Skeptic - 2004 - Vol 17 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 17 Number 4
Date: Winter 2004
Publisher: The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)
Country: United Kingdom

This issue of The Skeptic presents a diverse range of articles that critically examine various phenomena through a skeptical lens. The cover prominently features an article on "Freud and Religion," alongside other pieces exploring motivated distortion of traumatic memories, communication with aliens, and skepticism surrounding the Kennedy assassination. The magazine also includes regular sections like News, Book Reviews, Comment, and Humour.

Editorial

The editorial, written by Victoria Hamilton and Chris French, welcomes readers to issue 17.4 and outlines the contents. They highlight the article on Freud's psychoanalytic perspective on religion, noting that while Freud's theories have faced criticism, the article explores their strengths and weaknesses. Another article by Mark Pendergrast addresses the nature of traumatic memories, suggesting they are often constructed false memories rather than accurate recollections. Mark Newbrook's piece examines evidence for alien languages, arguing it falls short of establishing validity. Jeremy Bojczuk's article on conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy assassination is presented as provocative. The editors also thank former co-editor Julia Nunn and welcome Victoria Hamilton as the new co-editor, noting the importance of female voices in skepticism. They direct readers to the website www.livejournal.com/users/ukskeptic for the latest news and views.

Articles

Freud and Religion

Ian Fairholm critically assesses Sigmund Freud's ideas about religion. Freud, though not religious himself, was fascinated by the topic and saw parallels between the behavior of his neurotic patients and religious individuals. He viewed religion as a "universal obsessional neurosis," stemming from unresolved childhood conflicts, particularly the Oedipus complex. Fairholm discusses Freud's theories on totemism and taboo, linking them to the "primal horde" theory and the concept of patricide as the origin of moral inhibitions and religion. Freud believed religion served as a psychological defense mechanism against the forces of nature, offering a "father figure" for comfort. However, Fairholm notes that Freud's procedures and theories are often considered unfalsifiable, based on flawed research, and lack scientific objectivity, with no anthropological evidence supporting the primal horde theory.

Motivated Distortion of Personal Memory for Trauma

Mark Pendergrast explores the phenomenon of traumatic memories. He questions whether such memories are genuinely repressed or are more likely to be unintentionally constructed false memories. Pendergrast asserts that the latter is usually, and perhaps always, the case.

How (not) to Talk to Aliens

Mark Newbrook analyzes the evidence presented by Mary Rodwell concerning alien languages. He argues that the evidence provided is insufficient to establish the validity of these claims and offers insight into what kind of evidence would be required to support such assertions.

Scepticism and the Kennedy Assassination

Jeremy Bojczuk offers musings on conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The article is noted as being provocative, and the editors anticipate some readers may disagree with its assertions.

Hits and Misses

This section covers several brief topics:

• All change: Discusses a European Environmental Agency report on climate change, highlighting potential impacts like upward migration of plant species, drier southern regions, and increased extreme weather events. It notes that while cold snap deaths may decrease, heat wave deaths and tick-borne diseases may increase.
• Movie science: Critiques the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" for its scientific inaccuracies regarding climate change, while acknowledging its potential effectiveness in raising public awareness. It contrasts this with more scientifically rigorous reviews that highlight the film's flaws.
• Why Johnny can't evolve: Addresses the debate around creationism in schools, particularly concerning state-funded private schools. It notes that while creationism might not be taught in science lessons, the issue raises questions about state control over education and the abdication of control to private organizations.
• The dating game: Reports on Dr. James Houran's research into online dating sites. Houran, who previously studied hauntings, is now involved with a dating site that claims to use media-friendly research. The article expresses skepticism about the scientific validity of psychometric tests used by such sites and questions their screening methodologies, finding the approach of one site, True.com, "creepy."

Reality May Be Out There

This section discusses instances where advertisers blur the lines between reality and fiction. Examples include ads featuring real celebrities in fictional scenarios (e.g., a young singer dreaming of a French tennis player) and the Sci-Fi channel's misleading promotion of a documentary about M. Night Shyamalan, claiming it was a "disturbing exposé" when it was not.

Psychic Development

Discusses Emma King, a medium offering a psychic development course in Edinburgh. The article notes the scarcity of information about her online, despite her claims of extensive experience and advising MPs and celebrities. It also mentions the "Psychic and Medium Society" and its connection to Marie Simpson.

