GARDNER ON • CREATIONISM AND 'RARE EARTH' • WHEN IS THE ENEMY

THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE AND REASON Volume 25, No. 6 • November/December 2001 THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE AT THE -INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF AT BUFFALO) • AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION , Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy. State University of New York at Buffalo , Executive Director , Research Fellow , Research Fellow , Research Fellow Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director FELLOWS

James E. Alcock,* psychologist. York Univ., Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts Loren Pankratz, psychologist. Oregon Health Toronto and Sciences, prof, of philosophy. University Sciences Univ. Jerry Andrus, magician and inventor, Albany, of Miami John Paulos, mathematician. Temple Univ. Oregon C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist. Univ. of Wales Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist. MIT Marcia Angell, M.D.. former editor-in-chief, Al Hibbs, scientist. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, New England Journal of Medicine Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human under­ executive director CICAP, Italy Robert A. Baker, psychologist. Univ. of standing and cognitive science, Univ. Milton Rosenberg, psychologist, Univ. of Kentucky Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Stephen Barrett M.D., psychiatrist, author, Physics and professor of history of science. Wallace Sampson, M.D., clinical professor of consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Harvard Univ. ,* biopsychologist. Simon Ray Hyman,* psychologist. Univ. of Oregon medicine, Stanford Univ., editor. Scientific Fraser Univ.. Vancouver, B.C., Canada , sciences editor emeritus, Time Review of Irving Biederman, psychologist Univ. of Sergei Kapitza, former editor, Russian edition. Amardeo Sarma, engineer, head of dept. Southern Scientific American at T-Nova Deutsche Telekom, executive , psychologist. Univ. of the Philip J. Klass,* aerospace writer, engineer director, GWUP, Germany. West of England, Bristol Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director, Griffith Evry Schatzman. former president. French Henri Broch, physicist. Univ. of Nice, France Observatory Physics Association Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor Paul Kurtz,* chairman, CSICOP Eugenie Scott physical anthropologist, execu­ emeritus of English, Univ. of Utah Lawrence Kusche, science writer tive director. National Center for Science Vern Bullough, professor of history, California Leon Lederman, emeritus director, Fermilab; Education State Univ. at Northridge Nobel laureate in physics Thomas A. Sebeok, anthropologist Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University Scott Lilienfeld. psychologist, Emory Univ. John R. Cole, anthropologist, editor, National linguist, Indiana Univ. Lin Zixin, former editor. Science and Robert Sheaffer, science writer Center for Science Education Technology Daily (China) Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, Elie A. Shneour, biochemist, author, Jere Lipps, Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of professor emeritus of English, Univ. of director, Biosystems Research Institute, California, Berkeley California. Berkeley La Jolla, Calif. Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology, Dick Smith, film producer, publisher. Terrey F. H. C Crick, biophysicist Salk Inst, for Univ. of Washington Hills, N.S.W.. Australia Biological Studies. La Jolla. Calif; Nobel Prize Paul MacCready, scientist/engineer, laureate Robert Steiner, magician, author, AeroVironment, Inc., Monrovia, Calif. Richard Oawkins, zoologist. Oxford Univ. El Cerrito. Calif. John Maddox, editor emeritus of Nature Cornelis de Jager, professor of astrophysics, Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer, SETI Institute, David Marks, psychologist City University. London. Univ. of Utrecht, the Netherlands Mountain View, Calif. Walter C. McCrone, microscopist, McCrone Paul Edwards, philosopher, editor, Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Research Institute Encyclopedia of Philosophy Angeles, Calif. Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and Kenneth Feder, professor of anthropology. David Thomas, physicist and mathematician. Central Connecticut State Univ. science writer, Mexico City, Mexico Peralta. New Mexico Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ., U.K. Marvin Minsky, professor of media arts and Stephen Toulmin, professor of philosophy, Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer. Foothill College, sciences, M.I.T. Univ. of Southern California Los Altos Hills, Calif. David Morrison, space scientist. NASA Ames .* science writer, editor, Research Center Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and direc­ tor, Hayden Planetarium, New York City SxtpncAi INQUIRER Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. Yves Galifret vice-president Affiliated of Calif.. Berkeley Marilyn vos Savant Parade magazine con­ Organizations: France H. Narasimhaiah, physicist, president, tributing editor and CBS News correspondent , • author, critic Bangalore Science Forum, India Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and Murray Gell-Mann, professor of physics, Santa Dorothy Nelkin, sociologist. New York Univ. astronomy, Univ. of at Austin; Nobel Fe Institute; Nobel Prize laureate Joe Nickell,* senior research fellow, CSICOP Prize laureate Lee Nisbet* philosopher, Medaille College Thomas Gilovich. psychologist, Cornell Univ. Richard Wiseman, psychologist. University of Bill Nye, science educator and television host, , magician, columnist Toronto Hertfordshire , Museum of Comparative Nye Labs Marvin Zelen, statistician, Harvard Univ. Zoology, Harvard Univ. James E. Oberg, science writer Saul Green, PhD. biochemist president of 20L Irmgard Oepen, professor of medicine * Member, CSICOP Executive Council Consultants. New York, NY (retired), Marburg, Germany (Affiliations given for identification only.)

Visit the CSICOP Web site at http://www.csicop.org

The (ISSN 0194-6730) a published bimonthly by the Committee for the Anicles. reports, reviews, and letters published in the SKEPTICM. INQUIRER represent the Scientific Investigation of Qaims of the Paranormal, 1310 Sweet Home Rd.. Amherst. NY views and work of individual authors. Their publication does not necessarily constitute an 14228. Printed in U.SA Pcnodicali postage paid at Buffalo, NY. Subscription prices; one year endorsement by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. (six issues), S35; two yean, $58; three yean, $81; single issue. $495. Canadian and foreign orders: Copyright ©2001 by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claim* of the Payment in U.S. hinds drawn on a U.S. bank must accompany orders; please add US$10 per year Paranormal. All rights reserved. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is available on 16mm microfilm. for shipping. Canadian and foreign customers are encouraged to use Visa or MasterCard. 35mm microfilm, and 105mm microfiche from University Microfilms International and is Inquiries from the media and the public about the work of the Committee should be made Indexed in the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. to Paul Kurtz. Chairman, CSICOP. Box 703. Amherst, NY 14226-0703. Tel.: 716-636-1425. Subscriptions and changes of address should be addressed to: SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Box FAX; 716-636-1733. 703. .Amherst. NY 14226-0703. Or call toll-free 1-800-634-1610 (outside U.S. call 716-636- Manuscripts, letters, books for review, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to Kendrick 1425)- Old address as well as new are necessary for change of subscriber's address, with six Frazier. Editor. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. 944 Deer Drive NE, Albuquerque. NM 87122. Fax 505- weeks advance notice. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER subscribers may not speak on behalf of CSICOP 828-2080. Before submitting any manuscript, please consult our Guide for Authors for format or the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. and references requirements. It is OD OUT Web rite at http://www.csicop.org/ rVfttmastcn Send changes of address to SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Box 703. Amherst, NY si/guide-for-aurhors.html. Or you may send a rax request to the editor. 14226-0703. COLUMNS

Skeptical Inquirer EDITOR'S NOTE 4 November/December 2001 • VOL. 25, NO. 6 NEWS AND COMMENT Accreditation Commission Approves School / Astrology in : Kepler College Looks to the Stars, But It Is Not Accredited / Was the 'Rare Earth' Hypothesis Influenced by a ARTICLES Creationist? / Bogus Prophecies Circulate Following Terrorism / Hardly a Prayer on ABC's 'Downtown' / ' Flies' Feed on Levy Disappearance / Nothing But Trouble in 's 26 A Critique of Schwartz et al.'s Tarot Cards S After-Death Communication Studies NOTES OF A FRINGE-WATCHER Ernest Hemingway and Jane Studies with mediums by and colleagues MARTIN GARDNER 16 have been widely reported in the media as scientific proof of life after death. But their experiments did not employ blind INVESTIGATIVE FILES judging, used an inappropriate control group, and had : Hustling the Bereaved insufficient safeguards against sensory leakage. JOE NICKELL 19 RICHARD WISEMAN and CIARAN O'KEEFFE PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS Conspire This! 32 in ROBERT SHEAFFER 23 Complementary and Alternative Medicine NEW BOOKS 64 and other popular therapies demonstrate SCIENCE BEST SELLERS 65 ancient and universal principles of magical thinking ARTICLES OF NOTE 65 which some recent research suggests are fundamental to human cognition, even rooted in neurobiology. COMMENTARY When Scientific Evidence Is the Enemy PHILLIPS STEVENS, JR. ELIZABETH LOFTUS 14

38 Educational Malpractice FORUM Why Do So Many Biology Teachers The Shield of the Open Mind GARRETT G. FAGAN 66 Endorse Creationism? We often blame the poor state of evolution education on LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 68 factors such as political pressure and weak science-education standards. However, there is an additional, and simpler, explanation: the surprisingly high percentage of biology BOOK REVIEWS teachers who endorse creationism. RANDY MOORE The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets itraa 44 Philosophers and : and Remembers The Vandy Episode By Daniel L. Schacter A modern philosopher has proposed that various well- .60 documented instances of postmortem communications have a "naturalistic explanation" involving psychical Everyday Irrationality: transmissions and premature burial The present How Pseudo-scientists, Lunatics, discussion critically examines these claims. and the Rest of us Systematically KENNETH OLDFIELD Fail to Think Rationally By Robyn M. Dawes CSICOP'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY JOACHIM KRUEGER .61

50 The Origins and Evolution From the Wandering Jew to William F Buckley, Jr.: of CSICOP On Science, Literature, and Religion Science Is Too Important to Be By Martin Gardner MARK DURM 62 Left to Scientists LEE NISBET The Mammoth Encyclopedia of the Unsolved 53 Never a Dull Moment By Colin Wilson and Damon Wilson 63 BARRY KARR On the cover: From the Mary Evans Picture Gallery, London. A spirit seance in a garret on a winter evening in Germany. Illustration by Hans 58 A Quarter Century of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Baluschet 1906. EDITOR'S NOTE Skeptical Inquirer TH[ MAGAZINE *OB SCIENCE AND REASON

EDITOR Kendrick Frazier The Face of Evil EDITORIAL BOARD James E. Akock Barry Beyerstein write only a week after the terrible terrorist attacks on the World Trade Thomas Casten Center towers and the Pentagon. The evil of these acts is almost too much Martin Gardner I Ray Hyman to comprehend. We deal in these pages regularly with, among other things, the Lawrence Jones by-products of unreason, irrationality, ignorance, intolerance, deceit, and dog­ Philip J. Klass Paul Kurtz matism. We occasionally examine issues surrounding extreme religious beliefs. Joe Nickell Here all this and the worst political and cultural extremism were combined in Lee Nisbet Amardeo Sarma a violent mix of hatred and cold, calculated conception. Where can we find Bela Scheiber solace? In all the highest manifestations of the human spirit that we have since Eugenie Scott CONSULTING EDITORS seen demonstrated. Where can we find understanding? I don't know. I recall Robert A. Baker Jacob Bronowski, in The Ascent of Man, reaching into die mud and ashes of Susan J. Blackmore John R. Cole Auschwitz, where evil was manifest in die twentieth century, and telling us, Kenneth L. Feder "That was not done by gas. It was done by arrogance. It was done by dogma. C. E. M. Hansel E. C. Krupp It was done by ignorance." And, in both cases too, it was done by hate. Scott O. Lilienfeld * * • David F. Marks James E. Oberg It may be awhile before the entertainment media and the paranormal promot­ Robert Sheaffer David E. Thomas ers get back to their old topics with the same force. But you can bet they will. Richard Wiseman One of die pre-attack hot topics was the and paranormal bunk of MANAGING EDnOR Benjamin Radford John Edward and other media-sawy people who claim they can communicate ART DIRECTOR with the dead. In this issue, we critique this modern-day mcdiumistic spiritu­ Lisa A. Hutter alism from two directions. PRODUCTION Paul Loynes One is a scientific critique by Richard Wiseman and Ciaran O'Keeffe of a Jason Mussachio widely reported published paper by Gary Schwartz and colleagues. Schwartz et CARTOONIST al. reported two studies this year they said showed that mediums appeared to Rob Pudim WEB PAGE DESIGNER produce accurate information about the deceased under conditions the authors Patrick Fitzgerald

said "eliminate the factors of fraud, error, and statistical coincidence." PUBLISHER S REPRESENTATIVE Wiseman and O'Keeffe find serious flaws in the experiments. The researchers Barry Karr did not employ blind judging, they used an inappropriate control group, and CORPORATE COUNSEL Brenton N. VerPloeg they did not have sufficient safeguards against sensory leakage. They say it is BUSINESS MANAGER impossible to use these studies as evidence of mediumistic ability. Sandra Lesniak The other is a fine report by our knowledgeable Investigative Files colum­ FISCAL OFFICER Paul Paulin nist Joe Nickell, "John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved." Joe shows how the CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER modern-day spiritualism of John Edward (one of the five mediums Schwartz Arthur Urrows DEVELOPMENT OFFICER et al. claimed fared well in their tests), , , and James Kimberly others compares with the long-discredited nineteenth century seance-type spir­ CHIEF DATA OFFICER itualists that Houdini and others exposed. Joe finds it very useful to show evi­ Michael Cione STAFF dence of the actual methods these modern-era TV mediums use. He describes Patricia Beauchamp some of their techniques, including , "" (getting infor­ Darlene Banks Jodi Chapman mation in advance), inflating "hits," ignoring or reinterpreting misses, and Allison Cossitt even browbeating sitters into dunking a miss is their fault. He also reports on Jennifer Miller Matthew Nisbet one clear example of out-and-out cheating. Heidi Sander Ranjit Sandhu Anthony Santa Lucia We conclude our 25th anniversary observance in this issue with articles by Lee John Sullivan Vance Vigrass Nisbet and Barry Karr and a selection of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER covers from this PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR fast-moving past quarter century. Kevin Christopher INQUIRY MEDIA PRODUCTIONS Thomas Flynn DIRECTOR OF UBRARIES Timothy S. Binga ^^-^X~~J4C The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, an international organization.

4 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

Astrology Schools Seek-And Get-Academic Recognition

Accreditation only recognizes that the school fulfills accrediting a school of astrology, which Commission Approves what it promises its students' is patently cannot demonstrate the reality or effi­ absurd. If a school were to promise that cacy of what it teaches." Astrology School it would teach techniques for flying by In an August 28, 2001, interview with leaping off cliffs with no equipment, I KEVIN CHRISTOPHER doubt any accrediting agency would ACCREDITATION COMMISSION rush to give them official sanctions. APPROVES ASTROLOGY SCHOOL The Astrological Institute in Scotts- There should be similar hesitation about Continued on page 6 dale, Arizona, received its new nation­ wide accreditation from the Accred­ iting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACC- Astrology in Seattle: Kepler College Looks SCT) in September 2001—an appar­ to the Stars, But It Is Not Accredited ent first in astrology. The Astrological Institute offers full MARK G. KUZYK enrollments to increase once the masters degrees in this ancient Babylonian art of program gets underway. divination, which is based on the The Higher Education Coordinating The first year BA curriculum starts premise that the positions of stars and (HEC) Board of the state of Washington with courses in the history of astrology, planets affect people's personalities and issued on March 9, 2000, a Certificate such as Astrology in Medieval fates. Belief in the practice persists of Authorization to Kepler College of Civilization, which covers astrology in despite the lack of any reliable scientific Astrological Arts and Sciences—located its religious and cultural contexts from evidence that it actually works, accord­ in Lynnwood, Washington, just outside the beginning of the Christian Era ing to Andrew Fraknoi, a CSICOP fel­ of Seattle—to offer degree programs in through the European Renaissance; low and chair of the astronomy depart­ Bachelor of Arts in Astrological Studies, mathematics used in astronomical/ ment at Foothill College in Los Altos Master of Arts in Astrological astrological observations and celestial Hills, California. "Although astrologers Counseling, and Masters of Arts in navigation; and the relationship between like to pretend such evidence does Astrological Studies. astrology, the sciences, and the exist," says Fraknoi, "astrology has in "The founding of the college will Christian, Islamic, and pagan philoso­ fact been tested in dozens of excellent lead to heightened public respect and phies of the medieval period. The stu­ scientific trials, and it has consistently expectations of what astrology is dents are offered BA tracks of study. My failed them. There's simply no evidence capable of providing to the full spec­ favorite is called Astrology and the New that astrology works—that it predicts trum of society," Enid Newberg, presi­ Sciences. It includes topics such as chaos anything or categorizes people in any dent of the new college, said in a news theory and fractal mathematics, apply­ way that can be used to help them." release when the state authorization was ing whole systems theory and hologra­ Commenting on the Astrological finally granted. phy to astrology, relativity and the uni­ Institute's accreditation in a recent According to Newberg, thirty-one fied field theory and its relationship to story, Judith Eaton, students enrolled in July 2000 for astrology, and the basics of quantum who heads the Council for Higher Kepler's first term of all-Web-based theory and its potential relationship to Education Accreditation in Washington, classes—about half the number Kepler astrology. D.C., said that the accreditation does expected, according to its application to Kepler's application for degree autho­ not validate astrology, but only recog­ the HEC Board. Their ages ranged from rization to the state of Washington nizes that the school fulfills its promises seventeen to seventy-one and were geo­ stresses a cross-disciplinary liberal arts to students. graphically spread throughout the curriculum that weaves astrology into Scientists like Fraknoi dispute and other countries. history, math, and science courses. Eaton's distinction between the validity Kepler's third term, which ended in die These materials and their Web site of the subject taught and quality of ser­ summer of 2001, began with twenty stu­ (www.kepler.edu) hint at a broader vice to students. "Accrediting a school dents. Newberg says thirteen new stu­ agenda: to legitimize astrology. Promo­ for a technique which has no demon­ dents and eighteen returning students tional materials on the Web clearly state strable basis in fact seems to be the very are attending next academic year, about opposite of what accreditation should be one quarter of the 119 students expected ASTROLOGY IN SEA TTLE about. The notion that accreditation by Kepler's Board. Newberg expects Continued on page 6

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 5 NEWS AND COMMENT

ACCREDITATION COMMISSION of evening workshops at the local high of Astrologers, Witch Doctors, and APPROVES ASTROLOGY SCHOOL school and "entertainment" horoscopes. Soothsayers. To the contrary, Kepler is from page 5 In practical terms, as Fraknoi fears, the accredited by the Higher Education recognition elevates the subject to the Coordinating Board of the state of Robert Siegel, host of NPR's AH Things same level as any other program at any Washington. Thus, this board used the Considered, Joyce Jensen stated her belief other college or university. Accreditation power of the law to make Kepler the peer the accreditation does lend credibility to will open the doors to student financial of the University of Washington." astrology. When Siegel asked how she aid and grants paid for by federal tax dol­ Hardly anyone would claim that the thought it would do this, Jensen focused lars. It will also professionalize a lucrative HEC Board's actions makes Kepler on the vocation, not the science: business where, according to Jensen, College the peer of the University of "Because, you know, we've gone through astrologers charge clients between $150 Washington. Many institutions in the the same process that every other school and $300 per hour. By seeking the stamp state are authorized by the HEC Board, has gone through. So we've proven our of approval for the teaching of a voca­ and their perceived quality covers a ability to provide a program where people tion, the Astrology Institute has deftly broad spectrum. While Washington can find employment." For Jensen the shifted the question away from the qual­ state's "authorization" may appear to popular perception of astrology as a legit­ ifications of astrology to the qualifica­ endorse astrology, the HEC Board imate vocation trumps the question of tions of the astrologer. points out that authorization is inde­ scientific credibility. pendent of accreditation. In correspon­ The nationwide accreditation of the Kevin Christopher is Public Relations dence between the HEC Board and institute takes astrology out of the realm Director for CSICOP. Kepler College, the HEC Board clearly requires Kepler College to not use the term "accredited." Any implication of ASTROLOGY IN SEATTLE degree in counseling. The Web site accreditation is grounds for the HEC from page 5 states, "This program focuses on the Board to repeal authorization. Kepler accepted theory and practice in psycho­ College therefore walks a fine line when this agenda with comments such as logical and philosophical counseling and its Web site reads, "Astrology Regains "Kepler College will provide an acade­ advising and how astrology can be used Academic Standing." mic setting for accurate and objective as an integral component of any counsel­ So what does Washington state mean research projects by those who are well- ing practice. This study is designed as by authorization^ According to Karen versed in astrology, countering less-than- comparable to a Master's in Social Work Oelschlager, an administrative assistant accurate and biased research conclusions with an emphasis in Counseling." Does at the Higher Education Coordinating from other less informed academicians." this imply that a graduate from Kepler Board, all educational institutions must Washington's authorization of degree College can set up a private counseling meet minimum administrative require­ programs in astrology gives Kepler praaice? The state of Washington did ments such as showing guidelines for College an air of legitimacy that Kepler not consider this aspect of Kepler's administration and governance and will use to expand the prominence of degree program or its implications in having clear documentation spelling out astrology. Kepler's Web site states, their Letter of Authorization. program requirements, faculty qualifica­ "Kepler College will provide a broader Newberg laments that there are many tions, and admission requirements. In acceptance for the use of astrology in a critics of Kepler College. John Silber, addition, the institution must provide wide range of businesses and profes­ chancellor of Boston University wrote an academic support resources, financial sions. Kepler College will provide an op-ed piece for the Boston Globe, resources, and catalogs that provide full honorable place for astrology in society "Silliness under Seatde Stars" (May 16, disclosure of programs, policies and pro­ now that standards are defined, just as 2001), strongly criticizing Washington cedures to potential students. psychology, chiropractic, naturopathic, for authorizing Kepler's degree programs. Says Oelschlager: "The decision to naturopathic healthcare, and acupunc­ "The simple existence of Kepler College authorize an institution or deny an insti­ ture have gained respect." Kepler is worth litde comment," wrote Silber. tution for authorization must be based administrators believe that their new sta­ "Where there are humans, there will be solely on whether the Revised Code of tus can garner additional funding. folly, and institutions to advance it. But Washington (RCW) and Washington "Kepler College will provide the higher Kepler College claims that it is 'the only Administrative Code (WAC) require­ education setting necessary to receive college of astrology in the Western ments have been met by an institution. government and private grant money for Hemisphere authorized to issue BA and Authorization by the Higher Educational research and scholarships." MA degrees.' This authorization does Coordinating Board means that a degree- Kepler's masters program offers a not come from the National Association granting institution can operate within

6 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT the state. Authorization is not an views about planets and habitable "metallicity") and that these other factors endorsement by the Higher Education zones," has a hidden, Earth-is-unique arc both rare in themselves and absolutely Coordinating Board of an institution, a agenda motivated by strong "intelligent indispensable to complex life. Darling program offered by die institution, or design" religious views. examines each in turn and concludes rhat the contents of a program. Potential stu­ "The idea that there's something very the hypothesis is based on circular rea­ dents and employers determine the special about our planet has always been soning and that the proponents have Value' of a degree program offered by essential to those who maintain diat fallen into the trap of going out of their any institution." Earth and Man are of divine origin," way to find reasons why Earth is special. This past summer marked the first notes Darling, in a newly published book "The Rare Earth theory is neither anniversary of Kepler College, whose about astrobiology, the term now gaining hypothesis nor prediction, but a descrip­ authorization is up for renewal on currency for the study of tion of how life arose on March 9, 2002. Supporters are hopeful life in the universe. Earth," says Darling. He that the establishment of a college that ". . . Surprisingly, at RARE EARTH says Ward and Brownlee hands out diplomas in astrology will the dawn of the twenty- "actually pick and choose usher in a new millennium of broader first century," says Dar­ the factors that best suit acceptance of astrology while the skep­ ling, "religious influence their case." tics are fuming. Only the stars can pre­ is once again being "What matters is not dict how Kepler's future will play our. brought to hear on the whether there's anything question of whether or unusual about the Earth; Mark G. Kuzyk is a professor and not the Earth is somehow there's going to be some­ Associate Chair of physics at Washington special. Without many thing idiosyncratic about State University. people realizing it, debate every planet in space," says in astrobiology is being Darling. "What matters is Was the 'Rare Earth' actively manipulated by whether any of Earth's cir­ Hypothesis Influenced deeply held theological beliefs." cumstances are not only unusual but also by a Creationist? Darling's revelations come in a chapter essential for complex life. So far we've seen "Rare Earths and Hidden Agendas" in nothing to suggest there is." The idea that complex life may have Life Everywhere: The Maverick Science of "The more you think of it," says evolved only as a result of a series of Astrobiology (Basic Books/Perseus, 2001). Darling, "the more it seems there's exceedingly rare events on Earth, and its Darling bills his book as "a report from something odd about the Rare Earth corollary—that advanced life may well the frondine of astrobiological research," hypothesis. At a time when many of our be rare in the universe—gained new cre­ and he shares of many scientists scientific indicators suggest, if anything, dence and respectability with publica­ that a rush of recent discoveries has that life of every description, from the tion last year of the book Rare Earth: brought about a "surge in scientific opti­ most primitive to the most complex, Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the mism about the prospects for alien life." may be widespread, along comes this Universe. The book, by two University In his chapter on the Ward and curious rebuttal." of Washington scientists, Peter D. Ward, Brownlee book, DaHing acknowledges that Darling says Ward and Brownlee have a paleontologist, and Donald Brownlee, it has enlivened debate about exobiology been heavily influenced by a young an astronomer, is an extensive argument within the scientific community—he University of Washington astronomer, for the Rare Earth hypothesis, and it has describes the scientific reaction as mixed— Guillermo Gonzalez, whom they gained considerable scientific and popu­ while being embraced by the religious right acknowledge in their preface. "More than lar attention. as vindication of their belief in the special anyone," Darling says, "he's [Gonzalez's] (Rare Earth was summarized in the nature of the Earth. been instrumental in tying the various SI July/August 2000 New Books col­ Darling begins with a point-by-point strains of the Rare Earth argument umn and reviewed in the November/ scientific critique of the Rare Earth together and energetically promoting the December 2000 issue.) hypothesis. The hypothesis essentially thesis across a broad front." Now David Darling, an astronomer says that for life to evolve and survive "Although he personally may not be who is a critic of the Rare Earth hypoth­ beyond the microbial stage a very special well known, his writings and opinions esis, has revealed that one of the combination of factors must prevail (such have been widely disseminated in publi­ strongest influences on the authors, a as presence of a large moon to stabilize cations ranging from The Wall Street young University of Washington the planet's orbit, a Jupiter-size planet to Journal to Scientific American. More to astronomer who they acknowledge in sweep up killer asteroids, the occurrence the point, he's played an important role their preface "changed many of our of plate tectonics, and a sun with high in influencing Ward and Brownlee."

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 7 NEWS AND COMMENT

"I mentioned chat I have a stack of business. But in the case of Gonzalez it articles by Gonzalez," writes Darling. matters because his underlying convic­ "In fact I have two stacks." By happen­ tion has led him to play a very signifi­ stance. Darling came across a copy of cant role in raising the prominence of Connections, a quarterly newsletter pub­ the Rare Earth debate." lished by Reasons to Believe, Inc., of Darling assumed that Ward and Pasadena, California, whose mission is Brownlee must be aware of their col­ "to communicate the uniquely factual league Gonzalez's deep theological con­ basis for belief in the Bible." victions. But when he asked Ward about "The first article in this particular this eight months after their book's pub­ issue—Volume 1, Number 4, 1999—was lication, he found otherwise. Live Here or Nowhere, by Hugh Ross "That is news to me. 1 have never (the president of Reasons to Believe and a seen or even heard that Gonzalez does well-known creationist scientist) and a this. . . . Are you sure you have the certain Guillermo Gonzalez," says right Gonzales?" Ward responded to Darling. He checked and confirmed that Darling. Darling assured Ward there Michel de Nostredame ("Nostradamus") "this was indeed Gonzalez the astronomer was no doubt. and chief Rare Earth campaigner." "I think I need an explanation." Bogus Nostradamus That Ross-Gonzalez article con­ Ward told Gonzalez in forwarding the e- Prophecies Circulate cludes: "The fact that the Sun's location mail exchange about this between is fine-tuned to permit the possibility of Darling and Ward. Following Terrorism life—and even more precisely fine- Gonzalez responded this way to Within days of the September 11, 2001, tuned to keep the location fixed in that Ward (as quoted in Darling's book): attack on the World Trade Centers in unique spot where life is possible— Regarding his [Darlings] statement New York City, a flurry of e-mails circu­ powerfully suggests divine design." about my "secret agenda" as a design lated the Internet claiming that the In contrast, Darling notes, Gonzalez's advocate, it is not such a secret, as my attack had been foreseen by the French articles in the scientific literature arguing writing on the design issue is rather public and widely distributed. 1 astrologer Nostradamus. A dozen or so the uniqueness of Earth contain no men­ recently received a grant from the quatrains were proffered; some were tion of divine intervention. John Templeton Foundation to study entirely fictional, others were partly "A little more research," Darling habitability from a design perspec­ embellished actual verse, but not one writes, "reveals that Gonzalez has been tive—several people in the depart­ ment know about it. 1 have not been truly foretold the tragedy. living something of a double life, pro­ more open about my pro-design Such stories are not new, of course: ducing standard scientific output on the views here at the UW because of the After nearly every national tragedy, one hand and, more or less simultane­ open hostility to such views among prognosticators claim to have predicted ously, penning other articles on similar the faculty. But I will not apologize for admitting that my theistic theo­ the events. Psychics come out of the topics in which the same conclusions are logical views motivate my science and woodwork with stories of premonitions presented solely for the purpose of sup­ vice-versa. of doom, or clutching predictions they porting the design argument." wrote ahead of time. In fact, Gonzalez is a regular contribu­ "So here is a curious situation of a sci­ Meanwhile, those who believe in tor to Reasons to Believe pamphlets. In a entist actively seeking evidence that prophecy sift through reams of vague 1997 piece, he concluded: "The personal extraterrestrial life is rare to shore up a writings and quatrains of writers like involvement of a Creator belief in divine design," Darling writes. and Nostradamus, trying seems scientifically reasonable to me." A "And doing it, moreover, without the to breathe new life into stale words. This 1998 article ends this way: "Scientists are knowledge of many of his peers, who are is perhaps part of a psychological need left to wonder how Earth came to exist nevertheless being strongly influenced by to participate in the outpouring of emo­ and persist for so long in the zone where work that is intrinsically biased." tions or to seem important. life is possible. The impression of design The following is a typical example of could hardly be more distinct." —Kendrick Frazier the e-mailed prophecies: Darling notes chat scientists' religious views ordinarily are irrelevant. "It isn't Kendrick Frazier is editor of the Two steel birds will fall from the sky on the Metropolis. unusual for professional scientists to SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Before that he was The sky will burn at forty-five hold strong religious beliefs. Most of the editor, and earth sciences editor, of degrees latitude. time, it isn't relevant or, frankly, anyone's Science News. Fire approaches the great new city.

8 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

Immediately a huge, scattered (lame As with all such predictions, they only finally aired August 13, 2001, on the leaps up. come "true" after die fact as people rein­ 20/20stepchild called Downtown—but in Within months, rivers will flow with terpret phrases based on what happened. hindsight the clues had been there. blood. The undcad will roam the earth for The Nostradamus prophecies were Shapiro's report had been sitting for a little time. only one of many rumors and bits of mis­ year, first tentatively scheduled for last fall information that circulated following the on the more prestigious 20/20 with Much was made of the second line, as attacks. For more information, see . When I last inquired of New York City (the putative Metropolis), CSlCOP's Hoaxwatch page at www. Shapiro on May 23 of this year, she reas­ lies at about forty degrees north latitude— csicop.org/hoaxwatch or die urban leg­ sured me that the piece was not being though not forty-five. New York, despite its ends reference page at www.snopes.com. reedited and sensationalized. From her e- appellation, is hardly a "great new city," and rnail: "Relax, it's [still] mine." But within is in fact one of die oldest cities in America. —Benjamin Radford two weeks she left ABC (I suspect she was one of die many producers let go this This piece is a hybrid of actual Benjamin Radford wrote about Nostra- spring as a cost-cutting measure). Nostradamus verse and fiction, though damus's failed 1999 prophecies in the the author was sloppy and even a glim­ May/June 2000 issue of SI, and has writ­ More foreshadowing: The Good mer of betrays this as a fraud. ten on Internet and urban legends. Morning America promos on air date were Not only does it lack the usual quatrain unsetdingly uncritical. As the story began form, but die bit about the "two steel that night, someone odier dian Shapiro birds" is particularly strange, as steel Hardly a Prayer on was credited as editor. Guillen immedi­ wasn't in wide use until nearly 300 years ately referred to die prayer-advocating after Nostradamus died. Another qua­ ABC's 'Downtown' researchers as "skeptical scientists." And, train read: as the program progressed, if anyone was In the city of there will be a great On May 31, 2000, I was flown to New serving as a "focal point," it was paranor- thunder. York by Caron Shapiro, a producer for malist author Dr. Deepak Chopra, who Two brothers torn apart by Chaos ABC-TV's 20/20 newsmagazine who was even conducted a "stare experiment" with while the fortress endures. preparing a report about medical studies Guillen, demonstrating how Chopra's The great leader will succumb, that support die healing power of distant concentrated bursts of silent prayer, from The third big war will begin when the a distant room, had a calming effect on big city is burning. prayer—even with patients unaware that they were being prayed for. Michael Guillen's nervous system. —Nostradamus 1654 Guillen, the network's science editor (and More than eight minutes into the ten- Given the fact that Nostradamus a 1997 Educational minute transcendental lovefest, enter the died in 1566, eighty-eight years before Foundation "" recipient for lone assassin. They didn't use special the quatrain was supposedly written, it his "indiscriminate promotion of pseudo- effects to perch me on a grassy knoll, but seems a remarkable piece indeed. science and "), would be die cor­ they did use the least open-minded This verse was actually published sev­ respondent, and was interviewing some of sound bite that Shapiro had evoked from eral years ago on the Web page of a stu­ the participants himself. But Shapiro me (about ""), followed sev­ dent at a Canadian university as part of wanted to interview me personally. eral seconds later by my comment on an essay on how easily important- When we were done more than an "chance alone." And how persuasive was sounding prophecy can be created using hour later, before Shapiro treated me to my glorious appearance? Immediately vague imagery. It is ironic that what dinner, she told me that my open- diereafter, Chopra did acknowledge, "At began as an essentially skeptical, anti- minded-yet-skeptical comments would the moment I would agree that some of prophecy piece became (intentionally or serve as a "focal point" (or words to that diese studies are tentative [and] that we otherwise) circulated as the real thing. effect) tying the elements of the piece should be a little cautious in die way we A similar experiment was reported in together. When I asked how she could be interpret the results. . . ." But at the show's conclusion, a viewer poll was run­ the May/June 2001 issue of the SKEPTICAL so certain that I wouldn't be chopped ning nine to one in favor of die healing INQUIRER, "The Antinous Prophecies," in down to about thirty seconds, as is typi­ power of distant prayer. which author Clifford Pickover created cally die case widi skeptics on such pro­ nonsensical poems and presented them as grams, she told me that she was also the recently discovered prophecies. Many peo­ story's editor, and that Guillen would —Gary P. Posner, M.D. ple created elaborate, real-world interpre­ essentially be following her script. Gary Posner, contributing editor to The tations of the fictional lines. Pickover Well, would you believe twenty sec­ Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine termed the prophecies "verbal ink blots" onds (plus twenty-five seconds of Guillen and a CSICOP consultant, has posted his which reh/ on modern readers to easily attempting to summarize my views)? I prayer-related articles at httpJImembers interpret vague descriptions. could hardly believe it—when me story .aoLcom/garyposlprayer.htmL

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 9 CENTER FOR INQUIRY Wt?5t and the Center for Inquiry National Media Center THE PROJECT IS LAUNCHED. No longer a dream, reality has begun for our permanent Center for Inquiry - West. After a five-year search we have purchased a building at 4773 Boulevard, in the heart of Hollywood. This ultimate Rallying Point for skeptics will house CFI-West's regional pro­ grams as well as Center for Inquiry's™ new national Media Center. This development has enormous importance for supporters of critical thinking everywhere, especially readers of Skeptical Inquirer.

And now it's up to our readers and friends. Only you can help us fulfill this bold potential. Purchasing the building took $1.6 million, which we must pay back over three years. Renovation will require another $500,000 - creating a 99-seat auditorium, library, exhibit area, media production center, and offices. We're even looking into solar panels so we can generate our own electricity! An additional $495,000 will equip the Media Center and fund its first three years of operation. Finally we must add millions more to endowment, so the new Center will always be fiscally stable.

All told, we need $5.85 million, of which less than $2 million has already been raised. It's the great­ est challenge skeptics and secular humanists have faced since our community gave more than $5 mil­ lion to build and endow the Center for Inquiry - International in Amherst, N.Y., from 1991-1995. MAJOR GIVING OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE! A major goal demands major gifts. While gifts in any amount are welcome, we urgently need five-, six-, and even seven-figure gifts now, early in the campaign, when they can do the most to slash interest costs and spur additional contributions. Fortunately, larger gifts can be made as pledges payable over three years. Attractive opportunities exist to name various parts of the new building for oneself or a loved one:

MEMORIAL ITEM: COMMITMENT: MONTHL> Name CFI-W: your choice $1,000,000 $27,778 Entrance Hall Atrium 500,000 13,889 Meeting Room 275,000 [Already taken!] Bookstore 150,000 4,167 Display Area 150,000 4,167 Library 75,000 [Already taken!] Reception area and lobby 100,000 2,778 Cafe 50.000 1,389 Stage 50.000 1.389 Reading room 25.000 [Already taken!]

Each donor is guaranteed rwo identical plaques: one for the donor's home or work­ place and the other for permanent display at CFI-West. •Pledge payments are billed quarterly in the interest of economy.

The new CFI-West and its National Media Center will make skepticism and critical thinking more central than ever to national and worldwide debates. Make your com­ mitment today! Send your most generous gift to the address below. For more infor­ mation, especially for confidential assistance in structuring a major gift, return the postcard in this magazine or contact us directly.

All gifts to the Center for Inquiry™ are tax-deductible as provided by law. Free brochure available. Southern California residents and visitors: Building tours avail­ able. Call 805-969-4828.

CENTER FOR INQUIRY - WEST Regional Headquarters and National Media Center A joint project of the Center for Inquiry™, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, and the Council for , each a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational corporation P.O. Box 741 • Amherst NY 14226-0741 • (716)636-4869 ext. 311 • FAX 716-636-1733 NEWS AND COMMENT

sources, and many were unhappy with On September 4, 2001, State Rep. the alleged psychics' involvement. Said Dorothy Pelote from Georgia joined the an Austin, Texas, police department din of psychic predictions. During the spokesman: "Information received has House's daily devotional message, she been voluntary, unreliable, and useless to claimed that the ghost of Levy had com­ our investigation." municated with her. "I want you to In die Levy case, the most prolific tips know I can prophesy," she announced to come from psychics. The D.C. police her fellow lawmakers. "I can communi­ detectives receive about fifty to eighty cate with the dead. The last person who tips each day, resulting in diousands each visited me was [Chandra Levy]. . . . She month. In an interview with the really didn't say anything. I saw her. Washington Post, Executive Assistant When I saw her, she was lying in a ditch Chief Terrance Gainer said, "The psychic and her eyes was [sic] closed. She was in ones, frankly, I don't think we give much a wooded area in a ditch." credence to. I don't mean to start a war There have also been many instances with all the psychics, but they haven't of psychics contacting the families of proven very useful." In fact, Gainer said missing children and offering their ser­ Chandra Ann Levy that many of the leads the psychics vices—for a fee of several hundred dol­ 'Psychic Flies' Feed on offered contradicted known information. lars or more. The parents are usually so Levy Disappearance "You got 100 different psychics, and desperate for any information that they they've got 100 different places. They've willingly pay, even if they are skeptical. As the search for missing Washington, got her in a cave. Some have her in Jodi Himebaugh, the father of a boy D.C., former intern Chandra Levy Nevada. Some have her in water. How missing since 1991, said that no psychic enters its fifth mondi, the evidence trail can all these psychic radars be all over die asked him for money. He believes is quickly fading. A case that drew so country? Who's right?" Gainer has a instead many were involved because much media frenzy was certain to draw point: if all these psychics really have the they sought some sort of spiritual vali­ the flies, and sure enough die parade of powers they claim, why do they contra­ dation. After his son disappeared, he people proffering tips on Levy's where­ dict not only the available evidence but said, the psychics started coming around abouts include alleged psychics, seers, each other? "like flies on horse manure." and attention-seekers. Tipsters claimed that Levy was hid­ Even those psychics who do not Most police departments investigate den in a mansion; being held hostage by exploit the bereaved for monetary gain all tips from all sources, including a boxer; stuffed in a California storage are still hurting instead of helping the sit­ alleged psychics. A tip is a tip, and just locker; buried at a military base in Fort uation. Aside from falsely raising the like any other information, the vast Lee, Virginia; drowned in the Potomac family's hopes, psychic tipsters waste majority of them will be wrong but the river, and thousands of other places. At valuable police time and resources fol­ few that might turn up important least one person contacted the police lowing up on the bogus information they information cannot be ignored. When claiming that Levy had been abducted provide. Each hour a detective or police psychics turn out to be right it is by extraterrestrial aliens. officer wastes chasing dead ends is an because they either guessed correctly, Even well-known psychic Sylvia hour that could be used trying to find the gave very vague information open to Browne offered an opinion from "the missing person. And time is especially later interpretation ("retrofitting"), other side." In an interview with Paula critical in missing person cases. used information already available Zahn of the Channel, Browne Ivana DiNova of a missing children through normal means, or made so said that Levy's body was located near center in Tampa, , said that many different guesses that some had "some trees in a marshy area . . . but this "When the information they give fami­ to be right. girl is not alive." When Zahn asked how lies doesn't pan out, the family is literally A survey published in the SKEPTICAL she knew that, Browne rasped, "Because devastated again. I feel deep down in my INQUIRER (Vol. 17, Number 2, Winter I'm a psychic." (Browne's "vision," by heart they should be . . . held responsible 1993) by Jane Sweat and Mark Durm the way, is a typical "safe" psychic for what they tell families. They should found that, among police departments response: If a body is buried, the have some group monitor them." chances are good that trees and/or water of the fifty largest U.S. cities, nearly two- —Benjamin Radford tiiirds had never used psychics. Those are somewhere near—especially given that had said that none had provided any the wooded geography of the Northeast Benjamin Radford is Managing Editor of information more useful than from other where Levy disappeared.) the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER.

