News and Comment

opinion but were basically skeptical. NAS Scientists Highly Only 2 percent answered that they felt Skeptical About ESP psi anomalies had been demonstrated, with 3 percent saying psi sometimes and PK, Survey Reveals occurs. The National Academy of Sciences is composed of more than 1,500 of the n interesting survey of members most distinguished scientists in the of the National Academy of United States, elected to membership Ai Sciences about their attitudes for significant and sustained contri- toward has been butions to scientific knowledge. Prob- published in the journal of the American ably no group of scientists—other Society for Psychical Research (vol. 84, than U.S. Nobel Prize winners, of October 1991). whom virtually all are Academy It shows that these elite American members—could be considered more scientists are highly skeptical about eminent, and so their attitudes toward the existence of extrasensory percep- parapsychology are of considerable tion (ESP) and (PK). In interest. They are also now of con- fact, 77 percent either said such psi siderable concern to parapsycholo- abilities do "not occur" or said they gists. are "extremely skeptical" about them. Parapsychologist Robert A. An additional 19 percent voiced no McConnell, of the Biological Sciences

229 Department of the University of ogists, anthropologists, psychologists, Pittsburgh, carried out the poll. The social and political scientists, and motivating reason, he says, was his economists, and a randomly chosen 20 concern over the negative conclusions percent of the other NAS members. toward the evidence of parapsychol- McConnell introduced his survey ogy contained in the 1988 National letter with reference to what he terms Research Council (NRC) report the "uncompromising stand against Enhancing Human Performance. The parapsychology" of the earlier NRC NRC, the operating arm of the NAS, report and then defined extrasensory is congressionally chartered to carry perception and psychokinesis in this out studies for branches of the federal way: government, and the NRC committee that examined parapsychology found The hypothesis of parapsychology "no scientific justification from re- is that at least some humans can search conducted over a period of 130 bypass their sensory and motor years for the existence of parapsycho- mechanisms and, by means of voli- logical phenomena." (See "Enhancing tion, can to some slight degree reach Human Performance: What About directly to space and time outside Parapsychology," SI, Fall 1988. The themselves to gather information or NRC committee's second report, on to exert a force. The gathering of information in this way is called altering mental states, was published "extrasensory perception" (ESP), in September; see pp. 233-234 of this and the exertion of a force is called issue.) "psychokinesis" (PK). Parapsychologists were deeply concerned about that conclusion and He asked three questions, begin- other negative evaluations in the ning with, "What is your opinion report, and McConnell was among regarding the occurrence of ESP or PK?" those who counterattacked most The other two questions asked vociferously. He strongly complained respondents to give reasons for their to the president of the Academy and skepticism and their attitudes toward later circulated correspondence to encouraging further research in 6,690 persons, including 1,441 parapsychology. This time 239 of the members of the Academy, followed by recipients (49 percent) responded—a a second round of correspondence, percentage that McConnell feels is generally receiving very little high enough, with a few minor response. (That correspondence is caveats, to be generally extrapolated published in the appendices to his to the NAS membership as a whole. survey report.) He and others seem To the question about their belief sincerely not to understand why the in such psi abilities, 14 percent were evidence they feel parapsychologists certain that ESP and PK do not occur, have put forth for psychic phenomena and 63 percent were extremely skep- has not gained scientific acceptance. tical. An additional 19 percent checked Part of the reason for the poll was "I have no opinion to offer, but I am, to find out why. of course, skeptical." Only 5 percent In January 1990, McConnell sent answered either that "unexplained a brief multiple-choice questionnaire anomalies . . . suggesting ESP and/or on parapsychology to a sample of PK" had been demonstrated or that about one-third (491) of the 1,564 they believe psi "sometimes occurs." members of the NAS. McConnell says It is interesting to compare these it went to nearly all NAS neurobiol- extremely low levels of belief by

230 , Vol. 16 TABLE 1 NAS Members' Opinions Regarding Parapsychology

Response t o Question 1: Belief in Psi (ESP and PK) Tally Count and Percent of All Replies

Membership Groups Does not Extremely No Anomalies Psi (NAS Sections) occur skeptical opinion demonstrated occurs