Hilary Evans' Paranormal Picture Gallery

Features an illustration titled "Tchou pa-kiai" from an unnamed Chinese artist in Henri Dore's "Superstitions en Chine, 1914." The accompanying text tells a story about Tchou Pa-Kiai, a figure who was reincarnated as a half-man, half-pig due to a mistake in paperwork, leading to fits of irritation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the application of critical thinking and skepticism to various claims, whether they originate from psychological theories, alleged paranormal phenomena, scientific debates, or media portrayals. The magazine consistently advocates for evidence-based reasoning and challenges unsubstantiated assertions. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting scientific literacy and questioning extraordinary claims, particularly those lacking empirical support. The inclusion of articles on Freud, creationism, alien communication, and conspiracy theories demonstrates a commitment to dissecting complex and often controversial topics with a rational and evidence-based approach.

This issue of The Skeptic, Volume 17 Number 4, dated November 22, 1963, features a cover story on the JFK assassination and includes articles on psychology, skepticism, and UFOs. The magazine's publisher is The Skeptic, and it is based in the UK.

Freud's Theory of Religion Critiqued

The article "Freud thought that he had discovered the psychological origin for belief and concluded from this that the belief must be illusory" critically examines Sigmund Freud's views on religion. The author argues that Freud's conclusion is an "entirely illegitimate conclusion because the motive for a belief doesn't affect its truth or falsehood." This is described as a "genetic fallacy." The article points out that Freud's view of religion is exclusively paternal, neglecting the importance of goddesses and the mother's role in totemic religion. It also suggests that if religious behavior were purely neurotic, its most intense practitioners would exhibit the most severe neurotic symptoms, which is not typically observed. The article notes a dissimilarity between Freud's description of God as a protective father figure and the Christian concept of God, which emphasizes a reciprocal relationship defined more by love than by protective power. However, the article concedes that Freud's ideas might offer an explanation for individuals who hold "false religious belief" for security, and that psychoanalysis can provide insight into their concept of God. It also acknowledges that believers may use defense mechanisms like denial and rationalization, but perhaps no more than anyone else. The author suggests Freud's view involved "exaggeration and overestimation of its negative causes and consequences," possibly driven by his atheism and lack of contact with modern religion.

The Psychology of False Memories

Mark Pendergrast's contribution, "Motivated Distortion of Personal Memory for Trauma," explores how people can develop false memories for events that never happened, citing examples of alien abductees and individuals recalling childhood rape. Pendergrast outlines seven key points contributing to this phenomenon: motivation, secondary gain, belief systems, authority figures, the use of hypnosis and dream analysis, rehearsal of imagined memories, and cognitive dissonance. He emphasizes that individuals must be "very motivated" to believe in repressed memories, often seeking explanations for life problems. Secondary gain, such as increased attention or sympathy, is also identified as a significant factor. Belief systems that support the idea of massive repression are crucial, as are authority figures who validate these beliefs. Techniques like hypnosis and dream analysis can be used to construct narratives, and the rehearsal of these imagined memories makes them feel more real. Cognitive dissonance explains the difficulty in undoing these beliefs once they are adopted.

Scepticism and the Kennedy Assassination

Jeremy Bojczuk's article, "Scepticism and the Kennedy Assassination," challenges the official Warren Commission report. Bojczuk argues that the fundamental problem is that the shot that killed Kennedy came from the front, not behind, making it impossible for Oswald to have fired it. He also points to issues with the number of shots fired, the rifle's capabilities, and a lack of eyewitness evidence. While dismissing the lone gunman theory, Bojczuk suggests Oswald may have played a part, possibly as a "secret agent" or a "patsy" set up by unknown individuals. The article also scrutinizes Jack Ruby, describing him as a Chicago gangster rather than a public-spirited citizen, and notes his potential involvement beyond shooting Oswald. The piece highlights connections between the Kennedy family and the Mafia, and suggests that various individuals and organizations had reasons to want Kennedy dead. However, Bojczuk concludes that the mere existence of enmity towards Kennedy does not prove involvement. He posits that a conspiracy likely existed, involving more than one gunman and a cover-up by government agencies, but argues that the scale of such a conspiracy would be "hugely impractical." He suggests the cover-up may have been a natural consequence of bureaucratic organizations trying to conceal their failures, rather than a pre-planned element of the assassination itself.

How (not) to talk to aliens

Mark Newbrook reviews Mary Rodwell's book "Awakening: How Extraterrestrial Contact Can Transform Your Life," which promotes extraterrestrial interpretations of reported experiences. Newbrook criticizes Rodwell's work for its emotional tone, which he believes "militates against scepticism or even neutral scientific analysis." He notes that Rodwell dismisses skeptical points and uncritically accepts disputed phenomena like 'ancient astronauts' and 'UFO-related implants.' The article focuses on linguistic claims made by contactees, particularly Tracey Taylor, regarding alleged alien languages. Newbrook finds the evidence for these claims insufficient, stating that the material presented is too vague for proper analysis and often resembles glossolalia. He argues that any system recognizable as a language must have a complex, stable structure, which the alleged alien languages appear to lack. Newbrook suggests that claims of this nature might be developed to prevent scientific analysis. He concludes that Rodwell and her supporters need to provide "much better evidence" to warrant serious attention, and that untestable claims will be of limited interest to linguists and scientists.