12 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

Nothing But Trouble in of "Psychic Network" calls she claims former call-taker, "She's [Miss Cleo] just she never made. an actress. She doesn't even read cards. Miss Cleo's Tarot Cards A July 26, 2001, CNN story 16153 is her extension, if you call. You announced that the attorney general of won't get through to her. You'll get Miss Cleo—the new juggernaut of psy­ the state of , Jeremiah Nixon, another reader." The woman alleges that chic hodine telemarketing—has been filed two suits against Access Resource she was trained on methods of getting embroiled in lawsuits garnering Services, Inc. and its registered agents, callers to stay on the line beyond the national attention. During the past American Information Services, Inc. of year, television in the United States has three minutes offered for free and glean­ Miami, Florida, and Lexis-Nexis ing information useful to badger them been glutted with ads featuring Miss Corporate Services of Dover, Delaware. Cleo, who prognosticates in an exotic into calling back: "We'd get a bonus for According to one suit, filed in the St. every piece of information they'd get, Jamaican lilt for an off-screen voice Louis circuit court, the three corporate and by the time we got all of this infor­ viewers might assume is a caller. Waving defendants were accused of ninety-four her jewelled hand over a tarot spread, mation out of them, the three free min­ she amazes the off-screen voice with her utes was up, and then you'd go on to insights into love and money. your reading." All news stories published so far have Apparently the tarot cards never gave Miss Cleo any warnings of been content to cite Access Resource lawsuits or stool pigeons. The tarot Services, a Delaware corporation based hotline company's troubles began TAROT READING in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as the cor­ on November 1, 2000, when Penn­ poration diat owns and operates the sylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher 1-800-238-2204 Miss Cleo enterprise. Thanks to Florida's filed a lawsuit against Access Resource freedom of information laws, I have Services, Inc., the outermost layer of researched Miss Cleo and found a tan­ corporate identity for the tarot hotline. gled web of companies. The main hive of The lawsuit was precipitated by 125 activity is lodged on the tenth floor of an consumer complaints about mislead­ office building in Fort Lauderdale. The ing direct mail solicitations from Miss registered agent of Access Resource Cleo which promised thirty "free" Services, Inc. is a corporation called minutes of psychic talk time. American Information Services, Inc., According to the November 1, 2000, based in Miami. According to its online press release issued by the privacy statement, the Web sites oper­ attorney general's press office, cus­ ated by the company include the follow­ tomers who called the 800 number ing: mindandspiritclub.com, cleoread- expecting the half hour of free phone violations of Missouri's "Telemarketing ing.com, tarotsecrets.com, tarotsecret. time were bilked by four methods: 1) No-Call List" law. The law allows con­ com, cleoprediction.com, cleopredic- callers placed on hold were falsely sumers to register themselves on a list tions.com, myfreereading.com, deocon- promised that they wouldn't be barring telemarketers who operate in test.com, meetcleo.com, cleospirit.com, charged for the time they waited to be the state from calling them. visitcleo.com, mindandspiritpin.com, connected to a psychic reader; 2) An August 8, 2001, Associated Press mindandspiritmember.com, misscleo. callers were connected to a pay-per-call story by Paul Sloca reported that Access com, cleotalk.com, deotarot.com, cleo- line without their knowledge; 3) Resource Services, Inc., agreed to pay callers were falsely promised that they tarotcards.com, famouscleo.com, mrs $75,000 in fines and will obtain a copy were entitled to free gifts and free cleo.com, myclco.com, mymisscleo. phone time with a psychic; and 4) of the state's no-call list of 800,000 num­ com, cleochat.com, tarotcleo.com, cleo callers were directed to a 900 number bers as its settlement with the State of talk.com, deoenergy.com, cleomem- for a "free" reading, but when they Missouri. The other Missouri lawsuit, bcrs.com, cleoreadings.com, cleopsy- actually called that number they were filed in Jefferson County, and accusing chic.com, freecleo.com, cleofanclub. informed that if they hung up they the defendants of falsely advertising a com, and cleotarotcards.com. free three minutes, is still pending. would be billed for the call—including Anyone who feels they have been the "free" reading. One former On August 1, 2001, Mark Austin, bilked by Miss Cleo is urged to contact Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resident told reporter for KSAT-TV in San Antonio, your states attorney general. Contact the attorney general's office that she Texas, interviewed a former employee of information can found at www.naag.org. was charged for more than $700 worth the Miss Cleo hotline who wished to remain anonymous. According to this —Kevin Christopher\3

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 13 COMMENTARY

This is Elizabeth Loftus's acceptance speech upon receiving the Fellow Award of the American Psychological Society on June 14, 2001. We also publish the award citation. Loftus is professor of psychology at the University of Washington and a CSICOP Fellow.—EDITOR When Scientific Evidence Is the Enemy

ELIZABETH LOFTUS

eceiving this honor, the William viduals and families. The public thinks James Fellow Award for scien­ this epidemic is over. But many families R tific achievement, could not have never recovered, and many pro­ have come at a more meaningful or mulgators and victims of the recovered- ironic time in my life. It has made me memory movement remain angry and think about the purpose of awards: what vengeful. For so many years, I have tried we give them for, what qualities of the to understand their position, sympa­ recipient or of his or her work we thize with the emotionally disturbed admire. And it has made me think about young women whom I regard as victims the purpose of science, that ideally dis­ of misguided or misinformed therapists, passionate, empirical investigation of a and find common ground. particular set of questions. Now I realize that for these people, For more than a decade, as I'm sure there may be little in the way of many of you know, I have been pursued common ground. I am their enemy— by the enemies I created by virtue of my scientific evidence is their enemy—and research on memory and my efforts to I will not be able to persuade them oth­ Elizabeth Loftus discredit recovered-memory therapy, erwise, not with all the good data and which has done so much harm to indi- good intentions in the world. This was

Award Citation

Elizabeth Loftus is an example of the rare scientist who is instrumental both in advancing a scientific discipline and in using that discipline to make critical contributions to society. Beginning in the mid-1970s, following acclaimed basic research on the workings of semantic memory, she waded into relatively uncharted waters, investigating the critical issues of how and under what circumstances complex mem­ ories change, often quite dramatically, over time. Her innovative yet highly rigorous research on this topic brought her renewed praise in the scientific community. At the same time however, she realized the fundamental applications of her and related findings to the legal system, particularly in understanding the circumstances under which a sincere eye­ witness may have misidentified an innocent defendant. It is not hyperbole to say that in response to her ingenious lab­ oratory work and her ubiquitous public presence, both the quality of basic memory research and the fairness of the criminal justice system have advanced substantially. Over the past fifteen years. Dr. Loftus's attention has turned to a related but considerably more controversial issue, that of the validity of "recovered memories" of childhood abuse. As a result of her pioneering scientific work as well as her activity within the legal system, society is gradually coming to realize that such memories, compelling though they may seem when related by a witness, are often a product of recent reconstructive memory processes rather than of past objective reality. In bringing to light these facts of memory. Dr. Loftus has joined the ranks of other scientists, past and present, who have had the courage, inspiration, and inner strength to weather the widespread scorn and oppression that unfortunately but inevitably accompanies clear and compelling scientific data that have the effrontery to fly in the face of dearly held beliefs.

14 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER a terribly difficult realization for me. any details. But to me, that itself is the a campaign to ensure publication of The research findings for which I am problem. Who, after all, benefits from Scott's article. They told the story to die being honored now generated a level of my silence? Who benefits from keeping Chronicle of Higher Education and to hostility and opposition I could never such investigations in the dark? My Science. They wrote letters, individually have foreseen. People wrote threaten­ inquisitors. The only people who oper­ and collectively, arguing for the preser­ ing letters, warning me that my reputa­ ate in the dark are thieves, assassins, and vation of peer review and the impor­ tion and even my safety were in jeop­ cowards. Those of us who value the first tance of keeping politics out of the pub­ ardy if 1 continued along these lines. At amendment and open scientific inquiry lication process. Organizational ofFicials some universities, armed guards were must bring these efforts to suppress free­ grumbled about how inappropriate it provided to accompany me during dom of speech into the light, and was to go public, to argue by e-mail, to speeches. People misinterpreted my tonight I vow to you that when my own air an internal conflict to the media. writings and put words in my mouth situation is resolved, that is precisely They wanted everyone to shut up and that I had never spoken. People filed what I'm going to do. let the appeals process take its course. ethical complaints and threatened law­ In this we can learn from the recent Was that so Scott's paper could have suits of organizations that invited me experience of Scott Lilienfeld. Scott been quiedy suppressed? The scientists to speak. People spread defamatory wrote a paper on the collision between did not shut up, and Scott's paper will falsehoods in writings, in newspapers, politics and science that followed in the be published this year, along with com­ on the Internet. wake of the Rind et al. affair. The article mentary and debate, just as it should be. As I stand here, the happy recipient was accepted for publication, but, mys­ I am honored to receive this award. I of an award that honors me for my teriously, later rejected, unless Scott gut­ accept it on behalf of die ideals and research, I continue to be the target of ted it of all political relevance. goals of science that we all hold so dear, efforts to censor my ideas. I am gagged Psychological scientists—many of and which we must now redouble our at the moment and may not give you whom are members of APS—launched efforts to defend.

The perfect gift for an inquiring mind ... skeptical

legion Skeptical Inquirer 2007

1. $28 for first one-year subscription (save 20%) • Check or money order enclosed

Name Charge my: • MasterCard Q Visa

Address. Card# Exp.

City _State ZIP. Signature 2. S26 for second one-year subscription Name (save 26%) Address

Name City State ZIP

Address. Phone

City .State _ZIP_ Total $ Canadian and foreign orders: Payment in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank 3. $23.50 for third one-year subscription must accompany orders; please add USS10 per year for shipping. Canadian (save 33%) and foreign customers are encouraged to use Visa or MasterCard. Order toll-free: 1-800-634-1610 Name (Outside U.S. call 716-636-1425) Address. Or mail to: Skeptical Inquirer City State ZIP Box 703, Amherst, NY 14226-0703

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 15 NOTES Of A FRINGE-WATCHER MARTIN GARDNER

Ernest Hemingway and Jane

hris Coover, writing on "A Jane is the little-known fact (which only shop in Havana to sell Cuban art, spoke Hemingway Discovery" in recently came to light), that in her three languages, and gave fabulous par­ CChristie's magazine (May/June elderly years she became convinced she ties featuring pigeons dyed different col­ 2000), reported on a recent find of was possessed by demons, and actually ors and fresh flowers sewed to table­ Hemingway manuscripts, letters, and underwent an by Eileen cloths. Among her many famous friends book galleys in a trunk stored by Jane Garrett, a well-known New York City of later years were Dorothy Parker, Kendall Mason, an American socialite medium. Jane had become a Spiritualist Robert Benchley, Archibald MacLeish, who had been one of the many women and medium, producing thousands of and Clare Boothe Luce. with whom Hemingway had romantic pages of by a hand In 1932 Hemingway, leaving Pauline romps. After Hemingway lost interest in she believed was being guided by discar- at their home in Key West, spent two Jane, he used her as a model for the nates. I will tell the wild story of her months in Havana where he and Jane character of Margot in one of his most failed exorcism, but first an account of fished for marlin and became better famous stories, "The Short Happy Life her flamboyant, frustrated life. For its acquainted. He once boasted that Jane of Francis Macomber." details I rely mosdy on "To Love and had climbed through his hotel bedroom The trunk contained twenty-three Love Not," a remarkable article that ran transom to get in bed with him. letters from "Papa" to Jane, and a hand­ in the July 1999 issue of Vanity Fair hy A car accident injured Jane's back. written first draft of die short story in Jane's granddaughter Alane Salierno While she was recuperating from an which Jane appears. In an act of cruelty, Mason, a book editor at W.W. Norton.' operation in a Manhattan hospital, her Hemingway had sent die draft to Jane Jane and Hemingway first met on an husband sent her gifts from Havana before its final version appeared in the ocean liner in 1931. He was thirty-two which, much to the hospital staff's September 1936 issue of Cosmopolitan. and married to Pauline, his second wife. annoyance, included a tiny green mon­ She would, of course, have at once rec­ Jane was twenty-two and married to key and two white mice named Samson ognized herself as Margot, the adulter­ Grant Mason, a wealthy American who and Delilah. ous wife who shoots her husband on a worked in Cuba as an executive for Pan Jane further damaged her spine in a safari in Africa. The trunk also con­ American Airways. They lived near suicide effort by jumping from a low tained an unfinished short story by Jane, Havana in a large villa where Jane, an balcony. Hemingway, whose ego was with Hemingway's revisions, titled "A aspiring sculptor, had a diird-floor studio. immense, said to friends that she had High Windless Night in ." An adopted daughter of Maryland tried to kill herself over unrequited love My second excuse for writing about multimillionaire Lyman Kendall, Jane for him. He told John Dos Passos that was often in the news as a prominent Jane had literally "fallen" for him! In one Martin Gardners latest book, Martin society woman of extraordinary beauty. of his letters he referred to her husband Gardners Favorite Poetic Parodies, was An ad for Pond's Cream described her as as a "twirp." published in October by Prometheus "clean cut as a cameo in her Boticelli Jane had numerous love affairs, one Books. The most recent collection of his beauty of pale gold hair and wide set with a big game hunter named Dick SKEPTICAL INQUIRER columns (and other eyes like purple pansies." Tall and ath­ Cooper. On an African safari with material) is Did Adam and Eve Have letic, Jane rode horses, fished, hunted in Cooper she managed to kill several lions Navels? (WW. Norton, 2000). Africa, played the piano and harp, ran a and tigers and the foal of a rare (and

16 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER endangered) white zebra. The zebra's Have Not. Gingrich, then a Scribner's he was a coward by direct observation skin was sent to England to become a editor, recognized Jane as the model for and by local knowledge. But I invented the story in Africa instead of rocking horse for her two adopted sons. Helene, and believed many passages where it happened. Jane later wrote a play, never produced, were libelous. Hemingway was furious called Safari. It was about a woman when Gingrich insisted he remove the Though cleverly written, I consider named April who wanted to marry a passages. Jane is also Dorothy, a stupid, this one of Hemingway's worst stories. South African army captain but hesi­ spoiled, over-sexed young woman in Macomber's instant change from a cow­ tated because it might damage her social Hemingway's play The Fifth Column. ard to a brave man is much too improb­ standing back home. And she is Margot in Hemingways able. I see the tale as just another one of In Manhattan Jane was psychoana­ familiar story "The Short Happy Life of Hemingway's not-so-subtle efforts to lyzed by Dr. Lawrence Kubie, a promi­ Francis Macomber." imply that he, The Great White Hunter, nent Freudian. He said she was the only was a man without fear. patient he ever had who he couldn't Hemingway died in 1961 at age help. Dr. Kubie wrote an article about sixty-two. He had become physically ill, Jane and Hemingway which he sent to severely depressed, and paranoid. Shock the Saturday Review. MacLeish per­ therapy was administered at the Mayo suaded the magazine not to print it Clinic. I was walking east one afternoon because it libeled Hemingway by inti­ along 42nd Street in Manhattan, along­ mating what everybody who knew him side the public library, when I passed surmised: that "Hem" (as friends called Hemingway walking slowly the other him) suffered from deep doubts about way. He was staring straight ahead with his manhood—doubts rJiat explained a look of fear in his eyes. Soon after that, his mania for such macho interests as as everyone knows, his loudly trum­ boxing, bull fighting, hunting, fishing, peted bravery deserted him. He put a boozing, warring, and womanizing. double-barreled shotgun in his mouth Hemingway frequently turned and blew out his brains. against former friends and sadistically Jane's belief that she was possessed bashed them in books and letters. His by spirits had its origin in a session with volume of Paris memoirs, A Moveable a board when it began to glide Feast, contains cruel recollections of F. under her fingers and spell out messages Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ford from the Great Beyond. When she Madox Ford, and others. This also hap­ DOYEAfcLraSSEI began talking as if her mind and tongue pened to Jane. In a letter to MacLeish, were taken over by a demon, her hus­ Hemingway calls her a "bitch," adding band Gingrich sought the help of that he would like to give her a burst of In that story Margot is unhappily Robert Laidlaw, M.D., who headed the gunfire. He told one of his biographers married to Francis, a wealthy but wimpy Psychiatric Department of Roosevelt that Jane was the "worst bitch" he had American whom she dominates. They Hospital. He in turn contacted his known at the time, and that her sole hate each other. On an African safari, friend Eileen Garrett, who often virtue was an eagerness to get laid. Macomber flees in terror from a assisted him in treating persons who After divorcing Grant, Jane married wounded lion, making him a coward in fancied themselves possessed. Garrett John Hamilton, a Republican bigwig. his wife's eyes. Later, however, he sud­ was a famous Irish-born trance medium The marriage didn't last long. Following denly loses all fear when he shoots at a living in Manhattan. She had founded a torrid affair with Paul Palmer, a buffalo charging toward him. Margot the Parapsychological Foundation in Reader's Digest editor, she married takes aim at the same beast but instead New York City, and Tomorrow, a maga­ George Abell, European bureau chief for shoots her husband in the head. The zine about the paranormal that she Time-Life, and a popular columnist. story has a trick ending, like Frank edited with the help of Martin Ebon, Divorced again, she married her founh Stockton's "Lady or the Tiger?" It is not her managing editor, and who wrote all and final husband, Arnold Gingrich, clear whether Margot, sensing how her her editorials. founder and editor of Esquire and husband has changed, did or did not Jane's exorcism was witnessed and Coronet. Hemingway was flabbergasted intend to kill him. audiotaped by Ebon, uSen administra­ when he learned of this marriage. "I Here is what Hemingway said about tive secretary of the Parapsychol­ can't get over it," he said. "I can't believe the story in a letter: ogical Foundation of which Garrett she married that little "t—. was president. A refugee at age twenty- I wrote "The Short Happy Life of In three of his works Hemingway one from Hitler's Germany, Ebon Francis Macomber" about a woman I based an unpleasant character on Jane. was mixed up with one time who had became a prolific writer of more She is Helene Bradley in To Have and To a husband who was a coward. I knew than forty entertaining books about

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 17 paranormal topics, world communism to the accents of die discarnate being by the witch, Ebon quotes Jane as saying: and the Soviets, and numerous biogra­ speaking through her. I've suffered terribly with this, but phies of Soviet leaders. We have become As Ebon describes the scene, Jane I've never been afraid. Now that is good friends in spite of our opposing began writhing with convulsions as she the peculiar part. I don't understand views about psi phenomena. felt herself invaded by the witch. She fell it. You ride a horse that's thrown you and you may say to yourself, "I'm not afraid of this horse," but deep down in your , you are afraid but I was not afraid of this. I had some misgiving about coming back Jane's belief that she was possessed by spirits here tonight. I admit that. But still and all, when (Ruth) takes hold of had its origin in a session with a Ouija board me, as she did before, I'm still not teally afraid of her, though I know when it began to glide under her fingers and she can hurt me. spell out messages from the Great Beyond. The exorcism was only partially suc­ cessful. Ebon tells me that for several months after the exorcism Jane was less persecuted by the witch. Dr. Laidiaw Ebon describes Jane's exorcism in to the floor, sobbing, then crawled over told him that Jane's later trances "Ghost Against Ghost," the first chapter the rug to rest her head on Garrett's seemed less genuine, more like theatri­ of his 1974 book The Devils Bride: knees. Gingrich and Dr. Laidiaw cal performances to gain attention. Exorcism, Past and Present. However, watched in stunned silence. Her case was complicated by severe names and details were altered, and it And then an incredible dialog took alcoholism that distorted and colored was not until 1999 that Ebon, speaking place. For the first time in the history of her thinking. at the Parapsychological Foundation, channeling, Ebon believes, a ghost I tried to obtain Ebon's audiotape of disclosed that the person possessed was argued with another ghost. Abdul did the exorcism, but it seems to have been none other than Hemingway's former his best to persuade the witch to leave lost in the archives of the Para­ companion, Jane. Jane alone. The witch refused. psychological Foundation. Ebon calls her Victoria Camden. Her At the end of the session Abdul lifted Jane always fancied herself a talented husband, Arnold Gingrich, is called Garrett's hand until it rested on Jane's poet and novelist. Gingrich published Walter Camden. They are said to be head. "And now, you," Abdul said, some of her poems in Esquire under the living in a lavish town house on "must go and let this child reside in his pseudonym of Proctor Farwell and James Manhattans upper east side. Present dur­ own world. She must be restored to her­ Matheson. After dying of cancer in ing the exorcism, aside from Jane, self, and to herself alone." 1980—her husband died of cancer four Garrett, and Ebon, were Gingrich and Garrett groaned and shuddered as years earlier—she left several unpublished Dr. Laidiaw. Ebon was there to observe she came out of her trance. "What's manuscripts including a memoir of her and audiotape. happened?" she asked. Trance medi­ childhood, a novel titled Dear Meg, and notes for a book about her experiences For several years Jane had believed ums almost never recall, or pretend not widi demon possession. "Jane probably that her mind and body were repeatedly to recall, what they say while under a never really wanted to marry Ernest taken over by a variety of different spir­ control. Jane slowly became herself. Hemingway," Mason writes. "She wanted its. One in particular claimed to be a "I guess we all need a stiff drink," to be Ernest Hemingway." Salem witch who had escaped detection Eileen said. and hanging. Ebon calls her Ruth, While the group was having drinks On Jane's tombstone, alongside though actually she was nameless. She and sandwiches, they discussed a male Gingrich's, are words she herself wrote: would fling Jane's body across a room that Jane thought had been "Talents too many, not enough of any." and onto the floor. On one occasion, making tapping sounds in the house. Mason closes the article about her Jane said, the witch almost drowned her Garrett assured Jane that the polter­ grandmother by writing: "In the end she in die bathtub. geist was "a friendly spirit who likes the would not be remembered for her own talents, but for Hemingway's." Garrett went into her usual trance, house, he likes you, but I've asked him to go away; to please go away in the and was first taken over by her major Note control Uvani, a soldier who lived cen­ name of God and leave everybody at 1. Alane it Mason is the adopted daughter of one of turies ago in India. Uvani was dien peace until they are strong. I see him as Jane's two adopted sons. It was she who discovered the replaced by Abdul Lotif, a twelfth- brash, cheerful, nonchalant, good- mink mentioned in my opening paragraph. The draft century Arab physician, another of natured but rough." of "The Short Happy Life ..." was sold by Christies to a private collector, his name not disclosed, for the Garrett's controls. While in trance, "Not too good-natured," said Jane. highest price ever paid for die manuscript of a short Eileen's voice always changed markedly Asked how she felt about her possession story by an American auuSor. 1—I

18 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER INVESTIGATIVE FILES JOE NICKELL

John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved

uperstar "psychic medium" John by a local printer. He visited dieir spook The great magician Edward is a stand-up guy. Unlike show and volunteered as part of an audi­ (1874—1926) crusaded against phony Sthe spiritualists of yore, who typi­ ence committee to help secure the two spiritualists, seeking out elderly mediums cally plied their trade in dark-room mediums. He took that opportunity to who taught him the tricks of die trade. seances, Edward and his ilk often per­ secretly place some printer's ink on the For example, while sitters touched hands form before live audiences and even neck of a violin, and after the seance one around die seance table, mediums had under the glare of TV lights. Indeed, of the duo had his shoulder smeared with clever ways of gaining die use of one Edward (a pseudonym: he was born John the black substance (Nickell 1999). hand. (One method was to slowly move MaGee Jr.) has his own popular show on the hands close togedier so diat die fin­ die SciFi channel called Crossing Over, gers of one could be substituted for those "which has gone into national syndication JOHN EDWARD of die other.) This allowed die production (Barrett 2001; Mui 2001). I was asked by of special effects, such as causing a tin television newsmagazine Dateline NBC trumpet to appear to be levitating. to study Edward's act: was he really talk­ Houdini gave public demonstrations of ing to the dead? HI the deceptions. "Do Spirits Return?" asked one of his posters. "Houdini Says The Old Spiritualism The No—and Proves It" (Gibson 1977, 157). Todays spiritualism traces its roots to Continuing die tradition, I have inves­ 1848 and the schoolgirl antics of the Stories tigated various mediums, sometimes , Maggie and Katie. They Behind attending seances undercover and once seemed to communicate with the ghost obtaining police warrants against a fraud­ of a murdered peddler by means of mys­ the ulent medium from die notorious Camp terious rapping sounds. Four decades Stories Chesterfield spiritualist center in Indiana later the foxy sisters confessed how diey (Nickell 1998). The camp is the subject of had produced the noises by trickery die book Tlje Psychic Mafia, written by a (Nickell 1994), but meanwhile others former medium who recanted and discovered they too could be "mediums" revealed the tricks of floating trumpets (those who supposedly communicate (with disembodied voices), ghostly appari­ with the dead). tions, materializing "apports," and odier The "spiritualism" craze spread across In Boston, while photographer fake phenomena (Keene 1976)—some of the United States, Europe, and beyond. William H. Mumler was recycling some which I have also witnessed firsthand. In darkened seance rooms, lecture halls, glass photographic plates, he acciden­ and theaters, various "spirit" phenomena tally obtained faint images of previous Mental occurred. The con­ sitters. He soon adapted the technique The new breed of spiritualists—like jured up spirit entities to play musical in­ to producing "spirit extras" in photo­ Edward, James Van Praagh, Rosemary struments while the two mediums were, graphs of his clients. But Mumler's scam apparently, securely tied in a special was revealed when some of his ethereal Joe Nickell is author of many books on the "spirit cabinet." Unfortunately the Dav­ entities were recognized as living Boston paranormal, including Entities: , enports were exposed many times, once residents (Nickell 1994). Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 19 Altea, Sylvia Browne, and George Margie, or some M-G-sounding name," dead rather than the living. Eventually he Anderson—avoid the physical approach and yet again heard from "either Ellen or changed his billing from "psychic" to with its risks of and possible Helen, or Eleanore—it's like an Ellen- "psychic medium" (Edward 1999). The criminal charges. Instead they opt for sounding name." Gone is the clear- revised approach set him on the road to the comparatively safe "mental medi- speaking eloquence of yore; the dead stardom. In addition to his TV show, he umship" which involves the purported now seem to mumble. now commands hundreds of dollars for a use of psychic ability to obtain messages The spirits also seemingly commu­ private reading and is booked two years from the spirit realm. nicate to Edward et al. as if they were in advance (Mui 2001). This is not a new approach, since engaging in pantomime. As Edward mediums have long done readings for said of one alleged spirit communi­ "Hot Reading" their credulous clients. In the early days cant, in a Dateline session: "He's point­ Although cold reading is the main tech­ they exhibited "the classic form of ing to his head; something had to nique of the new spiritualists, they can trance mediumship, as practiced by affect the mind or the head, from what also employ "hot" reading on occasion. shamans and oracles," giving spoken he's showing me." No longer, appar­ Houdini (1924) exposed many of these "'spirit messages' that ranged all the way ently, can the dead speak in flowing information-gathering techniques in­ from personal (and sometimes strik­ Victorian sentences, but instead are cluding using planted microphones to ingly accurate) trivia to hours-long pub­ reduced to gestures, as if playing a listen in on clients as they gathered in lic trance-lectures on subjects of the game of charades. the mediums' anterooms—a technique deepest philosophical and religious One suspects, of course, that it is not Houdini himself used to impress visi­ import" (McHargue 1972). the imagined spirits who have changed tors with his "" (Gibson 1976, Some mediums produced "automat­ but rather the approach today's medi­ 13). Reformed medium M. Lamar ic" or "trance" or "spirit" writing, which ums have chosen to employ. It is, Keene's The Psychic Mafia (1976) the entities supposedly dictated to the indeed, a shrewd technique known as describes such methods as conducting medium or produced by guiding his or "cold reading"—so named because the advance research on clients, sharing her hand. Such writings could be in subject walks in "cold"; that is, the other mediums' files (what Keene terms flowery language indeed, as in this medium lacks advance information "mediumistic espionage"), noting excerpt from one spirit writing in my about the person (Gresham 1953). It is casual remarks made in conversation collection: an artful method of gleaning informa­ before a reading, and so on. Oh my Brother—I am so glad to be tion from the sitter, then feeding it back An article in Time magazine suggest­ able to come here with you and hold as mystical revelation. ed John Edward may have used just such sweet communion for it has been a The "psychic" can obtain clues by chicanery. One subject, a marketing long time since I have controlled this observing dress and body language (not­ manager named Michael O'Neill had medium but I remember how well used I had become to her magne­ ing expressions that indicate when one is received apparent messages from his tism!, | but we will soon get accus­ on or off track), asking questions (which dead grandfather but, when his segment tomed to her again and then renew if cotrect will appear as "hits" but other­ aired, he noted that it had been the pleasant times we used to have. I wise will seem innocent queries), and in­ improved through editing. Accotding to want to assure you (hat we are all here with you this afternoon!—|Father[,] viting the subject to interpret the vague Time's Leon Jaroff (2001): Mother],| little Alice!—land so glad statements offered. For example, nearly Now suspicious, O'Neill recalled that to find it so well with you and we anyone can respond to die mention of a while the audience was waiting to be hope and feel dear Brother that you common object (like a ring or watch) seated, Edward's aides were scurrying have seen the darkest part of life and with a personal recollection that can seem about, striking up conversations and that times are not with you now as getting people to fill out cards with they have been .... to transform the mention into a hit. (For their name, family tree and other facts. more on cold reading see Gresham 1953; Once inside the auditorium, where and so on in this talkative fashion. Hyman 1977; Nickell 2000.) each family was directed to prcassigned scats, more than an hour passed before It should not be surprising that show time while "technical difficulties" "Cold Reading" Edward is skilled at cold reading, an old backstage were corrected. By contrast, today's spirits—whom John fortunetelling technique. His mother was Edward and his fellow mediums suppos­ a "psychic junkie" who threw for­ Edward has a policy of not respond­ edly contact—seem to have poor memo­ tunetelling "house parties," one of the ing to criticism, but the executive pro­ ries and difficulty communicating. For alleged clairvoyants advising die then- ducer of Crossing Over insists: "No example, in one of his on-air stances (on fifteen-year-old that he had "wonderful information is given to John Edward Live, June 19, 1998), Edward psychic abilities." He began doing card about the members of the audience with said: "I feel like there's a J- or G-sound- readings for friends and family, dien pro­ whom he talks. There is no eavesdrop­ ing name attached to this." He also per­ gressed to psychic fairs where he soon ping on gallery conversations, and there ceived "Linda or Lindy or Leslie; who's learned that names and other "validating are no 'tricks' to feed information to this L name?" Again, he got a "Maggie or information" sometimes applied to the John." He labeled the Time article "a

20 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER mix of erroneous observations and base­ through, what I see, hear and feel. I with an atypical revelation. Edward less theories" (Nordlander 2001). interpret what I'm seeing hearing and stated he was "being shown the movie feeling, and I define it. He raised his hand, it made sense for him. Great. Pretty in Pink" and asked if there was "a Very Hot pink connection." Then he queried, Be that as it may, on Dateline Edward was HOCKENBERRY: But a cynic "Are you, like, wearing all pink?" The would look at that and go, 'Hey,' you actually caught in an attempt to pass off unidentified man acknowledged that he know, 'He knows it's the cameraman, previously gained knowledge as spirit rev­ he knows it's DATELINE. You know, was. Yet Edward had thought the sub­ elation. During the session he said of the wouldn't that be impressive if he can ject was a woman, and I suspect that spirits, "They're telling me to acknowl­ get the cameraman to cry?' erroneous guess was because of the edge Anthony," and when the camera­ color of his attire; I further suspect Mr. EDWARD: Absolutely not. Ab­ man signaled that was his name, Edward solutely not. Not at all. Edward knew it was pink, that as the seemed surprised, asking "That's you? man entered the room Edward Really?" He further queried: "Had you Bui try to weasel out of it as he glimpsed a flash of the color as it was not seen Dad before he passed? Had you might, Edward had obviously been reflected off some shiny surface, such as either been away or been distanced?" caught cheating: pretending that infor­ the glass of a picture frame, the lens of Later, playing the taped segment for me, mation he had gleaned earlier had just the video camera, etc. I challenge Dateline reporter John Hockenberry been revealed by spirits and feigning Edward to demonstrate his reputed challenged me with Edward's appareni surprise that it applied to Tony the cam­ color-divining ability under suitably hit: "He got Anthony. That's pretty eraman. (And that occurred long before controlled conditions that I will set up. good." I agreed but added, "We've seen Time had suggested that an Inside mediums who mill about before sessions Edition program—February 27, 2001— Inflating "Hits" and greet people and chat with them and was probably "the first nationally tele­ pick up things." In addition to shrewd cold reading and vised show to take a look at the Edward out-and-out cheating, "psychics" and Indeed, it turned out that that is jusi phenomenon." That honor instead goes "mediums" can also boost their appar­ what Edward had done. Hours before to Dateline NBC.) ent accuracy in other ways. They get the group reading, Tony had been the In his new book Crossing Over, something of a free ride from the ten­ cameraman on another Edward shooi Edward tries to minimize the Dateline dency of credulous folk to count the 1 (recording him at his hobby, ballroom expose , and in so doing breaks his own apparent hits and ignore the misses. In dancing). Significantly, the two men rule of not responding to criticism. He the case of Edward, my analysis of 125 had chatted and Edward had obtain­ rebukes Hockenberry for "his big statements or pseudostatements (i.e., ed useful bits of information that he Gotcha! moment," adding: questions) he made on a Larry King afterward pretended had come from Live program (June 19, 1998) showed the spirits. In a follow-up interview Hockenberry came down on the side of that he was incorrect about as often as Hockenberry revealed the fact and the professional skeptic they used as my foil. He was identified as Joe Nickell, a he was right and that his hits were grilled an evasive Edward: member of the Committee for the mostly weak ones. (For example he Scientific Investigation of Claims of the HOCKENBERRY: So were you Paranormal, which likes to simplify mentioned "an older female" with "an aware that his dad had died before things and call itself CSICOP. He did M-sounding name," either an aunt or you did his reading? the usual sound bites: that modem grandmother, he stated, and the caller mediums arc fast-talkers on fishing Mr. EDWARD: I think he—I think supplied "Mavis" without identifying expedilions making money on peoples earlier in the—in the day, he had said grief—"the same old dogs with new the relationship; see Nickell 1998.) something. tricks," in Hockenberry's words. Another session—for an episode of HOCKENBERRY: It makes me feel Crossing Over attended by a reporter for like, you know, that that's fairly sig­ Edward claims to ignore any advance Magazine, Chris nificant. I mean, you knew that he information that he may get from those Ballard (2001)—had Edward "hitting well had a dead relative and you knew it was the dad. he reads, but concedes, "it's futile to say below 50 percent for the day." Indeed, he this to a tough skeptic" (Edward 2001, twice spent "upward of 20 minutes stuck Mr. EDWARD: OK. 242-243). on one person, shooting blanks but not HOCKENBERRY: So that's not Edward may have benefitted from accepting the negative responses." This is a some energy coming through, that's actual information on another occasion, common technique: persisting in an something you knew going in. You while undergoing a "scientific" test of attempt to redeem error, cajoling or even knew his name was Tony and you his alleged powers (Schwartz et al. browbeating a sitter (as Sylvia Browne knew that his dad had died and you knew that he was in the room, right? 2001). In video clips shown on often does), or at least making the incor­ Thai gets you . . . Dateline, Edward was reading sub­ rect responses seem the person's fault. "Do jects—who were brought into the hotel not not honor him!" Edward exclaimed at Mr. EDWARD: That's a whole loi of thinking you got me doing, then. room where he sat with his back to the one point, then (according to Ballard) Like I said, I react to what's coming door—when he impressed his tester "staring down rhe bewildered man."

