not faith. Bloomfield challenges Moreton's argument about the fossil record, stating that less than 1% of expected fossils have been found to support evolution, implying that 99% of the evidence is missing. He also refutes the idea of Archaeopteryx being an intermediate form, calling it a true bird. Colin Wood also contributes, arguing that the fossil record shows evidence of true birds millions of years before supposed intermediary stages like Archaeopteryx, and questions how a 'vertebrate sub-phylum' could exist before its evolutionary stages. He also points out that the development of life complexity is like layers of a cake, with distinct beginnings and endings, culminating suddenly in 'modern man' with mind. Wood suggests that just as dinosaurs appeared suddenly, so too can phenomena like the AIDS virus be placed on Earth, leading to a terminal condition for humanity.

Other Items

The issue also includes a brief report on 'Unidentified flying oranges' sighted in the Midlands, described as giant oranges giving off an orange glow and a humming noise. The UFO Investigation Society reported dozens of such sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards paranormal claims, pseudoscience, and unconventional theories. The magazine consistently promotes a rational, scientific approach, critically evaluating evidence and methodologies. The editorial stance is clearly one of debunking unsubstantiated claims and promoting critical thinking, particularly concerning UFO phenomena, psychic abilities, and creationist arguments. The magazine advocates for scientific methodology and rational argument as the primary tools for understanding the world.