Skeptical Stats

Page 12 presents "Skeptical Stats," a compilation of various statistics, including the cost of psychic development courses, the number of photographs in a US budget, the date a cult believed the world would end, percentages of catastrophic events attributable to weather, live posts per minute on LiveJournal, numbers of psychics and readings, the founding year of Kongo Gumi, the cost of a "street retreat," new US state laws restricting abortion, funding withheld from the UN Population Fund, percentages of voting machines, estimated food poisoning incidents, germs on computer keyboards and toilet seats, the likelihood of God's existence, percentages of male and female brain patterns, residents evacuated due to spontaneously combusting appliances, and the percentage of adults diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after 9/11. It also lists the number of pages in the US Senate's ethics manual.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Skeptic are critical analysis, skepticism towards extraordinary claims, and the examination of psychological and sociological explanations for beliefs and phenomena. The magazine consistently adopts an evidence-based approach, questioning unsubstantiated claims and favoring rational explanations over supernatural or conspiratorial ones. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting scientific inquiry and critical thinking, particularly in areas like psychology, ufology, and historical events prone to conspiracy theories.

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 17 Number 4
Date: 2004
Publisher: The Skeptic
Country: United Kingdom
Description: This issue of The Skeptic magazine delves into philosophical and skeptical inquiries, featuring articles on the meaning of life, the nature of belief, and critical analyses of various phenomena and disciplines.

The meaning of life

Steve Donnelly, a physics professor at the University of Salford, reflects on Julian Baggini's article about the meaning of life. Donnelly discusses how profound issues are often explored by philosophers and how people seek meaning through religion and psychic phenomena. He recounts personal experiences, including a funeral sermon that offered reassurance through the idea of a 'grand plan,' and a discussion with a Christian colleague who attributed suffering to the absence of God's hand. Donnelly notes that while he perceives good and bad events as human actions or random acts of the universe, others find meaning in divine intervention. He extends this to belief in psychic and paranormal forces, where individuals seek insight into life's meaning through mediums or horoscopes, imbuing a random universe with order. Donnelly, identifying as an agnostic, acknowledges a shift in his perspective, where he now makes an effort to balance concerns about the negative societal effects of magical belief systems with consideration for the possible emotional benefits they provide. He poses a philosophical question about whether challenging such beliefs, even if they add to human happiness, truly contributes to overall well-being.

Philosopher's Corner

Julian Baggini, editor of The Philosophers' Magazine, discusses his visit to Plato's Academy in Athens. He questions the rationality of visiting historical sites associated with great thinkers, finding it difficult to justify the desire to simply stand where others stood. While acknowledging that some sites, like Sibelius's home or Anne Frank's house, can offer insights, he questions what can be learned from merely occupying the same geographical space as historical figures. Baggini suggests that visiting such sites might trigger the empathetic part of the brain, creating a sense of shared experience, even if it's an illusion. He contrasts this with the systematizing part of the brain, which would dismiss such feelings as illogical. Baggini values empathy as a non-logical faculty that helps in understanding others and reasoning better. He concludes that while reason is essential for forming beliefs, empathy is crucial for interpersonal relationships, and feeling a connection to people who are not present, while illogical, can be a harmless indulgence or a pleasure.

ASKE News

Michael Heap, Chairman of ASKE, reports on the ASKE Newsletter 'Skeptica Adversaria' and upcoming ASKE meetings. He highlights recent activities of ASKE members, including the exposure of a local practitioner promoting unproven cancer treatments through hypnotherapy and NLP, which was featured on a BBC Wales program. The ASKE email discussion network has seen exchanges on mediums and Derren Brown's television series. A significant portion details Adrian Shaw's correspondence with the General Medical Council (GMC) regarding 'spiritual healing.' Shaw inquired about GMC guidelines, referrals, and the recognition of spiritual healing as an effective treatment. The GMC's reply, dated 1977 and referencing current guidance, stated that doctors could refer patients to spiritual healers if deemed helpful, but the doctor retains overall responsibility. The GMC also noted they were unaware of empirical studies on spiritual healing's efficacy.

Reviews

The Enemies of Promise: Defending Science - Within Reason: Between Scientism and Cynicism by Susan Haack
Reviewed by Wim Betz, this book examines various views on science, challenging the notion of a singular 'scientific community' or 'method.' Haack discusses the differences between scientific and literary texts, the competence of scientific experts, and the relationship between science and religion. The review notes that while the book elaborates on pros and cons, it does not offer clear answers. It strongly addresses anti-science movements, asserting that scientific results are valid across societies and not merely a social construct. The book is recommended for those well-acquainted with the philosophy of science literature.