Physical Scientists (A/=23) 3 (13%) 17(74%) 3 (13%) 0(0%) 0 (0%) Chemical Scientists (A/=22) 1 (5%) 19(86%) 1 (5%) 0(0%) 1 (5%) Geological Scientists (AM 1) 0 (0%) 8 (73%) 3 (27%) 0(0%) 0 (0%) Biochem. & Cellular (/\M8) 1 (6%) 12(67%) 5 (28%) 0(0%) 0 (0%) Neurobiologies (AM22) 6 (27%) 14 (64%) 1 (5%) 1(5%) 0 (0%) Organismic Biologists (A/=23) 3 (13%) 12 (52%) 7(30%) 1(4%) 0 (0%) Applied Physical (AM7) 5(29%) 8 (47%) 3 (18%) 1(6%) 0 (0%) Medical Scientists ( A M 7) 4 (24%) 8 (47%) 3(18%) 0(0%) 2(12%) Anthropologists (A/=23) 3 (13%) 12 (52%) 7(30%) 0(0%) 1 (4%) Psychologists (A/=27) 3(11%) 19 (70%) 4 (15%) 0(0%) 1 (4%) Social and Political (A£21) 2(10%) 12(57%) 6(29%) 1(5%) 0 (0%) Economists (AM5) 2 (13%) 9(60%) 3(20%) 0(0%) 1 (7%)

Gross Totals (A/=239) 33 (14%) 150 (63%) 46(19%) 4(2%) 6 (3%) Corrected Totals" (14%) (63%) (20%) (2%) (2%)

"Corrected totals are adjusted for sampling fraction. Source: McConnell and Clark. "National Academy of Sciences' Opinion on Parapsychology." J. Am Soc. of Psychical Research. 85:363-365. October 1991. eminent scientists with the levels percent. The remaining groups fell in found among adult Americans last the 77 percent to 65 percent range year by the Gallup poll (SI, Winter (anthropologists and organismic biol- 1991, p. 138). Gallup found that 49 ogists both had this "lowest" level of percent of the general population skepticism). believes in ESP, 36 percent in tele- The 77 percent of respondents (183 pathy, 26 percent in , and persons) who answered the first 17 percent in psychokinesis. question in the two most skeptical McConnell's questionnaires were categories were scored on the reasons coded to show to which of the dis- for their skepticism. (See Table 2.) ciplinary sections of the NAS each They were allowed to check more than respondent belonged. (See Table 1.) one answer. Seventy-one percent of These breakdowns show that for these checked "The phenomena have some groups the rate of rejection of not been explained and do not fit into the psi hypothesis (answering, "ESP known science." Five percent checked and PK do not occur" or that they are "I have personally done experiments "extremely skeptical") is extremely and obtained only chance results." high: neurobiologists, 91 percent; Eleven percent checked "I have per- chemists, 91 percent; physical scien- sonally studied some of the sup- tists, 87 percent; psychologists, 81 posedly best experiments and found

Spring 1992 231 The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal announces the 1992 CSICOP Conference at the Harvey Hotel in Dallas, Texas Friday, Saturday, and Sunday October 16, 17, and 18, 1992 FAIRNESS, FRAUD AND FEMINISM: CULTURE CONFRONTS SCIENCE

Keynote Address (Friday at 8:00 P.M.) Richard Dawkins distinguished professor of zoology at Oxford University, author of The Blind Watchmaker and The Selfish Gene

(Tentative Program)

Friday, October 16

7:30 - 9:00 A.M.: Registration

9:00 - 9:15 A.M.: Opening Remarks — Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman

9:15 A.M. - 12 NOON: MULTICULTURAL APPROACHES TO SCIENCE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY Moderator. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director, National Center for Science Education Bernard Ortiz de Montellano, professor of anthropology, Wayne State University Diana Marines, professor of biochemistry, Michigan State University Joseph Dunbar, professor of physiology, Wayne State University 12 NOON - 2:00 P.M.: Lunch Break TABLE 2 NAS Members' Opinions Regarding Parapsychology

Response to Question 2: Reasons for Disbelief in Psi (ESP a n d PK) Tally Count and Percent of All Disbelieving Replies1

Psi does Personal Study of Evaluations Other not "fir experiments journals by others reasons

Gross Totals (AM83) 130(71%) 9(5%) 20(11%) 88 (48%) 20(11%) Corrected Totals2 (73%) (5%) (10%) (45%) (10%)