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 21 When the taped episode actually Ai the time I appreciated the fact that I attempt to insulate a position and to aired, the two lengthy failed readings surprised my clients, but while aware of evade or shift the burden of proof, which the fact that 1 was deceiving them I did had been edited out, along with second- is always on the claimant. As Houdini not see or understand the seriousness of rate offerings. What remained were two trifling with such sacred sentimentality (1924, 270) emphatically stated, "It is of the best readings of the show (Ballard and the baneful result which inevitably not for us to prove the mediums are dis­ 2001). This seems to confirm the allega­ followed. To me it was a lark. I was a honest, it is for them to prove that they tion in the Time article that episodes mystifier and as such my ambition was are honest." In my opinion John Edward being gratified and my love for a mild were edited to make Edward seem more has already failed that test. sensation satisfied. After delving deep I accurate, even reportedly splicing in realized the seriousness of it all. As I Acknowledgments clips of one sitter nodding yes "after advanced to riper years of experience I statements with which he remembers was brought to a realization of the seri­ 1 appreciate the assistance of disagreeing" (Jaroff 2001). ousness of trifling with the hallowed who helped me analyze the video clips reverence which the average human mentioned in the text and refine the Edited or not, sessions involving a being bestows on the departed, and hypothesis that Edward may have group offer increased chances for success. when I personally became afflicted glimpsed a reflection. I am also grateful to By tossing out a statement and indicating with similar grief 1 was chagrined that I Tim Binga, Barry Karr, Kevin Christopher, a section of the audience rather than an should ever have been guilt)- of such fri­ Ben Radford, and Ranjit Sandhu for other assistance. individual, the performing "medium" volity and for the first time realized that it bordered on crime. makes it many times more likely that References someone will "acknowledge" it as a "hit." Of course tricking people in order to Ballard. Chris. 2001. Oprah of the other side. The Sometimes multiple audience members educate them is not the same as deceiv­ New York Times Magazine. July 29. 38-41. will acknowledge an offering, whereupon ing them for crass personal gain, bur to Barren. Greg. 2001. Can the living talk to the the performer typically narrows the toy with their deepest emotions— dead? Gannett News Service, published in USA Today, August 10. choice down to a single person and builds however briefly and well intentioned—is Edward. John. 1999. One Last Time. New York: on the success. Edward uses just such a to cross a line 1 prefer not to do. Besides, Berkley Books. technique (Ballard 2001). I believe it can be very counterproduc­ . 2001. Crossing Over. : Jodere Group. Still another ploy used by Edward tive. It may not be the alleged medium Gibson, Walter B. 1977. The Original Houdini and his fellow "psychic mediums" is to but ratber the himself who is Scrapbook. New York: Corwin/Sterling. suggest that people who cannot perceived as dishonest, and he may come Gresham, William Lindsay. 1953. Monster Midway. New York: Rinehart, 113-136. acknowledge a hit may find a connec­ across as arrogant, cynical, and manipu­ Houdini, Harry. 1924. A Magician Among the tion later. "Write this down," an insis­ lative—not heroic as he imagines. Spirits. New York: Harper & Brothers. tent Edward sometimes says, or in As well, an apparent reproduction Hyman, Ray. 1977. Cold reading: how to con­ vince strangers that you know all about them. some other way suggests the person of an effect does not necessarily mean the SKKITiCAI. INQUIRER 2(1), (Spring/Summer): study the apparent miss. He may cause was the same. (For example, 18-37. become even more insistent, the posi­ I have seen several skeptical demonstra­ Jaroff. Leon. 2001. Talking to the dead. 77rae, March 5, 52. tive reinforcement diverting attention tions of "weeping" icons that employed Keene. M. Lamar. 1976. Tie Psychic Mafia. from the failure and giving the person trickery more sophisticated than that used Reprinted Amherst, N.Y.: , 1997. an opportunity to find some adaptable for "real" crying effigies.) Far better, I am King, Larry. 2001. Arc psychics for real? Larry meaning later (Nickell 1998). convinced, is showing evidence of the King Live, March 6. actual methods employed, as I did in col­ McHargue, Georgess. 1972. Facts. Frauds, and Phantasms: A Survey of the Spiritualist Move­ Debunking Versus investigation laboration with Dateline NBC. ment. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 44—45. Some skeptics believe the way to Aldiough John Edward was among Mui. Ylan Q. 2001. Bring me your dead. AW counter Edward and his ilk is to repro­ five "highly skilled mediums" who York Post: TV Sunday. July 8, 105. duce his effect, to demonstrate die cold- allegedly fared well on tests of dieir abil­ Nickell, Joe. 1994. Camera Clues. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 147-149. reading technique to radio and TV audi­ ity (Schwartz et al. 2001)—experiments . 1998. Investigating spirit communica­ ences. Of course that approach is critiqued elsewhere in this issue tions. Skeptical Briefs 8(3) (September): 5-6. unconvincing unless one actually poses (Wiseman and O'Keeffe, see page 26)— . 1999. The Davenport Brothers: Religious practitioners, entertainers, or frauds? as a medium and then—after seemingly he did not claim validation on Larry King SKEPncM. INQUIRER 23(4) (July/August): 14-17. making contact with subjects' dead Live. When King (2001) asked Edward if . 2000. Hustling . Skeptical Brief. loved ones—reveals the deception. he thought there would ever be proof of 10(3) (September): 1-3. Nickell. Joe, widi John F. Fischer. 1988. Secrets of Although audiences typically fall for the spirit contact, Edward responded by sug­ the Supernatural Buffalo. N.Y.: Prometheus trick (witness Inside Edition's use of it), I gesting proof was unattainable, tbat only Boob, 47-60. deliberately avoid this approach for a belief matters: "... I think that to prove Nordlander, Charles. 2001. Letter from executive producer of Crossing Over to 77me, March 26. variety of reasons, largely because of eth­ it is a personal thing. It is like saying, Schwartz. Gary E.R., ct al. 2001. Accuracy and ical concerns. I rather agree with prove God. If you have a belief system replicability of anomalous after-death commu­ nication across highly skilled mediums. Houdini (1924, xi) who had done spiri­ and you have faith, then there is nothing Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, Jan­ tualistic stunts during his early career: really more tban tbat." But tbis is an uary: 1-25. •

22 November/Oecembet 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS ROBERT SHEAFFER

Conspire This!

n most days, the Santa Clara Third Reich under the direct orders of their abuse, and so they are pre­ Convention Center, adjacent to Hitler. The Nazis found that it was possi­ programmed for self-destruction. Noth­ Othe Santa Clara Westin Hotel ble to create robotlike people with super­ ing so dramatic as a cyanide capsule is and the Technology Man, is abuzz with human powers using a sinister program of needed: MK-Ultra programs into its the schmoozing of high-tech million­ early childhood sexual abuse. Not only victims a capability to go into "respira­ aires, former millionaires, and wannabe- would these people obey orders unques- tory failure" upon receiving the proper millionaires. But for two days of the tioningly, they developed "forty-four signal. Fortunately, Mark rescued her Memorial Day weekend, it served as the times" visual acuity. After the war, ex-Nazi and whisked her off to safety in Alaska. world headquarters to a little-known psychiatrists and psychologists came to Apparently Alaska is so far away that resistance movement: the forces (such as the U.S. to work for the CIA, where the even MK-Ultra couldn't find her. they were) that had assembled to oppose evil work continued. O'Brien explained After those exciting talks, William the machinations of the llluminati, the that she was one of those unfortunate vic­ Lyne was a big disappointment. He was New World Order, MK Ultra, and tims. Her father, who allegedly had supposed to talk about "Tesla's Secret numerous other shadowy organizations, abused her since infancy, cooperated with Technologies and Government Sup­ some of which may even exist. congressman (and future president) pression," but he rambled on about a lot Paranoia was the mantra, and the Gerald Ford and the governor of of things, mostly about himself. He late-night radio talk show maven Art Michigan to deliver her up to the MK- claims to have led an extremely exciting Bell the high priest. The world in which Ultra Mind Control group. Her "owner" life, encountering government agents at these people live is a truly frightening within this group was a still-prominent every turn, who were responsible for place. Mind control assaults us, and U.S. senator. She was controlled on a day- things happening to him that might chemtrails poison us from above. to-day basis by the "harmonics" in the otherwise be interpreted as failures, such Supposedly health-giving vaccines are music she was given to listen to, and by as losing a job, his wife leaving, or get­ deliberately poisoned, the energy crisis is TV shows she was made to watch, such as ting booted out of the armed forces. He a sinister fraud, and even microwave Disney programs and the Wizard of Oz, says he discovered a Soviet spy ring run­ ovens are dangerous. Worst of all, some which contained subliminal messages. ning the career counseling office at the shadowy, sinister group is doing every­ She explained that "my sexuality had Lackland Air Force base in Texas. One thing for its own selfish gain. been enhanced," a statement that did would have expected that a Soviet spy Mark Philips and Cathy O'Brien not inspire disbelief. She had allegedly ring would have concentrated on getting staned the conference with a bang, giving spent years as a robotic sex slave for the information on weapons and codes, but their talks on MK-Ultra Mind Control conspiracy. Nobody asked her if she had they apparently thought they could do (see www.trance-formation.com/). Philips developed forty-four times visual acuity. more damage to U.S. interests by misdi­ told how this type of sinister mind control Mark saved her in 1988, and just in the recting Air Force enlistees into inappro­ was first studied, then perfected, by the nick of time, because at age thirty the priate training programs. However, conspiracy was preparing her for "elimi­ Lyne's brilliant discovery upset General Robert Sheaffers World Wide Web page for nation." Around that age, you see, mind Curtis LeMay, who feared that if UFOs and other skeptical subjects is at controlees begin to spontaneously word leaked out it could endanger www. debunker. com. recover the "repressed" memories of Eisenhower's re-election. This led to

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 23 Lyne being booted out of the Air Force. for the U.S. corporation's loans from Maxwell was an "On-screen Expert and Lyne was the first to find out about international bankers. (It's odd, I have Research Consultant" for the CBS the Soviet missiles in Cuba and he looked at many stock quotes over the pseudodocumentary series "Ancient warned the CIA, but they didn't tell JFK years, but have yet to see my birth certifi­ Secrets of the Bible." With "expertise" about it until six months later. He "pre­ cate listed.) Originally sold for $630,000, like his, no wonder that program had the dicted" the assassination of JFK as soon our birth certificates are now worth more real scholars howling!) as he saw the motorcade route in the than $1 million each. If you look at your The British conspiracist David Icke (pronounced "Ike"), perhaps the best- Cathy O'Brien claimed to have seen, during known of all the speakers, swaggered out onto the stage, then proceeded to tell a her days as a robotic White House sex slave, lot of jokes. Eventually moving onto the George Bush do a "lizard projection" serious matters, he explained how all hunger and poverty in the world is using "harmonics." caused by the conspirators who keep people miserable to promote depen­ newspaper the day before. He had met name as it appears on official documents, dency on them. Multinational corpora­ Oswald, who was working for the CIA you will find that it is always in capital tions are, of course, the cause of poverty and was "robotic." Oswald was actually a letters, just like the letters on a tomb­ in Africa, and not political instability, right-winger and not a Marxist. One stone. This indicates that you are dead, lack of education, or poor infrastructure. thing Lyne did not spell out was whether under the law: you belong to them. The Atlantean-Lemurian civiliza­ or not he believes that Oswald actually There is a way to remedy rJiis, of tions were very advanced. Today's royal did kill Kennedy. If so, he must have course, and "repatriate" yourself to bloodlines trace back to them (and been the only person there (besides me) become a citizen of "America" instead of a indeed much further). The Mero- who did. As for Tesla, all we learned was product belonging to the "United States." vignians, an ancient dynasty, founded that some Nazi U-boats were powered by You can also get your true name back, Paris, and dug many tunnels and caves Tesla devices, a fact confirmed by a man using both uppercase and lowercase let­ under it. One of them was the Pont who claimed to have been a Nazi U-boat ters. Among the advantages will be that d'Alma tunnel, where Princess Diana commander. We also learned that the real you do not have to pay income taxes, and died (although it looks to me suspi­ reason that Rommel's Afrika Korps went are no longer subject to the jurisdiction of ciously like an urban traffic underpass of into the desert was not to fight the the courts. Maxwell and his pals can help much more recent vintage). British, but actually to test a neutron you to do this, but (as did not come out Icke's most amazing claim is that the bomb. Apparently to test such a thing until the second day) it's going to cost bloodlines of Europe's royal families, requires entire armies and thousands of you. His "repatriation" package sells for a which some claim to trace back to a secret armored vehicles, rather than just a few mere $995 (see www.tbafamily.com/ union of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, are key scientists and technicians. bbcoa/freedom.html). A "mortgage can­ in fact derived from extraterrestrial lizards Jordan Maxwell (see www.bbcoa. cellation" package costs $1,200, a true (see www.davidicke.com/icke/temp/rept- com/jordan/) is a jolly son of fellow who bargain considering the size of mortgages conn.html). As proof of this, you need uses simple, folksy arguments to reach here in California. But not all his services only look at the prevalence of gargoyles startling conclusions. He informed us are so expensive. Monetary judgments and dragons on all kinds of royal coats of that we Americans are still living under a can be set aside for a mere $125. arms. These people can be recognized by system of government and religion that is Dubious etymology is a specialty of their ability to "shape shift" into reptilian "Druidic" in origin, and we are still being Maxwell's. For example, the Christian form, then back again. ruled by England. All of our law is based worship of God's "son," who is risen, is Cathy O'Brien claimed to have seen, on maritime admiralty law. Because you clearly derived from Roman worship of during her days as a robotic White House were born from the water breaking in the "sun," which rises each morning. sex slave, George Bush do a "lizard pro­ your mothers womb, under maritime Son-sun, he repeats, it's obvious. (Can jection" using "harmonics." Icke claims admiralty law this makes you a maritime his audience truly be so simplistic to that the Illuminati lizards need to main­ "product." We think we are American cit­ believe that these words would sound the tain a vast, global network of satanic cults izens, but in reality all of us "belong" (lit­ same to speakers of Latin, Greek, or to perform human sacrifice, sexual erally) to the United States, which is a Hebrew?) "Christ" is really "cristo" or molestation, and cannibalism. He foreign-owned corporation set up in "crisco," which means "oil," not explains on his Web site that "to hold 1868. When your mother signed your anointed. The "Lord," originally spelled their human form, these entities need to birth certificate, this gave ownership of "," is simply congealed "crisco." drink human (mammalian) blood and you to the U.S. corporation. Our birth Passover is when the sun "passes over" access rhe energy it contains to maintain certificates are traded on the stock the equator which marks the beginning their DNA codes in their 'human' expres­ exchange, where they serve as collateral of spring. (According to his resume. sion. If they don't, they manifest their

24 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER reptilian codes and we would all sec what arc causing huge colonics all kinds of hostile toward organized religion, view­ they really look like... . From what I bad bacteria, molds, fungi, etc. to pre­ ing it as pan of die conspiracy.) Today, he understand from former 'insiders,' the cipitate down from the upper regions warns, vaccine-induced diseases are ful­ blood (energy) of babies and small chil­ (where they presumably cavort happily filling the dreadful prophecies from the dren is the most effective for this, as are unless disturbed, subsisting on nothing Book of Revelations. blond-haired, blue-eyed people." but plain air). Thus people are getting Surprisingly, it never was decided just William Thomas, who spoke on sick wherever chemtrails are seen. who is to blame for the mess we are in. "Responding to the Chemtrails Threat" "Basically, Chicken Litde was right." The favorite villains were the (see www.island.net/-lbnews/), is the Dr. Leonard Horowitz is an anti- Rockefellers, the Rothschilds, the Bilder- archetype of what a conspiracy theorist is vaccination activist who spoke on "The berger network, the Illuminati, the CIA, expected to be like. Unlike many of the Toxic Warfare Against Humanity" (see and according to at least some of the lit­ other speakers his mannerisms are para­ www.tetrahedron.org/aboutus.html). erature being promoted, the Jews. There noid and intense, his humor wry and He explained how vaccines are deliber­ are also international bankers, the British unintended. (Maxwell's delivery had been so light that I seriously wondered if Conspiracy apparently cannot thrive without his presentation was entirely farce, hypochondria—presumably those who feel healthy although the audience surely didn't think that. However, no one will ever question do not look around for someone to blame for their Thomas' sincerity.) He lamented that his condition, and those who are genuinely sick realize rwo-and-a-half-year pursuit of the chem­ trails has "just about taken over my life, that nobody conspired to create their illness. just about ruined my life." Thomas got repeated laughter from ately contaminated by the Rockefeller- royal family, Jesuits, multinational cor­ the audience when, showing slides of Windsor-Bush cabal, who not only porations, and all the speakers' favorite broad, flat jet contrails crossing the make money selling the killer vaccines, villains, the Republicans, especially skies, he recounted the official explana­ but also off the medical treatments George Bush die elder, who is imagined tions he had been given that these are resulting from the diseases the vaccines to have secretly been running the coun­ just "normal airline operations." For the create. The Rockefellers have invented try for decades. Of course, if he were benefit of those who cannot tell chem­ die American medical monopoly, the really as powerful as all that, it seems he trails from contrails, he offered the fol­ cancer industry, and eugenics. The would have at least engineered his own lowing explanation: contrails are pencil- Rockefellers control the Alfred P. Sloan re-election, let alone arrange a better thin lines that disappear quite soon, philanthropic foundation, which has than razor-thin electoral college victory usually within one minute: anything created many viruses, including AIDS. for his son and heir. else is a chemtrail, which is both sinister The Rockefellers arc trying to slowly "Alternative medicine" seems part and and bad for your health. The chemtrail poison us to reduce the population, parcel of conspiracy claims, here and else­ assault upon us was first noted in making profits all the way. The recent where. The speakers and the literature November 1998, and has been causing West Nile Virus outbreak in the U.S. tables reter endlessly to conspiracies pro­ sickness ever since. Thomas does not was a , concocted to sell vaccines. mulgated by organized medicine, and I agree with those who say that it's a delib­ Alzheimer's patients are actually suffer­ heard a number of people complain erate attempt by the U.S. government to ing from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the about conditions not recognized by poison us. Instead, he suspects it is a human form of Mad Cow disease. The mainstream medicine. Conspiracy appar­ massive, covert government operation to bacteria E. coli is being genetically engi­ ently cannot thrive widiout hypochon­ delay global warming by increasing the neered by the CIA to create killer germs. dria—presumably those who feel healthy amount of sunlight that is reflected back Wherever WASP-directed capitalism do not look around for someone to into space. (According to a ten-year goes, there also goes genocide. blame for their condition, and those who study by the French climatologist Horowitz takes very seriously the are genuinely sick realize that nobody Olivier Boucher, not only do jet con­ "Report from Iron Mountain" with its conspired to create their illness. trails sometimes seed the growth of cir­ claims of a secret government plot to per­ As it happened, the conference facility rus clouds that can grow to enormous petuate war. But diis "document" is actu­ was being shared with the Northern size, but they appear to increase global ally a hoax, as its audior has confessed: California Conference of Charismatic temperatures by trapping in reradiated see www.museumofhoaxes. com/iron, Catholics. During the breaks, I could heat. See "Air traffic may increase cirrus html. Unlike many of the other speakers, hear some people talking about messages cloudiness," Nature 397:30, 7 January Horowitz, a "Jew for Jesus," is very reli­ they received from the Lord, while others 1999). Unfortunately, the aluminum gious, his talk interspersed with prayer told of receiving threats from the CIA. oxide that is allegedly being sprayed has making him sound much like a revivalist. The Charismatic conference, by the way, bad health consequences: the panicles (Most of the other speakers were quite had a much greater attendance.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 25 A Critique of Schwartz et al.'s After-Death Communication Studies

Studies with mediums by Gary Schwartz and colleagues have been widely reported in the media as scientific proof of life after death. But their experiments did not employ blind judging, used an inappropriate control group, and had insufficient safeguards against sensory leakage.

RICHARD WISEMAN and CIARAN O'KEEFFE

chwartz, Russek, Nelson, and Barentsen (2001) recendy reported two studies in which mediums Sappeared to be able to produce accurate information about the deceased under conditions that the authors believed "eliminate the factors of fraud, error, and statistical coincidence." Their studies were widely reported in the media as scientific proof of life after death (e.g., Matthews 2001; Chapman 2001). This paper describes some of the methodological problems associated with the Schwartz et al. studies and outlines how these problems can be overcome in future research. Schwartz et al.'s first experiment was funded and filmed by a major U.S. television network (Home Box Office—HBO)

26 November/December 200! SKEPTICAL INQUIRER making a documentary about the survival of bodily death. The study involved two participants (referred to as "sitters") and five well-known mediums. The first sitter was a forty-six-year-old woman who had experienced the death of over six people in the last ten years. Schwartz et al. stated that this sitter was recommended to them by a well-known researcher in ADCs (After Death Communication) who "knew of the sitter's case through her research involving spontaneous ADCs." The second sitter was a fifty-four-year-old woman who had also experienced the death of at least six people in the last ten years. During the experiment, the sitter and medium sat on either side of a large opaque screen. The medium was allowed to "conduct the reading in his or her own way, with the restriction that they could ask only questions requiring a yes or no answer." Each sitter was asked to listen to the reading and respond to the medium's questions by saying the word "yes" or "no" out loud. The first sitter was given a reading by all five mediums; the second sitter received read­ ings from only two of the mediums. A few months after the experiment, both sitters were asked to assign a number between -3 (definitely an error) to +3 (definitely correct) to each of the state­ ments made by the mediums. The sitters placed 83 percent and 77 percent of the statements into the +3 category. Schwartz et al. also reported their attempt to discover whether "intelligent and motivated per­ sons" could guess the type of information pre­ sented by the mediums by chance alone. The inves­ tigators selected seventy statements from the readings given to the first sitter and turned them into ques­ tions. For example, if the medium had said "your father loved dancing," the question became "Who loved to dance?" Sixty-eight undergradu­ ates were shown these questions, along with a pho­ tograph of the sitter, and asked to guess the answer. Schwartz et al. reported that the average number of items guessed correctly was just 36 percent, and argue that the high level of accuracy obtained by the mediums could not be due to chance guessing. The first sitter was then invited back to the laboratory to take part in a second experiment. In this experiment she received readings from two of the mediums who also participated in the first study. Rather than being separated by an opaque screen, the sitter sat six feet behind the medium. In the first part of these two readings the sitter was instructed to remain completely silent. In the second part she was asked to answer "yes" or "no" to each of the medium's questions. After reviewing the readings, the sitter rated 82 per­ cent of the mediums' statements as being "definitely correct." Richard Wiseman and Ciaran O'Keeffe are in the Department of The Schwartz et al. studies suffered from severe method­ Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield ological problems, namely: (1) the potential for judging Hert. ALIO 9AB. U.K. E-mail- [email protected]. This bias, (2) the use of an inappropriate control group, and (3) article also appears in the Paranormal Review.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 27 Judging Bias Medium: .. . your dad speaks about the loss of child. That makes sense? During a mediumistic reading the medium usually produces a Sitter: Yes. large number of statements and the sitter has to decide whether Medium: Twice? 'Cause your father says twice. these statements accurately describe his/her deceased friends or Sitter: Yes. relatives. It is widely recognized that the sitters endorsement of Medium: Wait a minute, now he says thrice. He's saying three such statements cannot be taken as evidence of mediumistic abil­ times. Does that make sense? Sitter: That's correct. ity, as seemingly accurate readings can be created by a set of psy­ chological stratagems collectively referred to as "cold reading" Some of the statements made by the mediums may also (Hyman 1977; Rowland 1998). It is therefore vital that any inves­ have been true of a great many people and thus had a high tigation into the possible existence of mediumistic ability controls likelihood of being endorsed by the sitters. For example, in the for the potential effect of these stratagems. Unfortunately, the transcript the medium stated that one of the spirits was a fam­ Schwartz et al. study did not con­ ily member, and elsewhere Schwartz et tain such controls, and thus it is al. stated that the mediums referred to "a possible that the seemingly impres­ 1 little dog playing ball." It is highly prob­ sive results could have been due to able that many sitters would have cold reading. Journal of the endorsed both of these statements. Schwartz et al. reproduced a Research has also revealed that many small part of one reading in their Phychical Resean li statements that do not appear especially paper, and this transcript can be general can also be true of a surprisingly used to illustrate how cold reading large number of people. Blackmore could account for the outcome of (1994) carried out a large-scale survey die studies. In the first line of die in which more than 6,000 people were transcript the medium said, asked to state whether quite specific "Now, I don't know if they [the statements were true of them. More spirits] mean this by age or by than one third of people endorsed generation, but they talk about the statement, "I have a scar on my die younger male that has passed. left knee" and more than a quarter Does diat make sense to you?" answered yes to the statement The sitter answered "yes." The "Someone in my family is called medium's statement is ambiguous Jack." In short, the mediums in and open to several different the Schwartz et al. study may interpretations. When the have been accurate, in part, medium mentioned the word because they simply produced "younger" he/she could be talking statements that would have about a young child, a young man, or been endorsed by many sitters. even someone who died young (e.g., in their Other factors may also increase the forties). The sitters may be motivated to interpret likelihood of the sitter endorsing the mediums' state­ such statements in such a way as to maximize the degree of cor­ ments. Clearly, the more deceased people known to the sitter, respondence widi tiieir deceased friends and relatives if, for the greater chance they will have of being able to find a match example, they had a strong belief in the afterlife, a need to for the medium's comments. Both sitters knew a relatively believe that loved ones have survived bodily death, or were eager large number of deceased people. Both of them had experi­ to please the mediums, investigators, and the HBO film crew. enced the death of six loved ones in the last ten years, and the In addition, the sitters may have endorsed the readings first sitter reported that she believed that the mediums had because some statements caused them to selectively remember contacted an additional nine of her deceased friends and rela­ certain events in their lives. As a hypothetical example, let us tives. Thus, the sitters' high levels of endorsement may have imagine that the medium had said, "Your son was an extro­ been due, in part, to them having a large number of deceased vert." This statement may have caused the sitter to selectively friends and relatives. recall certain life events (i.e., the times that her son went to parties and was very outgoing), forget other events (e.g., the Control Group Biases times that he sat alone and didn't want to be with others), and Schwartz et al. attempted to discover whether the seemingly thus assign a spuriously high accuracy rating to the statement. high accuracy rate obtained by the mediums could have been Biased interpretation of ambiguous statements and selec­ the result of chance guesswork. However, the method devel­ tive remembering can lead to sitters endorsing contradictory oped by the investigators was inappropriate and fails to statements during a reading. Interestingly, the short transcript address the concerns outlined above. They selected seventy reproduced by Schwartz et al. contains an example of exactly statements from the readings given to the first sitter in the this happening: first experiment and turned them into questions. For

28 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER example, if the medium had said "your son is very good with evidence of mediumistic ability. his hands," the question became "who was very good with his It is hoped that future tests of mediumistic ability will hands?" These questions were presented to a group of under­ employ the type of blind judging methods that have been graduates, who were asked to guess the answers. Schwartz et developed, and frequently employed, in past tests of mediu­ al. reported that the average number of items guessed cor­ mistic ability. rectly was just 36 percent. However, it is extremely problem­ However, blind judging is only one of several methodological atic to draw any conclusions from this result due to the huge safeguards that should be employed when testing mediumistic differences in the tasks given to the mediums and control ability. Well-controlled tests should also obviously prevent the group. For example, when the medium said, "your son was medium from being able to receive information about a sitter very good with his hands," the sitter has to decide whether through any normal channels of communication. Unfortunately, this statement matches the information that she knew about the measures taken by Schwartz et al. to guard against various her deceased son. However, as noted above, this matching forms of potential sensory leakage appear insufficient. process may be biased by several factors, including her selective remembering and the biased interpretation of ambiguous Mediums in the Schwartz et al. study statements. For example, the sitter may think back to the times that her son built may have been accurate, in part, because model airplanes, endorse the statement, they simply produced statements that and the medium would receive a "hit." However, the control group were presented would have been endorsed with a completely different task. They were by many sitters. presented with the question "Who was good with his hands?" and would only receive a "hit" if they guessed that the answer was the sitter's Sensory Leakage son. They therefore had a significantly reduced likelihood of Throughout all of the readings in the first experiment, and the obtaining a hit than the mediums. latter part of the readings in the second experiment, the sitter Conceptually, this is equivalent to testing archery skills by was allowed to answer "yes" or "no" to the medium's questions. having someone fire an arrow, drawing a target around wher­ These answers would have provided the mediums with two ever it lands and calling it a bullseye, and then testing a "con­ types of information that may have helped them produce more trol" group of other archers by asking them to hit the same accurate statements in the remainder of the reading. First, it is bullseye. Clearly, the control group would not perform as well very likely that the sitter's voice would have given away clues as the first archer, but the difference in performance would about her gender, age, and socioeconomic group. This informa­ reflect the fact that they were presented with very different tion could cause the mediums to produce statements that have tasks, rather than a difference in their archery skills. a greater likelihood of being endorsed by the siner. For example, Psychical researchers have developed various methods to an older sitter is more likely to have experienced the death of overcome the problems associated with "cold reading" when their parents than a younger sitter, and certain life events are investigating claims of mediumistic ability (see Schouten 1994 gender-specific (e.g., being pregnant, having a miscarriage, etc.). for an overview). Most of these methods involve the concept of Second, the sittets' answers may have also given away other use­ "blind judging." In a typical experiment, a small number of sit­ ful clues to the mediums. For example, let us imagine that the ters receive a reading from a medium. The sittets are then asked medium stated, "I am getting the impression of someone male, to evaluate both his or her own reading (often referred to as the is that correct?" If the sitter has recendy lost someone very close "target" reading) and the readings made for other sitters to her, such as a father or son, then she might answer a tearful (referred to as "decoy" readings). If the medium is accurate then "yes." If, however, the deceased male was an uncle that sitter the ratings assigned to the target readings will be significantly didn't really know very well, then her "yes" might be far less greater than those assigned to the decoy readings. However, it emotional. Again, a skilled medium might be able to uncon­ is absolutely vital that the readings are judged "blind"—the sit­ sciously use this information to produce accurate statements ters should be unaware of whether they are evaluating a "target" later in the reading. Any well-controlled test of mediumistic or "decoy" reading. This simple safeguard helps overcome all of ability should not allow for the sitter to provide verbal feedback the problems outlined above. Let us suppose that the medium to the medium during the reading. is not in contact with the spirit world, but instead tends to use In the first part of the readings in the second experiment, cold reading to produce seemingly accurate statements. These the sittet was asked not to answer yes or no to any of the techniques will cause the sittets to endorse both the target and medium's statements. However, the experimental set-up still decoy readings, and thus produce no evidence for mediumistic employed insufficient safeguards against potential sensory ability. If, however, the medium is actually able to communi­ leakage. The medium sat facing a video camera and the sitter cate with the spirits, the sitters should assign a higher rating to sat six feet behind the medium without any fotm of screen their "target" reading than the "decoy" readings, thus providing separating the two of them. As such, the sitter may have

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 29 emitted various types of sensory signals, such as cues from In short, the Schwartz et al. study did not employ blind her movement, breathing, odor, etc. Parapsychologists have judging, employed an inappropriate control group, and had developed elaborate procedures for eliminating potential sen­ insufficient safeguards against sensory leakage. As such, it is sory leakage between participants (e.g., Milton and Wiseman impossible to know the degree to which their findings repre­ 1997). These safeguards frequently involve placing partici­ sent evidence for mediumistic ability. Psychical researchers pants in separate rooms, and often the use of specially con­ have worked hard to develop robust methods for testing medi­ structed sound-attenuated cubicles. Schwartz et al. appeared ums since the 1930s (see Schouten 1994). It is hoped that to have ignored these guidelines and instead allowed the sit­ future work in this area will build upon the methodological ter to interact with the medium, and/or simply seated them guidelines that have been developed and thus minimize the behind one another in the same room. Neither of these mea­ type of problems discussed here. sures represent sufficient safeguards against the potential for sensory leakage. References

The investigators also railed to rule out the potential for sen­ Blackmore. S. 1994. Probability Misjudgement and belief in the paranormal: sory leakage between the experimenters and mediums. The sec­ Is ihe theory all wrong? In D. Bierman (Ed.), Proceedings of the 37th ond sitter in the first experiment is described as being "person­ Annua! Convention of the Parapsychological Association 72—82. Chapman, J. 2001. Is there anybody there? Mediums perform well in scien­ ally known" to two of the experimenters (Schwartz and tific seance test. The Daily Mail, March 5. Russek). The report also described how, during the experiment, Hyman, R. 1977. Cold reading: How to convince strangers that you know all the mediums were allowed to chat with Russek in a courtyard about them. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 1(2): 18-37. Matthews, R. 2001. Spiritualists' powers turn scientists into believers. The behind the laboratory. Research into the possible existence of Sunday Telegraph, March 4. mediumistic ability should not allow anyone who knows the Milton, J., and R. Wiseman. 1997. Guidelines for sitter to come into contact with the medium. Schwartz allowed research. University of Hertfordshire Press: Hatfield. England. Rosenthal, R., and D.B. Rubin. 1978. Interpersonal expectancy effects: The such contact, with their only safeguard being that the mediums first 345 studies. Behavioural and Brain Sciences 3, 377-386. and Russek were not allowed to talk about matters related to Rowland. I. 1998. The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading. Ian Roland Limited: the session. However, a large body of research has shown that London, England. Schouten, S.A. 1994. An overview of quantitatively evaluated studies with there are many ways in which information can be unwittingly mediums and psychics. The Journal oj the American Society for Psychical communicated, via both verbal and nonverbal means (e.g., Research. 88:221-254. Rosenthal and Rubin 1978). As such, the safeguards employed Schwartz, G.E.R., LG.S. Russek, LA. Nelson, and C. Barentsen. 2001. Accuracy and replicability of anomalous after-death communication by Schwartz et al. against possible sensory leakage between across highly skilled mediums. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, experimenter and mediums were insufficient. 65(862): 1-25. D

You can make a lasting impact on the future of skepticism...

when you provide for the Skeptical Inquirer in your will. CSICOP and the Skeptical Inquirer changed the terms of discussion in fields ranging from and the paranormal to science and educational policy. You can take an enduring step to preserve their vitality when you provide for the Skeptical Inquirer in your will. Your bequest to CSICOP, Inc., will help to provide for the future of skepticism as it helps to keep the Skeptical Inquirer financially secure. Depending on your tax situation, a charitable bequest to CSICOP may have little impact on the net size of your estate—or may even result in a greater amount being avail­ able to your beneficiaries. We would be happy to work with you and your attorney in the development of a will or estate plan that meets your wishes. A variety of arrangements are possible, including: gifts of a fixed amount or a percentage of your estate; living trusts or gift annuities, which provide you with a lifetime income; or a contingent bequest that provides for the Skeptical Inquirer only if your primary beneficiaries do not sur­ vive you. For more information, contact Barry Karr, Executive Director of CSICOP, at (716) 636-1425. All inquiries are held in the strictest confidence.

30 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER and hear thought-provoking talks critiquing (or, in some cases, defending): • Near-Death Experiences • The Medical Effects of Prayer at a Distance • Intelligent Design: Creation/Evolution and Darwinism • New Cosmologies and Religion • Spiritualism and Science • The Existence of

We'll also feature meetings of local groups; a concurrent ses­ sion on Science, Religion, and African Americans; and a ses­ sion on Science and Islam. We'll have the pleasure of enter­ tainment and education at the hands of nationally known physicist and showman David G. Willey. and—

Imagine getting to hear all these superb speakers in one meeting:

• Jim Alcock • Hector Avalos • Michael Behe • Susan Blackmore • Patricia Churchland • Jerome W. Elbert • Antony Flew • Owen Gingerich • Adolf Grunbaum • Ray Hyman • Karl Jansen • Paul Kurtz • Raymond Moody • Joe Nickell • Steven Pinker • Massimo Pigliucci • Gary Posner • Gary E. Schwartz • Eugenie Scott • Quentin Smith • Wole Soyinka • Vic Stenger • Matt Young • Kendrick Frazier • Vern Bullough

•The registration fee will be only $79 for students who are currently Be Part of the First enrolled in classes (copy of current student identification required). Make plans now to be in Atlanta, at the Atlanta Airport CENTER FOR INQUIRY Marriott (just $89 a room per night, single or double, with INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE! free airport shuttle service, free parking, and first class ser­ vice), on Friday through Sunday, November 9-11. You're invited to what may just be the finest conference you've ever had a chance to attend—the Center for Inquiry's first International Conference. For only $149* CENTER FOB INQUIRY (we're holding the line on costs), you can come to Atlanta International $ CSICOP

To register, complete the form below and send with your payment to The Center for Inquiry, ATTN: November Conference, P. O. Box 741, Amheret NY 14226- 0741. or call credit card charges (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) to 1-800-458-1366. Please note: You must reserve your sleeping room(s) directly with the hotel. Call 404-766-7900 and ask for the Center for Inquiry conference rate. REGISTRATION FORM

YES! Register person(s) for the Center for Inquiry Conference, "Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?"

NAME DAYTIME PHONE E-MAIL

ADDRESS . CITY STATE ZIP Number Item Price Each Total Price

Adult Conference Registration (per person—does not include meals) $149 Student Conference Registration (per person—does not include mealsi $79 endose photocopy of current student ID for each student registration requested Friday Luncheon World class speaker to be announced $25 Saturday Luncheon World-class speaker to be announced $25 Saturday Banquet With David G.Willey "mad scientist' extravaganza and international Auxtrds Ceremony $35

TOTAL S_ PAYMENT: I enclose check'M.O. payable to Center for Inquiry or Charge to my MasterCard Visa Card Number: Expiration: Signature: (required forcxMnjM) Magical Thinking in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Homeopathy and other popular therapies demonstrate ancient and universal principles of magical thinking, which some recent research suggests are fundamental to human cognition, even rooted in neurobiology.

PHILLIPS STEVENS, JR.

any of today's "complementary" or "alternative" systems of healing involve magical beliefs, mani­ M festing ways of thinking based in principles of cosmology and causality that are timeless and absolutely uni­ versal. So similar are some of these principles among all human populations that some cognitive scientists have sug­ gested that they are innate to the human species, and this suggestion is being strengthened by current scientific research. Any efforts to correct such thinking should begin with understanding of the nature of the principles involved. When we ask "why people believe weird things" (as has Shermer 1997) we might consider that at least some beliefs derive from a natural propensity to think in certain ways.

32 November/Decembet 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER This article considers those aspects of belief that accord with the best anthropological meanings of "" and "magical thinking." It defines these terms far more specifically than have others.1 I will first survey the wide range of popular meanings of magic, then elucidate underlying principles involved in the belief system most appropriately labeled "magic." I will identify some popular belief systems that involve magical thinking and indicate some recent scientific stud­ ies that suggest that we are dealing with innate principles of cognition.

Meanings of "Magic" The terms magic and magical have a wide range of meanings, both among scholars and the general public. In no significant order, the terms can mean: the tricks and illu­ sions of a stage magician; ability to change form, visibility, or loca­ tion of something, or the creation of something from nothing; spirit invocation and command; havini g romantic, awe-inspiring, or wondrous quality; the "high or "Hermetic" magic of late medieval and Renaissance times, including astrology, alchemy. Kabbalah, and other sys­ tems involving complex calculations and/or written notations they will do those things. and formulas; anything "mystical," "psychic," "paranormal," Farmers recognize them; "," or "New Age"; some of the beliefs and practices of poets have written about Wicca and other neo-pagan religions, often spelled "magick"; them ("The force that through the green fuse drives the any of the many meanings of "sorcery" or "witchcraft," or flower"—Dylan Thomas, 1934). other referents of "black magic"; anything seeming mysterious 2. Power. The forces, and everything else, are energized by a or miraculous; and the terms can be used as a general reference mystical power that exists in varying degrees in all things. The to supernatural power. I have elaborated on these meanings power in higher-order things, spiritual beings, and people of elsewhere (Stevens 1996a). high status, like African and Polynesian kings, may be danger­ Even among scholars there is not general agreement, and ous to ordinary people. Power is transferable, through physical any of the above meanings may be evident in different anthro­ contact, sensory perception, or mere proximity. The idea is pological writings. But there are distinct ways of thinking and exemplified in the biblical concept of divine "glory," as halos corresponding ritual practices that are similar among all over the heads of saints in medieval art, and in contemporary peoples in the world and at all stages of recorded history— New Age "auras" and "psi energy." It is belief in supernatural including prehistory—which most anthropologists, and many power that defines the concept of "sacred," and that distin­ other scholars, refer to as magic. In this universal sense, as I guishes holy water. have indicated in more detail elsewhere (Stevens 1996b), In some belief systems, "forces" and "power" may seem to magic operates according to any or all of five basic principles: merge; e.g., in the concept of "vital force" that exists in so 1. Forces. Most peoples seem to believe in forces in nature many forms: Polynesian and Melanesian mana, Iroquois that are separate from and operate independently of any spiri­ orenda, Algonqian manitou, Sioux wakan, Malay kramai, tual beings and are also separate from those forces identified Indian brahma, Greek dynamis, Chinese qi, ashe among the and measured by science, e.g., gravity, elcctromagnctism, and Yoruba of West Africa and its Caribbean derivatives (ache, axe). the strong and weak nuclear forces. The forces are inherently programmed, apparently since the Creation, to do specific Phi/lips Stevens, Jr., is in the Department of Anthropology, SUNY things, either alone or in concert with others, and if left alone at Buffalo, NY 14261; [email protected].

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 33 "karma" and "chakras" in Hindu and Buddhist healing sys­ connection after they are separated. Frazer is rightly credited tems, the alleged "energies" in Therapeutic Touch and , for his detailed explication of sympathetic magic and his col­ etc.; and ideas of flowing streams of power in Earth, like "ley- lection of numerous examples from world ethnology. But ideas lines" in Britain and Europe and earth energies addressed in of causality based in similarity and contact had been expressed the Chinese geomantic system offing shui. by philosophers since Classical times (e.g., Hippocrates), were 3. A coherent, interconnected cosmos. It is widely believed that integral to the medieval and Renaissance Hermetic systems everything in the cosmos is actually or potentially intercon­ (e.g., Paracelsus), and had been noted, and dismissed as lazy nected, as if by invisible threads, not only spatially but also thinking, by Francis in his Novum Organum, temporally—past, present, and future. Further, every thing and 1608-1620. every event that has happened, is happening, or will happen Note that spirit beliefs are not involved in the above princi­ ples. Many uses of "magic" mean spirit invo­ cation and command, but probably all peo­ ples conceive of spirits as sentient and willful Words are extremely powerful, as they embody beings who may choose not to respond to human command—as Shakespeare's their own meaning, and speech is usually part Hotspur famously responded to Glendower s of the magic act. It is universally believed boast that he could "call spirits from the vasty deep," in King Henry IV, Part I.2 The that spoken words, activated by the life forces and powers addressed and manipu­ force and the intent of the speaker and borne lated in magic are insentient and passively responsive (if the rite is performed correctly). on his or her breath, carry the power of their Magic should be distinguished from suppli­ own meaning directly to their intended target. cation of a deity, as through prayer; but all scholars recognize that magical principles are intertwined with and complementary to reli­ gious ritual. was pre-programmed into the cosmic system; and after it has So, magic involves the transfer of power in nature, or the happened, it leaves a record of itself in the cosmic program. human effort to manipulate natural forces along the network 4. Symbols. Symbols are words, thoughts, tilings, or actions of cosmic interconnections by symbolic projection of power. that not only represent other things or actions but can take on Magical principles are evident in intentional magic, in which the qualities of the things they represent. The American flag symbols are consciously used, through principles of similarity is a good example; if the flag is mistreated it is more than the or contact, for beneficial or harmful results; in taboo, which is material that is damaged. If the thing the symbol stands for the avoidance of establishing an undesirable magical connec­ has power, the symbol will become powerful. Some symbols tion; in the direct use of words to achieve results, as in bless­ with power appear to be universal, e.g., eggs, horns, and the ing or curse; in some forms of divination, "reading" answers to color red; most are understandable only in their specific cul­ questions by tapping into the cosmic program through tural contexts. mechanical or clairvoyant means; in harnessing the power of Words are extremely powerful, as they embody their own symbols for personal good fortune or protection, as in talis­ meaning, and speech is usually part of the magic act. It is uni­ mans and "lucky" charms; etc. Indeed, ideas of "luck" and versally believed that spoken words, activated by the life force "jinx" are magical concepts. Most "" are readily and the intent of the speaker and borne on his or her breath, explainable by the principles of magical thinking. carry the power of their own meaning directly to their intended target. Unspoken thoughts can do the same, Homeopathy and Other Magical Belief Systems although less effectively. Telepathy, telekinesis, and die projec­ Some of the principles of magical beliefs described above arc tion of "psi energy" are thus explained. evident in currently popular belief systems. A clear example is 5. Frazer's principles. Sir James George Frazer, in his monu­ homeopathy. in homeopathic claims have been dis­ mental work on religion and kingship, The Golden Bough, cussed by many, including Barrett (1987) and Gardner (1989) explained his famous principles of sympathetic magic in most in this journal; but it is curious that this healing system has not detail in the third edition, 1911-1915. Heir to the eighteenth- been more widely recognized as based in magical thinking.' century Positivist assumption of "laws" governing nature and The fundamental principle of its founder, Samuel society, Frazer said that sympathetic magic was of two types. Hahnemann (1755-1843), similia similibus curentur ("\et likes "Homeopathic" magic works according to the "law of similar­ cure likes"), is an explicit expression of a magical principle. ity"—things or actions that tesemble other things or actions The allegedly active ingredients in homeopathic medications have a causal connection. "Contagious magic" obeys the "law were "proved" effective against a particular disease when they of contact"—things that have been either in physical contact produced in healthy people symptoms similar to those caused or in spatial or temporal association with other things retain a by the disease.