Fundamentalist World: The New Dark Age of Dogma by Stuart Sim
Reviewed by Frank Chambers, this book analyzes various fundamentalist groups, including Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, post-Marxist, anti-globalisation, and eco-terrorism movements. Sim discusses concepts like 'agonism,' 'apostasy,' and 'market fundamentalism.' The review highlights the fundamentalist creed as a desire for certainty and the power to enforce it. It suggests that an Enlightenment similar to that experienced in 18th-century Europe is needed in the Islamic world. The review touches upon fundamentalism and sexuality, male supremacy, and the compulsory heterosexuality demanded by the Christian Right. Chambers agrees with the author's view that religion is often an excuse to exercise control and gain power.

Intuition: its powers and perils by David G. Myers
Reviewed by Gaius Vincent, this book examines the powers and perils of intuition. Vincent notes that vast claims are made for intuition, with proponents viewing it as a mode of knowing equal to or superior to science. The book presents an account of experiments demonstrating the pitfalls of human judgment. Vincent criticizes the book for its frequent biblical quotations and references to C. S. Lewis, and for its straw-man argument that people who make a leap of faith should be credited. He suggests the author should have focused more on concepts like belief perseverance, availability, illusory correlation, and the counter-intuitive insights of Darwinism.

Sense and Nonsense: Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behaviour by Kevin N. Laland and Gillian R. Brown
Reviewed by Martin Parkinson, this book applies evolutionary theory to human behavior. Parkinson notes that while human sociobiology is unobjectionable in principle, its actual results have often been oversimplified speculations. The review discusses the strengths and weaknesses of four contemporary approaches to human behavioral ecology. Parkinson finds the book to be a model of clear science writing and agrees with the flattering blurb. He mentions the book's historical discussion, starting with ethologists and moving to the controversy surrounding E.O. Wilson's Sociobiology. The review concludes by noting that the authors explain what memeticists do and suggest that their work may become more prominent in the future.

Only One Sky to Fly in: Embracing the Reptiles by Jacqueline Maria Longstaff
Reviewed by Paul Taylor, this book is described as bizarre, featuring themes of alien reptiles, the English royal family controlling the US, and an unraveling of the Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men characters as symbols of Baal and time. The review mentions the Mayan calendar, female energy, and the New World Order, with references to David Icke and Donald Rumsfeld implanting micro-chips. The reviewer expresses disbelief at the content.

Letters

Faith versus atheism: Each to their own...
Hilary Evans, London, writes to express surprise that the previous discussion on organized religion omitted positive rewards. As an atheist, Evans lists perceived benefits of various faiths: the efficacy of Roman Catholic exorcism, the promise of paradise in Islam, the ritual of transubstantiation in the Roman Catholic Church, the celebratory aspect of circumcision in Judaism, and the blessing of soldiers for righteous causes in Christianity. Evans also mentions nude dancing at Spring Solstice events and the Catholic Church's system of confession for absolution.

How much of Neuro-Linguistic Programming is 'linguistic'?
Mark Newbrook, Wirral, responds to Paul Burns' letter, defending Martin Parkinson's reservations about NLP. Newbrook argues that the 'Meta Model' of NLP has no convincing tie-in with Chomskyan transformational grammar, which itself is contentious. He states that Alfred Korzybski, cited by Burns, was not a qualified linguist and that NLP is misleadingly named, with the term 'neuro-linguistic' being better reserved for the actual neurology of language.

Too sceptical of NLP?
Martin Parkinson responds to criticism of his earlier article on NLP. He defends his critical review of psychological and therapeutic approaches, stating it's not hypocritical to condemn NLP for lacking empirical support while using pop-psychology. Parkinson notes that his article did not reference more recent NLP books and that he had not attended NLP training or spoken to people about their attraction to it. He criticizes the article for unsubstantiated comments about NLP, including the idea that hypnosis is the sole unifying element.

Back Issues

This section lists available back issues of The Skeptic magazine from Volume 5 (1991) to Volume 17 (2004), detailing the articles in each issue. It also provides subscription rates and discounts for ordering multiple back issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptic magazine consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to various claims, particularly those related to pseudoscience, paranormal phenomena, and alternative therapies. The editorial stance is critical of unsubstantiated beliefs and practices, advocating for evidence-based reasoning and scientific inquiry. The magazine features a mix of in-depth articles, reviews of relevant books, news from skeptical organizations like ASKE, and reader correspondence, all contributing to a discourse that challenges extraordinary claims and encourages critical thinking. Themes recurring throughout the issues include UFOs, psychic phenomena, religion, alternative medicine, and the philosophy of science. The magazine aims to educate its readers on how to evaluate claims critically and to debunk common misconceptions and pseudoscientific theories.