'Scored only for replies choosing the first or second answer to Question 1. For each group, multiple responses to Question 2 total more than 100%. 2Corrected totals are adjusted for sampling fraction. Source: McConnell and Clark, "National Academy of Sciences' Opinion on Parapsychology," J. Am. Soc. of Psychical Research. 85:363-365. October 1991. them unconvincing." (Seven of these As for their attitudes toward para- 20 persons were psychologists, but in psychological research (see Table 3), his comments, McConnell laments of the 235 responding 25 percent said that few of the NAS members who it should be "discouraged," 63 percent checked this answer provided sup- said it should be "allowed but not porting detail about journals, papers, encouraged," and 10 percent said it etc., as he had asked, leaving him should be "encouraged." Neurobiolo- suspecting that few are really familiar gists and psychologists were the most with the parapsychological literature.) negative in these attitudes; anthropol- Forty-eight percent gave as a reason, ogists, the least. "I know of, and accept, negative All in all, the results seem most evaluations published by professional noteworthy for the extremely high scientists." Eleven percent checked levels of skepticism toward the exist- "other reasons" (such as poor repro- ence of ESP and PK held by members ducibility, questionable statistics, of the National Academy of Sciences. fraud, etc.). Given the much greater levels of belief

TABLE 3 NAS Members' Opinions Regarding Parapsychology

Response to Question 3: Attitude Toward Parapsychological Research Tally Count and Percent of All Replies

Should be Should be allowed but Should be discouraged not encouraged encouraged

Gross Totals (A/=235) 60 (25%) 150 (63%) 25(10%) Corrected Totals1 (25%) (65%) (9%)

'Corrected totals are adjusted for sampling fraction. Source: McConnell and Clark, "National Academy of Sciences' Opinion on Parapsychology," J. Am Soc. of Psychical Research. 85:363-365. October 1991.

232 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16 documented among nonscientists, documents. He interprets the results they reinforce the view that there is as an indication that most members a tremendous gap in perception about of the NAS "have rejected the evi- the validity of psi phenomena between dence for psi phenomena without the elite end of the scientific commun- having examined it" and "base their ity, on the one hand, and the general opinions almost entirely (a) upon the public on the other. fact that the purported phenomena The results would seem to provide are not explainable by the known little comfort to parapsychologists. principles of science and (b) upon McConnell tries to salvage some satis- the adverse opinions of 'other faction by pointing out that 1 in 25 scientists.' " NAS members accepts psi phenomena Whether that is a fair judgment or as having a nontrivial basis in reality not, his survey has provided some (leaving 24 out of 25 who do not), 1 much-needed hard data about the in 5 reserves judgment, and 3 out of beliefs and attitudes of eminent scien- 4 do not oppose continuation of re- tists toward claims of psychic phe- search. Indeed, McConnell, a strong nomena for comparison with those of defender of parapsychology and a the wider public. harsh critic of its critics, has consid- erable criticism for the attitudes he —Kendrick Frazier

Altering Mental States: review papers from outside specialists, made site visits to military and non- NRC Evaluates Claims military settings, and invited consul- D tants and advocates to speak to the The following is from an opening committee. Our study builds upon an statement by Robert A. Bjork, professor earlier National Research Council of psychology, University of California, report, also sponsored by the Institute, Los Angeles, and chair, Committee on that was released three years ago Techniques for the Enhancement of [Enhancing Human Performance; see SI, Human Performance, National Research Fall 1988]. This time, we again exam- Council, given at a news conference at ined this issue of "human technology," the National Academy of Sciences, in of how people can be helped to Washington, September 24, 1991, improve their performance in an era presenting conclusions of the Committee's of great technological advances. In the second report, In the Mind's Eye.* current study, we considered three specific areas: training, altering men- tal states, and preparing to perform. hat is the best way to train troops for battle and other In the second area of study kinds of tasks? This is but I mentioned—altered mental states— one of several questions our commit- we reach some interesting conclusions tee has been investigating at the about whether such states can lead to request of the U.S. Army Research better performance. Institute. Over a period of two years, Many people are trying to enhance we have examined the relevant scien- performance with subliminal self-help tific literature, commissioned several tapes. Americans bought an estimated