34 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Hahnemann was well aware, says sympathetic biographer nations for claimed successes with homeopathic cures— Martin Gumpert, that his theories might be relegated to the assuming die original ailment was clinically genuine—are 1) as realm of "mere magic" (1945, 147), and he sought to explain they are completely inert, homeopathic remedies allow nature homeopathy's alleged effects by reference to established science to run its course, as Duffy (1976, 112ff.) has indicated;- of the time. He was impressed by Anton Mesmer's and/or 2) the placebo effect, which currently is the subject of (1734-1815) concept of "animal magnetism," and by the renewed interest in medical research." Indeed, when anthro­ "dynamism" of philosopher Friederich Schelling (1775-1854) who taught that matter is infinitely divisible, and that "die more unsubstantial the matter became by Fallacies in homeopathic claims have dilution, the purer and more effective could been discussed by many, but it is curious that be its 'spirit-like' and 'dynamic' functions" (Gumpert 1945, 147). So Hahnemann this healing system has not been more widely insisted diat a "vital force" was present both recognized as based in magical thinking. in the human body and in die medications. He recognized that his successive dilutions ("potentizations") of the allegedly active substance in water inevitably reduced the amount of the origi­ pologists indicate beliefs and cultural/psychological expecta­ nal substance to none; but the water carried the essence of the tions as responsible for magical cures—or for the deleterious active substance, with which it had been in contact; and that personal effects of hexes or taboo violations—it is the placebo essence worked on the vital force of die patient. Moreover, the effect they are talking about. power of the medication—its "potency" or "dynamization," Various other "alternative" and "New Age" beliefs are obvi­ terms borrowed from Schelling—was increased by grating or ously magical; many are ancient and widespread. Crystals have pulverizing the original material and by shaking die solution long been believed to contain concentrated power; colored ("succussion"). crystals have specific healing effects, as certain colors are asso­ Hahnemann's appeal, then and today, was enhanced ciated with parts of the body—as they have been in the West because he was a well-educated physician and made legitimate for centuries. Colors enhance powers ascribed to candles and criticisms of certain medical practices of his day; but much in other ritual devices. In the early 1980s I gave accommodation his contemporary scientific worldview was still magical. Three in my home to a young New Age enthusiast. Tom, as I shall fundamental principles of magic are involved in homeopathy: call him, for some weeks wore a small cloth bag of crystals similarity, power, and contact. pinned inside his shirt, over his heart. One morning I noticed According to a survey about alternative medicine in the that among the items he had laid out for his day was a small November 11, 1998, Journal of the American Medical brown bottle of liquid, bearing the label "Tom's Red Water." Association, Americans' use of homeopathic preparations more He explained that a member of his therapy/discussion group than doubled between 1990 and 1997 (Eisenberg et al. 1998)/ produced this for all who wanted it: he wrapped a large glass Most modern homeopathic texts are careful to emphasize jug of water in red cellophane and placed it in sunlight all day homeopathy's limitations and to advise consultation with a long. Each person carried a small bottle of this energized liq­ physician if symptoms persist. But most insist that homeopa­ uid and sipped from it four times a day. thy accords with proven principles of science, citing its basis in But the magical healing power of colors seems universal. experimentation, principles of vaccination (Edward Jenner was My colleague Ana Mariella Bacigaiupo informed me that a contemporary of Hahnemann), and its apparent parallels to health workers among the Mapuche of Chile found that their discoveries in symptomatology and immunology and the patients were indifferent to die standard white antibiotic pills; body's reactions to various physical and emotional stressors. A but they willingly took red-colored pills because red is cultur­ popular meaning of "science," apparently, is "complicated" ally associated with exorcism (as it is elsewhere, and was in and Dana Ullman (1988, 10) asserts that homeopatJiy is "too early Europe and England; see Bonser 1963, 219), Six studies scientific" for ordinary people to figure out. Ullman goes on to reviewed in the British Medical Journal in 1996 confirmed argue at length for biological and physical explanations for the popular European and American expectations about the color concepts of "resonance" and "vital force" and compares them of pills: red, yellow, or orange pills are expected to have a with some of the cultural ideas of mystical "power" I discussed general stimulant effect, blue or green are sedative; and earlier, and even more: Chinese chi, Japanese ki, what "yogis specifically, red is cardiovascular, tan or orange is skin, white is call prana, Russian scientists call 'bioplasm,' and Star Wars all-purpose. The authors correctly point out that cultural characters call 'The Force'" (p. 15); and (p. 34, n. 1) he cites associations may vary, though red, for blood, hence vitality, is Frazer's classic study of magic for cross-cultural parallels to "the probably universal (de Craen et al. 1996). law of similars!" Later, he and Stephen Cummings (Cummings Social-psychological explanations for people's continued use and Ullman 1991) are more careful, and conclude that science of magic in an increasingly scientific and technological age agree has yet to explain just how it "works." For now, the best expla­ that it gives individuals a sense of control, hence an important

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 35 increase in self-confidence in a confusing and impersonal world. stimuli are actions and symbolic representations of actions. When the objective is relief from some personal ailment, such The implications for magical thinking are huge. confidence may generate feelings of improvement, albeit per­ But the vast majority of the world's peoples, including haps temporary, through die placebo effect. many highly educated research scientists,7 obviously believe The physiological effects of cultural expectations—an that there are real connections between the symbol and its explanation for the placebo effect—were indicated in the referent, and that some real and potentially measurable 1970s, in a number of Swedish/Thai studies that showed that power flows between them. Elisabeth Targ, M.D., and her people who liked the appearance, and the taste, of what they colleagues recently had "a randomized double-blind study of were eating absorbed more nutrients from it. This was the effect of distant healing" published in a leading American explained in reference to the "cephalic phase" of the digestive medical journal, the Western Journal of Medicine (Sicher et al. 1998). (Elisabeth is the daughter of "psi energy" proponent Russell Targ.) Martin Gardner (2001, 14) reports that Elizabeth Targ is the recipient of over two million Crystals have long been believed to contain dollars of public funds from the National Center for Complementary and concentrated power; colored crystals have Alternative Medicine of the National specific healing effects, as certain colors are Institutes of Health for two studies of "dis­ tant healing," one over three years on 1 50 associated with parts of the body—as they HIV patients, and one over four years on have been in the West for centuries. persons with glioblastoma. Methods in her 1998 study involved forty American "experienced distant healers" from several different traditions ("Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, and process, affecting die flow of enzyme-laden salivary, gastric, pan­ shamanic;" p. 359), who were given five "subject information creatic, and intestinal secretions. Thai and Swedish diners were packets" containing personal data: subject's first name, a cur­ indifferent to each odiers' cuisines, and neither group was inter­ rent color photograph, and written notations on blood count ested in one of its own favorite meals whose components had and current symptoms. Healers were instructed to open their been blended in a high-speed mixer. In such cases, iron absorp­ packets on certain dates and "to work on the assigned subject tion fell by 70 percent (see Hallberg et al. 1977; reported in for approximately one hour per day for six consecutive days Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, October 2000). with the instruction to 'direct an intention for health and well-being' to the subject" (p. 359). Assuming that Targ's Neurobiologies! Bases for Magical Thinking? current methods are similar, we can now recognize that her generous government grants support testing of a modern Of all the principles of magical thinking I discussed earlier, form of ancient and universal image magic, involving at least Frazer's principle of similarity is most basic. This is the basis four classic principles of magical thinking: power, intercon­ for the universal and timeless beliefs and practices involving nections in nature, symbols, and similarity.8 notions of resemblance, falling under the general rubric of "imitative magic," and the principle that has most persuaded Notes scholars to suggest that a basic mechanism of human cogni­ 1. For example, L Zusnc and W.H. Jones, whose studies (Zusne 1985. tion may be at work. It has long been understood that imita­ Zusne and Jones 1989) have set standards for some subsequent investigations tion lies at the basis for learning among higher primates and (e.g., Krippncr and Winkler 1996. Thomas 1999). 2. Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. humans. Specific brain mechanisms involved in imitation Hotspun Why, so can I, or so can any man; among monkeys have recendy been identified, and their But will they come when you do call for diem? implications for primate and human perception, symbolism, 3. Some writers, e.g., Planer (1988, 189-191), do categorize homeopathy as magic: but folklorist Wayland Hand is the only scholar I have found who explicitly communication, and action have been recognized (Rizzolatti identifies it as based in specific principles of magical thinking. In his widely and Arbib 1998). Therefore, a 1999 discovery among human reprinted essay "Folk Magical Medicine and Symbolism in the West," he discusses subjects by brain scientists is especially exciting. Marco the ancient and well-known principles of similarity in medicine and refers to home­ opathy as "analogic magic" (1980. 306). Hand collected at least as many instances Iacoboni and his colleague (Iacoboni et al. 1999) asked of magical practices among modem populations throughout Europe and North healthy participants to observe pictures of specific finger America as Frazer had for die traditional world: see his Magical Mediant, 1980. movements, and to imitate those movements while their 4. "The largest increases were in the use of herbal medicine, massage, megavitamins, self-help groups, folk remedies, energy healing, and home­ brain activity was measured; and later to move the appropri­ opathy" (Eisenberg et al. 1998, 1571). Of "energy healing." magnets were ate finger when shown only pictures of simple cross marks the most commonly used method: others most frequently cited were spatially representing the fingers involved in die earlier Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, and energy healing by religious groups. In terms of preference, homeopathy ranked thirteenth of sixteen alternative therapies movements. Their experiments showed that specific areas of in the survey, all of which showed appreciable increase between 1990 and the human brain are involved in imitation, bodi when the 1997. It is interesting to note, however, that under the heading "saw a prac-

36 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER titionet in past 12 months," acupuncture and homeopathy declined, Eisenberg. David M.. Roger B. Davis, Susan L. Ettner, Scon Appel. Sonja whereas all others increased. I know that many do-it-yourself acupuncture Wilkey. Maria Van Rompay, and Ronald C. Kessler. 1998. Trends in devices have appeared on the market. Visits to homeopathic practitioners Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997. Journal of the declined by half, no doubt because of the flood of ready-to-usc homeopathic American Medical Association 280:1569-1575. preparations that became available; apparently homeopath Dana Ullman's Frazer, James George. 1911—1915. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and (1988, 10; see below) warning to people not to self-prescribe was prescient. Religion. Third edition. London: Macmillan. 5. Duffy pointed out this value for the eighteenth and nineteenth cen­ Gardner, Martin. 1989. Water with memory? The dilurion affair. SKEPTICAL turies, when standard treatments such as blood-letting, purging, harsh emet­ INQUIRER 12(2):132-14l. ics, applications of heat or cold. etc.. might actually harm the patient. . 2001. Distant Healing and Elisabeth Targ. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER "Natural" recovery from any disorder might be temporary or illusory, due to 25(2):12-14. a cyclical nature of the disease or its symptoms, or spontaneous remission, as Gumpcrt, Martin. 1945. Hahnemann. Claud W Sykes, trans. New York: L.B. well as a host of psychological factors (e.g., self-delusion), reporting errors, Fischer. etc., as Beyerstein (1997) has indicated. And, the original ailment may have Hallberg, L.. E. Bjorn-Rasmussen, L. Rossander. and R. Suwanik. 1977. Iron been psychosomatic. 6. The "placebo effect," apparent physiological improvement by ailing people who unwittingly receive ineffectual ("sham") treatment, has been considered especially powerful, attributed to the strength of the "mind-body connection." In the 1990s many studies attempted to determine any clinical efficacy of home­ Elizabeth Targ is the recipient of over two opathy; determining the role of placebo in its relatively narrow clinical sense proved difficult, as many subjec­ million dollars of public funds from the tive factors may be involved (such as beliefs!—sec Linde ct al. 1997). On May 24, 2001, while this paper National Center for Complementary was being revised, news reports blared the debunking of the placebo effect, calling it "myth," and predicting and Alternative Medicine of the radical reassessment of medical assumption. But that research (Hrobjartsson and Gerzsche 2001) in fact National Institutes of Health supports my use of the term here. The cases in which placebo was deemed ineffectual were dinicai trials for two studies of "distant healing." involving "binary outcomes" (e.g., nausea, smoking relapse) measured by objective standards. In cases involving "continuous outcomes" (e.g., hypertension, pain) and subjective assessment, the tesearchers found placebo to be beneficial. Psychologists and anthropologists recognize that this is exacdy the type of case in which , which homeopathy really is, absorption from Southeast Asian diets: II. Role of various factors that "works." might explain low absorption. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 30, April, pp. 539-548. 7. Eisenberg et al. (1998) found that "alternative" or "complementary" Hand. Wayland D. 1980. Folk Magical Medicine and Symbolism in the West. medicine use was significantly more common among people widi some col­ In Magical Medicine. Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. lege education (50.6 percent) than with no college education (36.4 percent), 305-319. among people aged 35-49 than older or younger, and among people with Hrobjartsson, Asbjorn, and Peter C. Gotzsche. 2001. Is the placebo powerless? annual incomes above $50,000. New England Journal of Medicine 344:1594-1602. 8. And we can be justifiably outraged at this expenditure of taxpayers' Iacoboni, Marco, Roger R Woods, Marcel Brass, Harold Bekkering, John C. money. But Eisenberg, ct. al. (1998) calculated that between 1990 and 1997 Mazziotta, and Giacomo Rizzolatti. 1999. "Cortical Mechanisms of visits to alternative medicine providers exceeded total visits to all primary care Human Imitation." Science 286:2526-2528. physicians: and several other surveys have shown the increasing use of alter­ Krippncr, Stanley, and Michael Winkler. 1996. The "Need to Believe." In native medicine across me country and throughout die world. So perhaps our Encyclopedia of the Paranormal , cd. Amherst, New York: outrage might be tempered by the realization that, given the huge numbers of Prometheus Books, pp. 441—454. Americans who have consulted "alternative" or "complementary" medical Linde, Klaus, Nicola Clausius, Gilbert Ramirez, Dieter Meicharr, Florian practitioners, die government has an obligation to support research into their Eitel, Larry V Hedges, and Wayne B. Jonas. 1997. Arc the dinicai effects effectiveness. Still, any traditional person in any region of the world could of homeopathy placebo effects? The Lancet 350:834-843; erratum 351, advise Dr. Targ that her chances of success would be gready increased if she Jan. 17, 1998, p. 220. had added to her "subject information packets" items that had been in direct Planer, Felix E. 1988. . Revised cd. Buffalo. New York: Prometheus intimate contact with the subjects, such as hair or nail clippings or any bodily Books. fluids, or just a fragment of an item of unwashed underwear. Rizzolatti, Giacomo, and Michael A. Arbib. 1998. Language within our grasp. Trends in Neuroscience 21 (5): 188-194. Shermer, Michael. 1997. Why People Believe Weird Things. New York: WH. References Freeman. Barrett, Stephen. 1987. Homeopathy: Is it medicine? SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Sicher, Fred, Elisabeth Targ, Dan Moore II, and Helene S. Smith. 1998. A (12)1, Fall: 56-62. randomized double-blind study of the effect of distant healing in a popu­ Bonser, Wilfrid. 1963. The Medical Background of Anglo-Saxon England: A Study lation with advanced AIDS. Western Journal of Medicine 169:356-363. in History. Psychology, and Folklore. London: . Stevens, Phillips, Jr. 1996a. Black Magic. In Encyclopedia of the Paranormal Beyerstein, Barry L 1997. Why bogus therapies seem to work. SKEPTICAL Gordon Stein, ed. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, pp. INQUIRER (21)5, September/October 29-34. 129-133. Cummings, Stephen, and Dana Ullman. 1991. Everybody's Guide to -1996b. Magic. In Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, ed. David Homeopathic Medicines. : Tarcher. Levinson and Melvin Ember. New York: Henry Holt, pp. 721-726. de Craen, Anton J.M.. Pieter J. Roos. A. Leonard de Vries. and Jos Kleijnen. Thomas, Sherilyn Nicole. 1999. Magical Ideation in Obsessive-Compulsive 1996. Effect of Colour of Drugs: Systematic Review of Perceived Effect of Disorder. Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo. Drugs and Their Effectiveness. British Medical Journal 313:1624-6. Ullman, Dana. 1988. Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century. Berkeley, Dubisch, Jill. 1981. You are what you eat: Religious aspects of the health food California: North Atlantic Books. movement. In The American Dimension: Culture Myths and Social Realities Zusne, L 1985. Magical Thinking and . In A Skeptic's ed. Susan P. Montague and W. Arens. Second edition. Palo Alto. Handbook of Parapsychology, cd. P. Kurtz. Amherst, New York: Prometheus California: Mayfield. Books, pp. 685-700. Duffy, John. 1976. The Healers: The Rise of the Medical Establishment New Zusne, L, and W.H. Jones. 1989. : A Study of Magical York: McGraw-Hill. Thinking. Second edition. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. LJ

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 37 Educational Malpractice Why Do So Many Biology Teachers Endorse Creationism?

We often blame the poor state of evolution education on factors such as political pressure and weak science-education standards. However, there is an additional, and simpler, explanation: the surprisingly high percentage of biology teachers who endorse creationism.

RANDY MOORE

We have done a botched job of teaching evolutionary theory, and we had better accept the creationist challenge to clean up our act.—Wayne Moyer

The tragedy of it all is the state of science education in the coun­ try—it's simply, sadly, awful.—Russell Doolittle

ost high school biology teachers accept, under­ stand, and teach evolution. Moreover, it has been M high school biology teachers (rather than college professors) who have challenged the various anti-evolution laws (e.g., John Scopes in State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, Susan Epperson in Epperson v. , Don Aguillard in Edwards v. Aguillard; see Moore 2000). However, the public—that is, our former students—

38 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER overwhelmingly favor creationism over evolution. For example, evolution in their education standards; twelve of these states • Most Americans reject the fact that humans developed shun the word evolution and "fail so thoroughly to teach evolu­ from earlier species of animals (National Science Board 1996). tion as to render their standards totally useless," and four avoid Similarly, almost half of Americans believe that humans were teaching evolution altogether (Finn and Kanstoroom 2000). created in their present form 10,000 years ago (Gallup and The report, which evaluates the standards of each state, notes for Newport 1991; Larson and Witham 1997, 1998). example that "Tennessee's nontreatment of evolution is an • A 1997 Gallup poll showed that 68 percent of Americans embarrassing display of ignorance," and New Hampshire's "very believe that "creationism should be taught along with evolu­ poor treatment. .. receives an F." tion" in public schools; another poll showed that almost 40 However, even strong science education standards do not percent of Americans favor the teaching of creationism instead ensure that evolution is taught effectively or, for that matter, of evolution (e.g., see Moore 2000; Greenwood and North that evolution is taught at all. For example, Indiana's standards 1999, and references therein). for teaching evolution received a grade of "A" and are ranked • About half of Canadians and Americans above age eigh­ in the top ten in the United States. Nevertheless, 33 percent of teen reject evolution as a valid scientific concept (Sonderstrom Indiana's high school biology teachers spend less than three 2000). Almost 80 percent of Americans want creationism days on evolution, 43 percent characterize their teaching of taught in public schools, and significant percentages want to evolution as "avoidance" or "briefly mention," and at least 20 ban the teaching of evolution (see Moore 2000). percent do not accept or are undecided about the scientific • A poll in early 2000 indicated that half of Americans validity of evolution (Rutledge and Warden 2000, Rutledge believe that evolution is "far from being proven scientifically" and Mitchell 2002). Throughout the country many biology (Finn and Kanstoroom 2000). teachers simply ignore their state's science education standards There have been a variety of explanations for why we've done by "not quite getting around to" teaching evolution to their such a poor job of teaching students about evolution (see, for students (e.g., biology teacher and creationist Rodney LeVake example, Eglin 1983; Roelfs 1987; Shankar 1990; Skoog 1970; of LeVake v. Independent School District #656). Tatina 1989; Troost 1967; and Zimmerman 1987). One exam­ Some biology teachers accept evolution but are unwilling to ple is weak science-education standards. State educational stan­ teach it because it is a controversial topic. Years ago, Shotwell dards that emphasize evolution as the unifying concept in biol­ (1965) noted that many teachers are intimidated by students' ogy arc important because they give teachers who want to teach evolution a basis for doing so. It's distressing, then, that science Randy Moore is a biology professor in General College at the education standards in many states are weak. For example, a University of Minnesota, 128 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, MN recent study by the Fordham Foundation concluded that nine­ 55455- He also is editor-in-chief of the American Biology Teacher, teen states do a "weak-to-reprehensible" job of dealing with the journal of the National Association of Biology Teachers.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 39 and citizens' views of evolution. More recently, a Minnesota Kentucky education officials group evolution with gun con­ Department of Education official noted that many high school trol and other controversial topics as subjects that "may or biology teachers "don't even mention evolution because they may not be suitable for assessment items" (Scanlon and Uy 1999), and Louisiana's Committee for Scientific Standards groups evolution with subjects such as incest, the occult, witch­ In 1970, creationist Duane Gish used The craft, and drug use as topics that should not American Biology Teacher to denounce the be on the state's exit exam (Moore 1999c). At the national level, House Republican 'indoctrination" practiced by biology teachers Whip Tom DeLay has linked the teaching and beg for "a balanced presentation in our of evolution with school shootings, birth control, and abortion (Mr. DeLay's power schools" of evolution in science classes. play 1999). All of these factors have contributed to the poor teaching of evolution in public know what's coming and they just don't want to deal with it." schools. However, mere's another important reason why the Those fears continue; as a high school teacher told me last year topic of evolution is taught so poorly. This reason is one that when I asked him why he didn't include evolution in his course, most science teachers and professional scientific organizations "I stay away from that topic." do not talk about; namely, that surprisingly large percentages School board members, religious activists, students, and of biology teachers are creationists. well-funded anti-evolution groups pressure teachers to include creationism in science courses. For example, Answers in Genesis Group Percentage Researcher has organized hundreds of "Creation Clubs" at high schools to „ . - Up to 50% help students promote religion and repudiate the teaching of teachers in some schools Aldrich 1999 evolution; these clubs are sponsored by high school teachers who sign pledges to base their teaching on the "inerrant word of South Dakota teachers 39 Weld and McNew 1999 God" (see discussion in Moore 2000).! Teachers feel pres­ teachers 30 Nickels and Drummond 1985 sures (Randak 2001). For example, 29 percent of high school Kentucky teachers 69 Ellis 1986 biology teachers in one county in Georgia have felt pressure to Louisiana teachers 29 Aguillard 1999 decrease their coverage of evolution and/or increase their cover­ Ohio teachers 38 Zimmerman 1987 age of creationism (Buckner 1983); in Kentucky and Ohio the percentages are 21 and 12, respectively (Ellis 1986, Zimmerman Georgia teachers 30 Eglin 1983 1987; also see Pierce 1981). Georgia teachers (one county) 32 Buckner 1983 Administrators also feel these pressures, often in the form Ohio school board of lawsuits designed to undermine the teaching of science by presidents 53 Zimmerman 1987-1988 forcing creationism into science classrooms. For example, School board members 75 Finding 1980 Segraves v. State of California and Wright v. Houston United States teachers 45 Affannato 1986 Independent School District were initiated by parents on behalf United States teachers 39 Nelkin 1982 of students, and Willoughby v. Stever and Crowley v. Smithsonian Institution were initiated by religious activists. The Table 1. Percentages of high school biology teachers and administrators who pressures felt by administrators also appear in less public believe that creationism should be taught in science classes of public schools. forms. As noted by a principal in Tennessee, "We try to avoid in-depdi discussion of . . . evolution . . . We don't need the How Extensive Is the Belief in Creationism Among controversy. ... If I say the wrong thing, I could be looking Biology Teachers? for another job." An administrator in Utah made a similar Table 1 summarizes a variety of studies documenting that observation: "Teachers are cautious, mostly because they just many biology teachers believe that creationism should be don't feel comfortable teaching something they don't believe in taught in science classes in public schools; even larger percent­ themselves. . . . And those who do believe evolution under­ ages of administrators share this view. Table 2 summarizes sev­ stand the culture and know they could have hostility coming eral studies documenting that many biology teachers teach down all around them" (Wolfson 1999a, b).' creationism in their biology courses. These data support Don In several states, legislatures encourage teachers to teach Aguillard's observation that "creationism is alive and well creationism. For example, in 1990 the Kentucky legislature re- among biology teachers" (Moore 1999c).' enacted a 1976 law stipulating that teachers who cover evolu­ Data in tables 1 and 2 are supported by a variety of other tion in their classes can also teach "the theory of creationism observations. For example, as presented in the Bible" and that students who adhere to the • In , 33 percent of high school biology teachers biblical account must get full credit on exams. Similarly, place little or no emphasis on evolution. In Kentucky, Indiana,

40 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER and Tennessee, 23 percent of high school biology teachers have Complexity—branded evolution as unscientific, "purely con­ the same view (Weld and McNew 1999). jectural and speculative," and supported by "circumstantial evidence." Later that year, Gish (1973) again used The American Biology Teacher to present creationists' arguments, State Percentage Researcher promote a "two-model" approach for granting equal time for evolution and creationism (i.e., a "creationism model" South Dakota 16 Tatina 1989 and an "evolution model"), and tell biology teachers that it Louisiana 14 Aguillard 1999 was "time for a change." Georgia 27 Eglin 1983 Many of today's biology teachers feel no different; they're Kentucky 30 Ellis 1986 proud of being creationists. For example, here are some recent Oregon 26 Affannato 1986 proclamations by biology teachers (Harp 1999, Scanlon and Uy 1999, Wolfson 1999a, b; see Moore 1999a): Table 2. Percentages of high school biology teachers who teach creationism in their classes. "[I don't want] want anydiing to do widi die word evolution." "I don't use the word evolution [because I'm] a Christian . . . • In Louisiana, 24 percent of high school teachers believe so I don't think I evolved." that creationism is scientifically valid, and another 17 percent "[I'm a creationist and] don't think God needed evolution are not sure. Even more (29 percent) believe that creationism to create his world." should be included in high school biology classes. More than "A lot of biology teachers don't touch evolution." one-third of the high school biology teachers in Louisiana's "We believe tiie Heavenly Father has created all things .. . public schools allocate time to creationism (Moore 1999c). We just try to teach the truth." • In Minnesota, 40 percent of biology teachers spend little I hear similar proclamations each year at die annual meet­ or no time teaching evolution (Hessler 2000). ing of the NABT, and as editor of The American Biology • In Pennsylvania, one-third of high school biology teach­ Teacher I regularly receive letters from creationist members ers do not believe that evolution is central to biology (Weld who are upset when the journal publishes an article or editor­ and McNew 1999). ial critical of creationism. Here's a typical letter: • In Indiana, 33 percent of high school biology teachers reject or are undecided about whether evolution is a scientifically A major reason for the public's poor valid explanation of the state of living organisms of the past and present (Rutledge understanding of evolution is that many and Mitchell 2002). biology teachers teach creationism, do not teach Many biology teachers proudly pro­ claim their endorsement of creationism. evolution, or teach evolution poorly, sometimes For example, when The National because the teachers themselves are creationists. Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) organized its "Fund for Freedom in Science Teaching" in the 1970s to combat antiscience, it got In response to your issue devoted to evolution and the Scopes a backlash from offended members as "letters poured into" trial, I have sent a special donation to my favorite creation the national office demanding that NABT give creationists groups; Answers in Genesis and The Institute for Creation Research. equal time and stop trying to "silence people," "persecute Biology makes no sense except in the light of creation and creationists," and "promote and agnosticism in the a relatively short time span. I take every opportunity I can to schools" (Nelkin 1982). To appease these creationists, show my students the convoluted and misleading statements NABT sponsored a well-attended creationism panel at its and reasoning that are made in their textbooks. I show them annual meeting and allowed creationists to use The for example that one of the best examples of evolution given in their text—the peppered moth—in fact still is a peppered American Biology Teacher to condemn evolution and pro­ moth even now. Mutations are defects in the once-perfect cre­ mote creationism and anti-science (Nelkin 1982). For ation . .. Evolutionary concepts and preconceptions hamper example, in 1970, creationist Duane Gish (1970) used The research in biology. I want to make sure that my students are American Biology Teacher to denounce the "indoctrination" ready for the future. practiced by biology teachers and beg for "a balanced pre­ I will not sign this letter because there are too many sentation in our schools" of evolution in science classes. thought police out there who would love to invade my class­ room and stamp out free inquiry and thought. I love my job. Gish's calls for equal time and balanced treatment for cre­ ationism later became a rallying cry for the revival of cre­ Although not all of these creationists may teach creationism ationism that led to McLean v. Arkansas and Edwards v. in their biology classes, many do (table 2; also see Harrold and Aguillard. Pleas for equal-time remain popular today.* In Eve 1987); creationism is even taught at John Scopes's school 1973, John N. Moore (1973)—an editor of the creationism- today (Moore 1999b). Perhaps this is to be expected, since based textbook entitled Biology: A Search for Order in teachers' understandings of and personal views about a subject

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 41 affect their decisions about teaching the subject (Carlesen today that actually witnessed creation or evolution. It's just 1991; Grossman 1989; Hashweh 1987; Shulman 1986; what a person believes. I mean, we have no right to say what Wilson, Sculman, and Richert 1987). exactly is true." However, these courses will probably have little or no effect on most other students (especially if the courses are taught by creationists), because most students' beliefs about evo­ Teachers who have a better understanding lution and creationism—however incor­ of evolution and the nature of science rect—are ingrained long before their for­ mal science education begins. This is why allocate more time to (and do a better job of) Sinclair and Pendarvis (1998) concluded teaching evolution. that "students' misconceptions remained well ingrained even after a thorough cov­ erage of the evidences supporting evolu­ tion." Similarly, Lawson and Worsnop Consequences (1992) have concluded that "the strength of religious com­ A variety of professional societies have emphasized that stu­ mitment contributes negatively toward an initial belief in dents should have a thorough understanding of evolution evolution and to a shift toward evolution during instruc­ (American Association for the Advancement of Science 1989, tion. In other words, highly religious students are more National Association of Biology Teachers 1997, National likely to express a belief in special creation and are less likely Academy of Sciences 1998, National Research Council 1985, to give it up during instruction" and that instruction has National Science Teachers Association 1997). Clearly, how­ almost no effect on beliefs. ever, biology teachers have failed to provide this (e.g., Eglin Notes 1983, Johnson 1986, Roelfs 1987, Shankar and Skoog 1993). 1. The annual budgets of aniicvoluiion groups arc formidable; for exam­ As a result, "over a quarter—and perhaps as many as half—of ple, Answers in Genesis had a budget of $3,702,800 in 1998, whereas that of the nations high school students get educations shaped by cre­ the Institute for Creation Research was $4,167,547. For comparison, the bud­ ationist influence—in spite of the overwhelming opposition of get of the National Center for Science Education for 1998 was $258,957 (Cole 2000). the nation's scientific, educational, intellectual, and media 2. Biology teachers have a longstanding reluctance to publicly support establishments" (Eve and Harrold 1991). evolution or criticize creationism. For example, die various anticvolution laws A major reason for the public's poor understanding of passed in die 1920s banning the teaching of human evolution in public schools, colleges, and universities went unchallenged for more than forty evolution is that many biology teachers teach creationism, do years; not one teacher or professional organization would challenge any of the not teach evolution, or teach evolution poorly, sometimes laws. Similarly, in the 1980s, only nine other science teachers in Louisiana because the teachers themselves are creationists (Monsour were willing to join Don Aguillard's challenge to the state's "balanced treat­ ment" law (Moore 1999c). 1997, Kennedy 1998, Lerner 2000; also see above). This is 3. The popularity of creationism among biology teachers is not a recent partially due to the teachers' poor training. In Louisiana, for development. Indeed, large percentages of biology teachers have always been example, many of today's high school biology teachers don't creationists who, in many instances, have taught creationism. For example, a national survey done by the Union of American Biological Societies in 1942 recall hearing the word evolution in their college biology involving more than 3.100 respondents indicated diat less dian half of high courses, apparently because many biology professors do not school biology teachers were teaching evolution (Riddle 1941). Riddle con­ teach evolution (Moore 1999c). Similarly, Rutledge and cluded that "biology is still pursued by long shadows from the Middle Ages, shadows screening from our people what our science has learned of human Mitchell (2002) correlated teachers' acceptance of evolution origins ... a science sabotaged because the central and binding principle dis­ and their allocation of increased amounts of time to evolu­ places a hallowed myth." In 1959. Herman J. Mullcr—after noting die pop­ ularity of creationism among biology teachers—made similar conclusions tion in their courses with teachers' academic background: when he noted that biology teaching in public high schools was dominated by teachers who have a better understanding of evolution and "antiquated religious traditions" (Muller 1959). the nature of science allocate more time to (and do a better 4. The first national organization to urge that creationism and evolution job of) teaching evolution. In Indiana and many other states be given "equal time" in public schools was the Ku Klux Klan in 1925 (Wade 1987). The Klan's recommendation was ignored after the Scopes trial as evo­ most biology teachers never take courses about evolution or lution disappeared from biology textbooks (Moore 2000). Demands for the nature of science (Rutledge and Warden 2000, Rutledge "equal time" and "balanced treatment" were revived in the 1970s by Gish and and Mitchell 2002). odicr creationists. Many educators have argued that the teaching of evolu­ tion in high schools would be improved by requiring future References teachers to take courses that emphasize evolution and/or the Aifannato, F.E. 1986. A Survey of Biology Teachers' Opinions about the leaching of Evolutionary Theory and/or the Creation Model in the United States in nature of science. Such courses may enlighten students such Public and Private Schools. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. University of as this one who combined his ignorance of science with a Iowa. postmodern twist to come up with this justification for Aguillard, D. 1999. Evolution education in Louisiana public schools: A decade following Edwards v. Aguillard The American Biology Teacher questioning evolution (Larson and Witham 1999): "It's just 61(3):182-I88. what a person believes. No one was there that's still alive Aldrich, KJ. 1999. Teachers' attitudes toward evolution and creationism in

42 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Kansas biology classrooms, 1991. Kansas Biology Teacher i(\):2Q-2\. of Science. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 1989. Project 2061: National Association of Biology Teachers. 1997. Position statement on the Science for All Americans. Washington, D.C.: American Association for the teaching of evolution. NABT News and Views (June), pp. 4-5. Advancement of Science. National Research Council. 1985. Mathematics. Science and Technology Buckner, E.M. 1983. Professional and Political Socialization: High School Education: A Research Agenda. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Science Teacher Attitudes on Curriculum Decisions, in the Context of the National Science Board. 1996. Science and Engineering Indicators. "Scientific" Creationism Campaign. Ph.D. dissertation, Georgia State Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. University. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International. National Science Teachers Association. 1997. An NSTA position statement on Carlesen. S.W. 1991. Effects of new biology teacher?' subject-matter knowl­ the teaching of evolution. Journal of College Science Teaching 27(\):7S. edge on curricular planning. Science Education 75(6):631-647. Nelkin, D. 1982. The Creation Controversy: Science or Scripture in the Schools-1 Cole, J.R. 2000. Money Hooding anti-evolutionists coffers. NCSE Reports New York: Norton. 20(l-2):64-65. Nickels, M.K., and B.A. Drummond. 1985- Creation/evolution: Results of a Eglin, P.G. 1983. Creationism Versus Evolution: A Study of the Opinions of survey conducted at the 1983 ISTA convention. Creation/Evolution Georgia Science Teachers. Ph.D. dissertation, Georgia State University. Newsletter 5(6):2-15. Ellis, W.E. 1986. Creationism in Kentucky: The response of high school biol­ Pierce, K.M. 1981. Putting Darwin back in the dock. Time 117(11) (March ogy teachers. In R.W. Hanson (Ed.), Science and Creation (pp. 72-91). 16, 1981), 80-S2. New York: Macmillan. Randak, S. 2001. The children's crusade for creationism. The American Eve, R., and F. Harrold. 1991. The Creationist Movement in Modern America. Biology Teacher 63:226, 228. 230. Boston: Twayne. Riddle, O. 1941. Preliminary impressions and facts from a questionnaire on Finding: Kids decide how we got here. 1980. American School Board Journal secondary school biology. The American Biology Teacher 3:151—159. 167:52. Roelfs, EC. 1987. Academic Factors Affecting the Status of the Teaching of Finn, C.E., and M. Kanstoroom. 2000. Foreword. In L.S. Lerner, Good Evolution in Arkansas and Missouri. Doctoral dissertation, University of Science. Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States. Washington, D.C.: Missouri at Columbia. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. Lerner's report can be accessed ai Rutledge, M.L., and M.A. Mitchell. 2002. High school biology teachers' www.edexcellence.net knowledge structure, acceptance, and teaching of evolution. The American Gallup, G.H., Jr., and F. Newport. 1991. Belief in paranormal phenomena Biology Teacher, in press. among adult Americans. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 15(2): 137-147. Rutledge, M.L., and WA. Warden. 2000. Evolutionary theory, the nature of Gish, D. 1970. A challenge to neo-Darwinism. The American Biology Teacher science and high school biology teachers: Critical relationships. The 32:495-496. American Biology Teacher 62(l):25-3l. . 1973. Creation, evolution, and the historical evidence, /'he American Scanlon, L., and G.L. Uy. 1999. Private and church schools' approaches vary Biology Teacher 35:132-140. widely. Louisville Courier-Journal (4 July), p. A10. Greenwood, M.R.C., and K-K. North. 1999. Science through the looking Scott, E. 1992. Creationist cases blooming. NCSE Reports 12 (Summer): 3,5. glass: Winning the battles but losing the war? Science 286:2071-2079. Shankar, G. 1990. Factors Influencing the Teaching of Evolution and Grossman, PL. 1989. Learning to teach without teacher education. Teachers Creationism in Texas Public High School Biology Classes. Doctoral disserta­ College Record 91:191 -208. tion, Texas Tech University, 1989. Dissertation Abstracts International Harp, L. 1999. School guide drops word "evolution." Louisville Courier- 51(03):733A. Journal (5 October), pp. Al, A5. Shankar. G., and G.D. Skoog. 1993. Emphasis given evolution and creation­ Harrold, F.B., and R.A. Eve. 1986. Noah's ark and ancient astronauts: ism by Texas high school biology teachers. Science Education Pseudoscientific beliefs about the past among a sample of college students. 77(2):221-233. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER 1 l(l):61-75- Shotwell, T.K. 1965. The problem of evolution. The American Biology Teacher Hashweh, M.Z. 1987. Effects of subject-matter knowledge in die teaching of 27:766-767. biology and physics. Teaching and Teacher Education 3(2):109-120. Shulman, L.S. 1986. Those who understand: Knowledge growth in teaching. Hessler, E. 2000. Two "c" words: ecology and evolution. Minnesota Science Educational Researcher 15:4-14. Teachers Association Newsletter (Winter) 37(2):6. Sinclair, A., and M.P Pendarvis. 1998. Evolution vs. conservative religious Johnson, R.L. 1986. The Acceptance of Evolutionary Theory by Biology Majors beliefs: Can biology instructots assist students with their dilemma? in Colleges of the West North Central States. Doctoral dissertation. Journal of College Science Teaching 21 (January): 167—170. University of Northern Colorado, 1985. Dissertation Abstracts Skoog, G.D. 1970. The Topic of Evolution in Secondary School Biology International 46 (07), 1893A. Textbooks: 1900-1968. Doctoral dissertation, The University of Kennedy, J. 1992. Teaching of creationism splits parents. The Repository Nebraska, 1969. Dissertation Abstracts International 31 (01): 187A. (September 30), p. B4. Sonderstrom, M. 2000. Australopithecus or Adam's rib? McGill News Larson, E.J., and L Witham. 1997. Scientists are still keeping the faith. 80(1): 16-20. Nature 386:435-436. Tatina, R. 1989. South Dakota high school biology teachers and the teaching . 1998. Leading scientists still reject God. Nature 394:313. of evolution and creationism. The American Biology Teacher . 1999. Inherit an ill wind. The Nation 269(10):25-29. 51(5):275-280. Lawson, A., and W Worsnop. 1992. Learning about evolution and rejecting Troost, C.J. 1967. An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Teaching of Evolution a belief in special creation: Effects of reflective teasoning skill, prior knowl- in the Secondary Schools of Indiana. Doctoral dissertation, Indiana , prior belief and religious commitment. Journal of Research in Science University, 1966. Dissertation Abstracts International 27(W)-3377A. Teaching 29:143-166. Wade, W.C. 1987. The Fiery Cross: The Ku Klux Ulan in America. New York: Lerner. LS. 2000. Good and bad science in U.S. schools. Nature 407:287-290. Simon and 'Shuster. Monsour, T. 1997. Evolution getting shon shrift in class. Saint Paul Weld, J., and J.C. McNew. 1999. Attitudes toward evolution. The Science (Minnesota) Pioneer Press 149:1, 6. Teacher 66(9):27-31. Moore, J.N. 1973. Evolution, creationism, and the . The Wilson, S.M., LS. Shulman, and A.E. Richert. 1987. 150 different ways of American Biology Teacher 35:23-26. knowledge: Representations of knowledge in teaching. In J- Calderhead Moore, R. 1999a. Creationism in the United States. VIII. The lingering (Ed.), Exploring Teachers' Thinking (pp. 104-124). Eastbourne, U.K.: threat. The American Biology Teacher 61:330—340. Cassell. . 1999b. Science at Scopes' school today. Journal of College Science Wolfson, A. 1999. "Monkey Trial" town embraces creationism more fervently Teaching 2S-.229-250. today. Tlx Louisville Courier Journal (4 October), pp. Al. A6. . 1999c. The courage and convictions of Don Aguillard. The American Wolfson, H. 1999. Science or religion? Teaching evolution the Mormon way. Biology Teacher 61(3):I66-174. At www.slam.ca/CNEWSFeaturcs9910/04_mormons.html . 2000. In the Light of Evolution: Science Education on Trial Reston, Zimmerman. M. 1987. The evolution-creation controversy: Opinions of Virginia: National Association of Biology Teachers. Ohio high school biology teachers. Ohio Journal of Science 87:115-125. Mr. DeLay's power play. 1999. New York Times Week in Review (20 June): 14. Zimmerman, M. 1987-1988. Ohio school boards presidents' views on die Muller, H.J. 1959, One hundred years without Darwinism arc enough. The evolution-creation controversy. Newsletter of the Ohio Center for Science Humanist 19:139. Education. October 1987 and January 1988. • National Academy of Sciences. 1998. Teaching About Evolution and the Nature

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 43 Philosophers and Psychics: The Vandy Episode

A modern phibsopher has proposed that various well-documented instances of postmortem communications have a "naturalistic explanation" involving psychical transmissions and premature burial. 1 he present discussion critically examines these claims.

