Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 07 no 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 7, Number 1, Summer 1994, focuses on media criticism, the examination of paranormal claims, and skeptical analysis of pseudoscientific topics. The cover story by Gary P. Posner, M.D., critiques an NBC-TV newsmagazine segment titled "Now" for its "cynically skewed reporting" on the "power of prayer." Posner, the founder, editor, and publisher of the report, argues that the program misrepresented the scientific evidence and relied on parapsychological sources. The issue also includes a book review by Posner of Larry Dossey's "Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine," a review that is critical of Dossey's reliance on anecdotal evidence and parapsychological claims. The "Chairman's Corner" by Terry A. Smiljanich provides an overview of the 1994 CSICOP Conference in Seattle, detailing sessions on alien abductions and the Roswell incident. Various "Snippets" offer brief reports on skeptical news items, and the "Letters • Readers' Forum" includes correspondence from members and a letter to the editor of the Tampa Tribune.

NBC-TV's 'Now' on Power of Prayer

Gary P. Posner, M.D., details his experience being interviewed for an NBC-TV newsmagazine segment on the power of prayer. He explains that the producer, Liz Fischer, contacted him after he had critiqued a CCU study on prayer in the magazine "Free Inquiry." Posner initially suggested that NBC contact CSICOP or "Free Inquiry" for a more authoritative source. He faxed suggested "sound bites" to Fischer, expressing skepticism about the study's claims and drawing parallels to the "cold fusion" hype. Posner notes that while Dossey himself found shortcomings in the CCU study, he still presented it as evidence for prayer's efficacy. Posner emphasizes the scientific principle that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, which he finds lacking in studies of prayer. He criticizes Dossey for accepting parapsychological claims at face value and for relying on anecdotes. Posner states that science has not dismissed prayer but requires convincing experimental evidence. Ultimately, NBC decided not to fly a crew to Florida to interview Posner, and he felt his input was not desired, squandering an opportunity to teach critical thinking. The segment aired on March 30, featuring a leukemia patient who attributed her recovery to prayer.

Book Review: Healing Words

Gary P. Posner reviews Larry Dossey's book "Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine." Posner recounts Dossey's quest to find scientific proof of prayer's efficacy, which led him to pray for his patients and invoke "the Absolute." Dossey, who co-chaired a committee on mind-body studies for the NIH, concludes that the "Divine factor in prayer is internal." Posner finds Dossey's arguments speculative and notes his embrace of parapsychological claims as scientific evidence. Posner critiques Dossey's discussion of the CCU study, agreeing that it "missed the mark" and lacked statistically significant life-or-death effects. He also points out Dossey's concurrence that prayer experiments are easier to conduct on simpler life forms. Posner highlights Dossey's citation of parapsychological experiments and Olga Worrall's alleged ability to "protect" bacteria. Posner criticizes the lack of skepticism among those involved in these studies. He also mentions Dossey's embrace of Uri Geller's powers, "distant hexing," "Therapeutic Touch," and random-event generator experiments. Posner concludes that while readers might find a "harmony of truth and majesty" in Dossey's work, he hears only "cacophony of New Age psychobabble."

Chairman's Corner: 1994 CSICOP Conference Part I

Terry A. Smiljanich reports on the 1994 CSICOP Conference, "The Psychology of Belief," held in Seattle. Over 700 people attended. Key figures present included CSICOP chairman Paul Kurtz, "Skeptical Inquirer" editor Kendrick Frazier, UFO Subcommittee chairman Philip Klass, and keynote speaker Carl Sagan. James "The Amazing" Randi was also present. The session on "Alien Abductions" generated significant discussion. Dr. Robert Baker theorized that abductions might be sleep disorders, while Dr. William Kohn noted the prevalence of poor investigators and subjects seeking notoriety. Dr. Thomas Bullard argued for the consistency of abduction tales, while Dr. John Mack, a Harvard psychiatrist, presented his findings on abductees' consistent accounts. Mack suggested skeptics feared "unseen worlds." Two "abductees" shared their experiences, with Donna Bassett criticizing Dr. Mack's methods and alleging his psychiatric intervention was harmful. Mack, surprised, suggested Bassett might be an abductee herself. Philip Klass angrily denied an accusation made by Mack. Questions to Mack focused on the consistency argument and the use of regression hypnosis. The report also mentions James McGaha's "Illustrated History of UFOs" and Philip Klass's discussion of the "Roswell Crashed Saucer" incident, which Klass attributes to misinterpretation of debris and errant radar reflectors.

Snippets

This section presents brief news items and commentary:

• Scientology on Aspirin: According to "The Scientology Handbook," aspirin inhibits the thetan's (soul's) ability to create mental images, rendering the thetan "stupid, blank, forgetful, delusive... irresponsible... not trustworthy."
• Senator Nancy Kassenbaum: The U.S. Senator's response to a "Weekly World News" revelation that she and other Senators are space aliens was a nonsensical quote in what is described as her "native tongue."
• Dr. Roy Kupsinel: The founder of the American Quack Association faces charges from the Florida Board of Medicine for false advertising, including claims about "accuspark" treatments and "Fat Eliminator."
• Holly Ramona Case: A California man, Gary Ramona, who claimed his daughter's allegations of sexual abuse were "false memories" implanted by therapists, won a precedent-setting court case, though awarded significantly less than sought.
• Dorothy Ann Mitchell: A Delray Beach "psychic" was arrested for organized fraud and grand theft after allegedly scamming a retiree by pretending to exorcise an evil curse for $20,000.
• Evander Holyfield and Benny Hinn: Heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield reportedly paid faith-healer Benny Hinn $265,000 for allegedly curing him of a heart ailment, though Hinn had previously claimed to cure a man of colon cancer when the tumor had actually been surgically removed.
• Gary Spivey: The Tampa "psychic" now has his own nightly radio program on WSUN-AM 620.
• American Understanding of Science: Findings from the American Museum of Natural History suggest most Americans are ignorant of basic scientific principles.

Letters • Readers' Forum

• Joe Lucas (Clearwater): Expresses a desire for TBS to take a more active role in investigating paranormal claims and suggests forming an investigative committee or response team. He notes magazines like "Kindred Spirit" and "Fate" are full of topics for skeptical inquiry.
• Gary P. Posner: Proposes a name for a rapid response team: "Tampa Bay Skeptics 'DIRTY RATS' (Detectives In Response To Your Reports of Anomalous yet True Sightings)."
• Alexander Mebane (Venice): Thanks TBS for the discount on Prometheus Books and mentions his nearly complete manuscript, "Darwin's Creation-Myth."
• Greg Simpson (Clearwater): Responds to an article about end-of-the-world prophecies, referencing James Randi's "The Mask of Nostradamus" and the unreliability of such predictions. He criticizes the use of scripture interpretation for prognostications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and the rigorous examination of paranormal and fringe-science claims. The publication actively debunks pseudoscience, criticizes media misrepresentation of scientific topics, and highlights the importance of evidence-based reasoning. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and against unsubstantiated claims, as demonstrated by the critiques of NBC's reporting on prayer, Dossey's book, and various news snippets. The organization also actively engages in promoting skeptical inquiry through its "$1,000 Challenge" and by providing resources like the "Prometheus Books" discount and information on other skeptical organizations.