Spring 1992 233 $50 million of these tapes in 1987, and state and, by inference, their inten- sales probably have increased since tions. Learning these cues can help then. There are tapes purporting to someone spot a liar, although the lie- help listeners stop smoking, improve detection skills learned in dealing with their golf games, or become nicer Americans may not be valid with people. But can these tapes really alter people of other cultures. behavior and attitudes? We find such In the third area of the study— claims unwarranted from both a preparing to perform—we have favor- theoretical and empirical standpoint. able findings to report about some Research on some tapes shows that methods that people use to prepare their embedded messages are below for sports and other physical activities. the level of subliminal perception. Before Mike Powell made his historic Furthermore, even when there are long jump a few weeks ago, for detectable subliminal messages on the instance, he stood on the end of the tapes, there is no evidence that these track and visualized himself in motion. messages can change complex human We conclude that this kind of mental behaviors, such as smoking or building rehearsal really can improve perfor- self-esteem. [See articles in this mance. However, mental practice is issue.—ED.] less important than physical practice, Another way of altering a mental and it is more useful if done in state is through meditation. We find conjunction with the actual activity. no support for any special properties Imagining yourself swinging a golf of meditation as a technique to reduce club like Jack Nicklaus does is less stress or enhance performance. Ordi- helpful than hitting a bucket of balls. nary rest and relaxation are as effec- Another way to help performance tive. People who meditate regularly is through pre-performance rituals may pursue more peaceful lifestyles, that athletes use, like bouncing a but it is important to distinguish tennis ball before serving. These between the technique and lifestyle rituals contribute to physiological changes when determining why stress changes—such as reduced heart was reduced or other benefits rate—that are associated with better occurred. performance. We are more positive about psy- In summary, there is reason to be chological techniques for managing skeptical of some of the performance- pain. Research suggests that people enhancement techniques being pro- can be taught ways of handling moted to the American public. But physical pain without drugs. Relaxa- there also is an opportunity to learn tion techniques, providing informa- from a growing body of research and tion about what to expect, and to take advantage of some techniques enhancing a person's sense of control that do appear effective. Good inten- all help people to deal with pain more tions and dramatic claims are not effectively. enough. We should learn from scien- We also considered people's ability tific evidence and apply what has been to detect deception. Many people claim shown to really work. to have great skill at detecting lies. When asked to do this in random *Daniel Druckman and Robert A. Bjork, trials, however, they often fail. None- editors. In the Mind's Eye: Enhancing Human theless, liars often do exhibit body Performance, Committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance, movements and changes in their tone National Research Council (National of voice that reveal their emotional Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1991).