KENNETH OLDFIELD

n 1998, Arthur R. Miller, a philosophy professor from the University of Texas at San Antonio, published I"Survival and Diminished Consciousness" in The Journal of Phibsophical Research. Here Miller argues the case for mediumship based on a supposedly well-known and well- documented incident involving Edgar Vandy. He calls the Vandy episode "one of the most celebrated" instances of psy­ chical communication (483, Miller's emphasis).' Miller describes how, in 1933, the recendy entombed Edgar Vandy seemingly contacted several psychics. Millers article explains why he considers this a potential example of medium com­ munication and why such events still could have what he calls a "naturalistic explanation." After detailing his hypothesis,

44 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Miller shows why his explanation allows him to reject Nobody saw the accident. The first person on the scene was claims of an afterlife. For Miller, if seemingly paranormal Vandy's friend "N.J.," who arrived to find "the dying Edgar flut­ events (here, communication with the dead) can be tering in the water" (484). Apparently, N.J. "tried to help, but accounted for naturalistically, then, ipso facto, they are not for some reason was unable to do so" (495, note 7. Miller quot­ necessarily legitimate evidence for life beyond the grave. ing Rowe). Eventually, Vandy's family, unhappy widi the Miller's argument entails the possibility of mind reading inquest, started its own investigation. Miller notes that when he and premature burial. died, Edgar's brodier, George, "had been and was (then) a mem­ ber of S.P.R. (the Society for Psychical Research)" (483), an asso­ Edgar Vandy's Death ciation headquartered in London, England. According to Miller, In August 1933, Edgar Vandy died under "mysterious circum­ this "august body" has a "long and venerable history" (481). As stances" (483) in a "strange [drowning] accident" (495, note 7. the name implies, it studies claims for psychical communica­ Miller quoting Rowe) at a private swimming pool in Sussex, tions, including medium telepathy. Given George's S.P.R. affili­ England. Edgar was considered "an exceptionally brilliant young ation, Vandy's family contacted several mediums seeking "read­ engineer and inventor whose whole life was concentrated on his ings" about die drowning. These relatives wanted more details work" (Gay 1957, 3). He resided widi his modier and two about how Edgar died. Vandy's brother, George, contacted brothers in London. Only a few people knew about Edgars acci­ Drayton Thomas, a well-known S.P.R. member, and asked him dent. As related by Miller, a medium allegedly revealed that to be a proxy sitter and gather more facts about the drowning. Vandy somehow "struck his jaw (mere were bruises under the By definition, proxy sitters know litde or nothing about the chin and his tongue had been bitten through), lost conscious­ subject being contacted. Surrogates are used in medium read­ ness and had then drowned" (Miller 1998, 483-484). ings to prevent fraud. Because they do not know the deceased, Apparently, Vandy hit his jaw while springing off the diving board into die pool. It was determined that Vandy had suffered Kenneth Oldfield is professor of public administration, University "some son of stunning blow," presumably to the head, "just of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield IL 62794-9243; 217-206- prior to die drowning" (495, note 7. Miller quoting Rowe). 6310. E-mail: [email protected].

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 45 proxies cannot, through furtive actions, unintentionally reveal hypothesis about how Edgar could talk with a mind reader.' information that a psychic could then use in tailoring her Second, it is important to note how several times Miller (Miller uses feminine pronouns because "virtually all mediums acknowledges that some people can have paranormal powers. ... are . . . women ...", 494, note 2) responses; because he He reasons, "At die same time, however, one can hardly fail to knew little of Vandy, Thomas could not inadvertently reveal be impressed by (some of) the evidence of medium telepa­ clues about whether the medium was accurately describing thy—the alleged communication with the personalities of the Edgar's life or death. The proxy only knew that "information deceased" (479). was being sought about a brother who had died recently, par­ At least five other times Miller affirms the possible legiti­ ticularly about the cause of death." Thomas received no macy of mediumship, including: 1) "The occurrence of "names, dates, places, etc." concerning Vandy's passing. mental telepathy is by now a firmly established empirical Although no telepathists provided sufficient information to phenomenon. The statistical results forthcoming from the "satisfactorily clear up the matter" (483) of Vandy's demise, current (serious)' ongoing research is quite impressive, and its some furnished facts about the incident and "the nature of his significance would never be dismissed in the context of any work . . . supposedly ... known only to Edgar himself and, other ('hard') scientific research" (489), 2) "the apparently perhaps, by one or at most a very few close friends .. ." (483, extraordinary data encountered in such well-documented cases Miller quoting Rowe). One psychic described how the subject of alleged medium telepathy ..." (490), 3) "some of the (extra­ had drowned after striking his head on a diving board, after­ ordinary) data with which we are presented by alleged cases of wards losing consciousness under water. medium telepathy" (487), 4) "while taking the evidence of Although some psychics correctly described certain aspects parapsychology seriously'"* (494), and 5) "such apparently of the accident. Miller still questioned the veracity of their astounding and impressive cases (of telepathy)" (482). observations. That is, because nobody knew exactly how Edgar Miller distinguishes between scam'' (480) and authentic perished, the telepathists' claims were not falsifiable. However, telepathists. Understandably, his naturalistic explanation only one medium's comment caused Miller to conclude that per­ encompasses "genuine" psychics; Miller restricts himself to haps Vandy really had communicated telepathically. instances of medium telepathy worthy of serious attention Edgar was an inventor. Just before he died, he supposedly including "those cases which have been so thoroughly docu­ designed "an elaborate 'Electroline' Drawing Machine." (The mented and so closely-monitored" to be judged trustworthy. S.P.R. report calls Vandy's discovery "Lectroline." The present Particularly, cases "included in the various studies conducted discussion uses the S.P.R. term.) Because he worked in "great by the Society for Psychical Research" (480-481).' secrecy" in a room at a cousin's house, nobody else knew about Miller's trust in S.P.R. research derives, in part, from its for­ this contraption. According to Miller, "We don't know mer, and prestigious, presidents. According to Miller, the ros­ whether the cousin himself had knowledge of the invention" ter "reads like the Who's Who in western intellectual and aca­ (484). Nobody else understood Vandy's work, not even his two demic circles during the past century, including such luminar­ brothers. Lectroline was never patented, so there was no pub­ ies as die philosophers CD. Broad, William James, H.H. lic record of its existence. Price, the psychologists William McDougall, Gardner During the proxy sitting, one medium described Vandy as Murphy, R.H. Thouless, and the physicists Sir William having been involved widi "machinery," "something to do with Crookes, Sir , and Sir William Barrett" (481). wireless or radio"-' (484, Miller quoting Broad). She provided Miller calls Broad a dignitary and notes how Broad com­ other details suggesting that, indeed, she was communicating mented on the Vandy incident as follows: "It is quite incredi­ with Edgar. According to Miller, "unlike the reports dealing ble that the amount and kind of concordance actually found with the circumstances surrounding the drowning, we do have between the statements made by die various mediums at the information 'imparted' which can be confirmed—and it was— various sittings (for Vandy) should be purely a matter of information that very few (perhaps only Edgar himself) was chance/coincidence" (485, Broad's emphasis). [sic] privilege to" (484—485). Miller interprets this as possible Miller acknowledges that some people will never accept evidence for the alleged mediumship; Vandy and the psychics mediumship, no matter the evidence. He finds such skepticism may have been communicating telepathically. particularly galling, given the abundance of corroborating support for telepathy. Miller says these doubters are discernible Miller's Views on the Paranormal by their "mere stubborn refusal to weigh or take seriously the Before evaluating his "naturalistic" explanation for medium evidence forthcoming from die area of parapsychology." telepathy between Vandy and the psychics, it is important to Elsewhere, Miller attacks the incredulous by noting: establish that Miller accepts die possibility of mediumship. He 1) "[CJertainly, even the most hard-boiled and die-hard- says there are several seemingly validated instances of psychical skeptics—widi die possible exception of the most stubborn, communications. He proposes, "die Vandy case is only one of recalcitrant and disingenuous—are forced to admit in the face a considerable number of such cases reported in the archives of of such cumulative evidence [S.P.R. reports of survivalist com­ the SPR" (485, emphasis in original). Miller uses die Vandy munication] . . . that it really is simply too much to be written episode to examine mediumship only because it is easily sum­ off as a mere instance of chance co-incidence" (485, Miller's marized and contains all the salient points needed to justify his emphasis), and 2) that these doubters "no longer deserve ...

46 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER to be taken seriously (just what would constitute prima facie think our therapies crude. Continuously improving technolo­ plausible evidence for such a skeptic, one wonders with justi­ gies permit physicians to measure increasingly fainter life signs. fication?)" (494, note 16, Miller's emphasis). These technological enhancements may be limitless, meaning AluSough Miller eventually speculates why some "rare persons we may never conclusively define "death." If we could time [are] gifted with such incredibly well-developed telepathic abili­ travel and retrieve medical devices from the future, we might ties" that diey can 'read [his] mind'... (with or without any obvi­ bring these back and use diem to discern seemingly impercepti­ ous or subde verbal or non-verbal cues on [his] part)," he, never­ ble life signs in people considered dead by today's standards. theless, admits he does not understand die origin of psychic talents. He only knows that there are a "very few persons (who) are so Some people, assuming Vandy was dead, tremendously gifted (whether by birth, train­ have argued that posthumous medium contacts ing, or whatever—it doesn't really matter) with telepathic abilities that they are able to are evidence for an afterlife. Miller's response is reconstruct the personalities of die deceased to say that because Vandy might have been alive, from the minds of his or her survivors" (485). Finally, Miller contends that psychic read­ although his vital signs were undetectable, he ings are considered paranormal only because could still talk with a medium. "we do not yet know all of the laws of physics" (496, note 18). For Miller, mediumship is not inher­ Having established that we might be burying some people ently contrary to all physical laws but could simply be a matter prematurely. Miller then proposes that if psychics can read of our not understanding die workings of nature well enough to living people's minds, then certainly they can read thoughts explain psychical communications. The real problem is "our from people near death. While people are alive, even if we can­ current understanding and knowledge (which, to put it bluntly, not detect their vital signs with current technologies, diey can is tantamount to virtual ignorance) of die laws . . . govern [ing] still contact a psychic. such phenomena as mental telepathy and . . . ." Miller calls this interval between "death" and life "dimin­ By offering a naturalistic explanation for apparently myste­ ished consciousness" (490). He concludes that this could have rious events, Miller seeks to advance our potential understand­ been Vandy's condition when he contacted the medium. ing of seeming medium communications with dead people. Eventually after all his vital signs ceased, Edgar lost touch with die material world. Miller's Theory of Medium Telepathy Besides explaining how a medium could read thoughts from Miller's interpretation of the Vandy incident depends, in part, someone presumed dead, Miller's dieory allows him to reject on breakthroughs in the healing arts. Over the last century, immortality. Some people, assuming Vandy was dead, have medicine has made great strides in detecting life signs. These argued diat posthumous medium contacts are evidence for an advances have occurred so swiftly that the medical community afterlife. Miller's response is to say that because Vandy might have must constantly redefine "death." Physicians now speak of been alive, although his vital signs were undetectable, he could people being "brain dead." still talk with a medium. After passing beyond a "diminished Before this century, medical procedures were so crude that state of consciousness," Edgar lost contact with the psychic sometimes people were buried prematurely." Although the per­ In summary, Miller's naturalistic explanation allows him to son's heart still functioned, die beat was imperceptible to the reject the argument that medium communication between the attending physician, or as Miller notes, "hands pressed to the living and "dead" is prima facie evidence of an afterlife. chest cavity or a thumb on the wrist for measuring the pulse" Instead, Miller argues that because Vandy was alive, he could did not detect life signs.'' still send what seemed like "messages from beyond the grave." If those presumed dead were not butied prematurely (per­ haps they were left lying around the morgue for several days) Evaluating Miller's Hypothesis some would revive. They were never really dead. They simply There are at least four significant problems with Miller's did not emit vital signs perceptible to medical instruments of proposal. First, he says die Vandy case is only one of many the day. Had these people been buried beforehand, their con­ S.P.R.-documented instances of a psychic achieving numerous dition would have remained unknown, unless, of course, they "hits" while supposedly telepathically interacting with some­ had awoken in time to tap loudly enough on the coffin's inte­ one. Miller's language suggests he reviewed numerous S.P.R.- rior to gain someone's attention. documented cases of supposed postmortem psychical contacts Today, the chances of misinterpreting "deadi" are much before making his proposal. smaller. Contemporary physicians can use highly refined tech­ Moreover, at die end of his piece, Miller acknowledges diat nologies, such as stethoscopes, electrocardiograms, and if anybody could locate just one odier instance of someone encephalograms, to detect minimal life signs. seemingly contacting a psychic after having died a horrify­ Still, Miller cautions, just as past healing practices are con­ ing death—where the victim was obviously "immediately dead," sidered primitive by today's standards, future generations might e.g., decapitated—this one instance would falsify his

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 47 "diminished consciousness" hypothesis. Miller reasons, "Thus, Lectroline was by referencing "machinery" (44), "wireless" (11) or for example, if in a case like that of Edgar Vandy, the corpse were "machine" (58). In short, although "Lectroline" was a vital pan of cremated shortly after death, or if the person in question were Edgars life, no medium called it by name. the victim of a physically traumatic death which rendered his The psychics also used the post hoc ploy of mentioning a brain and/or central nervous system virtually non-existent in its letter of the alphabet and then asking if the sitter understood normal, operative form, then this would immediately give the its meaning, after which the sitters volunteered a name start­ lie to the hypothesis of diminished consciousness" (492). Before ing with that letter. For example, the psychics asked about: reading Miller's paper, I knew nothing about S.P.R. and its "H" (Edgar's brother's name was Harold, which the sitter vol­ records of possible postmortem psychical contacts. After finish­ unteered.) (10); "B" (The sitter said Edgar had a "great friend ing the article, I posted a message to the S.P.R. Web site asking named 'Bartram.'") (16); and "M" (The sitter explained, "Our if anybody could cite a documented instance of psychical con­ youngest sister was always known to us as Millie.") (29). tact where die communicator was "obviously dead" and long Interestingly, even these vague, one-letter references were afterwards supposedly recorded several psychical "hits." sometimes judged "irrelevant" (16) or "incorrect" (36). Someone immediately provided the requested citation There were numerous other instances of mediums using (Haraldsson and Stevenson 1975). The suggested materials vague statements the sitter clarified post hoc. For example, the explained how, in 1879, an intoxicated Runolfur Runolfsson fell psychics said: "Do you know what he [the deceased Vandy, who asleep along the Icelandic seashore. During a storm the sea was supposedly speaking to the psychic] means by [five pounds flooded in and drowned him. Soon the tide receded, carrying currency] ... (14)? The sitter said Edgar had slightly less than Runolfsson's body out to sea. Eventually, Runolfsson's body five pounds currency in his pocket when he died (14). The psy­ washed ashore in pieces. Speculation is that Runolfsson's body chic also claimed that Edgar had a stressful job. The sitter vol­ was dismembered either by seals and shrimp while it was sub­ unteered that in recent years Edgar seemed "on the verge of a merged, or by dogs and ravens after it washed ashore. Fifty-eight breakdown" (12), As a final example, the psychic said at one years later, in 1937, a medium supposedly achieved several point, "I am getting an impression of someone who built "hits" while communicating with Runolfsson. In short, with lit­ houses, or something rather to do with houses" (58). The sitter tle effort, I found "evidence" refuting Miller's proposition. One said his (the sitter's) younger brother was a real estate agent (58). wonders why the JPR referees did not invest minimal effort in Finally, some of the psychics' comments seemed, frankly, seeking similar information and dien recommend against pub­ dim-witted. For example, they stated: "He (Vandy) says if he lishing Miller's paper because Miller apparently did not bother had altered his plans a little this wouldn't have happened" (7); to gather essential background information about his topic. "you remember the way he talked, very rapidly when he was Second, Miller seemingly did not consult the original excited" (17); and "I also sense that it was quite an accident in S.P.R. report before writing his paper. Instead, he relied on two a way, but if plans had been changed, or something had hap­ summaries of the case (494, notes 4 and 5). He offers no ratio­ pened, it would not have happened" (43). nale for this approach, which makes it easy to argue that con­ In sum, all the Vandy "hits" can be explained as "cold read­ trary to Miller's assertions, the Vandy case is not a substantial ings," luck, preparatory research, or common parlor tricks. instance of psychical contact. Nor, I hasten to add, is the just- Third, Miller's proposal has an illogical premise. Early in cited Runolfsson case. That is, Runolfsson could not meet the the discussion he mentions possible ways of detecting whether evidentiary standards common among scientific journals. a telepathist is communicating with the dead. One tactic Runolfsson is used here: a) only to show that instances of pur­ involves "show(ing) up at the medium's doorstep unan­ ported postmortem psychical communications by those who nounced, and demand(ing) a sitting right there and right perished violently are easy to find, and b) as the one illustra­ then" (Miller 1998,481). tion necessary and sufficient to falsify Miller's empirical argu­ Presumably, Miller's unexpected appearance prevents the ment for "diminished consciousness." medium from doing a background check on the potential sub­ Furthermore, although Miller's writings suggest the clairvoy­ ject. If an unprepared medium offers intimate details about ants revealed significant details about Vandy and his invention, the the deceased, this might be strong evidence of paranormalism, S.RR. report clearly shows orherwisc. The psychics made numer­ and perhaps even an afterlife. ous misstatements about Edgar and the events surrounding his Of course, Miller could never surprise a "real" psychic. By death. To cite only a few examples, the mediums misspoke about: definition, "serious" mediums should never require appoint­ George Vandy having something metallic in his pocket belonging ments, unless mind reading, like my cordless telephone, has a to Edgar (8); an uncle Bob (11); someone named Molly (12); very short communication range . . . but that is another story. "only partially correct remarks about the Vandys' mother" (19); Fourth, Miller fails to mention an important fact about the Edgar's room (20); Edgars manner of death (35); the time of his length of Edgar Vandys possible "diminished consciousness." death (37); the number of people who died with Edgar (40); time Edgar died on August 6, 1933. The first of the six psychic sit­ since the drowning (43); Edgar drowning in the sea (49); Edgar tings was on August 24, 1933. The last was on November 11, swimming with others when he drowned (50); where Edgar kept 1933 (Gay 1957). At this final sitting, the medium mentioned his diary (59); one of Edgars books (55); and the Lectroline inven­ facts George Vandy interpreted as referencing Lectroline (60). tion (50, 54, 55). The closest anyone came to identifying the Does Miller mean three months after his accident Vandy was

48 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER still near death? If so, should we still be expecting further (and U.S., In Starch of. ..' (480). substantial) improvements in how physicians and diose in 7. Miller notes, "During the past quarter century or so, a number of rep­ utable research centers have been established and are presendy engaged in sig­ related professions recognize death, so that even diree montfis nificant—and serious [sec note 4 above]—work" (494, note 1). Two such cen­ into "diminished consciousness" some life sign can be ters, he says, are associated with Duke and Stanford Universities. More specif­ ically, they are studying alleged paranormal process and phenomena involving detected? If so, when is Miller's proposal—where someone dies only die living" (494, note 1, Miller'* emphasis). Miller, however, is only con­ nonviolendy (no decapitations, etc.) and then supposedly cerned with cases involving communications between the living and communicates tclcpathically—unfalsifiable? Without a thresh­ "deceased." old. Millers hypothesis is not, as he argues, empirical. 8. Edgar Allan Poe's Premature Burial exemplifies this concern with hasty entombment. 9. Miller docs not consider whether physicians of an earlier time may have Conclusion employed cruder but perhaps more effective means of detecting life, such as sticking a needle in die eye of someone presumed dead. Presumably, anyone No psychic has ever demonstrated mediumship under laboratory with minimal life signs would have responded to probes in such highly sensi­ conditions. Instead, we must read "reports" of these claimed tive locations. communications. Were psychical contacts "real," certainly the 10. See, for example, Monmaney 1993. Carey 1992. Safe 1993, and findings would appear immediately and regularly in mainstream, Podolsky 1991. 11. See, for example, Broad 1990, Close 1991 (a and b). and Taubes 1990. refereed, scientific journals. The possibility of winning at least $1 12. See, for example. Davenas 1988, Maddox 1988 (a-c), and Page 1988. million is certainly incentive enough to demonstrate paranor- malism under laboratory conditions, since this is what magician References James Randi of the James Randi Educational Foundation Alper, J. 1993. Ulcers as an infectious disease. Science 260: 159-160. promises any medium who can, under controlled conditions, Benveniste, J. 1988a. Benveniste on the Benveniste affair. Nature 335: 759. . 1988b. replies. The Scientist (November 14): 10. communicate telepathically with the living or dead. Broad, CD. 1962. Lectures on Psychical Research. London: Routledge & Kegan And while it is easy to say there is a worldwide conspiracy Paul, Ltd. against publishing such contrary information, the chronicles Broad, W. J. 1990. Cold fusion still escapes usual checks of science. New York Times (October 30): Ci, Ci2. of science suggest otherwise. History is replete with examples Carey, J. 1992. What Barry Marshall knew in his gut. Business Week 3278: of unpopular ideas finding their place in establishment jour­ 68-69. nals. Sometimes, such as the h pylori theory of ulcers, replica­ Close, F. 1991a. Cold fusion I: The discovery that never was. New Scientist 129: 46-50. 10 tion has supported the authors' claims. Other times, such as . 1991b. Too Hot to Handle: The Race for ColdFusion. Princeton, N.J.: cold fusion" and homeopathy,1' conventional publications Princeton University Press. have heralded these "alternative" claims, only later to see the Davenas, E.. et al. 1988. Human basophil dcgranulation triggered by very dilute antiserum against IgE. Nature Hi: 816-818. assertions rejected when they could not be replicated, again Cold Fusion Research: A Report of the Energy Research Advisory Board U.S. showing how science is self-correcting. Energy Research Advisory Board. 1989. Springfield, Virginia: National Finally, it is surprising that JPR published Miller's paper. On Technical Information Service. Gauld, A. 1971. A series of "drop'in" communicators. Proceedings of the its face, the piece fails to meet even elementary standards of Society for Psychical Research 55, 204: 273-340. scholarship common among refereed journals. The Vandy case Garwin, R.L 1991. Fusion: The evidence reviewed. Science 290: 1394-1395. is not, as Miller asserts, "so thoroughly documented and so Gay, K. 1957. The Case of Edgar Vandy. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 39,691: 1-64. closely-monitored as to merit our serious attention" (480). It The h. pylori theory gains momentum. 1992. Medical World News 33, 6: only deserves "our serious attention" because of Miller's mis­ 32-33. statements. Comments such as, "The occurrence of mental Haraldsson, E. and 1. Stevenson. 1975- A communicator of the "drop in" type in Iceland: The case of Runolfur Runolfsson. Journal of the American telepathy is by now a firmly established empirical phenomenon. Society for Psychical Research 69: 33-59. The statistical results forthcoming from the current (serious) Huizenga, J.R. 1992. Cold Fusion: The Scientific Fiasco of the Century. research is quite impressive, and its significance would never be Rochester. N.Y.: University of Rochester Press. Lesser, F. 1988. Still trying after all these years. New Scientist 119: 62-63. dismissed in the context of any other ('hard') scientific research" Maddox, J. 1988a. "High-dilution" experiments a delusion. Nature 334: (489) can only mislead researchers interested in "serious" schol­ 287-290. arship on paranormalism. . 1988b. Waves caused by extreme dilution. Nature 335: 760-763. . 1988c. When to believe the unbelievable. Nature 333: 787. Notes Miller, A.R. 1998. Survival and diminished consciousness. Journal of Philosophical Research 23: 479-496. 1. Throughout this paper, page numbers for Millers quotes are listed Monmaney, T 1993. Marshall's hunch. The New Yorker 69, 30: 64-72. according to the pagination in his journal article. Page, J. 1988. Dilutions of grandeur. Homeopathy. American Health 2. Miller is quoting die psychic's comments from a session transcript. (November): 78-82. 3. Miller refers to the Vandy incident as comprising "such apparently Podolsky, D. 1991. Kill die bug and you kill the ulcer. U.S. News and World incredible 'messages'" (485). Report 110, 18:94. 4. Evidendy, Miller thinks it important that his readers understand these Rowe, W.L 1978. Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction. Encino, California, arc "serious" studies, for elsewhere he notes, "During the past quarter century and Belmont, California: Dickenson Publishing Company. or so, a number of reputable research centers have been established and are Safe. A.F. et al.T993. Role of serology in monitoring treatment for helicobac- presently engaged in significant—and serious—work" (494). There will be terpylori infection in elderly patients. Age and Ageing 22. 4: 256-259. more on die "seriousness" of psychical research as the present discussion Stepney, R. 1990. Can you catch an ulcer? New Scientist 126: 39. advances. Stewart, D. 1989. Interview with Waller Stewart. Omni 11.5: 64-66. 87-94. 5. See footnote 4. Taubes, G. 1990. Cold fusion conundrum at Texas A&M. Science 248: 6. For Miller, "scam" means diose "sensational claims splashed across the 1299-1304. front pages of the various tabloids displayed at the local supermarket, or die . 1993. Bad Science: The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion. 'intellectual' gyrations foisted upon us by a successful television series in the New York: Random House.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 49 These next two articles and the selection of representative SKEPTICAL INQUIRER covers, 1976-2001, on pages 58 and 59 conclude our year-long observance of the 25th anniversary of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. —Ed. The Origins and Evolution of CSICOP Science Is Too Important to Be Left to Scientists

Lee Nisbet

the gifts of increasing material and physical security. But why he founding of CSICOP was a fortuitous accident of the public ambivalence toward a community of inquirers that Ttime, place, and personalities. The founding of a CSI- had bestowed such considerable gifts? The answers to the COP-like organization was a highly ambivalence question explains the probable creative reaction of science- evolution of CSICOP from its primar­ literate people to an immensely influ­ ily media-oriented origins to functions ential means of communication both more diversified and broad in reflecting public ambivalence toward scope. Whatever creates, also destroys. institutionalized science. Scientific inquiry carried on by an Any particular existence is contin­ elite, specialized community has suc­ gent, not perfectly predictable. ceeded to an unprecedented degree in Randomness is a real trait of nature. harnessing the processes of nature for But, when considering historical human good. However, a logic of dis­ developments one might argue that a covery, by nature and purpose threat­ CSICOP-like organization was proba­ ens the intellectual and moral basis of ble in the latter decades of the twenti­ traditional ideologies that materially eth century. In this technically depend on that logic (witness the advanced world we had an intellectu­ threat that Darwinism poses to both ally undisciplined, economically dri­ contemporary theological creationists ven means of communication serving on the right and social creationists on Lee Nisbet a public highly ambivalent toward a the left). What all contemporary ide­ way of knowing which had bestowed ologies demand of scientific inquiry is that it remain merely a means to secure ends established by tra­ Lee Nisbet, Ph.D., is professor of philosophy at Medaille College in dition and biased thought. Unfortunately, a logic of discovery Buffalo, New York. Nisbet holds degrees both in history and philos­ is difficult to keep in its place. Intellectual discovery requires ophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a continual correcting, both political and moral. Therefore, the cofounder, former executive director, and Fellow of CSICOP He publics of universities, churches, as well as political and moral writes and lectures frequently on the application of logical and psy­ movements have good reason to feel ambivalent toward any chological critical-thinking techniques to controversial policy issues. community of inquirers, no matter how valuable the outcomes

50 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER they produce. In short, both dispositions native to human Science is obviously too important and nature and existing cultural institutions formed in prescientific potentially too destructive to be left to sci­ ages are challenged by the very genie that sustains them. entists. The methods of scientific inquiry However, beyond our reluctance to subject ideas with adopred as active dispositions, active habits which we agree to the same degree of skepticism we subject of mind need to be defined as a central part of what disagreeable ideas lies another source of public ambivalence it means to be both scientifically and culturally literate. A toward "science": the very process of "science education" itself. basic knowledge of central scientific concepts and achieve­ Ironically, formal science education with its narrow discipline, ments and their impact, for better and worse, on the wider career-oriented focus has simultaneously created (especially in culture needs to be a central part of what it means to be both the United States) an enormously productive, successful enter­ scientifically and culturally literate. Intellectually narrow, prise and destroyed the very possibility of widespread, cultural ignoramuses who produce powerful knowledge are informed, public support. Worse, not desirable educational outcomes. "science education" leaves many Culturally literate people who are "well-educated" people feeling antag­ ignorant and disdainful both of sci­ onistic toward institutionalized sci­ entific methods and discoveries and ence. How so? their social, moral, and political con­ Formal science education as it It is not difficult to sequences are not desirable outcomes operates now in die United States on for a culture increasingly shaped by the secondary/college/university levels understand given the science and technology. But how is designed for not only those with does this analysis of factors that pro­ superior intellectual gifts but also nar­ success of the narrowed duce public ambivalence toward sci­ rowed interests. It is narrow vocational process called science entific inquiry, scientific literacy, and education in the extreme. Generalists, the scientific community itself bear if diey exist, certainly don't prosper in education and the elitism upon an understanding of the origins the vocation of science. Specialists and evolution of CSICOP? prosper. Young, intelligent, very it engenders how CSICOP originated in the spring focused, very intellectually narrowed nonscientists might well of 1976 to fight mass-media exploita­ people produce the cutting-edge tion of supposedly "occult" and "para­ research in today's scientific disci­ feel excluded from, bored normal" phenomena. The strategy plines. Science people regard them­ was twofold: First, to strengthen die by. and even antagonistic selves as an elite group compared to hand of skeptics in the media by pro­ the humanistically oriented. Their for­ toward science itself when viding information that "debunked" mal education receives by necessity of paranormal wonders. Second, to serve cost a much higher allocation of funds it is identified exclusively as a "media-watchdog" group which than those in nonscience or non-hard with this process. would direct public and media atten­ science disciplines, and rightfully so in tion to egregious media exploitation their eyes. By conventional standards of the supposed paranormal wonders. their intelligence and specialization An underlying principle of action was produces highly valued and objective to use the mainline media's thirst for knowledge. It is not difficult then to public-attracting controversies to understand given die success of the keep our activities in the media, narrowed process called science education and die elitism it hence public eye. engenders how nonscientists might well feel excluded from, Who thought this strategy up? Well, Paul Kurtz, that's who. bored by, and even antagonistic toward science itself when it is In 1975 as editor of The Humanist magazine chis media-sawy identified exclusively widi this process. Conceived in vocational philosophy professor published a statement entitled terms, "science" becomes a specialized, arcane set of practices "Objections to Astrology" which ridiculed the purported "sci­ known only to a smug elite who serve die private and politically entific" basis for astrology and condemned newspaper dominant interests of those who fund dieir research. Conceived exploitation of "sun-sign" astrology columns. Newspapers in vocational terms scientific literacy becomes a thing both picked up the article—many responded negatively. Other apart from and superior to cultural literacy. The irony of such media sources picked up on what was a brewing controversy a dualistic and elitist conception of scientific literacy in a culture and before long the statement (which was signed by 186 sci­ simultaneously dependent on and battered by scientific entists) had gained worldwide attention. discoveries is sobering.' On the basis of the media response to "Objections," editor

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 SI Kurtz decided to devote a major part of the forthcoming increasing variation of CSICOP conference topics (e.g., annual Humanist meeting to be held in late April 1976 in controversies in dinosaur extinction theories; ethical and sci­ Buffalo to skeptical critiques of supposedly paranormal phe­ entific issues in animal experimentation; the teaching of nomenon. (I joined the magazine in November 1975 as an critical thinking in secondary and higher education; cogni­ unemployed philosophy Ph.D. and promptly assumed duties tive, perceptual, physical, and motivational mechanisms of conference organizer and public relations man—hey, just do underlying biased judgment; etc.). More telling yet, in the it!) These critiques, to be delivered by leading skeptics, would SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, we find essays redefining the nature of likely attract media attention and bring these individuals science literacy and science education which emphasize together for the first time. strategies that aim at making scientific thinking a wide­ The media coverage was unbelievable! Worldwide syndi­ spread habit of mind and a subset of cultural literacy (e.g., cated stories announced the formation of a new group dedi­ Leon Lederman, "A Strategy for Saving Science" [November cated to providing scientifically based information regarding 1996]; E. A. Krai, "Reasoning and Achievement in a High widely publicized, supposedly paranormal phenomenon. We School English Course" [May 1997]; Andrew Ede, "Has received front-page coverage in The New York Times and Science Education Become an Enemy of Scientific Washington Post. Science News sent its editor, Kendrick Frazier, Rationality?" [July 2000]). One finds numerous articles, who did an in-depth story concerning our mission complete especially in the last decade, written by psychologists such as with interviews of new committee members (e.g., Ray James Alcock, Barry Beyerstein, Susan Blackmore, Thomas Hyman). The creation of our proposed new journal to pub­ Gilovich, and Ray Hyman, identifying the cognitive, per­ lish skeptical critiques was highlighted in these stories. ceptual, physiological, and motivational mechanisms Telegrams by the hundreds poured into The Humanist office. involved in biased judgments together with strategies to Some pledged financial support (Do you need money?). overcome these predispositions. The investigative work of Within the year of the publication of The Zetetic we received Martin Gardner, Joe Nickell, and James Randi continually a full-page story in Time magazine as well as continued cov­ detailed the hubris that selective skepticism can bring to the erage in The New York Times and other major newspapers. We lives of even distinguished scientists as well as more ordinary were the recipients of welcomed attack after attack on the part people. Also the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER in the 1990s increas­ of the paranormal press ("The New Inquisition," "The ingly featured a number of essays by scientifically literate Return of the Dark Ages"), which gave us further media and philosophers and culturally literate scientists such as Arthur public recognition. C. Clarke, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Jay Gould, Paul Our publication. The Zetetic, (as advertised) featured skep­ Kurtz, Steven Pinker, and the late Carl Sagan which explore tical critiques concerning media-hyped paranormal wonders. the wider meaning of scientific inquiry for the personal as Our initial annual conferences had the same thematic well as social dimensions of life. emphases. Our conferences, like the journal (which became Of course all these topics are interspersed with the tradi­ the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER), strived to attract media attention tional core of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER—pieces debunking (successfully) by focusing on currenrly hot topics in pseudo- the media-hyped world of the "paranormal" and the latest science. Again, the assumptions underlying these efforts were pseudoscientific bunk (e.g., alternative medicine). But over that the mass media were a major problem and both their time the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (under science-writer attention and reform a primary remedy to public credulity Kendrick Frazier's astute editorship), CSICOP conferences, concerning pseudoscience. and the excellent courses and seminars offered through the However, (I maintain) we discovered that although the way Center for Inquiry have transformed CSICOP into a true the media do business (an emphasis on the sensational to science-education organization. Here science is conceived attract public attention) is an obstacle to accurate public broadly as the cultivation of intellectual and personal dispo­ assessment of issues, in a much more troubling, fundamental sitions that make for wise and sound judgment no matter way the mass media are the public. The mass media simply what the subject matter. So defined scientific literacy and share the widely held view, developed earlier in this essay, that cultural literacy become integral, practical, and relevant to "science" not only lies outside of popular culture but also has both public and personal life. So defined scientific literacy little to do with the ordinary thought processes of ordinary ceases to be vocationalized, elitist, arcane, archaic, and irrel­ people relative to issues that interest them. The mass media, evant to the lives we all lead. like politicians, dare not go past die limits imposed by the val­ ues and mental processes of its constituencies. Looked upon Note thus, mass-media credulity is more a consequence than a cause 1. Two recent articles appearing in the journals SKEPTICAL INQUIRER of public credulity. (Andrew Ede, "Has Science Education Become an Enemy of Scientific Rationality?" [July/August 2000)) and Academic Questions (Vladimir N. Therefore, given this realization, it's no accident that as Garkov, "Cultural or Scientific Literacy" [Summer 2000]) provide valuable the decades of the 1980s and 1990s progressed there was an insights into the vocationalized. elitist nature of science education.