234 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16 Disclaimer ing notice began to appear with the Los Angeles Times astrology column: • Now in 42 Newspapers "The astrological forecast should be read for entertainment only." According to Friedman: "Since the hen we last reported the horoscope column appears on the status of the CSICOP cam- comic pages, near 'Calvin and Hobbes,' Wpaign to encourage newspa- it will be easy for me to notice should pers to carry disclaimers with their the disclaimer disappear, and I will be astrology columns (SI, Fall 1990), the happy to keep track of it." He also said, number doing so stood at 33. Since "I don't know how long ago they began that time there have been a number to run the disclaimer [it began in May of additions to the list as well as a 1991], but it's another victory for couple of deletions. Currently we are skeptics." aware of 42 newspapers that carry However, not all papers that run some sort of disclaimer. disclaimers do so because of the CSICOP has done two mailings to actions of readers. Jeannine R. Schaub, every newspaper in the United States associate publisher of the Boone (Iowa) concerning the disclaimer request— News-Republican, decided to add a the first in 1984, and the second in disclaimer because of the articles she 1988. Since that time, additions to the read in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. When list have been largely the result of she contacted us, she said: contacts with their local papers by SKEPTICAL INQUIRER readers. As daily newspapers go, we're small potatoes. But we do have our Many times a single letter can make standards. the difference. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER With the Astro-graph we get reader Eugene Friedman sent a letter from NEA, we run this disclaimer: to the Los Angeles Times asking if they "The following feature is offered would consider a disclaimer. He purely for entertainment pur- received a response from John Drey- poses." fuss, assistant to the associate editor, Add us to your list of those stating: newspapers who wish we'd never run that first astrology column. I discussed with both the Associate Editor and the View Editor the To the best of our knowledge these prospect of using a disclaimer are the papers that now carry dis- similar to those suggested in the claimers with their astrology columns: article you sent us from the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Montgomery Advertiser (Ala.) We are giving the idea careful Alabama Journal (Montgomery, Ala.) consideration and want to take some Tuscaloosa News (Ala.) time to weigh the questions in- Sun City Daily News (Ariz.) volved. Tucson Citizen (Ariz.) We appreciate both your bringing the idea of using a disclaimer to our Tucson Daily Star (Ariz.) attention and your interest in the Los Angeles Times (Calif.) Times. Wilmington News-Journal (Del.) St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) Apparently the weight of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Ga.) questions involved came out correctly, Honolulu Advertiser (Hawaii) because shortly thereafter the follow- Ka Leo O Hawaii (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Spring 1992 235 Charleston Times-Courier (111.) Asbury Park Press (N.J.) Mattoon Gazette (111.) Albuquerque Tribune (N.Mex.) Indianapolis Star (Ind.) Auburn Citizen (N.Y.) Boone News-Republican (Iowa) Hillsboro Press-Gazette (Ohio) Hiawatha Daily World (Kans.) Ravenna Record-Courier (Ohio) Baton Rouge Advocate (La.) Altoona Mirror (Pa.) Baton Rouge State Times (La.) Indiana Gazette (Pa.) Adrian Telegram (Mich.) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pa.) Battle Creek Enquirer (Mich.) Memphis Commercial-Appeal (Tenn.) Hillsdale Daily News (Mich.) Oak-Ridger (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) Marquette Mining Journal (Mich.) Austin American-Statesman (Tex.) Tupelo Daily Journal (Mich.) Orange Leader (Tex.) Rochester Post-Bulletin (Mich.) Sherman Democrat (Tex.) Kansas City Star (Mo.) Milwaukee Journal (Wis.) St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Mo.) Manchester Union-Leader (N.H.) —Barry Karr

Duplicating the Miracle an example of thixotropy—the prop- erty of certain gels to liquefy when • of the Liquefying Blood stirred or vibrated and to solidify again when left to stand. Shaking or even a slight disturbance makes a thixo- very few months since 1389 at tropic substance more fluid, even a cathedral in Naples, a vial of changing it from solid to liquid. Ewhat is said to be the blood of In a brief report in the British the martyred Saint Januarius, or San journal Nature (353:507, October 10, Genaro (who died about A.D. 305), is 1991), the authors describe how they ceremonially handled by religious reproduced liquefaction of samples leaders and, while observers watch, resembling the blood relics that they the contents turn from a clotted state prepared using substances available in to a liquid. This is treated as a religious the fourteenth century. They made a miracle. The event draws thousands solution of ferric chloride (found on of people to the cathedral, and in active volcanoes like Vesuvius), then recent times millions more witness it slowly added calcium carbonate on television. (chalk). After some evaporation was The phenomenon seems genuine allowed, they added a small amount and has generally been considered of sodium chloride (common salt) and unexplained. got a dark, brownish thixotropic fluid Now Luigi Garlaschelli of the that set in about one hour to a gel. Department of Organic Chemistry at They report that the gel can be the University of Pavia, , and two easily liquefied by gentle shaking, and colleagues from , Franco Ramac- the liquefaction/solidification cycle is cini and Sergio Delia Sala (of San Paolo highly repeatable. Hospital), have proposed a natural They note that in the typical blood- explanation for the event—and have liquefaction ceremony, the glass- even duplicated the process. walled relic case is repeatedly inverted. They suggest the phenomenon is "Thus a successful performance of the

236 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16 rite does not involve any conscious Catholic teaching. People have always cheating. Indeed, inadvertent liquefac- been free to believe or not believe in tion events have been observed many them as they wish." times over the centuries during hand- The Times of London quoted Mer- ling for repairs to the case that vyn Alexander, a Roman Catholic contains the vial." bishop in Clifton, who pointed out The authors are continuing their that there was no suggestion of experiments to form bloodlike thixo- fakery: "Belief in the authenticity of tropic mixtures with other common such things is a personal judgment and substances and have had some success. some people feel moved to accept "The chemical nature of the Naples them." relic can be established only by open- The London newspaper also ing the vial, but a complete analysis reported that chemist Garlaschelli is forbidden by the Catholic church. first became interested in the Naples Our replication of the phenomenon ceremony after reading some cor- seems to render the sacrifice un- respondence about it in the magazine necessary." CICAP, published by the Italian Church leaders were moderate in equivalent of the Committee for the their reaction. A spokesman for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of church, the Reverend Peter Verity, the Paranormal. was quoted as saying: "These phe- nomena have never been a part of —Kendrick Frazier

skeptics organization). But while they Orgonomists Meet in are ostensibly committed to scientific Princeton, Promote methodology, the Reichians accept notions that are usually associated J Reichian Legacy

he American College of Orgon- omy, whose members are follow- Ters of Wilhelm Reich, held their annual meeting October 5 and 6,1991, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Prince- ton, New Jersey. The College, headed by Richard Blasband, is one of three factions of "orthodox" Reichians laying claim to the legacy of the controversial psychoanalyst-turned- biophysicist. None of these three factions is to be confused with the "neo-Reichian" followers of either Alexander Lowen or Charles Kelley. The College's members include psychiatrists, physical scientists, and individuals from a variety of other professions (not unlike a typical

Spring 1992 237 with New Age mysticism: flying PEAR lab is also conducting experi- saucers, clairvoyance, the power of ments to see if human consciousness prayer over plants, the laying on of can influence a random-number hands, mind over matter, and spon- generator. Some of PEAR's research- taneous generation. The orgonomists, ers find the results to be absolutely however, hold that these phenomena convincing. It was freely admitted that have all been demonstrated through this line of research originated with scientific experiments, not merely Targ and Puthoff at SRI International revealed by way of mystical in California, but no one seemed to experiences. be aware of the many questions that There were seven presentations on have been raised about that research. Sunday, following the annual dinner Steven Dunlap, a microbiologist for the previous night. Three were by a large chemical corporation, showed persons in the field of psychology; a video that purported to feature living their talks fell well within the parame- microbes developing in a sterile ters of accepted, conventional knowl- medium. The experiment involved edge in the discipline. But the four sterilizing beakers of dirt and then papers by the physical scientists were watching them through a microscope. another matter. It would have been easy enough to Bernard Grad of Montreal spoke of replicate, and it is curious that no one the effects of Reichian orgone accu- other than orgonomists has ever done mulators on cancerous mice. Accord- so. ing to his findings, mice treated with Richard Blasband gave the day's these Reichian devices were signifi- final talk on an experiment of his with cantly less likely to die from cancer orgone accumulators that showed than the controls were. His statistics slight differences between the showed that this was because they temperature inside a small accumula- were dying faster from other causes, tor and that inside a control box made but Grad did not follow this up. Part of plastic. Blasband said the temper- of his talk concerned an alleged psychic ature inside his accumulator (made of healer, Oskar Estebany, an elderly layers of wood and metal) both rose man who had once served as an officer and fell faster than it did in the control. in the Hungarian army, whose "heal- It was not clear what this proved, ing hands" were supposed to have other than the already known fact that beneficial effects on plants, animals, metal and plastic do not conduct heat and people. Water contained in bottles at the same rate. that had been held in Estebany's Considering the extraordinary "healing hands" for half an hour nature of the claims made by the displayed unique characteristics when presenters, it was curious that very analyzed through a spectroscope. little time was allowed for questions Again, the significance of the phenom- from the audience of about 50. Bias- enon was left unexplained. band invariably intervened to cut off Roger Nelson, a colleague of discussion after two or three ques- Robert Jahn at the Princeton Engi- tions. Only at the end of his own neering Anomalies Research (PEAR) presentation did he permit more than Laboratory, which specializes in a minute or two for discussion. parapsychological studies, gave an During the meeting nothing was account of remote-viewing experi- said about UFOs, which the Reichians ments that appeared to validate the put great stock in, and there were no phenomenon of clairvoyance. The papers on weather control ("cloud-