52 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER — Never a — Dull Moment

Barry Karr

tain. I like to think I must have made good time because by It is amazing really when you think about it: what the ram­ my third day there, and after a couple of other assignments, I Iifications can be, at least for me, from an action that basi­ was called into Paul Kurtz's office for a job interview. I got the cally originated as an afterthought. position by the way and have been You see, my sister was a senior at the involved with CSICOP ever since. State University of New York at Lucky for me my sister didn't have Buffalo, and she had taken a part-time more friends. Although at this point job with CSICOP, which her room­ CSICOP as an organization was in its mate had gotten for her. It seemed fifth year, and third office location, I that they were still a bit short-staffed still think of these as the very early and needed some help with a large days of the organization. There is a press mailing. After going through a saying around the office these days: couple of her friends she eventually "Never a dull moment"—which is thought of me, a sophomore at the true. We used that expression back university. She called me up and asked then too, but it meant a totally differ­ if I would like to work for a few hours ent thing. Whereas today it seems that a week between classes. I went into die there is always a new project that needs office and did what they told me, doing—some new television show ot which was, I believe, stuffing about movie on the paranormal, or shameless 2,500 magazines into envelopes and Barry Karr promotion of some quack therapy that helping to prepare them for mailing to needs looking into—back then it members of the press around the meant that "Today it is going to rain country. Now, how long it took to complete die task is uncer- and we need to get the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER out the door before the leak in the ceiling destroys a thousand issues." Our Barry Karr is executive director of the Committee for the Scientific offices were in a deteriorating office/apartment building in a Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and the deteriorating neighborhood in the city of Buffalo. Lunch gen­ Center for Inquiry (CFI) in Amherst, New York. He is coeditor of erally meant going next door to the overpriced corner grocery the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER anthologies The UFO Invasion and store and trying to buy something with an expiration date The Outer Edge. roughly in the same year. We had basically no computer

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 53 system; new subscriptions, renewals, and other in-house I never knew what it was I ate. It was good, but I never wanted records were kept track of on index cards sorted by alphabeti­ to know. cal order. The subscription data itself was handled by an out- Some of the other moments of the trip will live forever in of-house fulfillment agency that did the printing of the maga­ my memory. I won't forget the way members of the CSICOP zine and maintained our database. I can remember having to team played with and enjoyed entertaining the children. While borrow a car to periodically head on down to the printer and a test was being conducted, everything was very serious, but load up with magazines and then take them over to the central the next moment at the conclusion of a test there would be post office. I can also clearly remember getting lost from time Randi performing magic tricks. I remember how James to time trying to find these places and in one exceptionally Alcock, who is quite tall, would draw a crowd wherever he brilliant feat ending up on the bridge going into Canada. went, or Paul Kurtz telling jokes and laughing with them until There was, however, a definite feeling of camaraderie he had tears in his eyes. He still keeps photographs of some of among the staff. We celebrated every birthday and major event these children in his office today. in each other's lives. We held weekly and sometimes daily Also, what hasn't been mentioned is the absolute joy it cookouts on the back patio, weather permitting. We even had was to meet with skeptics within China who requested the a regular bowling night. It was certainly an interesting place to help of CSICOP to investigate these claims and bring in work while in college—a perpetual educational experience skepticism. Because of this trip an organization was estab­ where I learned to think about things in a new way and not lished as part of the Chinese Association for Popularization simply accept what I had been told. For example, while grow­ of Science to promote skepticism within the country. Since ing up I had been a notorious bad-movie junkie (truth be told, then we have had a delegation from China attend several of 1 still am), and was certainly a fan of all things paranormal. My our conferences over the years, and we were also able to send favorite show was The Night Stalker, and I can vividly remem­ a second CSICOP delegation a few years later. This relation­ ber running home from school to watch the vampire-themed ship continues. It illustrates the powerful impact that Dark Shadows. I was a creature of my television CSICOP has been having worldwide in stimulating skeptical generation. Never had I seen or read anything to suggest that inquiry and crystallizing a scientific response to the great some of these tilings were not somehow based in reality. Of barrage of paranormal claims. course 1 wasn't naive enough to believe in vampires, but I must Such people as Phil Klass, Ray Hyman, James Randi, Joe admit to having written a glowing, wide-eyed book review on Nickell, Richard Wiseman, Massimo Polidoro, and others Chariots of the '. wonderfully fill the role of paranormal investigator/ By the time my senior year at the university rolled around 1 researcher. Although there is a need for more people to do found myself working more and more hours at CSICOP each investigations, they must be done well. There have been sev­ week and my status at the university trimmed to that of a part- eral instances where I have been involved with investigations. time student. My plan had always been to go on to law school Perhaps the most well known is the demon-haunting case of upon graduation, but a year with a first-year law student as a the Smurls in West Pittston, Pennsylvania. The case was roommate soon cured me of that. When graduation rolled made into a book, and later a television movie. And again, around I was very pleased to have Paul Kurtz offer me a full- our investigation has been written up in the SKEPTICAL time position as assistant public relations director. Although I INQUIRER. Fellow investigator (and former CSICOP staff thought I'd do diis for a year and eventually go back to school member) Elizabeth Gehrman and I spent several days in I haven't quite made it back yet. I really don't regret it. West Pittston interviewing neighbors, visiting the Mining Over the years it has been my pleasure to take part in many Office, the Street Commissioner, and the former owner of adventures and investigations that not many of my friends, the house, and we briefly met with the Smurls, who would family, or neighbors have had the opportunity to experience. not let us in the house. However, I think my fondest mem­ Probably my second-greatest thrill was the opportunity to ory of the trip to West Pittston was the hotel that Elizabeth travel to China in 1988 as part of a CSICOP team conduct­ and I booked. We arrived in town late after a long drive from ing investigations into qigong masters, amazing psychic chil­ Buffalo. We did not have a reservation confirmed at a hotel dren, and remote healers, along with other facets of traditional and decided to just pick the first one we saw. Little did we Chinese medicine. The results of these investigations have realize that the hotel we chose was right across the street from been well documented within the pages of the SKEPTICAL a porno drive-in movie theater. We were naturally suspicious INQUIRER. However, it is the personal moments that don't get when the man at the reception desk asked if we wanted the discussed. I remember eating a spectacular dinner one evening room for the night or if we wanted to pay by the hour! Being with our hosts. To be honest I had no idea what some of what really tired we took a room with two double beds for the I was eating was. Sitting across from me and staring intently night. CSICOP is, after all, a nonprofit organization and we was James Randi. As I brought the chopsticks up to my mouth always have an eye on the bottom line. Sometime after we'd with a morsel of something, Randi burst out laughing at me. been in the room for a while Elizabeth began to complain

54 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER that there was something crawling all over her legs in the it. At one point a number of the almost 500 bed. I went over to her side of the room and looked to find to 750 people became somewhat excited the bed and the room covered with bedbugs. when a rainbow appeared over the falls. The We went to the manager to complain. He was nor roo nice excitement level seemed to dissipate some­ at that point but offered us another room. His mood turned what when the skeptics started passing the word that even uglier when, for some reason or another, Elizabeth would rainbows are virtually an everyday occurrence at the falls. As I not accept this offer. Here my recollection gets a little fuzzy wrote in die Western New York Skeptics Newsletter, "When the and I am not sure whedier we had paid in cash and had chanting was finished and all the litde crystals had been demanded our money back, or told him we would stop pay­ thrown over the falls, many people felt spiritually uplifted, ment on the credit card. Either way he figured we had gotten enlightened, and full of a sense of accomplishment. But, to our hour's worth and threatened to call the cops on us. I do quote from Newsweek magazine, 'Making yourself feel good remember leaving the parking lot quickly with Elizabeth about the world is not the same thing as improving the world. screaming at the top of her lungs. I also remember thinking Want to think a good thought? Think about 144,000 people that a demon-haunted house would most likely be a more volunteering an hour a week to work in shelters for the home­ pleasant experience. less. That would be something to hum about.'" On another occasion members of CSICOP and the One of the investigations that skeptics around the world Western New York Skeptics were called upon to look into a should be most proud of is the several-year-long investiga­ haunted house in the Western New York area. Several skeptics tion, led by James Randi, into . During that went to the house and recorded interviews with the family that time I had traveled around the Western New York area and lived there. Most of die events centered upon the mother of into southern Ontario to attend the services of such faith the house. She would complain, for example, that while she healers as W V. Grant, , the Happy Hunters, and was lying in bed unseen spirits would pull the covers over her Willard Fuller. When James Randi went on The Tonight legs. We asked her if we could observe this and she agreed to Show and blew the lid off the Peter Popoff ministry, I know try the demonstration. As she was lying in bed she repeatedly that skeptics everywhere felt a tremendous sense of accom­ said diat the blankets were moving and asked if we could see plishment. When other national media news shows did them. Nobody else in the room could see anything happening. much the same to W. V. Grant, we again felt rewarded for the (We sent our report on the case, along with all of our audio­ many hours that a number of people put into the effort. I tapes, to psychologist and noted haunted-house investigator had two experiences that will forever leave a bad taste in my Robert Baker for his analysis. Baker ended up writing about mouth. The first one occurred at a healing service by Peter the case briefly in his book Musing Pieces where he attributed Popoff held in Toronto, Canada. Several members of the the woman's condition to a neurological disorder called "rest­ Western New York Skeptics and the Ontario Skeptics met in less legs.") Later, in the living room of the house, the woman advance and planned to distribute leaflets describing our claimed that every once in a while when she sat in a certain objections to Popoff and explaining what it was he was doing chair a spirit would flash across the room. A moment later she and how he had been exposed. Other members, myself exclaimed that one had just done so. I too had noticed the included, would fake ailments and attempt to be healed. flash and immediately suspected what was going on. I went to Popoff claimed to be directed by God as to whom to heal. the window and looked out. The house was situated so that Thus, our point was that, if one of us got called for healing, the front window looked out over an intersection and street. either God made a mistake or Popoff did not have the direct When a car would make a turn down the street from the inter­ line to heaven that he claimed. section, the headlights would momentarily flash into the win­ I walked into the arena with a fake limp, using a cane. dow between a gap in the curtains. She did seem to accept this Right away some of Popoff's people came up to me and when I was able to predict the next sighting. asked me for the healing card I had filled out previously. I Another event that was quite newsworthy a few years ago wrote that I had a ruptured disk in my back that caused was the New Age "harmonic convergence," basically an alleged severe pain in my leg when I walked. As the service started mystical coming togedier of astrology and the Mayan calendar, Popoff's people told everyone in the audience to crumple up when 144,000 people were needed to gather in "power points" the flyers they had received from the people outside because around die world to mediate, welcome alien spaceships, and those people were unbelievers and worked for Satan. Things heal the earth. One of these "power points" was to be Terrapin were not starting off well. Later on in the service, however, Point overlooking Niagara Falls. At dawn of the appointed day Popoff came down the row I was in and told me to stand up. several of us were positioned around the point to see what we I did. He then put his hand on my forehead and told me would see. The day's activities consisted of alternating sessions that God was going to heal me and took my cane and threw of meditation, chanting, and prayer. Needless to say, no aliens it up on the stage. He said that God was going to let me showed up and if a Harmonic Converged I must have missed walk (which I could do anyway). He then told me to run

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 55 around a bit, which I did. Either God or Popoff couldn't tell "If you believe God is God, it is so easy to receive a healing." I was a fake. The lady in the wheelchair was very devout in her faith, but If we had accomplished what we set out to do, then why she was not healed. Instead of calling into question the whole did I feel so bad? Because sitting next to me was a father and business of faith healing, or the Hunters' ability to either teach mother with an obviously severely handicapped child in a baby it or perform it, she blamed herself. Why weren't the Hunters stroller. It was clear that these people had come to the service able to heal her? Why wasn't she entitled to a healing? hoping for a for their child. Of course Popoff avoided I spoke to the Hunters two days before the Rochester event them. But the way they looked at me will stay with me forever. when they appeared on the local television program AM The look said, "Why you? Why should you be healed and not Buffalo. After the show I asked the Hunters about the people my baby?" It was so clear that if anyone ever wanted to prove who are devout in their faith, yet who are not cured of their ill­ they could perform and heal the sick then this child nesses. I asked them what this might do to someone's faith, would be absolute proof. But their look showed they hated me self-esteem, and belief. Charles Hunter looked at me and said and not Popoff. I pulled one of our flyers out of my pocket and simply, "I don't know." I wondered if he had ever thought handed it to them asking them to really read it over. I tried to about it before. explain to them that I wasn't sick to begin with and that no My take on the history of CSICOP probably wouldn't be miracle had taken place. I think that only made it worse, as if complete without at least some mention of "psychic" Uri some miracle had been wasted on someone who didn't even Geller. For a period of several years in the 1990s it seemed that deserve it. I really dislike Peter Popoff. a great deal of my time was spent dealing with lawsuits filed On another occasion the faith-healing husband and wife (Geller was suing CSICOP and James Randi for statements team, the Happy Hunters, came to Rochester, New York, for a made by Randi which called into question Geller's alleged "Healing Explosion." "Thousands will be healed!" promised paranormal abilities), or lawsuits threatened, or numerous the slick advertising supplement announcing the event. The scare-tactic letters arriving from various lawyers from around first person on the podium that night was a member of the the world or some other form of puff and bluster which to me Rochester city council, who gave the opening address and read seemed like a desperate attempt to recapture faded glory, or at a letter of welcome from Rochester's mayor. Traveling faith least to make himself feel important again. I always found this healers are not unlike a touring rock and roll band, or the road somewhat ironic because of my decision years earlier to avoid show of a Broadway play in that they have a set program (or law as a career. I remember that the one time I met Geller was act) that they follow day in and day out in city after city. The at our lawyer's office in Washington, D.C., where Paul Kurtz Hunters were two of the more innovative. Not only did they had been called for a deposition. We met Geller in the hallway themselves practice the art of laying on of hands, but they also where he was very personable and attempted to be charming. ran a service that provided training for individuals who wished He stuck out his hand and said, "I'm and it is a plea­ to become members of the healing teams. The Hunters did sure to meet you." I refused to shake his hand and basically not charge for the training, but they would charge for the tried to ignore him. He became agitated and stated something training materials. to the effect that the difference between us was that he could The most striking aspect of the Hunter "healings" was the still be a nice guy and did not take any of this personally. I team's almost total reliance upon the lengthening of arms and responded that the difference between us was that he was suing legs to effect a cure. Although this trick was thoroughly us and we weren't suing him, which to me was personal. exposed by James Randi in his book The Faith Healers, a con­ Eventually CSICOP won all of the lawsuits brought against us servative estimate on my part was that 70 percent of all treat­ and managed to recover some of our legal costs as sanctions ments offered by the healing teams were of this variety. imposed upon Geller by the court. I often find myself won­ After the service I attempted to interview a number of peo­ dering what he tells his children about his "powers." ple who were healed that evening. I had asked if I could follow When you consider the body of knowledge that is the up with them again in a few weeks and a number of them SKEPTICAL INQUIRER magazine and the Fellows and consul­ agreed. After a couple of weeks I began calling back the people tants who make up the committee, it is certainly impressive. I had spoken to at the service. One woman said that she felt bet­ Recently we conducted a rough tally of the number of events ter and that sometimes healings took time. When I asked her such as conferences, workshops, or seminars we had spon­ why God would only heal a little bit at a time she said, "God sored over the years and it was well into the hundreds. As works in strange ways. If he sees fit he will do it." She then said public relations director for CSICOP for many years, and two things that broke my heart: "Maybe I'm not entitled to it" now executive director, I know that we would get between six and "Maybe I'm not trying hard enough to get out" (of the hundred and eight hundred media calls each year from wheelchair). In these statements lie the reason for much of my around the world. Wc try our best to supply journalists with resentment toward faith healers. If something that they promise the best experts on the subjects they are considering, or the does not work, it is not the fault of the healer. Mrs. Hunter said. best reference articles from the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER or

56 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER another source. But it is also true that we receive probably Think of die vast worldwide media companies several times as many calls and requests from members of the whose only motivation is profit and market general public for information on a vast array of topics. From share. They have virtually no interest in schoolchildren writing a paper on UFOs to people with a telling things like diey are, or presenting sincere belief that their houses are haunted, we run the paranormal and from a skeptical perspec­ gamut of topics and try to help whenever we can. tive. The paranormal is entertainment and the paranormal sells. I say this often and I believe it totally—I am amazed at the It does seem odd to think that as a twenty-five-year-old organi­ amount of information and effort that flows in and out of our zation we've now got more work to do dian at any other time in little building each day. I have file cabinets and boxes filled our history. Truly, and somewhat sadly, diere never really is a with the tens of thousands of requests we receive for help and dull moment. information. It is probably one of the most unappreciated Many of us are familiar with the names of the heroes of roles that CSICOP plays in the world. CSICOP. People like Paul Kurtz, Ray Hyman, Martin Perhaps I shouldn't actually say "little building" anymore. Gardner, Ken Frazier, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, Stephen Jay Because of the vision and hard work of many people we now Gould, Philip Klass, James Randi, Richard Dawkins, Joe have a much nicer headquarters (the Center for Inquiry) than Nickell, and others. I think there is a group of people who in those early days and it seems we are doing more than ever are unsung and deserve a world of thanks for the work they before. It is still appalling to see how much more we have to do. have done for the organization. These people include Mary Quite a bit of my time these days seems to be taken up by office Rose Hays, the first business manager of CSICOP who really mechanics, such tilings as publishing contracts, bids on new kept it going during those lean, dark days. Doris Doyle, telecom systems, computer upgrades, legal issues, and the like. managing editor of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER for so many It is a sign, of course, of a maturing and permanent organiza­ years. The day for Doris must have had forty-eight hours in tion. It is very satisfying to realize that CSICOP will continue it. She seemed to work full-time for CSICOP even though for a long time. Several years ago, I don't think I could have her real job was at Prometheus Books. Doris was an made tliat claim. We were always flying by the seat of our pants absolutely delightful and totally wonderful person. One of and really did survive on a day-to-day basis. On the other hand, the hardest-working people I ever saw was Alfreda Pidgeon. I kind of long for the times when I personally could take time She would do whatever you asked of her and do it perfectly. to ponder the latest UFO claim from Russia, or go out on a She retired from our staff at the age of eighty-three. I used to ghost hunt. Although I did get to take part in my first firewalk tell her that I wished I could clone her and have several of her recently, diese opportunities seem too few and far between. working for us at the same time. Vance Vigrass has been with As I travel around from city to city and country to country I CSICOP since almost the very beginning. He has literally am always impressed how belief in superstition, the paranormal, kept some of our offices and machines working by duct tape and fringe-science claims; untested alternative medical treat­ and force of will alone. Paul Paulin is also a truly remarkable ments; and antiscience and pseudoscience are part of a global staff person as well. My hope is diat we will be able to keep phenomenon. The particular belief or die pseudoscience may be him on staff until he is eighty-three. different in each country but the need for a skeptical response is I also think Paul Kurtz is far too much an underappreciated vital. In 1980 in the back of me SKEPIICAL INQUIRER we listed and unsung hero as well. He is the founder of CSICOP and a grand total of nine groups of skeptics from around the world you know him by his writings, his speeches, and his media with which we cooperated. Today we list well over a hundred appearances. But so much of what he does is behind the with several others currendy in various stages of formation. scenes. You really cannot appreciate him until you see how CSICOP constandy has someone on the road visiting groups, much effort and dedication he puts into this organization. He attending international events, sending out reader surveys, works harder than anyone his age, half his age, a quarter of his working the phones, and writing letters and e-mails. Over die age, etc. 1 can't keep up with him. I wish we could clone him years I have been to many places across the United States, as well as well. (I think we'll keep a bit of Paul Kurtz DNA locked up as visiting probably twenty other countries. It is generally fun, in the CSICOP archives just in case.) and always stimulating. It is also true diat on many occasions Earlier in this article I mentioned that going along to China the trip can be summarized as get on the plane, go to hotel, with the CSICOP team was probably the second-biggest thrill I attend diree days of lectures and workshops, go to the airport have ever received from working at CSICOP. The biggest, by far and get on the plane. In my experience the hotel I stayed at in and without question, is diat I met my wife, Chris, when she Madrid, Spain, looks an awful lot like the one I stayed at in was a graphic designer doing much of the production work on Tucson, Arizona. This has been hard work. But it is work diat is die SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Chris and I were married on 9/9/99 important and necessary. We act as die international hub for a (so I could remember the date) and we now have a beautiful growing network of men and women who believe in science and baby daughter and another now on die way. 1 owe CSICOP the use of reason and critical diinking skills in examining claims. quite a lot, but I do try to pay it back a litde bit every day. LJ

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 57 ZEFEMG

Science,

A *H!j

StiMfffriemmf J

rvfooiio/Jmfirttaii Arvtfvaraary i IIMnUH I '.M't •- ! • J | I 25 Years of Skepilcai Inquiry [ill

the Skeptical Inquirer

Magnetic —-. SpecialIssue Sin" . in] PMndotdiKi Therapy ^ SCIENCE ••a. v TmGaoaweti Plausible Attraction? , & RELIC"JJ; J ' Conflict [w\ L Concilia

Sfcghcn Joy r— tf!MJC MIMW Vrfc^CBI Bttod Di -v- -• • <• MHMW Hna(a8a7Trill • BjBj HUH W Pout Kurt: • Euoentc S u Kcndnck fvodcr • vwor J. Man Surveyor Pholograpl Barry Polevtti and mony other* The 'Faca on Man' II Skeptical lnquii Skeptical Inquirer SKEPTICAL l|Wi|^IIHJflH»" INQUIRER |C CULT Is the Sky . _ BIGFOOT Th* Rtal AsteraM f's Screen lest llWrfltommi

A Ski pi.t « Gulo> la Collective Oelus

The Organ-S The Snuff Film Saga

Statement Analysis -nd Politics

Freeman Responds on Mea Controversy ""Skeptical Skeptical Inquirer Inquirer

Where Do We THE Parapsychology's NEUROPATHOLOGY Come From? / ter*^ Of File Dr; : Astrology SPIRITUAL 1 Mz Responds ^POSSESSION lo Skeptics

"ttre^yr^mids? /triDlher The lunar Antinou* UBUIttT Effect Put Prophecies . ID Rest EV •ajar- >-Mtj The •r i*u> Reflections on cHach Valid?' -A Universe * tw •-• i! I>^j»* ttm Quarter-Cert""' •irwblW W*«n HM *J CjrlSagan *m+* »wa>«• Oi* U#a • - *•**•? • •••••• BOOK REVIEWS

How Memory Doesn't Work Perfectly

TERENCE HINES

The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers. By Daniel L. Schacter. Houghton Mifflin, Co., Boston, Mass. 2001. ISBN 0-618-04019-6. 272 pp. Hardback, $25.

uman memory plays a major fails, is important for skeptics. which memory doesn't always work role in many of the issues dis The study of memory is a highly perfectly. These are the "seven sins" in Hcussed in this magazine. For technical field and uSere arc hundreds of the title. many paranormal and related ideas, the books written by and for researchers in The seven are: transience, absent- only real evidence comes from people's the field, as well as numerous textbooks. mindedness, blocking, misattribution, memories. In the case of UFOs, much Few, if any, of these provide the kind of suggestibility, bias, and persistence. of the evidence—other than some concise overview that would be useful to Transience refers to the fact that we for­ readers of this magazine. Now, happily. grainy or faked photos—comes from get things over time. Absent-minded­ people's memories of what they saw in ness, on the other hand, refers to the the sky or, more dramatically, of being type of memory failure that occurs abducted. Similarly, there is no physical when we, for example, put our glasses evidence whatsoever for the reality of a down somewhere unusual without nationwide ring of Satanic ritual really thinking about it and, some time abusers. The evidence there comes from later, can't find the damn things! memories of the alleged victims. A very Blocking is the frustrating phenomena similar issue arises in the case of recov­ **•*!•». ••I of knowing that we know something, ered repressed memories. but being unable to pull it out of mem­ In all these instances, the basic issue ory. Often it pops to mind all by itself is the reliability of memory and the later when the information is totally effects of procedures like on lkWs»i» useless. Misattribution is the mixing of memory. In other paranormal claims, different aspects of memory. Schacter the role of memory is not so central, but How thf Mind Forgets ana Remembers gives a chilling example—a rape victim it is still important. People continue to identified as her attacker a psychologist believe in such things as astrology, bio- who had been, at the moment of rape, rhythm theory, die prophetic nature of DANIEL L. giving a live interview on TV. The vic­ dreams, and the prophetic abilities of tim had been watching die show and psychics because rJiey selectively remem­ SCHACTER had mixed the face of the real attacker ber instances when their beliefs were with that of the person she had just confirmed, while tending to forget dis- been watching on TV. The sin of sug­ confirming instances. Because of its cen- Daniel Schacter has provided a wonder­ gestibility is the one most often trality in helping to maintain so many ful book that provides exactly the sum­ involved in such things as claims of invalid beliefs, an understanding of how mary of recent research on memory that UFO abductions and recovered memo­ memory works, and when and why it is needed. Schacter is chairman of the ries of sexual abuse. The sin of bias psychology department at Harvard and encompasses several phenomena, all of Terence Hines is in the Department of one of die leading, and most creative, which serve to introduce errors into Psychology at Pace University, Pleasant- researchers in human memory. memory. The example given above of ville. New York. The focus of this book is the ways in people believing in astrology because

60 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER BOOK REVIEWS they selectively remember astrological memories of traumatic events would be mode also works well inasmuch as it is predictions that "come true" belongs in most maladaptive. If an ancestor of sensitive to associations that actually the bias category. Finally, the sin of per­ mine repressed the memory of being exist in the world. However, intuition sistence refers to the fact that memories attacked by, but escaping from, a saber- guarantees diat at least on occasion of traumatic events, far from being toothed tiger when he unknowingly some incoherence will occur. repressed, are often very difficult to ventured too near the tiger's lair, he Consider two examples, first the keep out of one's mind. would be likely to return to the spot common tendency to judge the truth of For each sin, Schacter provides a again. And I wouldn't be sitting at my a claim by one's familiarity with it. This lucid, entertaining, and up-to-date computer right now typing this review. may sound like a good idea. All we need review of the relevant research, along Schacter's book is by far the best pop­ to assume is that by and large beliefs are with plenty of informative examples. In ular book on memory I have ever read. corrected by evidence, so that false It will be very useful for anyone who the final chapter "The seven sins: Vices beliefs are more likely to be weeded out wants to know more about both why or virtues?" Schacter compellingly than correct beliefs. Therefore, true memory works the way it does and why, argues that the seven sins are, in fact, statements should be encountered more sometimes, it doesn't work. The book "byproducts of otherwise adaptive fea­ often than false statements. Intuitive would make an excellent adjunct text in tures of memory, a price we pay for thinking takes advantage of tftis associa­ any college course on memory. It is very processes and functions that serve us well referenced so that the interested tion and assumes that familiar state­ well in many respects" (184). As one reader can find the original scientific ments are more credible than unfamiliar example, consider the sin of persistence. papers Schacter discusses. ones. Why is it irrational to rely on A memory system that really did repress familiarity as a sign of truth? Because of its imperfection, the association can be systematically exploited. Advertisers Let's Be Rational know that they can boost the appeal of JOACHIM KRUEGER their claims simply by repeating them. In a culture awash in "information," Everyday Irrationality: How Pseudo-scientists. Lunatics, and manv conflirrino claims heromr famil- the Rest of Us Systematically Fail to Think Rationally. By iar when only some of them can be true. Robyn M. Dawes. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, To believe diem all or to believe many 2001. ISBN 0-8133-6552-X. Hardcover, $25. without further checking is irrational. The second example is me assump­ tion that in an inert world, the past tends to predict the future. Again, this is not a eaders of the SKEPTICAL ality, Robyn Dawes takes a slightly dif­ bad idea. It is safe to say, for example, INQUIRER regularly see irra­ ferent tack by defining rationality as the that mediums and charlatans will con­ tional beliefs demolished by coherence of related beliefs. According to tinue to sell old wine in new bottles until R they are debunked yet again. In die realm evidence and argument. Communi­ his definition, beliefs are irrational if cation with the dead and the existence they lead to outright contradictions. of action, people learn to expect mat of aliens are recurring favorites. The pri­ Although evidential support and benefi­ efforts already expended and investments mary objections to such beliefs are that cial consequences remain important already made tend to pay off in die they are false, that they can do harm, aspects of rational thought, coherence is future. Yet, diese expectations become and that they keep cropping up in spite the paramount criterion. irrational when the link between die past of it all. usually emphasize Dawes's book is the fruit of a revolu­ and the future is cut. Some holders of the lack of evidence for these beliefs (or tion that occurred in cognitive psychol­ sports season tickets, for example, go to a the existence of evidence against them) ogy over the last three decades. game even on days when they would and they plumb the psychological Cognitive psychologists now distinguish rather stay home. These individuals mechanisms supporting the mainte­ two modes of thought. Thinking in the already know what diey want. But by nance of these beliefs. intuitive mode is swift, effortless, and honoring their irretrievable past invest­ In his latest book. Everyday Irration- associative, whereas thinking in the ments, they act as if these investments rational mode takes time and effort. still foretold future benefits. Doing what Joachim Krueger is associate professor of Rational thinking often requires the diey prefer not to do, diey admit inco­ psychology and human development at application of specific rules so that a herence and dius irrationality. Brown University, Providence, Rhode problem can be "thought through" and Dawes offers many entertaining and Island 02912. contradictions avoided. The intuitive distressing examples of runaway intuitions.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 61 BOOK REVIEWS

The crux of his argument is a moral one, Still, to condemn associative intuition there who would witness his second namely his conviction that the world in its entirety seems a bit harsh. Intuitive coming—then there must be a Jew or would be a better place if we made the inferences are, after all, often correct. The Jews who are alive today who were effort to think coherendy. Professionals question is how we know when to replace alive when Jesus uttered these words— in particular, who render judgments in easy intuition with effortful, rational, and wandering and waiting for his second their areas of expertise, cannot justify comparative thinking. Does this not coming. Gardner relates the different their reliance on intuition and mental mean diat the choice between the two wanderings this myth has taken shortcuts. Instead of thinking in terms of modes of thinking must be made at a through the ages. association, they could and should think higher, executive level? Cognitive psy­ Another essay is entitled "The in terms of comparison. Take medical chologists have not solved the riddle of Incredible Flimflams of Margaret diagnosis as an example. Suppose it is the executive, and Dawes wisely does not Rowen." Margaret Rowen claimed to be known that many people who have a cer­ confront this question direcdy. Instead, the God-chosen successor to Ellen tain disease also display a particular he pragmatically suggests diat certain White, the Adventist leader and symptom. Should one now conclude groups of professionals (especially from . Gardner adeptly reveals her that a person with this symptom has the the mental health field) should be taken claims to be false and she a liar and con disease? The answer is no. It is essential to to task for relying too much on easy intu­ artist. The sad story of Bert Fullmer, a compare the prevalence of the symptom itions. As trained experts, they should long-time believer and proponent of among people with this particular disease know better. Still, that leaves a question Margaret Rowen, is the central charac­ with its prevalence among other people, for the rest of us—or all of us thinking ter in a related but different essay. be they healthy or differently diseased. about all those areas of life in which we Fullmer defended Rowen only to be The same logic suggests that you are not have no expertise. Are we all fools and shown as a complete fool—something necessarily depressed if you have trouble lunatics? By implying that we are, Dawes he realized toward the end of his misled sleeping. There are other potential causes denies us a kind of comparison that tends life. A third essay dealing with Margaret of insomnia. to make us feel good. Rowen is "The Comic Pratfalls of Robert Reidt." Reidt led a little band of Rowenite disciples in Long Island, New Lucid Commentaries with York. He led them to believe Rowen's MARTIN date of February 6, 1925, was the real GARDNER Something to Say date for Jesus' second coming. Since • I | >. ••• • ••'(<• MARK DURM Jesus didn't show, he then predicted September of 1925. Since Jesus didn't From the Wandering Jew to William F Buckley, Jr. By Martin show then either, he then predicted Gardner. Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York. 2000. New York City would be destroyed by WILLIAM I ISBN 1-57392-852-6. 350 pp. Hardback, $27. fire from heaven on February 6, 1926. Ml < KI.K1 JR, Nothing happened on February 6, 1926, in New York City—well, that is, there was no fire from heaven. Reidt "From time to time, when the writings makes him one of Americas then predicted the fire would hit the impulse sizes me, I sound off about foremost essayists. In this latest offering city in the early morning hours of topics of interest to me, and respond February 12. It didn't, and Reidt faded to requests for book reviews if I think of essays and book reviews, Gardner I have something significant to say explains that "the topics of this rambling into obscurity. about a book." anthology are mainly attacks on bogus The final three essays are not about science and what I regard as religious religious belief but literature. One deals o begins Martin Gardner in this superstition." with John Martin's Book, a forgotten book, his latest of many. We, the Why docs the Jew wander? Because children's magazine. Another is about L. Sreaders, should always be thankful Jesus says in Matthew 16:27, 28 Frank Baum, the author of the Oz when Gardner "sounds off" on topics "Verily I say unto you. There be some books, and the final one is about Hugo and has "something significant to say" standing here, which shall not taste of Gernsback, the father of American sci­ about any book. Gardner's lucid style, death, till they see the Son of man ence fiction. I'm glad the impulse seized eloquent wit, and carefully researched coming in his kingdom." To Bible fun­ Martin Gardner to "sound off about damentalists, everything in die Bible [these] topics" also. Mark Durm is a professor of psychology at must be literally true—therefore, if The reviews of books are all very Athens State University, Athens, Alabama. Jesus said there were "some standing" enjoyable and educational. The topics

62 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER B U U r\ KtVltWd run the gamut from physics to reincarna­ say" and each is much more than just a newspaper account of the time, and tion, to crystal balls, to Jim and Tammy review. He tends to give a biographical described the man/beast in detail. The Faye Bakker, to Christian Science, to the sketch of the author, events surrounding Wilsons conclude, "Regrettably, Jacko's meme (which is supposedly anything the publishing of the book, and a thor­ subsequent fate is unknown..." They humans do or say that is not genetically oughly researched commentary that gives are apparently unaware of John Green's determined but is transferred from person the review a breath of life. archival research clearly demonstrating to person by imitation), to The Scarecrow Even though some information is that the story was a hoax. (The omission of Oz, and finally to the surprisingly very repetitive (understandable since these is especially puzzling as the Wilsons cite fundamentalist faith of William F. essays and book reviews were originally Green just two paragraphs later.) Buckley, Jr. There are nineteen of them, written at different times for different • On the following page, the story and when Gardner writes a book review publications), this latest book from that Albert Ostman told about being he does have "something significant to Martin Gardner is a good read. kidnapped by a Bigfoot family is related. According to the Wilsons, Ostman "spent six days in their company until, A Mammoth choosing his moment, he fired off his rifle. While his captors dived for cover, Encyclopedia Unsolving Ostman escaped." Yet a quick check of Ostman's original account gives a some­ Mysteries what different version. In it, Ostman ocmMiviii* r\HL/rui\u tricks his Bigfoot captor into eating a box full of snuff tobacco, which makes The Mammoth Encyclopedia of the Unsolved. By Colin the creature very sick: "[The Bigfoot's] Wilson and Damon Wilson. Carroll & Graf, New York, eyes began to roll over in his head, he 2000. ISBN 0-7867-0793-3. 662 pages. Softcover, $12.95. was looking straight up. . . . He stuck his head between his legs and rolled for­ s I read through The Mammoth the Wilsons' conclusions can be given such wards a few times away from me. Then Encyclopedia of the Unsolved, a sloppy research. he began to squeal like a stuck " {On Aquote from L. Sprague de Though the tome is dubbed an ency­ the Track of Sasquatch, 1968, p.20). It Camp about the works of Erich von clopedia it is really nothing of the sort, as was only then that Ostman grabbed his Daniken came to mind. De Camp encyclopedia implies comprehensiveness, rifle, and he makes no mention of his wrote that Von Daniken's books are and there are dozens of "unsolved" sub­ captors "diving for cover." "solid masses of misstatements, errors, jects missing from the book. It is instead a • The errors continue on still the fol­ and wild guesses presented as facts, rehash of older material culled from the lowing page. Regarding the famous unsupported by anything remotely authors' previous books of familiar mys­ Patterson Bigfoot film and its subject, resembling scientific data." Though teries: UFOs, Bigfoot, curses, etc. Not all the authors write, ". . . zoologist Ivan desiring to refute Von Daniken's argu­ of the book is devoted to paranormal top­ Sanderson quotes three scientists, Dr. ments, de Camp realized that a thor­ ics, and there are chapters on Jack the Osman Hill, Dr. John Napier and Dr. ough analysis would "take years of my Ripper, Shakespeare, and the subject of Joseph Raight, all of whom seem to time; and, if I were mad enough to write Leonardos Mona Lisa. This is as it should agree that there is nothing in the film it, who would read it?" be; as skeptics point out, not everything that leads them ... to suspect a hoax." Though the Wilsons' encyclopedia isn't that is unsolved is necessarily paranormal. This is curious considering that Napier quite "solid masses of misstatements," they Confronted with the wide array of came to exactly the opposite conclusion do appear with alarming and puzzling reg­ subjects, I began with an entry on a in his book Bigfoot (1973): "[Tjhere is ularity. The book is riddled with errors topic I happen to be familiar with: little doubt that the scientific evidence and obfuscating omissions, betraying a Bigfoot. As I read, I found it hard to go taken collectively points to a hoax of bizarre disregard for accuracy. I'm not more than about half a page before some kind." attacking the book based on philosophy, stumbling over flawed facts. I'll present In other cases the authors seem bliss­ one may disagree with their approach and only three from the first few pages: fully unaware that their "unsolved" mys­ conclusions, but the Wilsons simply get • On page 67, the authors briefly dis­ teries have in fact been solved. Take basic facts wrong. One wonders how solid cuss the "Jacko" incident, in which a Bigfoot was allegedly captured in a A MAMMOTH ENCYCLOPEDIA Benjamin Radford is Managing Editor of British Columbia town in 1884. UNSOLVING MYSTERIES the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Information on the event came from a Continued on page 67

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Novembei/December 2001 63 NEW BOOKS

Listing does not preclude future review. Hardcover, $27. To celebrate the 25th and evolution (University of Tennessee), dis­ anniversary of the Committee for the cusses philosophical issues concerning the Arizona Myths, Fallacies, and Miscon­ Scientific Investigation of Claims of the way we can know and understand reality and ceptions: The Truth Behind Hundreds of Paranormal (CSICOP), founding chairman the complexities of die relationship between Common Misbeliefs about the Grand Paul Kurtz invited thirty-seven of the world's science and religion, all from the viewpoint Canyon State. John D. Neuner. First Leaf leading skeptics to write original essays or of a thoughtful, well-informed scientist who Publishing, 28248 N. Tatum Blvd., B-l, chapters. Some pieces are autobiographical; has journeyed from mild Catholicism to #607, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. 2001. ISBN others report on die current state of research agnosticism to atheism. He discusses cre­ 0-9669945-2-3. 128 pp. Softcover, $9.95. into paranormal and fringe-science claims. ationism and and provides accounts An entertaining book filled with short Five comprising the first section, "Twenty- of his debates with two of the major figures descriptions of myths, fallacies, misinforma­ Five Years of CSICOP," have appeared in the of so-called scientific creationism. He also tion, and urban legends about the plants, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER this year (the final two examines the search for the origins of life, for animals, people, places, politics, and weather in this issue) as pan of its observance of CSI­ extraterrestrial life, and chaos theory. of the state of Arizona. The author limits it COP and Si's 25th anniversary. The eleven to those that can be easily disproved, avoid­ odier sections are on parapsychology (Susan Turning Numbers into Knowledge: ing issues subject to personal opinion, reli­ Blackmore, Leon Jaroff, Barry Beyerstein), Mastering the Art of Problem Solving. gion, or the paranormal. UFOs (Philip J. Klass, Robert Sheaffer, Bill Jonathan G. Koomey. Analytics Press, P.O. Nye, Gary Posner), Astronomy and die Space Box 20313, Oakland, CA 94620-0313. Postmodern Pooh. Frederick Crews. Farrar, Age (David Morrison, Neil deGrasse Tyson), 2001. ISBN 0-9706019-0-5. 221 pp. Straus, and Giroux, 19 Union Square West, Astrology (Geoffrey Dean, Ivan Kelly, Jean- Hardcover, $34.95. A lively, well-written, New York, NY 10003. 2002. ISBN 0- Claude Pecker), Popular Investigations (Joe attractively packaged book on the art of crit­ 86547-626-8. 175 pp. Softcover, $22. A Nickell, Henry Gordon), Creationism ical thinking. Koomey, a staff scientist at sequel of sorts to Crews's surprise best-selling (Eugenie Scott), Alternative Medicine Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, parody of academic literary criticism of (Wallace Sampson), Skepticism Around the wrote die book as a guide for training ana­ lysts of all sorts in assessing the glut of infor­ thirty-seven years ago, The Pooh Perplex. World (Cornelis dc Jager, Jan Willem mation the modern world inflicts upon us. In Crews, emeritus professor of English at Nienhuys, Massimo Polidoro, Mario a variety of short chapters illustrated by car­ Berkeley and a CSICOP Fellow, here con­ Mendez-Acosta, Valerii Kuvakin, Sanal toons and original drawings (computer art by tributes a new satire in the same vein. Edamaruku, Luis Alfonso Garnez), Some Purporting to be the proceedings of a forum Tom Chen), Koomey shows how to use Personal Reflections (Vern Bullough, Michael on Pooh convened at a convention of the information, recognize the importance of Shermer, Steve Allen, Bela Scheiber), Religion Modern Language Association, Postmodern ideology, learn the art of story telling, and (Martin Gardner, Victor Stenger, Antony Pooh parodies the academic fads and figures distinguish between facts and values. Flew, David Thomas), and from Skepticism that hold sway at the millennium. These Koomey says there is an art to such analysis include deconstruction, poststructuralist to Humanism (Robert Baker). that isn't often taught at even the top univer­ Marxism, new historicism, radical feminism, sities, but knowing and using these practical cultural studies, recovered-memory theory, Tales of the Rational: Skeptical Essays "tricks of die trade" can make for success in and postcolonialism, among others. About Nature and Science. Massimo academia and business. Chapters of special Pigliucci. Freethought Press, an imprint of interest to SI readers include "The Power of Atlanta Freethought Society, P.O. Box Critical Thinking," "Question Authority," Skeptical Odysseys: Personal Accounts By the 813392, Smyrna, GA 30081-8392. 2000. "Don't Believe Everything You Read," and World's Leading Paranormal Inquirers. ISBN 1-887392-11-4. 255 pp. Softcover, "Use the Internet." Edited by Paul Kurtz. Prometheus Books, $17. A scientific and philosophical inquiry 59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst. NY 14228- into a variety of scientific and pseudoscien- 2197. 2001. ISBN 1-57392-884-4. 430 pp. tific claims. Pigliucci, a professor of ecology —Kendrick Frazier

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP. MANAGEMENT. AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) Date of filing: August 30, 2001. Title: The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Frequency of issue: Bi-monthly. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 3965 Rensch Road, Amherst, Erie County, NY 14228-2713. P.O. Box 703, Amherst, Erie County, NY 14226-0703. Publisher: CSICOP, Inc. (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), 3965 Rensch Road, Amherst, Erie County, NY 14228-2713. Editor: Kendrick Frazier, 944 Deer Drive NE. Albuquerque, NM 87122. Assistant Editor: Benjamin T. Radford, P.O. Box 703. Buffalo, NY 14226- 0703. Owner: CSICOP, Inc. (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), 3965 Rensch Road, Amherst, Erie County, NY 14228-2713. P.O. Box 703, Buffalo, Erie County, NY 14226-0703. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders: None. Aver, no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: A. Total no. copies (net press run) 51,539. B. Paid and/or requested circulation (1) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales 18,331 (2) Mail subscriptions 30,817. C. Total paid and/or requested circula­ tion (sum of B[1] and [2]) 49,148. D. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary, and other free) 784. E. Free distribution outside mail (by carrier or other means) 0. F. Total free distribution (sum of D and E) 806. G. Total distribution (sum of C and F) 49.933. H. Copies not dis­ tributed (1) Office use. left over, spoiled 1,606; (2) returns from news agents 0. Total (sum of G, H (1] and [2]) 51,539. Percent paid and/or requested circulation 98.42%. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest filing date: A. Total no. copies (net press run) 52,282. B. Paid and/or requested circulation (1) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales 17,015 (2) Mail subscriptions 33,108. C Total paid and/or requested circulation (sum of B[1) and [2)) 50,123. D. Free distribution by mail (samples, complimentary, and other free) 781. E. Free distribution outside mail (by carrier or other means) 0. F. Total free distribution (sum of D and E) 781. G. Total distribution (sum of C and F) 50,904. H. Copies not distributed (1) Office use, left over, spoiled 1,378; (2) returns from news agents 0. Total (sum of G, H [1] and [2D 52,282. Percent paid and/or requested circulation 98.46%.