238 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16 busting"), another favorite Reichian ors, for example, were also supposed preoccupation. The one paper on to possess "healing hands"; clair- politics had to be canceled because the voyance and telekinesis were widely presenter was ill, although the far- believed in during the nineteenth right doctrines Reich identified with century; and even Reich's "orgone in his later years were very much in energy" was anticipated by Anton evidence. The word on the overthrow Mesmer's doctrine of animal mag- of Communism in Eastern Europe was netism. that it was a Communist plot. The College of Orgonomy may The conference presented a curious have mellowed a bit since the recent picture all told. The orgonomists claim departure of some of its most fanatical to have invalidated the paradigms of adherents, led by Courtney Baker. virtually all other schools in every field And the psychotherapists in the of scientific endeavor—physics, biol- group, in particular, have a more ogy, cosmology, meteorology, psy- open-minded approach to theory and chology, and even the social sciences. research than their colleagues in the Yet no new theories have come out physical sciences. But it is obvious that of the College since Reich's death in orgonomists will have a difficult time 1957. All of the experiments were being taken seriously, whatever the aimed at proving the things that Reich merits of their work in the field of argued for during his lifetime. And the depth psychology, if they continue to phenomena described by the orgon- peddle mystical notions in scientific omists usually predated the age of dress. science by centuries: Roman emper- —Richard Morrock

dictions, conveniently forgetting Psychics' Predictions those made the year before. Each year, (Surprise!) Fizzle however, the Bay Area Skeptics dig up the predictions made the year for 1991 before, to the embarrassment of those who made them. Many of the psychics' predictions addam Hussein was not killed in are so vague that it is impossible to an accidental nuclear explosion, say if they came true or not. Many Snor was he brought to trial. A other "predictions" involve things that massive earthquake did not dump happen every year, or else are not California into the ocean. Pope John difficult to guess, such as hurricanes Paul II was not charged by a crazed along the Gulf Coast, marital strife camel, and Tom Cruise did not lose for Charles and Diana, or severe his hair. These were just a few of the winter storms. Many supposed "pre- many predictions that had been made dictions" simply state that ongoing for 1991 by famous "psychics," but events and trends will continue, such they were dead wrong, as chronicled as economic uncertainty and conflict by the Bay Area Skeptics. in the Middle East. At the end of each year, many well- Other supposed "predictions" are known psychics issue predictions for not really predictions at all, but are the year to come. Twelve months actually disclosures of little-known later, they issue another set of pre-

Spring 1992 239 events that are already under way, Monaco's Prince Rainier and predicted such as movie productions, business that the world would be stunned as ventures, and developing scandals. "the old order" in China, Korea, and Because questionable claims of amaz- Japan suddenly fell apart like the ing predictions frequently are made in Berlin wall. No major changes the wake of major news stories, the occurred in any of those governments Bay Area Skeptics only evaluates during 1991 (The Star, April 16,1991). predictions that were published or Another Southern California "psy- broadcast before the events they chic," Clarisa Bernhardt, who is claimed to foretell. claimed to make "uncanny earthquake Denver "psychic" Lou Wright predictions," foresaw that the much- predicted that a magnitude 7.0 earth- heralded earthquake that was sup- quake would devastate the Los posed to hit Missouri in December Angeles area in September (The Globe, 1990 would actually strike in the fall December 25, 1990). She also pre- of 1991. She also predicted that Imelda dicted that an air disaster would kill Marcos and Tammy Faye Bakker hundreds of vacationers on their way would team up to open a nationwide to Hawaii in March (National Enquirer, chain of clothing and shoe boutiques January 1,1991). (National Enquirer, January 1,1991). "Psychic" Tony Leggett predicted It is important to note that no that Vice-President Quayle would psychic predicted the genuinely sur- temporarily stand in for the president prising stories of 1991: the military when Bush is stricken with heart coup in the Kremlin that was defeated problems, that a former president almost bloodlessly by supporters of would die in the fall, and that an democracy, followed just a few months assassination attempt on Soviet Pres- later by the complete dissolution of ident Gorbachev would be foiled by the Soviet Union; Saddam Hussein a courageous American tourist (The deliberately causing one of the world's Examiner, December 25,1990). largest oil spills, then torching The famous Washington, D.C., Kuwait's oil fields; the most destruc- "psychic" Jeane Dixon, who sup- tive wildfire in California history posedly has a "gift of prophecy," saw devastating the Oakland and Berkeley the Reverend Jimmy Swaggart's min- hills; and a highly publicized rape trial istry being "saved" by a last-minute of a member of the Kennedy family. donation this year, rather than being Based on the continuing failure of destroyed by another scandal involv- psychics to make accurate predictions ing a prostitute. She also predicted over the years, the Bay Area Skeptics that Prince Charles and Princess urged everyone—including the Diana would announce their separa- media—to exercise some healthy tion. (The Star, December 25, 1990). skepticism when psychics and other In April 1991, Jeane Dixon issued her purveyors of the paranormal make predictions for the aftermath of the extraordinary claims or predictions. Gulf War. While this did contain the "Anyone who swallows the psychics' correct prediction of the release of the claims year after year without check- Western hostages in Lebanon, she also ing the record is setting a bad example predicted that Saddam Hussein would for students and for the public." either be assassinated or be put on trial for war crimes in a Moslem court. She —Yves Barbero, Robert Steiner, also saw terrorist attacks being made and Robert Sheaffer, of the against the British Royal Family and Bay Area Skeptics

240 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16 Big Foot Dead D Or Alive?

efore former CSICOP executive director BMark Plummer re- turned to the wilds of Aus- tralia, he visited this Big Foot Cemetery in northern Illinois, which has been in existence since 1840. As he asks, "What further proof is necessary?"

Legal Loss for people to an organization and to have them pay money in the way it was • Scientology in Norway done in this case. Sixty-year-old Marion Lem had never borrowed money until she he Norwegian Church Scientol- became a Scientologist. A divorced and ogy lost a civil court case in Oslo lonely woman, she had earlier in her Trecently. The cult was ordered to life received psychological treatment return U.S. $20,000, which Marion and was looking for someone to help Lem had paid for courses and her with her problems. materials. In Scientology she took the basic Lem was a Scientologist for a few communication course as well as the months in 1985. Later she decided to so-called purification rundown. In quit and consulted a lawyer in order addition, she received 137 hours of to sue the cult. In 1988, however, Lem auditing. Altogether Lem spent about died of cancer. Her son, Steinar Lem, U.S. $20,000, of which about $14,000 decided to continue with the lawsuit was financed by a bank loan. on behalf of his late mother. The court found that it had been The city court of Oslo stated in its proved that Lem was physically and decision that there is a significant com- psychologically exhausted after hav- mercial and competitive aspect of ing taken the "purification rundown" Scientology in its effort to achieve course, Judge Berg wrote in her economic expansion. ruling. Judge Vigdis Berg also wrote that Judge Berg found that Lem's pay- it is "morally improper" to attach ment of money to the Church of

Spring 1992 241 Scientology had taken place after improper pressure, almost coercion D For the Record from the cult. The Church of Scientology cult was ordered to repay the $20,000 to n the list of previous recipients of Lem's son in addition to covering his CSICOP's In Praise of Reason legal expenses. I Award, on page 16 of the Fall 1991 During the past two years, the issue, we inadvertently omitted the Norwegian Church of Scientology has name of Antony Flew and ascribed a settled a number of repayment claims wrong year to Sidney Hook's award. with ex-Scientologists out of court. British philosopher Antony Flew However, the cult consistently has received the 1985 award at the failed to fulfill these agreements. CSICOP meeting in London. Amer- The Marion Lem decision was the ican philosopher Sidney Hook re- first legal ruling of its type in Norway. ceived the 1984 award. SOS Norway, a support group for ex- * * * Scientologists, has described the The article "Lucien and Alexander: decision as a major victory in its fight Debunking in the Classical Style" (Fall against Scientology. 1991) was reprinted with permission The Norwegian Church of Scien- from the Spring 1991 National Capital tology said in a press release that the Area Skeptical Eye, copyright 1991 cult will appeal the decision. It stated National Capital Area Skeptics. in its press release that the anti- * * * religious group SOS Norway has used In Susan Blackmore's article "Near- this court case to "promote gossips and Death Experiences: In or Out of the to try to hurt a religion which has Body" in our Fall 1991 issue, two enabled millions of people to have a references, to articles by R. L. Morris better life." et al. and C. T. Tart, incorrectly cited the Journal of the Society for Psychical —John Einar Sandvand Research instead of the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. John Sandvand is a journalist in Oslo, The error occurred in the production Norway. process.

OUT THERE Rob Pudim

242 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 16