64 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ARTICLES OF NOTE

Hines, Terence M. "The G-spot: A Pace University, Pleasantville, NY 10570- science? "Has reality simply become a mat­ Modern Gynecologic Myth." American 2799 or [email protected].) ter of taste?" Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 185: 359-62, August 2001. Since the concept of Garreau, Joel. "Science's Mything Links: Lilienfeld, Scon, Jeffrey M. Lohr, and the G-spot—an alleged specific anatomical As the Boundaries of Reality Expand, Our Dean Morier. "The Teaching of Courses and highly erogenous area in the human Thinking Seems to be Going Over the in the Science and Pseudoscience of vagina—first appeared in a popular book in Edge." Washington Post, July 23. 2001, pp. Psychology: Useful Resources." Teaching of 1982, the existence of the spot has become C01. By thinking creatively, scientists have Psychology, 28(3): 182-191, 2001. In an widely accepted, especially by the general made more discoveries in the past forty effort to curb pseudoscientific beliefs and public. A psychology professor here reviews years than in the past 5,000. But is it possi­ teach critical thinking among psychology the behavioral, biochemical, and anatomic ble, as Garreau proposes, "that we've undergraduate students, the authors provide evidence for the reality of the G-spot. He thought outside of the box so often that we "useful resources . . .ways of educating stu­ finds the widespread acceptance of the real­ forget why we ever..had a box at all—a dents about the differences between science ity of the G-spot "goes well beyond the avail­ reality model?" Seemingly respected scien­ and pseudoscience." Among the resources able evidence." He calls the G-spot "a sort of tists (from the late Carl Sagan to physics are a syllabus for related courses, a suggested gynecologic UFO: much searched for, much professor Ray Kurzweil) "arc finding it list of related texts and videos, and relevant discussed, but unverified by objective increasingly difficult to separate miracles, Web sites. means." (Hines says he will provide copies of magic, myths, and madness." Where do we the article to requesters: Psychology Dept., draw the line between science and pseudo- —Jodi Chapman and Kendrick Frazier SCIENCE S Top Ten Best Sellers in New York

Fire #J Cliffs Ap Biology Sebastian Junger ^P Phillip E. Pack W.W. Norton & Co. Hungry Minds, Inc.

Germs: Biological Weapons Three Roads to Quantum Gravity and America's Secret War Lee Smolin Judith Miller, et al. Basic Books Simon & Schuster Emergence: The Connected Mammoth: The Resurrection of 8 Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, 3 an Ice Age Giant and Software Richard Stone Steven Johnson Perseus Books Scribner

The Map that Changed The Secret Life of Dust: the World: From the Cosmos to the Kitchen William Smith and the Birth of Counter, the Big Consequences Modern Geology of Little Things

Simon Winchester Hannah Holmes HarperCollins John & Sons

The Best American Science & Living Terrors: What America Nature Writing 2001 10 Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe Burkhard Bilger, Edward O. Wilson (Editor) Michael T. Osterholm, John Schwartz Houghton Mifflin Co. Dell Publishing

By arrangement with Amazon.com, September 2001.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 65 FORUM

The Shield of the Open Mind

GARRETT G. FAGAN

ne of the most common appeals demands for proof and/or evidence are the Shield of the Open Mind allows a in pseudoscientific works is for nit-picking and rather irritating. For pseudoscicntist to argue about what con­ Othe reader to maintain an "open many believers, this is enough. They can stitutes evidence itself, the very stuff of mind" about the claims presented. turn away in all good conscience, shake rational argument. The open-minded Recendy, while taking part in discussions dieir heads at the skeptics' closed minds, readily promote speculations to the level on the Web page of prominent pseudo- and move on. of evidence. A classic example in historian Graham Hancock—who sells But for those believers who engage Hancock's arsenal is the argument from Atlantean fictions slightly repackaged for more closely in a debate with a skeptic, star alignments to "prove" the existence the modern age—I encountered the die Shield of the Open Mind offers of the Lost Civilization. This "method" effects of this appeal on those who sup­ deeper levels of protection. For the open proposes, for instance, that three of the port Hancock's "alternative history" of mind, no possibility is off the table. Any Egyptian pyramids at Giza align with the humankinds deep past (see www.gra- conceivable possibility can be proffered to three belt stars in the constellation Orion hamhancock.com/phorum). On this explain away a difficult objection or a as those stars lay in the sky in 10,500 site, CSICOP comes under heavy fire as body of countervailing data. It does not B.C., some 8,000 years before the pyra­ a conspiracy of academics out to sup­ matter that there is no evidence for the mids were built. The alignment can press "new" or "alternative" thinking, possibility, since requirements of evidence therefore be adduced as "evidence" for and I think it is fair to say that the atti­ are for the closed mind. When, for the Lost Civilization, which master- tudes of the faithful at this site share instance, it is pointed out to Hancock or planned the site in the remote past. many similarities with those who pro­ his followers that there is no pound the "truth" of astrology, UFOs, physical evidence ^ , psi factors, and other paranormal flim­ whatsoever for the flam off all sorts. In my encounters with 12,000-year-old Lost Si potest esse, the "open-minded" at Hancocks Web Civilization they are est. site I determined that, in reality, the proposing, they reply appeal to have an open mind functions that all the evidence I as a shield to insulate "alternative" beliefs could be under the sea. entirely from critical analysis. It does so They have no substantiation for this asser­ on several levels. tion, they are unconcerned by its inherent The first and most obvious level is implausibility (how likely is it that all the that believers, by virtue of having open pertinent evidence is under the sea?), and minds, classify their critics as having they do not mind that it contradicts other closed ones. The critics' assaults can parts of their case. therefore be readily dismissed as nar­ They claim, for instance, that one of rowly focused and mean-spirited. They the highest archaeological sites in the just can't see as far as the open-minded. world, Tiwanaku in Bolivia, which is They are mired in old and outmoded over 12,000 feet above sea level, was ways of thinking, married to narrow built by their Lost Civilization. visions of reality, and their endless Tiwanaku is not under the sea, nor could it have ever been. Never mind. For the Garrett Fagan is an assistant professor in open mind the mere possibility that the Department of Classics and Ancient most of the evidence lies unfound under 1VV1 •e' Mediterranean Studies, Pennsylvania the sea is a good enough. It is closed- State University, State College, PA minded to think otherwise. 16802-5500. [email protected]. Even when the argument runs deeper,

66 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER FORUM

But there are at least sixteen stars in the ancient builders? scientific community. It is analogous to Orion constellation; why "map" only three But such objections are deemed the appeal to maintain raw faith in reli­ with pyramids? There are over eighty pyra­ pedantic and small-minded. The classic gious doctrines, a faith that insulates mids in Egypt; why do no others map response is, "You have your evidence those doctrines from logical scrutiny. constellations? We have hundreds of other and 1 have mine." The Shield of the The pseudoscienrific appeal to "have an types of monuments from ancient Egypt Open Mind swings into action: what open mind" is really a call to abandon (cities, temples, tombs, palaces); why do constitutes evidence is a matter of opin­ one's critical faculties entirely, to con­ none of them "map" constellations, if such ion; one must keep an open mind on sider all possibilities as valid, to leave was the order of the day in siting Egyptian what to consider evidence. "open" what can be considered evidence architecture? We have abundant inscrip­ Finally, the Shield serves a sociologi­ in making a case, and to join the com­ tions from the Egyptians telling us about cal function. It helps bind the commu­ munity of the enlightened in the great their construction of monuments; why is nity of the open-minded together. They struggle against the narrow-minded aca­ there not a word in them about monu­ can congratulate themselves endlessly on demics and scientists. It is, in this mental star maps? Could the alignment their opcnmindedncss and circle the respect, a pernicious doctrine. As the with Orion's belt be coincidence? Could it wagons at the first sign of a skeptical saying goes, "By all means maintain an reflect the proponents' ability to discern attack. On this level, then, the Shield of open mind, but not so open that your patterns more than the intentions of the the Open Mind is the glue of a pseudo- brain falls out." \H

A MAMMOTH ENCYCLOPEDIA one of the most interesting scientific nobotanist-cww-zombie researcher Wade UNSOLVING MYSTERIES enigmas of our time." While the Davis). If the Wilsons can't even bother from page 63 Wilsons attack well-researched books to get names spelled correcdy, it's not a like Kusche's, they admit that one of the good sign for the rest of their scholarship. chapter 14, "The Dogon and the most popular and seminal books on the I could go on for pages with examples Ancient Astronauts," for example. This topic, Charles Berlitz's The Bermuda such as these, but, like de Camp, I have : : "C:.:,.- _..„,„-." U..,. I—„ pvnlai—•> —I T_; /- :- "l„... (tularin n— c — " ncitucr tiiC Lirnc, space, nor inclination to vlntfe, i> . • IIOJ iJvv.ii ••! .11 aiiu it MiltjfK,) 13 lv»W Oil avilvllcU i. LJl W131W11. debunked not only in several SKEPTICAL Skeptics are acknowledged, with the do so. Both the authors and the publish­ INQUIRER articles (see, for example, Committee for the Scientific Investi­ ers should be embarrassed at letting so "Dogon and the Dog Star" 4[2] 112; gation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSI­ many errors through—especially in a "The Dogon People Revisited" 20 COP) mentioned over the course of six supposed reference book such as an ency­ [6]39—42) but even in the somewhat less introductory pages. CSICOP is described clopedia (the spine quaintly categorizes skeptical Fortean Times (140, 30-31). as "a defensive league" of American scien­ the book as "history"). There are no ref­ Even the old Bermuda Triangle "mys­ tists whose "basic aim is to argue that the erences given—obviously because by pro­ tery" is rehashed, along with the disap­ 'paranormal' does not exist, and is an viding them anyone could easily see just pearance of Flight 19. Though the invention of 'cranks' and 'pseudos.'" This how shoddy their research is. Wilsons have (presumably) read skepti­ (mischaracterized) position is described One possible explanation for the poor cal books on the topic, they repeat many as untenable and a kind of "wilful blind­ quality of the book is that it is simply out errors, including that the doomed Flight ness." (The "wilful blindness" statement of date and the Wilsons only occasionally 19 pilots said, "Everything is wrong. . . . is particularly ironic.) The authors attack bothered to update cases or correct previ­ Even the ocean doesn't look as it skepticism as dogmatic, and state that "A ous errors. Indeed, the authors' preface should." (Larry Kusche, author of The century ago, Darwin's theory of evolution states that "this book contains most of Bermuda Triangle Mystery—Solved, by natural selection was regarded as sci­ the chapters" from two earlier works. studied transcripts of the pilots' trans­ entifically unshakable; today, most biolo­ They mention this to explain to the lay mission and notes, "The strange quota­ gists have their reservations about it" reader why there is some overlap and rep­ tions attributed to the pilots...do not (p. 4). As usual, the basis for this etition between chapters, but that "read­ appear in the Navy report. . ." [p. 126].) astounding (and inaccurate) claim is not ers who read this book piecemeal will The Wilsons take a swipe at writers revealed. The Wilsons go on to write that probably not notice them anyway." Yet such as Kusche, writing, "the 'simplistic' "the views of CSICOP should be treated repetition is the least of the readers' prob­ explanations of the problem— all those with suspicion." lems; it's the incorrect facts and mislead­ books explaining that the mystery ... is The gaffes go on. Throughout the ing conclusions the reader should be a journalistic invention—are not only book, they repeatedly misspell their wary of. And, sadly, most lay readers superficial but dangerous. They discour­ sources' names (for example British neu­ probably won't have the background to age the investigation of what could be rologist John Lorber and Canadian eth- know how unreliable the book is. •

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 67 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Veterinary Medical illiterate judges and juries" and Faigman hubris, and not very scientific, to conclude reports "fewer than 10 percent of all students that truth rests with the general consensus of Nonsense attending law school have undergraduate any group, even scientists. degrees that require substantial math and sci­ What is argued in the Dodes article, As a veterinarian, I have always been proud ence training." The U.S. Supreme Court however, reveals a basic misunderstanding of of the fact that the coursework required for lacks an appreciation of the importance of the legal process and is more profound than graduation from accredited veterinary col­ scientific method. As a result, empirical the criticism of Daubert. The claim is that as leges is one of the most rigorous and scien­ research has not been used with consistency people untrained in technical fields, judges tifically rooted curricula in all of academia. or sophistication by the Court. are misled by unscrupulous lawyers and It amazes me that some of my colleagues The picture is no brighter with respect to charlatan "scientists" into accepting junk sci­ ! ihank God a very small percentage!) chose Congress. Although Faigman says that there ence into the courtroom. The system, how­ to turn off their critical thinking caps and have been no general studies of the legislative ever, is an adversarial one. The scrupulous accept some of the alternative medicine hog- use of science, the fact that fewer than one lawyer and the real scientist are supposed to wash that is rampant in our culture percent of the members of Congress have be able to make the judge see what is junk ("Confronting Veterinary Medical Non­ any significant training in science is cause for and what isn't so diat only "good" science is sense," July/August 2001). They should be concern. Furthermore, according to admitted into evidence. ashamed of themselves for preying on the Faigman, Congress exhibits a shocking lack So what is the problem? I am afraid it is naive and gullible and for tainting our won­ of interest about science, as illustrated by its the hubris which Dodes's article itself exudes. derful profession. decision to abolish the Office of Technology I often need the expert witness services of Keep up the good work. Dr. Imrie. Assessment. engineers and geologists and the occasional Michael D. Cross, D.V.M In contrast to the courts and Congress, archaeologist or biologist in my practice. I Flint, Michigan the real instruments of science policy are the try to hire people who are in universities or agencies of the executive branch. They do well-regarded consulting firms with peer- the real work of formulating and imple­ reviewed publications under their belt who menting science policy. are not, and cannot be attacked as, fringe P.A. Lamal nuts. Most lawyers in my experience do the Charlotte, North Carolina same within the constraints of their budgets. What 1 too often find arc people who rely upon their credentials as a basis for opinion I was very much taken aback by John and explanatory authority and not their Dodes's "Junk Science and the Law." As a brains. You want to lose an argument, tell trial lawyer, former outstanding member of people you're right because you have an the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, and advanced degree, you've studied the prob­ author of a published book on evidence, I lem, and you're right about it. That's not an too am troubled by the Daubers rule, which explanation, it's not persuasive, and it won't Robert Imrie's excellent article, "Confronting at least in federal courts makes the judge the keep the junk out of court. Veterinary Medical Nonsense," and die car­ gatekeeper on the reliability of scientific and The good expert witness who should and toon illustrating it, inspired me to verse: technical evidence. The Daubert rule does triumph—and who along with a mildly replaces the Frye rule, which required that They Met at the Vet attentive lawyer can and does keep junk out before scientific or technical evidence was of court—is the one who can explain a com­ I'd like to know admissible it had to be generally accepted in plex problem in a reasonable and intelligent At what juncture the relevant scientific or technical commu­ manner without talking down to anyone. nity. The article portrays lawyers, and those The porcupine fell in love The good expert doesn't think everyone else lawyers who are also judges, as scientific illit­ With the dog having acupuncture. is illiterate. The good expert makes sense in erates who often allow junk into the court English. The good expert arms the attorney John W. Hill because they don't understand the real sci­ with the questions needed to destroy the River Falls, ence. It is a very cheap shot and puts the blame on the wrong part of the equation. charlatan. The good lawyer knows how to move in advance of trial to exclude the junk. Junk Science and the Law Let me start with the now-defunct Frye My favorite example of this was a Ph.D. pri­ rule. General acceptance in the relevant sci­ vate consulting geologist, who calmly As an addendum to John E. Dodes's impor­ entific or technical community is no guaran­ pointed out at a pre-trial evidentiary hearing tant article ("Junk Science and the Law," tee of scientific accuracy. When I was an why the theory of the "expert" hired by a July/August 2001) I recommend David L. undergraduate studying geology die gener­ landowner whose land was next to a munic­ Faigman's Legal Alchemy: The Use and Misuse ally accepted position of the scientific com­ ipal water well field was wrong. He simply of Science in the Law (1999, WH. Freeman). munity was that the continents did not told the judge that for the "expert" on the Faigman considers die pernicious effects of move. Those who thought the continents other side to be right, water would have to scientific illiteracy in our court system. moved were on the fringe, and the opinions naturally flow uphill. He then explained in Congress, and the executive branch. He also ot those who relied on a belief in continental nontechnical English the nonsense of the describes barriers to the use of science in drift to explain their conclusions would not other theory. The other theory stayed out. have been admissible in court. It is merely legal contexts. Dodes refers to "scientifically It is the job of the lawyer to prepare the

68 Novembst/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

witness. In technical matters it is the job of John E. Dodes replies: today. This may seem like an impossible the scientist or engineer to make sense, and dream, but it is certainly no more improbable not dismiss the rest of the world as unwashed Thanks to Peter Lamal for recommending than my freedom to write this letter would illiterates. The attitude that scientists have the David Faigman's hook. Although I haven't have seemed to a skeptic burning at the stake answers is always one that needs to be tested. read it yet, it appears to strongly support my a mere 500 years ago. Courts test the ability of an argument to article. Professor Dutch is correct in noting that stand up. Technical people too often seem our legal system has been used by both conserv­ Bruce L. Flamm, M.D. distant, effete, imperious, and even pompous. atives and liberals for political advantage. Ivan Riverside, California Such people do not persuade. Webber is also troubled by the "gatekeeper" I fear my comments are merely reflective responsibilities the Daubert rule places on of a larger problem continuously discussed judges yet he places the blame for unscientific Gardner on Karl Popper in these pages. Junk science doesn't just verdicts on bad experts who rely on their cre­ appear in the courtroom. It permeates the dentials rather than persuasive arguments. 1 Martin Gardner's attack on Karl Popper's newspapers and the popular culture. disagree. The examples cited in my article and work in the philosophy of science Rationalism needs to make its case better. in the letters by Lamal and Dutch clearly illus­ (July/August 2001) neglects to mention The complaint about the Frye rule is merely trate how judges have abrogated their responsi­ Popper's singular contribution to the philoso­ a symptomatic example of one more place bilities to vet prospective experts. I also am phy of science and its relationship to the rational people need to make a better case. firmly convinced that most lawyers are unable ongoing work of the . It to argue effectively against an unscientific state­ is true that Popper's ideas on induction (and Ivan T. Webber ment and juries are unable to understand crit­ probability and quantum mechanics as well) West Des Moines, Iowa ical facts when they haven't been trained in sci­ have fallen out of favor within the discipline entific methods or instructed by judges on how of the philosophy of science. But Popper, to interpret conflicting expert testimonies. more than any other philosopher of science John Dodes's article demonstrates graphi­ in the twentieth century, argued that the pri­ I am gratified that my article has led to a cally the need for drastic tort reform in this mary task of the philosophy of science was to constructive dialog on junk science and the law. country. Although opponents of tort reform draw the line between science and pseudo- claim that it would benefit powerful interests science. This he called "the problem of at the expense of the individual, Dodes cites demarcation." No one before Popper charac­ a number of cases where the tort system has A Bright Future for terized the philosophy of science in this way, been used by the powerful to silence dissent Planet Earth? and one point of friction between Popper and or criticism. One case Dodes didn't mention Carnap (not mentioned by Gardner) involved Carnap's sympathy for alleged posi­ was that of a company, that, for a fee, would Few people in the world deserve more tive results in parapsychology that Popper name a star after someone. Such a practice is respect and admiration than CSICOP legal, of course, but has no official status. dismissed as incredible. The SKEPTICAL founder Paul Kurtz. My only gripe is that he The company used the threat of a lawsuit to INQUIRER is an odd place for an attack on a paints too bleak a view of the future. He force a planetarium to stop discussing star philosopher who in some ways wrote the concludes his otherwise outstanding essay, naming in its lectures and even to remove all charter for modern skepticism, or, in "A Quarter Century of Skeptical Inquiry" references from its Web site. Popper's language, critical rationalism. (July/August 2001), with capitulatory state­ Although Dodes criticizes Justice Scalia ments like, "Given the massive cultural fixa­ for supporting creationism, most of the tion on the spiritual-paranormal outlook, Douglas Lackey examples he cites in his article are causes perhaps the most that skeptical inquirers can Department of Philosophy backed by liberal activists, such as harass­ hope for is that we can lessen the excessive Baruch College, CUNY ment by alternative medical care practition­ follies of its proponents." ers. To those cases we can add the shameful What an utterly despondent view of the behavior of environmentalists and native future! This is certainly not the most that I In attacking Karl Popper's concept of falsifi­ rights activists in opposing observatories on can hope for. No doubt other skeptics share cation, Martin Gardner may very well be Mauna Kea in and Mount Graham my optimistic outlook. Throughout history right in saying that in practice scientists seek in Arizona, and the suits that tried to halt the mystics have inflicted horrendous punish­ by induction to verify, not falsify their theo­ Ulysses and Cassini space probes because ment upon those who dared to question ries, but even if correct, that does not deny they used radioactive power sources. Clearly their authority. Skeptics who refused to entirely the importance of the idea. For it anti-intellectualism from the left is at least as believed in miracles and supernatural realms would seem that what Popper was after was dangerous as that from the right. Crea­ a test for what made a statement or theory tionists may have a lot of grassroots support, have been tortured and burned for centuries. scientific prior to any actual research. but they won't succeed in palming them­ But evolution inarches on and rational Carnap and the logical positivists had selves off as intellectually respectable the way thinking has at last become acceptable in observatory opponents and alternative med­ some places on planet Earth. In many nations done us all a great service by distinguishing icine advocates have. those of us who do not believe in ghosts are meaningful from nonsense statements in finally free to speak our minds. Yes, there will terms of verification—possible for the former Steven I. Dutch always be mystics and the world won't change and not so for the latter. Thus did they right­ Professor, Natural and Applied Sciences overnight but I believe the day will come fully dismiss a lot of philosophic and religious University of Wisconsin-Green Bay when rational-minded thinkers will be as easy gibberish as making no sense. Popper's point, Green Bay, Wisconsin to find as preachers and fortunetellers are however, was that verification could not

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 69 study weird things. Trocco J Why would people not believe weird things?. Anderson I Starkle, starkle. lit­ FILL IN THE GAPS IN YOUR tle twink, Hayes I Of planets and cognitions: The use of deductive inference in the natural sciences and psy­ chology, Schlinger Jr. I What's going on at Temple Skeptical Inquirer COLLECTION University?, Gardner. JULY/AUGUST 1998 (vol. 22, no. 4): Special Report Mars • 15% discount on orders of $100 or more • Global Surveyor photographs 'Face on Mars', Morrison I Magnetic therapy: Plausible attraction, Livingston I • $6.25 a copy, Vols. 1-18 ($5.00 Vols. 19-22). To order, use reply card insert • Biomagnetk pseudoscience and nonsense claims. Sabadellf Catching up with eighteenth century science in the evalua­ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001 (vol. 25, no. 5): Special Issue: prayer, Tessman and Tessman I Can we tell if someone tion of therapeutic touch. Ball and Alexander I Paranormal Science and Religion 2001. Holy wars, Tyson I The dan­ is staring at us?. Baker I Assessing the quality of med­ depictions in the media: How do they affect what people gerous quest for cooperation between science and reli­ ical Web sites. Levi I The demon-haunted sentence, believe?, Sparks I Planting a seed of doubt Shneourl Essiac gion, Pandian I Design yes, intelligent no, Pigliucci I A Byrne and Normand I Mad messiahs. Gardner. The not-so-remarkable cancer remedy, McCutcheon / Near- way of life for agnostics?. Lovelock I Science, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2000 (vol. 24, no. 1): Special Earth objects: Monsters of Doom?, Gardner. religion, and the Galileo affair. Moy I The god of falling Report: The ten outstanding skeptics of the twentieth MAY/JUNE 1998 (vol. 22. no. 3): Special Section: The bodies, Stenger I The relationship between paranormal century/Two para norma I isms or two and a half?. Goode Aliens Files. Abduction by aliens or sleep paralysis?, beliefs and religious beliefs. Sparks I Science and I . Polidoro I The pseudoscience of oxygen Blackmore I Before Roswell: The meaning behind religion in an impersonal universe. Young / Arthur C. therapy, AWen / Confessions of a (former) graphologist. the crashed-UFO myth. Bartholomew I Case closed: Clarke's 'Credo.' Clarke IA designer universe?. Weinberg Second Coming of Jesus. Gardner. Reflections or the 1997 A,r Force Roswell report. I An evolutionary-genetic wager, Avise I NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1999 (vol. 23. Gildenberg at d Thomas / G ay B rker: My friend. Shroud of Turin scandals. Nkkell I no. 6): The Universe and Carl Sagan. the myth-maker, Sherwood / A skept C li ring in Multiverses and blackberries, Gardner. Davidson I The millennium thought Roswell, Chur chill 1 Zero -po nt en ergy and Harold Puthoff. Gard JULY/AUGUST 2001 (vol. 25. no. 4) contagion, lynch / Debunking the Confronting veterinary medical non­ debunkers: A response to astrology. MARCH/APRIL 1998 (vol 22. no. 2): Special Report: sense, Imrie I Junk science and the law, Kelly I The physics behind four amaz­ The price of bad menu es. tortus / Science, delusion, Dodes I Chevreul's report on the mysteri­ ing demonstrations. Willey I Another and the appetite for onder. Dawkins I A mirn d at ous oscillations of the hand-held pendu­ lunar effect put to n •st, Sweet I Spec play: An interview with Martin Gardner, Frazier I lum, Spitz and Marcuard I CSICOP 25th Report: Blooming shroud claims Houdini and Conan Doyle: The story of a strange Anniversary section: A quarter-century Nickell I The sta of Bethlehem friendship, Polidoro I Spontaneous human combus­ of skeptical inquiry, Paul Kurtz I Gardner. tion: Thoughts of a forensic biologist. Benecke I Did Thoughts on science and skepticism in SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999 (vol. 23. no. Adam and Eve have navels?, Gardner. the twenty-first century, Kendrick Frazier 5): Special Report: Flash I Fox news JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1998 (vol. 22, no. 1): Testing new I Proper criticism. Ray Hyman I The reports aliens may have built the pyra­ claims of dermo-optical perception. Benski and CRSSA lighter side of skepticism, Pudim /A skep­ mids. Carrier I Where do we come Scientists I Magnetic water and fuel treatment Powell I tical look at Karl Popper. Gardner. from?. Pigliucci I Profits and prophecy. the Rollrights. Hancock I Anomalous gold, Brower I Open minds and the argument from ignorance, MAY/JUNE 2001 (vol. 25. no. 3): The Wise I Projective measures of personality Adler I 200% probability and beyond: The compelling shrinking filedrawer. Stokes I The Pokemon Panic of 1997. and psychopathology: How well do they work?. nature of extraordinary claims in the absence of alterna­ Radford I The Antinous Prophecies. Pickover I Common Lilienfeld I What every skeptic ought to know about tive explanations. McDonald I Psychic exploitation, myths of children's behavior. Fiorello I Bertrand Russell subliminal persuasion. Epley, Savitsky, and Kachelski I Wiseman and Greening I Is cannibalism a myth?, Gardner. and critical receptiveness. Hare I CSICOP 25th Anniversary Carlos Castaneda and New Age anthropology, Gardner section: From the editor's seat: 25 years of science and JULY/AUGUST 1999 (vol. 23, no. 4): Special Issue: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1997 (vol. 21, no. 6): The Mars skepticism, Kendrick Frazier I Science vs. pseudoscience, Science and Religion. Conflict or Conciliation? effect in retrospect, Nienhuys I Hidden messages and nonscience. and nonsense. James Akock I CSICOP timeline Celebrating creation, flaymo / Should skeptical inquiry the Bible code. Thomas / Science, scientism, and anti- / Primal scream: A persistent New Age therapy, Gardner. be applied to religion?. Kurtz I The 'Science and science in the age of preposterism, Haack I The MARCH/APRIL 2001 (vol. 25. no. 2): Darwin in mind. Religion' movement, Scott I Science and the versus of Elemental Man: An interview with Glenn T. Seaborg / Edis I A bit confused, Roche / What can the paranor­ religion. Palevitz I Science vs. religion. Pazameta I Men in Black and Contact Night and day, Summer I mal teach us about consciousness?, Blackmore I Anthropic design. Stenger / Scientific skeptiicism . CSI- Intelligent design and Phillip Johnson, Gardner. Spontaneous human confabulation, Nienhuys I Italy's COP, and the local groups. AtoveWa and Bk \omberg I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1997 (vol. 21, no. 5): Special Issue: version of Harry Houdini, Nisbet IA psychological case Two mind-sets, Allen / God is dead, after thi ? weather Alternative Medicine in a Scientific World. Park, of 'demon' and 'alien' visitation. Reisner I Distant and sports, Reiss / Whence religious belief' '. Pinker I Beyerstein, Sampson, Green, Goodonough. McCutcheon healing and Elizabeth Targ. Gardner. Non-overlapping magisteria. Gould I You car i't have it /The Numerology of Dr. Rashad Khalifa, Gardner. both ways: Irreconcilable differences?. Dawkins I The JANUARY/FE8RUARY 2001 (vol. 25. no. 1): Special concerns of science, Mayr I The religious views of JULY/AUGUST 1997 (vol. 21, no. 4): Special Report: Section: Issues in Alternative Medicira : Medicine wars, Stephen Gould and Charles Darwin. Gardner. Heaven's Gate. Kurtz, Gardner, Nickell I What really Seidman I Herbal medicines and diet ry supplements, happened at Roswell, Korff I Amazing free-energy MAY/JUNE 1999 (vol. 23, no. 3): Special Section: Urban Allen I Psychoactive herbal medicati< is. Spinella I claims of Dennis Lee, Krieg I legends. The snuff film. Stine I Bitter har­ Chiropractic, Homola I Damaged good • Science and Chiropractic: Science, antiscience, pseu­ vest: The organ-snatching urban leg­ doscience, Keating I Secrets of a Russian child sexual abuse, Hagen I Speci Report: Science ends, Radford I Bigfoot's screen test. psychic, Polidoro. indicators 2000 / Facilitated commi ation. Gardner. Daegling and Schmitt I Tracking Bigfoot NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2000 (vol. 24. no. 6): The face on the Internet, Zuefle I Statement MAY/JUNE 1997 (vol. 21, no. 3): Is the behind the Face on Mars. Posner I The new paranatural analysis. Shearer I NAGPRA. science, and sky falling?, Morrison I Collective delu­ sions: A skeptic's guide, Bartholomew I paradigm, Kurtz I Francis Bacon and the true ends of the demon-haunted world, Clark I Urine therapy. Gardner. Scientific reasoning and achievement in skepticism. Friedberg I Worlds in collision: Where reality a high school English course, Krai I meets the paranormal. Radford I Why bad beliefs don't MARCH/APRIL 1999 (vol. 23. no. 2): Skepticism and politics. Fagin I Courtney die. Lester I Supernatural power and cultural evolution, Special Report: The ten-percent myth. Brown's 'Cosmic Voyage' into preposter- Layng I The brutality of Dr. Bettelheim, Gardner. Radford I Superstition anc the regres- ism, Gardner. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2000 (vol. 24. no. 5): Voodoo sion effect. Kruger, Savitsky, andGilovich science and the belief gene, Park I Rogerian Nursing I Psychology of the seanci >, Wiseman I MARCH/APRIL 1997 (vol. 21. no. 2): The Theory. Raskin / Sun sign columns, Dean and Mather I Dowsing and archaeology. van Leusen I darkened cosmos: A tribute to Carl Sagan / Hale-Bopp comet madness plus An The psychic staring effect Marks and Colwell I Hidden messages in DNA? Larhammar astronomers personal statement on Management of positive and negative responses in a I real Chief and Chatzidimitriou I Thi UFOs. Hale I Biases of everyday judgment Gilovich /The spiritualist medium con: iltation. Greasley I The laws Seattle was not a spiritual ecologiscologist AbruzziAbru. I Jo end of science?, Schick / The Book of Predictions: 15 of nature: A skeptic's guide. Pazameta I Special pain and weather. Quick I Acupressureupressure, zonzome therapy, years later. Tuerkheimer and Vyse I Farrakhan, Cabala. Report: On ear cones and candles. Kaushall and and reflexology, Gardner. 8aha'i. and 19. Gardner. Kaushalll Little Red Ridi ng Hood. Gardner. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1999 (vol. 23, no. 1): Special JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1997 (vol. 21, no. 1): The X-Files Report: Armageddon and the of doomsday. JULY/AUGUST 2000 (vol. 24. no. 4): Thought Field meets the skeptics: Chris Carter takes questions / The sig­ Therapy: Can we really tap our problems away?. Fears of the apocalypse. Kurtz I The Bible and the nificance of the millennium, /.oevinger/Quantum quack­ Gaudiano and Herbert I Absolute skepticism equals prophets of doom, Larue I Science and pseudoscience ery. Stenger I The mysterious placebo, Dodes / Bias and dogmatism, Bunge I Did a of the third in Russia, Kapitza I Testing dowsing: The failure of the kind occur on a Japanese beach in 18037, Tanaka I Munich experiments, Enright IA fallibilist among the Error in children's books, Wiseman and Jeffreys I Jean Rethinking the dancing mania. Bartholomew I Has sci­ cynics, Haack / The internet: A world brain?. Gardner. Houston: Guru of human potential, Gardner. ence education become an enemy of scientific ratio­ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996 (vol. 20, no. 6): A strat­ nality?, f de / Krakatene: Explosive pseudoscience from NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1998 (vol. 22, no. 6): Gaps in egy for saving science, Lederman I That's entertain­ the Czech Academy of science. Slanina I David Bohm the fossil record: A case study. Thomas I The Martian ment! TV's UFO coverup. Klass I Scientific consensus and Krishnamurti, Gardner. Panic sixty years later Bartholomew I The perils of post- and expert testimony. Moore I The Dogon people hockery, Ruscio I May the force be with you, Krauss I revisited. Ortiz de Montellano I Cosmic menagerie. MAY/JUNE 2000 (vol. 24. no. 3): Special Report: The The Mead-Freeman controversy: A fresh look: Much Tyson / Physicist Alan Sokal's hilarious hoax, Gardner. new bogus MJ-12 documents. Ktass I Mass delusions ado about nothing The 'Fateful Hoaxing' of Margaret and hysterias of the past millennium. Bartholomew Mead, Cote I Margaret Mead, Derek Freeman, and the SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1996 (vol 20, no 5): Shades of and Goode / Doomsday fears at RHIC. Guiterrez I Save issue of evolution. Shankman I Second World Skeptics meaning: Science fiction as a new metric Stewart I The first World Skeptics Congress / Traditional medicine and our science: The struggle for rationality at a French Congress: Science and reason, foibles and fallacies, and pseudoscience in China, part 2. Beyerstein and Sampson university, flroch / Paraneuroscience?. Kirkland I doomsdays / Science and the unknowable, Gardner. Bohm's guided wave theory. Gardner. I Conspiracy theories and paranoia. Harrington I Isaac SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1998 (vol. 22. no. 5): Special Newton, Gardner. MARCH/APRIL 2000 (vol. 24, no. 2): Risky business: Section: What are the chances?. Coincidences: Vividness, availability, and the media paradox. Ruscio I Remarkable or random?, Martin I Numerology: Comes for a complete listing of our back issues, call 800-634- Physics and the paranormal, 't Hooft / Efficacy of the revolution. Dudley I Calculated risks. Cole I How to 1610, or see http://www.cskop.org/si/back-issues.html. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

suffice to distinguish true science from pseu- detract from Gardner's portrait of him as a The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. doscience—something that readers of and rather reprehensible individual. I do, how­ J. David Archibald writers for SKEPTICAL INQUIRER are interested ever, find fault with his sometimes carica- Professor of Biology and intent on doing. turized portrayal of Popper's views of sci­ and Curator of That some theory could be verified was ence and his adhominem attacks. San Diego State University not good enough a justification to distinguish Gardner asserts that unnamed critics of San Diego, California the two, since many had no Popper "insist that 'corroboration' is a form trouble discovering or claiming to have dis­ of induction, and that Popper simply covered limitless examples confirming their sneaked induction through the back door Whilst Gardner's article is true widi regard to theories. What they could not or did not do by giving it a few name." This is not what I, Popper's egotism and other human shortcom­ was formulate hypotheses that laid down the and I am certain most fledgling scientists, ings, I feel that it misses the point about the conditions under which the theories might be learned about these two concepts many years ago. Induction, as most dictionaries "falsification" theory expressed in Logik der falsified. The leading example Popper cites in Forschung, Conjectures and Refutations, and explaining his theory is not any nonsense the­ note, is the process of reasoning or drawing a conclusion from particular facts. In this elsewhere. The point is that Popper is not so ory out of religion or metaphysics, which mode of reasoning it is argued that we much expressing a descriptive or even norma­ those pointing to the superiority of verifica­ gather facts to arrive at general principles. tive view of science as a discipline but rather tion might do, but to a pseudoscience like It's opposite is deduction, where we de­ constructing a theory which can be used to Freudian psychoanalysis. His point was that duce the specific from the general. differentiate it from non- or pseudoscience. Freud had no difficulty glibly finding confir­ Corroboration is the attempt to strengthen In this view, science is not something that mation of his theories everywhere he looked, or confirm some given premise. Both progresses through falsification or contradic­ but Freud never indicated what evidence induction and corroboration "gather facts" tion (a Hegelian idea) but that instances of would refute, falsify, or disconfirm his theo­ but for two different ends. In the first scientific propositions arc in pxluCi pic" fal- ries. His theories were therefore not nonsensi­ instance, facts are simply gathered with no sifiablc. The scientific proposition "water cal, but pseudoscientific (as was much of particular regard to a general premise, while boils at such and such a temperature ..." is classical psychology).... in the second case facts are gathered within obviously discovered inductively, but we Finally, even if Karl Popper were the the context of an existing theory. For too would know what type of observation and nasty man Martin Gardner says he was, that much of the public, scientists are viewed as thus proposition would refute it. Science is no discredit to his theory any more than scions of objective truth toiling away in labs then is open to refutation and falsification. Heisenberg's Nazi affiliations discredit his gathering facts trying to find the explana­ In general Popper would've said that if a sci­ scientific work. Newton, I understand, was tion for it all. Gardner's confounding of entist presented with an ooservationai, not such a good sort either. Moreover, even induction and corroboration only serves to experimental falsification of a theory tried to if Popper's ideas are merely another expres­ help perpetuate this myth of science. argue some rationalization or "work-around" sion of logical positivism, anything that gives to explain it away, then he or she has ceased publicity to that philosophy I would think is What Popper argued and what is clear to doing science proper and is now doing some­ thing quite different. all to the good, yet I still think Popper had scientists who think about such things is that major advances in science do come through some additional points to make that should It is diis, in his view, which distinguishes a process of struggle when newer theories not be entirely dismissed. science proper from some metaphysics compete and often overthrow the old. This is (although speculative metaphysics is necessary Harry White the process of falsification that Gardner mis­ to science) and pseudoscience and religion represents. Most scientists are about the Chicago, Illinois generally. Every skeptic reading this is aware business of corroboration. It is when too that whenever they present counter arguments many exceptions accumulate that we begin to believers about any number of "nutty" to doubt an existing theory, which may even­ I heard of Karl Popper's death in 1994 while ideas, they try to rationalize or get round them tually be discarded. On rare occasions we leading a paleontological expedition in the by offering even "nuttier" theories. ... may actually have competing theories, one of Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan. I was lying in which we might be able to reject (falsify) if The falsification theories are then not a my tent and heard the news on my short-wave we are lucky. It is usually a messier process description of how science works, nor are radio from the BBC World Service. I remem­ than Popper's famous black crow/white crow they recommendations as to how science ber commenting to my colleagues the next analogy cited by Gardner. Nevertheless, should work. They are simply a benchmark morning how Popper along with Kuhn had Popper's ideas (and I would add Kuhn's too) against which claims can be judged to be sci­ had the most influence in the past fifty years were far more right than wrong in arguing entific or not. on scientists' own view of how science is done. that theories are eventually replaced when While I do not know if Martin Gardner's too many exceptions to an existing theory Richard Noon claim that Popper's "followers among philoso­ are found that can be better explained by a Ely, Cambridgeshire, England phers of science are a diminishing minority," I new theory. do know from my own experience that the Popperian view of scientific inquiry remains in Popper's reputation as one of the last cen­ I have always been enjoying not only "Notes high regard among scientists. turies greatest philosophers of science remains of a Fringe-Watcher" but also many essays In reading Gardner's article 1 was struck intact. Adding to Gardner's listings, two of the and, of course, "Mathematical Games" by more than once by a sense of jealousy best books on how science is done are Martin Gardner. His Fads and Fallacies in the toward Karl Popper's success. I know little Popper's 1959 (reprinted., 1992) The Logic of Name of Science and The Ambidextrous of Karl Popper as a man, so I cannot add or Scientific Discovery and Kuhn's (3rd cd., 1996) Universe (both original and new) taught me

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 71 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

joy of thinking in my youth. sense, why are so many science teachers Popper's ratification principle irrelevant, And now I also enjoyed "A Skeptical Look apparently unaware of it? and his coloring of the issues with commen­ at Karl Popper." Certainly every falsification Finally, Popper may not have been the tary on Popper's reputed character flaws of a conjecture is simultaneously a confirma­ first to call attention to the problem of what shabby. Having once spoken with Popper, I tion of an opposite conjecture, and every con­ we now call "," but he have a very different impression of the man. firming instance of conjecture is falsification hammered home the idea that finding con­ Despite Gardner and other critics, I am of an opposite conjecture. And induction is firming evidence for almost any theory is like confident that history will remember Karl just too firmly embedded in the way philoso­ shooting fish in a barrel. We see evidence for Popper as one of the greatest minds of the phers of science and ordinary people talk and this every day as more and more people call­ twentieth century. think. Surely, dropped objects will fall, and ing diemselves scientists publish their find­ Frederick Cichocki water will freeze and boil. ings that show that prayer heals, that reli­ Boca Raton, Florida But I think Popper may have wanted to gious people live longer, that the universe is find out criteria of demarcation between sci­ only a few thousand years old and has a Martin Gardner replies: ence and such pseudosciences as astrology designer, that monkeys communicate tele- and Freudian psychoanalysis. Astrologers pathically, that takionic beads improve one's Because there is so little space for commenting athletic ability, that magnets relieve pain, and psychoanalysts assert or claim that they on so many letters, I will limit my remarks to have enough evidence, experiences, or and that such things as chiropractic, natur­ Harry White's main point, fie chides me for proofs, although they are not evidence nor opathy, and dowsing "work." We need more not mentioning Poppers claim that a theory proofs in their strict/scientific sense. Popper Gardners to expose this rubbish, but we also has no cognitive content unless it can be falsi­ may have exterminated some beneficial need more Poppers to inspire us to think fied, and that this provides a useful basis for insects together with harmful ones. deeply about the nature of scientific investi­ demarcating good from bad science. gation, knowledge, and education. Motofumi Kuze I omitted this aspect of Popper's philosophy Tochigi, Bob Carroll of science because the idea was not new. It was Davis, California advanced by earlier thinkers, notably William Whewell and Charles Peirce. Popper's favorite Martin Gardner's attack on Karl Popper as example of a theory that cannot be falsified was an overrated philosopher is more likely to I am incensed by Martin Gardner's unjust Freudian analysis. This is surely wrong. Adolf Grunbaum, in The Foundations of Psycho­ diminish Gardners reputation as a fair- attack on Sir Karl Popper. analysis (1984) shows clearly that psycho­ minded, thorough investigator than to How can one critique Popper's philoso­ analysis not only can be falsified but that in detract from Popper's reputation as a phy of science without referring to his Logik fact it already has been. philosopher of science. der Forschung! Therein we find diat Popper Gardner's article relies heavily upon was hardly an obfuscationist: "I am quite attacking Popper's personality and the rivalry indifferent to terminology, so long as it does between Popper and Rudolf Carnap. The ad not mislead us." Hence, Popper's distinction The Polygraphs Controversy hominem attacks are irrelevant to demon­ between his useful term corroboration and strating that "Popper's reputation was based Carnap's confirmation. We publish this letter from Aldrich H. Ames with mainly on his persistent but misguided Popper never made "efforts to expunge mixed feelings and only because Ames indeed is efforts to restate common sense views in a the word induction from ... scientific dis­ an expert, of sorts, on polygraphs. Ames is a con­ novel language that is rapidly becoming out course ..." he just tried to establish its logi­ victed spy He was a CIA employee for thirty-one of fashion." The way Gardner states Popper's cal foundation. Popper himself proposed years who volunteered his services to the KGB in position makes Popper look like he's spout­ "degree of corroboration" by which die best 1985. During the following nine years until his ing nonsense rather than common sense. theories "proved their mettle" (but not their arrest in February 1994 he compromised more According to Gardner, Popper's best-known truth!) However, Popper did insist on the than 100 intelligence operations against the claim is that "science does not proceed by severest tests possible. . He successfully passed counterin­ 'induction,' that is, by finding confirming Many before Popper pondered the "rid­ telligence polygraph examinations. Ames mailed instances of a conjecture but ratlicr by falsi­ dle of induction." Hume earlier pointed out this letter to the editor, handwritten, from fying bold, risky conjectures." If so, science die of inductive proof in science. Allenwood federal penitentiary.—EDITOR would be little more than a collection of false Popper's insight was that science corrects conjectures. itself only through refutation. If most "scien­ Dr. Zelicoff's discussion of polygraph junk Gardner also writes diat Popper claimed tists" (and others) still seek proof by induc­ science (July/August 2001) was a very useful diat there is "no such thing as induction" and tive confirmation, that is not a tribute to one, and its highlight is die apparent deter­ diat is why induction cannot be justified. I logic and common sense, but rather to die mination he and others have to resist die take Popper to mean that induction, in the pervasive influence of Bacon and Newton on destructive spread of that superstition. His sense of making "pure" observations (i.e., Western thought. Also, Gardner notwith­ uncontroversial point diat "protecting secrets observations which have no theoretical standing, scientific theories arc to be framed is a challenging task" suggests to me another basis), collecting them, adding them up and in a certain positive sense, such that corrob­ point worth making. In my experience with then suddenly recognizing a law of nature or orations and refutations cannot be paradoxi­ die polygraph, as user and subject, its junk something as grand as the theory of special cally interchanged. science does provide an important but dis­ creditable service for lazy and timid national relativity is not an accurate picture of how Without elaborating (due to space limita­ security managers (also known as a species of scientists actually proceed. If this is common tions), I find Gardner's three objections to

72 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS lO iHt tuilUK

bureaucrat). Decisions about personnel suit­ polygraph test is useless, just that you have machine can do and find out riiat there is no ability for sensitive positions can be not only to put some thought into how you use it. direct correlation between what is in a per­ difficult for the usual and proper reasons, but The following is a thought experiment of son's mind and the physiology involved, the also quite risky for die careers of decision­ how to be successful. Suppose there are ten kids begin to see the light. "But," diey ask, makers. Thercs a lot at stake for the bureau­ people in a room and one smashes a vase in "why do we have them if diey don't work?" I crat. Faced with the prospect of excruciat­ full view of the others. The ten all have answer that in my opinion they are used to ingly hard work, considerable expense, and unique names like A, B, etc. and are given scare people into confessions. agonizingly difficult choices, the box offers a polygraph test by a separate polygraph One odier diing diat the kids usually come an attractive refuge from responsibility. Like operator, who does not know who broke up with during this discussion is that if there handing fate to the stars, entrails on the rock, the vase. The questions can only require a were such a thing as a lie detector, there would bureaucrats can abandon their duties and yes or no answer. Questions might be like be no need for judges or lawyers. Oh happy responsibilities to junk scientists and inter­ the following. "Do you know who broke days! Thank you, Mr. Zelicoff, for die article. rogators masquerading as technicians. the vase?" "Did 'C break the vase?" To make it more interesting, five of the The other item in this issue of great ben­ Dodes's article on the intersection of law people are told to lie randomly to questions efit to me is the SI index. It will be of great and science made many, though somewhat of their choice on the test. In spite of this, benefit in my class because I have all the unorganized, good points. But I would take each polygraph operator will have a good back issues of SI and the students can do a more optimistic view of progress being chance of finding the guilty party, because their research more easily. made, especially since we are stuck, in any the interviewee must lie successfully (or legal system, with the necessity of deciding Larry Barrieau be falsely accused of lying) on many perti­ questions of fact. Justice Blackmun's opinion Winchendon, Massachusetts nent questions. Further, there will be ten in Daubrt v. Merrel Dow Pharmaceutical, different polygraph operators who have Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993) has now been formed their independent opinions. Can incorporated in the Federal Rules of they all be wrong? How many times does Alan Zelicott's article is a surprisingly harsh Evidence. The point is to have the judge act one name have to show up before we sus­ polemic about the uselessness of polygraphic as a much stricter gatekeeper of what gets pect who did it? examinations. He uses such cute expressions presented to the jury as scientific knowledge as: polygraphs are "no more capable of assess­ and opinion. Now Rule 702 permits scien­ ing truth telling than were the priests of tists and technical experts to testify to their To catch spies, you again set up multiple ancient Rome standing knee-deep in chicken knowledge and opinions only if tests with multiple polygraph operators. Questions might be like the following. "Do parts" and refers to polygraphs as a "cheap

a/i>.t :_..,... :. I 1 -„ ..,£C-:,~~ you ever take work home?" "Is this ever clas­ parlor trick." He dismisses the whole topic V* I UK. tlSUllKfll* i» IUXU Ull 3UllK.ll.lll sified material?" "Have you ever heard that by saying: "The truth is this: the polygraph facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable classified material is taken out?" "Do you is a ruse, carefully constructed as a tool of principles and methods, and think you could get classified material out intimidation. . . ." (3) the witness has applied the principles without being detected, if you wanted?" All of these statements may be true, but and methods reliable to the facts of the aside from referring to unnamed "dozens of case." There are at least two things that are nec­ essary for polygraph detection to be success­ studies over the past twenty years" that show It is not a bad preservation of the scientific ful. One is that die polygraph operator not that polygraphs "cannot distinguish method and seems to be progress. know who the guilty party is. Otherwise, he between truth-telling and lying," Zelicoff Going back to the polygraph, the new cannot be unbiased. Second, several people offers no proof. Rule 702 nails down the inadmissibility of must be involved in the illegal enterprise you Worse, he shows a contempt for the polygraphic superstition even more firmly. are trying to find. If it is a lone spy, the false device and its practitioners that flaunts Ray Perhaps Zelicoff or others (the ACLU among positives will make the task impossible. If it Hyman's article on proper criticism in the diem) might take the issue further. When is a spy ring or others have observed suspi­ very same issue, where he advises not to use people's livelihoods, reputations, and per­ cious behavior, then you have a better "loaded words and sensationalism." sonal lives are injured or even destroyed by chance. As the number of people who know It may be that properly controlled studies junk science, cannot the law protect them? something increases, you become more and do support (or perhaps even refute) more sure of finding the truth. Zelicoff argument, but it would be useful Aldrich H. Ames to know what they are, radier than to resort Reg. No. 40087-083 Thomas R. Freeman to the same denigration, overstatement, and White Deer. Pennsylvania Columbia, South Carolina unfounded charges that we criticize propo­ nents of junk science instruments for using. Polygraph tests are a long way from being perfect, but they arc also a long way from Two things were of special interest to me in Raoul Drapeau being no better than chance at finding the the July/August issue of SI. Vienna, Virginia truth. Because of the limitations you cannot The first was the article about poly­ just ask people if they are spies and expect to graphs. For a dozen years I have been telling find the spy in your organization. Worse, my seventh-grade students that there is no The polygraph is one of the most misunder­ because the frequency of spies is so low, this such thing as a "lie detector." (The closest stood and most frequently maligned instru­ tactic will clutter the results with people who thing is probably their mother.) This state­ ments of credibility assessment in the long are not spies (false positives). ment is always met with great skepticism. history of that critically important topic. Its However, this does not mean that a (Good for them!) As we discuss what the critics come both from the left and the right.

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 73 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

but rarely from those in the front lines of the detecting a lie significantly better than tion alone. daily battle to apprehend criminals and bring chance, given a well trained and skillful Mr. Barrieau's letter reminds us that chil­ them to justice. examiner. The real problem lies, as Zelicoff dren do not make a practice of fooling them­ Characteristically, New York City notes, in die administration of technology selves and are unabashed enough to point out to Detective Ralph Nieves appeared on the that falls short of perfection, but is all we've adults when we are fall prey to simple solutions Greta Van Sosteren show on July 9 to assert got, in circumstances where in-depth investi­ that depend on self-deception. Thank Heaven that a million polygraph tests are carried out gation is either impossible or unrealistic. for them all. each year, and that with modern computer With adequate, certified training, plus several Dr. Cranberg succumbs to the logical fal­ and algorithm techniques accuracy has more months of very close supervision, and a lacy of "accuracy " stating that the polygraph reached 97 percent. well-tested, rights-sensitive process, polygra­ scores high marks by this measure. Ninety per­ In the 1998 case U.S. v. Edward D. phy can serve the public well. cent isn't nearly good enough when applied to Sheffer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Yes, there are mistakes. But in a properly ten thousand national laboratory scientists as it Paul Stevens asserted that the accuracy of rhe administered program the damage to individ­ means 1,000 (or 10 percent) will be falsely cat­ polygraph is 85 to 90 percent. ual test subjects due to false positives is mini­ egorized as deceptive. The follow-up costs, let There is a case to be made that the very mal. That does not lessen the hurt to the vic­ alone the effects on morale, are very high. accuracy of die polygraph is a source of tims of a false positive, and for that I have no Besides, 1 can be 99.99% accurate by stating a priori that there are no spies in the Labs and opposition to its use. Since earliest times answer. However, I would remind Zelicoff incur no costs at all judges and lawyers have reveled in the broad that false positives from less-than-perfect discretion that is theirs under rules of evi­ medical tests are widespread and dangerous, For Mr. Drapeau, who complains that 1 dence that depend heavily on assessments of and yet he doesn't call for their abolition. provide no references, let me state first that my "demeanor." Thus anything that supersedes Perhaps that's getting too close to home. piece was written as a commentary, not as a demeanor is bound to encounter the firmest scientific article. However, 1 have collaborated opposition. In short, Luddism really has its Jim Dunn with other scientists at Sandia National Labs day in the courtroom. Fort Lauderdale, Florida to produce an up-to-date review article of the Of course to readers of the SKEPTICAL polygraph literature. Interested readers can see Alan Zelicoff replies: INQUIRER such irrationality is commonplace it at http://antipolygraph.org/read.shtml. to the point of banality, and one hopes die Results from multiple trials of polygraphs SKEPTICAL INQUIRER will soon help set the I am delighted that my article on polygraphs (in both the screening and criminal investiga­ record straight on the roles of demeanor and generated so much interest among SKEPTICAL tion mode) are reviewed. Please understand the polygraph in credibility assessment. In INQUIRER readers. that I do not necessarily endorse all views of the that effort it should be useful to know rhat Aldrich Ames describes, with experience from Web page sponsors, but do fully support every­ University of Texas Law Professor Olin Guy years in the intelligence community and in ways thing within the Sandia document that has Wellborn III showed in his article that I never could, the bureaucratic laziness that been conveniently posted on their Web site. the polygraph fosters. There could be no stronger "Demeanor" in the Cornell Law Review for Finally Jim Dunn makes the entirely obvious endorsement of the view that polygraphy under­ July 1991 that what should be called statement that diagnostic tests are imperfect in mines national security where it is utilized. I "Demeanorology" is no better than guessing. medical practice and that my critique of polygra­ only hope that counter-intelligence professionals phy is illogical because I don't "call for the aboli­ That article should have had a profound examine his critique carefully effect on court practice. But it has not, and tion" of medical tests. But what he completely Mr. Freeman presents a solution that is demeanor continues to rule die courts today misses is that any test (including polygraphs) is attractive at first blush, but one which is statis­ while polygraphy is a target of steady belittle- properly administered only when the pre-test tically meaningless—repeating the same test ment outside of law enforcement officers. The probability exceeds the false positive rate. On this, multiple times. Doing so only multiplies false SKEPTICAL INQUIRER thus has a truly extraor­ use of the polygraph in the screening mode (false positives and negatives. Also, Mr. Freeman uses dinary opportunity to bring reason to bear and positive rate at least 10 percent, pre-test probabil­ an example of a very specific crime and one to confound ancient superstition where it ity approximately .0001) foils short by several which precipitates highly focused questions, counts very heavily in everyday life—in the orders of magnitude, hardly the case with well- akin to a criminal investigation. There is some courtroom. I hope SI will grasp that golden chosen medical tests. This more subtle observation small evidence in the literature that polygraphs opportunity and make the most of it. cannot be appreciated without a minimal knowl­ have improved sensitivity when applied as part edge of introductory inferential statistics and the of a focused criminal investigation, but are Lawrence Cranberg ability to do long division. Perhaps for Mr. Dunn only meaningful in the setting of a high pre-test Co-founder, Austin Society it is these failings that are too close to home. likelihood guilt (10 percent in his example) to Oppose Pseudoscience that in turn exceeds the false positive rate of the Austin, Texas test. None of this obtains when polygraphs are used in the screening mode where one is con­ A Rebuttal to 'Voodoo fronted with finding one spy (or criminal) in The bias against polygraphs by Alan Zelicoff, ten thousand as using much vaguer queries. Science' while legitimate in some respects, fails to give polygraph its due. I spent many years as an As for asking a wide range of different ques­ An article in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER by examiner. During that time I learned that tions, I would go so far as to agree that this Robert Park (Park 2000) derided the research while there is no such thing as a lie detector, hypothesis should be tested, but I am not opti­ of John Hagelin and collaborators, myself the polygraph can indeed aid in the detection mistic (based on existing clinical trials) that the included. Based on forty-one previous studies, of lies and fabrications—placing the odds at box will be anymore successful than interroga­ we predicted publicly that a large group prac-

74 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ticing die Transcendental Meditation program In spite of this evidence, Park asserts that Reynolds NDE Report would lower violent crime levels in levels of violence actually increased to record Washington, D.C., by reducing stress and ten­ levels. He confuses homicides—which In his Letter to the Editor in the sion in society. During die eight-week experi­ accounted for only 3 percent of violent crime July/August issue, Antony Flew made ment in the summer of 1993. violent crimes in Washington during 1993—with violent several errors when referring to the near- against the person (homicides, rapes, and crimes in general. It is true the murder rate death experience (NDE) of Pam Reynolds, assaults) decreased by 23 percent and closely did not drop during the experiment—as we which I reported in Light & Death (Grand tracked the rise in the number of participating acknowledged in the initial research report Rapids: Zondervan, 1998). After mis­ mediators. The results were published in and in the published study—but contrary to spelling my name and incorrecdy citing Social Indicators Research, a respected, peer- Park's claim there was no significant increase my first book Recollections of Death as reviewed scientific journal (Hagelin 1999). in homicides. (See our site at www.istpp. the source, he claimed that "this case org/crimc prevention.htm/rebuttal.) Park abstains from any serious considera­ depends on the unsupported testimony of tion of the study data and the appropriate­ the author: which, in a matter of such ness of die statistical methodology. His arti­ References eschatological importance, is quite scan­ cle contains not a single statistic and betrays Hagelin, J.S., M.V. Rainforth, D.W. Orme- dalously inadequate." no evidence that he read the study. Johnson, K.L. Cavanaugh, C.N. Alexander, Pam's case was meticulously recon­ Apparently, he believes our hypothesis was S.F. Shatkin, J.L. Davies, A.O. Hughes, and E. Ross. 1999. Effects of group practice of the structed from the operation reports of the ridiculous on its face and could be rejected Transcendental Meditation program on pre­ neurosurgeons, neuroanesthesiologists, and outright. This is remarkable, given his advo­ venting violent crime in Washington, D.C.: cardiovascular surgeons present during her 6 cacy of testing theories scientifically and Results of the National Demonstration hour and 55 minute operation. This proce­ careful scrutiny of scientific evidence. Due to Project. June—July, 1993. Social Indicators dure required hypothermic cardiac arrest, space limitations we cannot refute hcte all of Research, 47(2): 153-201. complete electrocerebral silence, and Park's falsehoods, including a baseless attack i .iliv, ivuucn —i tuuu. »mniw> OCICACC Jiiu QIC drainage of the blood from her intracranial on Hagelin's scientific reputation, but Belief Gene. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. vessels. Cortical brain temperature, EEG, detailed evidence against his claims is in the September/October. 24-29. brain-stem auditory evoked response, and published paper and on our Web site. Maxwell Rainforth arterial blood gases were monitored through­ Park lampoons our time series analysis as City, State out surgery. "technobabble." only "meant to give the Details of Pam's NDE were obtained Robert Park responds: appearance of science." He proclaims that "It using a structured interview protocol. Her was a clinic in data manipulation," implies NDF-av-snriarpn npvrrinrinns or rnp enroprv that the researchers were strongly biased, and Thank you for the opportunity to respond to ~ " r - --*~o--J were recorded verbatim in Light & Death refers to the "experiment" in derisive quota­ Rainforth's letter. and then compared to surgical photographs tion marks. "Technobabble" and "pseudo- O.K. I'm busted. I did deride the 1993 science" are loaded words, which the SI edito­ "research" on the reduction of violent crime by and diagrams. Dr. Robert Spetzler, Professor rial guidelines say should be avoided. Despite TM. It was, however, promoted as a "Demon­ of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona these statements, which arc tantamount to a stration Project," not an experiment, which College of Medicine, is a world-renowned charge of scientific fraud, he presents no sci­ might raise some concern about objectivity. expert in this highly specialized area of neu­ rosurgery and performed Pam's surgery. entific argument and merely echoes the com­ Rainforth charges that I confused homicides ments of a reporter. Time series analysis, with violent crimes in general He elaborates on Spetzler assisted me in carefully reconstruct­ which effectively eliminates other possible this on the Web page of the Institute of Science, ing Pam's case has repeatedly supported the explanations for the results, was clearly the Technology and Public Policy (www.istpp.org/ accuracy of my report in national and inter­ correct statistical method for this study. voodoo-rebuttal, htm): national media. The analysis showed a highly significant It is true the murder rate did not drop dur­ Mike Sabom, M.D. fall in crime when it usually reaches its peak ing the course—as we acknowledged in the Atlanta, Georgia during the hot summer weather, and a direct initial research report and the published relationship between the size of the meditat­ study—but the facts were very different. Antony Flew replies: For six weeks ending the month before the ing group and the drop in violent crime. Park experiment, from mid-March through objects to our calculation of how much vio­ April, homicides averaged ten per week. What I claimed to be, and is, unsupported in lent crime dropped, but diis calculation was Beginning one week after the course and for Recollections of Death is not its account of the an adjunct step performed after the time series twelve weeks thereafter, homicides also surgical procedures but its claim that Pam analysis, and therefore challenging it does not averaged ten per week. During the eight thereafter remembered what was done to her weeks of the experiment, in June and July, contradict die main result. The reduction in while she was brain dead. the average was again ten per week—except violent crime is evident in the raw data, before for one horrific 36-hour period in which any statistical analysis. Therefore, our main ten people died Apart from this brief finding stands. The reduction was calculable episode, which was a statistical outlier, the because violent crime levels arc predictable on level of homicides during June and July of Swamp Monsters the basis of temperature—a fact that is well 1993 was not significantly higher than the known among criminologists, and was clearly rest of the year. Re: "Swamp Monsters" and their ilk (Joe explained at the press conference that Park Nickell, July/August): attended, and in both the initial report and Well, there you have it. Results that don't If these cryptozoologic creatures were the published paper. support the prediction are simply declared to be real, they could not exist in isolation, i.e., a statistical glitch. there should be a pedigree trace and a

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER November/December 2001 75 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

colony of them with at least a dozen indi­ 'Rebirthing' Death sion of their parents. This single incident viduals (fathers, mothers, babies) to perpet­ hardly rises to even that level of dangerous uate the race. Compare rare species of Conviction pattern or serious risk. Far too often, law­ animals near extinction. Some traces of makers jump into intrusive, unscientifically The Ponder and Watkins case ("Rebirthing questionable footsteps is not enough; they based legislation for the sake of photo-ops Update: Therapists Convicted, Therapy Out­ are too easy to fabricate. One should and the perception of "doing something." lawed in Colorado," by Benjamin Radford, find in addition "campsites" with leftover This results in a hodgepodge of unnecessary July/August 2001) doesn't actually "serve as a meals, excrements, and other signs of occu­ and poorly thought out laws. powerful response to the common question, pation of the terrain in question such as This is such a case. While I agree that 'What harm does the New Age do?'" primitive shelters. rebirthing is probably useless, I cannot share New Agers can claim that Ponder and In absence of all such elements, the mon­ Mr. Radford's apparent satisfaction at its Watkins either misused die techniques for sters are only a fiction of mind. prohibition. For one thing, since there is no rebirthing or weren't practicing rebirthing at "official" definition of rebirthing, the law has Lassi Hyvarinen all. The New Age people I've met have been, to define what it perceives it to be. Since Divonne-les-Bains, France however crackpot, gentler than most. More there is no scientific or statistical safety infor­ important, as Radford points out, outlawing mation other than one extreme data point, a technique while ignoring the problem of there is nothing upon which to base such a unlicensed therapy leaves the door open to Reptoid Report Sinks rule other than arbitrary guesswork. Nor other abuse. does licensing (getting the questionable "per­ This case is about something else. In his Psychic Vibrations column in the mission" of the state to do something) or its Candace Newmaker pleaded that she was July/August 2001 issue Robert Sheaffer absence mean much without some quantifi­ dying; they told her to "go ahead and die." related thai Joseph Trainor's UFO Roundup able and widely accepted criteria of what Hold a gun to someone's head, say that, and included reptoid sightings in Hoyum Hall at constitutes safe actions. Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. pull the trigger. That's premeditated murder, As a faculty member at Concordia for the past which carries more than "up to forty-eight Jay Holovacs seven years I was quite surprised that I had years in prison." And a gun at least brings South Bound Brook, New Jersey heard nothing of these incidents. A quick instant oblivion. Candace Newmaker was check of Mr. Trainor's Web site subjected to over an hour of brutal torture, (www.ufoinfo.com/roundup/) revealed that followed by an agonizing death by asphyxia­ Big Balloons he was indeed writing about the Hoyum Hall tion. To describe this as "abuse" during "ther­ 1 walked past each day on my way to the apy" is to blind oneself (as the too lenient I too am an airship buff but I've also flown physics department. court in Colorado did) to the extent of an experiment on a high-altitude balloon. Intrigued, I questioned colleagues of Candace's suffering and the true brutality of May I point out that to compare their vol­ longer tenure as well as undergraduates of the defendants. umes, as P. A. Hancock, David Thomas, more recent vintage but no one had ever Ponder and Watkins' acts were not those and Kendrick Frazicr do in the Letters sec­ heard of the Reptoid incidents. A trip to the of misguided New Age therapists but of self- tion of the July/August SI is a little mis­ college archives and a search through back serving, unrepentant sadists. Their defense leading since the masses of lifting gas differ issues of the student newspaper was equally tried to blame this helpless child for her own considerably. disappointing. In fact it appears that there death. An adult subjected to such treatment My reference gives the gas capacity of the are no stories of paranormal activity in may use deadly force to save his life. Would of the Hindenburg as 200,000 cu. m, so the Hoyum Hall. This fact struck me with con­ that Candace had had a gun! . . . figure of 7,063,000 cu. ft. is correct, if spuri­ siderable force. There were no reports of ously precise. However, the Hindenburg Jerry Engelbach supernatural sounds, translucent ghosts, or normally flew below 1,000 feet. This volume Brooklyn, New York mischievous , let alone green- of hydrogen under normal atmospheric pres­ skinned reptoids in an undergraduate girls sure would weigh about 18 metric tons. dorm! Surely this must indicate the pres­ High-altitude balloons are launched with 1 ence of some powerful sink of paranormal I was bothered by some of the larger aspects percent or less of their volume inflated. They energy! But perhaps I am premature in my of this case and also by some sentiments I don't achieve their full size below some assessment; after all extraordinary claims do inferred from Mr. Radford's comments. twenty miles altitude. (At launch they look require extraordinary evidence. What is at issue here, and what the remarkably like the classical "silver ice cream court correctly addressed, is reckless endanger- cone" UFO, I wonder why?) Bryan A. Luther ment with fatal consequences. While A balloon "five times the volume of the Associate Professor of Physics "rebirthing" is apparently useless, a single fatal Hindenburg" designed to reach an atmos­ Concordia College case caused by gross disregard of common pheric pressure of 5 mbar, about twenty-two sense does not qualify it as a dangerous activ­ Moorhead, Minnesota miles altitude, would require 5,000 cu. m of ity. The far more ominous outcome of this is helium to inflate it. Even though helium is Robert Sheaffer replies: the equally unscientific headline-driven legisla­ twice as dense as hydrogen, this is less than tion of the Colorado legislature and governor. one metric ton of gas. Thanks for the info. Why am I not surprised? Far more people (including children) are I'm forwarding a copy to Trainor's "UFO killed and injured skiing, boating, bicycling, Tom Napier Roundup" for their information. etc., which they engage in with full permis­ North Wales, Pennsylvania

76 November/December 2001 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Hallucinations and males, is accompanied by penile erections." additional information very useful when dis­ Nevertheless, I suspect that the content cussing about or performing as Edison for 'Recovered Memories': of hypnagogic hallucinations may at times adult audiences. Among these are the complex A Response have some psychological meaning beyond characteristics of the man, i.e., an agnostic simply being an image constructed based on who was married to a devout, church-going Francis X. Kane (July/August 2001), in a let­ an unconscious weaving together of internal Methodist; his prejudices about Jews, while ter about my article "A Psychological Case physiological stimuli, and Siegel acknowl­ his light bulb filaments were improved by a Study of 'Demon' and 'Alien' Visitation" edges that some factors universal to human Black assistant, Lewis Lattimer; his plans to (March/April 2001), mentioned that it was experience may partially account for the suc­ build a machine to contact the dead (his rival, "particularly interesting," given my interest cubus phenomenon. However, the sexual Nicola Tesla, tried to contact the planet Mars in the recovered memory controversy, that I feelings that sometimes accompany these with radio signals and was suspected to have neglected the topic of therapist-induced false frightening yet normal hallucinations do not planned a death ray machine); his efforts to memories in response to hypnagogic or necessarily indicate that the sleeper has been discredit alternating current and George hypnopompic hallucinations and/or night­ a victim of past sexual abuse. And, indeed, it Westinghouse with his invention of the elec­ mares. In my article I had only intended to is reprehensible when well-intentioned but tric chair, and many more. These stories are briefly review the literature on hypnagogic misguided therapists cause harm to their entertaining and help round out the personal­ hallucinations relevant to the clinical case patients and to other innocent people by ity of the Wizard of Menlo Park. that I was presenting, which did not involve using leading and suggestive techniques to I am sorry that I have taken so long to nightmares, sexually tinged hallucinations, validate erroneous assumptions of sexual write and thank you, your magazine, and or allegations of abuse. Nevertheless, the abuse. False memories can be induced. Martin Gardner for adding so much to my issue of possible misinterpretations of hypn­ knowledge of Thomas Edison. Please con­ agogic hallucinations potentially leading to It is also highly unfortunate, however, tinue with your good work. false allegations of sexual abuse warrants dis­ when legitimate victims of sexual abuse are not believed due to familial and societal cussion, and I appreciate the opportunity to Peter M. Small respond. The issue of nightmares or dreams denial. Although perhaps partially motivated by a desire to protect innocent people from Historical Impressionist leading to sexual abuse accusations, though, Placentia, California is perhaps beyond the scope of this necessar­ false allegations, the reluctance of many ily brief response, although similarities skeptics to acknowledge the evidence for between nightmares and hypnagogic halluci­ emotionally motivating forgetting of trauma nations have been noted in the literature. may inadvertently contribute to the suffering Red Faces of some rrue victims of abuse, whose painful Throughout history, hypnagogic halluci­ disclosures are often met with disbelief. In the September/October issue, the NASA nations of an oppressive nighdy intruder, Repressed memories can be real. image on page 6 is rotated about 180 degrees whether of the incubus, succubus, or extrater­ relative to the "Face" photo on page 5 (NASA restrial variety, have often been associated Andrew D. Reisner, Psy.D. posted it that way on its Web site). But this with erotic sensations on the part of the half- Cambridge Psychiatric Hospital minor snafu has served an immensely valuable awake victim, and this experience could easily Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare purpose. Rotating the "Face" 180 degrees, one be misconstrued by an overzealous therapist as Cambridge, Ohio can see two faces emerge (more clearly so by a "sign" that the client had been sexually turning page 5 upside down). On the left, in abused. Indeed, there arc probably more ther­ shadow, is a human profile looking to the apists who are hyper-vigilant for cases of sex­ Rounding Out Edison right at a glowing, "ET" face (or is it a human ual abuse than there are therapists who believe fetus)? Maybe we've been looking at the "Face" upside down all along! in . But what does explain die In April 1992, I was hired by Knotts Berry erotic component of these hallucinations, if Farm in Buena Park, California, as the pre­ not some type of distorted representation of a Gary P. Posner senter for its Thomas Edison Workshop. past sexual abuse scene? Tampa, Florida During these past nine years, I studied and In his book Fire in the Brain (1992), learned much about Thomas Edison, his Ronald Siegel suggests that the image of the inventions, his contemporaries, and his times. The letters column is a forum for nightly intruder is constructed in the brain Among the exhibits in the workshop is an views on matters raised in previ­ based partially on physiological responses and autographed photograph of Edison. It is ous issues. Letters should be no sensations in the body that typically occur inscribed, "To Prof. ... one who more than 225 words. Due to the during sleep paralysis. The erotic sensations has remarkable mental gifts.—Thos. A. volume of letters not all can be may occur because of oxygen deprivation in Edison." For many years, I wondered to published. Address letters to certain brain centers due to fear-induced whom and what Edison meant. About four Letters to the Editor, SKEPTICAL hyperventilation. He states that the erotic years ago, I received my answer. A co-worker INQUIRER. Send by mail to 944 Deer Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122; response would be similar to that obtained at Knott's and a friend from Israel both sent with autocrotica asphyxia, the practice of by fax to 505-828-2080; or by me copies of your July/August 1996 edition of tying a cord around the neck during mastur­ e-mail to letters©csicop.org (in­ the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER with Martin clude name and address). bation. Siegel further explains (p. 89) that the Gardner's article, "Thomas Edison. Para- sexual arousal during these hallucinatory normalist." The article helped explain and experiences of half-sleep haunting may be par­ tially "a carryover from REM sleep, which, for supplement much about Edison and his per­ sonality. I have found that article and other

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Novembet/Decetnber 2001 77 THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY-INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO) AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Network of Affiliated Organizations International ARGENTINA. CAIRP, Enrique Marquez. Director. E- CHINA. China Association for Science and Tech­ the Investigation of the Anomalous mail: deschaveecvtci.com.ar Jose Marti 35 - "C" nology, China. Shen Zhenyu Research Center, Phenomena (KCIAP) Kazakhstan. Dr. Sergey Buenos Aires (1406), Argentina, www.cairp.org. P.O. Box 8113, Beijing China. Hong Kong Efimov, Scientific Secretary. E-mail: efimO AUSTRALIA. Canberra Skeptics, Canberra Skeptics, Hong Kong. Brad Collins, P.O. Box afi.south -capital.kz Astrophysical Institute Australia. Peter Barrett. President. PO Box 555, 1010, Shatin Central Post Office, Shatin NT China. Kamenskoye Plato Alma-Ata, 480020 Republic Civic Square ACT 2608 Australia. Australian COSTA RICA. Iniciativa para la Promocion del of Kazakhstan. Committee for the Scien­ Skeptics Inc.. Australia. Barry Williams, Pensamiento Critico (IPPEC) San Jose. Victor tific Expertise of Claims of the Paranormal Executive Officer. Tel. 61-2-9417-2071; e-mail: Quiros V. Tel.: 506 275 43 52; e-mail: victorcr (CSECOP). skepticsOkasm.com.au. PO Box 268. Roseville eracsa.co.cr. A.P. 1513-1002 Paseo de los KOREA. Korea PseudoScience Awareness NSW 2069 Australia, www.skeptics.com.au. Estudiantes San Jose, Costa Rica. http://webs. (KOPSA) Korea. Dr. Gun-ll Kang. Director. Tel.: —Hunter Region demasiado.com/vicr. 82-2-393-2734; e-mail: KOPSAechollian.net. Newcastle/Hunter Valley. Or. Colin Keay. CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Sisyfos-Czech Skeptics 187-11 Bukahyun-dong, Sudaemunku. Seoul President. Tel.: 61-2-49689666; e-mail: Club. Czech Republic. Ms. Ing. Olga Kracikova. 120-190 Korea www.kopsa.or.kr. bolideehunterlink.net au. PO Box 166. Waratah Secretary. Tel.: 420-2-24826691; e-mail: MALTA. Society for Investigating the NSW 2298. Australia Darwin Skeptics, olgakracikovaeemail.cz. Hastalska 27 Praha 1 Credibility of Extraordinary Claims (SICEQ Northern Territory, Australia. Simon Potter, 110 00 Czech Republic, www.fi.muni.cz/sisyfos/ Malta. Vanni Pule. Chairman. Tel.: 356-381994; Secretary. Tel.: 61-8-8932-7552; e-mail: dwnskep- (in Czech). e-mail: pulevanevol.net.mt. P.O. Box 31. ticeais.net.au. PO Box 809, Sanderson NT 0812 DENMARK. Skeptica: Association of Hamrun, Malta. Australia. Gold Coast Skeptics. Queensland. Independent Danish Skeptics, Denmark. MEXICO. Mexican Association for Skeptical Re­ Australia. Lilian Derrick, Secretary. Tel.: 61-7- Willy Wegner. Tel.: 45-75-64-84-02; e-mail: search (SOMIE) Mexico. Mario Mendez-Acosta. 5593-1882; e-mail: Imderricketelstra.easymail. skepticaeskeptica.dk. Vibevej 7 A DK 8700 Apartado Postal 19-546 D.F. 03900 Mexico. com.au. PO Box 8348. GCMC Bundall QLD 4217 Horsens, Denmark, www.skeptica.dk. NETHERLANDS. Stichting Skepsis, Netherlands. Australia. Queensland Skeptics Assoc inc. ECUADOR. Pablo Cevallos Estarellas. Apartado 09- Rob Nanninga. Secretary. Tel.: 31-50-3129893; (Qskeptics) Queensland. Bob Bruce. President. 01-5603 Guayaquil. Ecuador. e-mail: skepsisewxs.nl. Westerkade 20, 9718 AS Tel.: 61-7-32SS-0499; e-mail: qskepticeuq.net.au. Groningen. Netherlands, www.skepsis.nl. PO Box 6454, Fairview Gardens OLD 4103 ESTONIA Horisont. Indrek Rohtmets EE 0102 NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand Skeptics, New Australia. South Australia Skeptics (SAS) Tallinn, Narva mm. 5. Zealand, Vicki Hyde, Chair. Tel.: 64-3-384-5136; South Australia. Mr. Laurie Eddie. Secretary. Tel.: FINLAND. SKEPSIS. Finland. Jukka Hakkinen. PO e-mail: Vickiespis.co.nz. PO Box 29-492. Christ- 61-8-8272-5881; e-mail: allangetxcnet.au. PO Box 483, Helsinki 00101 Finland. church, New Zealand, www.skeptics.org.nz. Box 377, Rundle Mall SA 5000 Australia. FRANCE. AFIS, AFIS France. 14 rue de I'Ecole Australian Skeptics in Tasmania Inc.. Polytechnique F-75005 Paris. France. Cercle NIGERIA. Nigerian Skeptics Society, Nigeria. Leo Tasmania, Australia. Fred Thomett, Secretary. Zetetique. France. Paul-Eric Blanrue. 12 rue; Igwe. Convenor. E-mail: dpceskannet.com.ng. Tel.: 61-3-6234-1458; e-mail: fredthornettehot- David Deitz. F-57000 Metz. France. Comite PO Box 25269, Mapo Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria. mail.com. PO Box 582, North Hobart, TAS 7000 Francais pour I'Etude des Phenomenes NORWAY. SKEPSIS. Norway St. Olavsgt. 27 N-0166 Australia. Australian Skeptics—Victorian Paranormaux. France. Merlin Gerin, RGE/A2 F- Oslo. Norway. Branch Victoria. Grant Stevenson, President. Tel.: 38050 Grenoble Cedex. France. Michel Rouze. PERU. Comite de Investigaciones de lo Para­ 61-3-9531-9905; e-mail: contacteskeptics.com.au. 147 rue de Rennes F-75006 Paris. France. normal lo Seudocientifico y lo Irracional GPO Box 5166AA Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia Laboratoire de Zetetique (laboratory). CIPSI-PERU. Lima, Peru. Manuel Abraham www.skeptics.com.au. WA Skeptics, Western Professeur Henri Broch. Tel.: 33-0492076312; e- Paz-y-Mino. Tel.: 51-14-810712; e-mail: cip- Australia. Dr. John Happs, President. Tel.: 61-8- mail: brocheunice.fr. Universite de Nice-Sophia siperueyahoo.com. El Corregidor 318 Rimac, 9448-8458; e-mail: wa.skepticseaustraliamail. Antipolis Faculte des Sciences F-06108 Nice Lima 25 Peru, www.geocities.com/cipsiperu. Cedex 2 France, www.unice.fr/zetetique/. com. PO Box 899. Morley. WA 6062 Australia. POLAND. Polish Skeptics, Poland. Adam GERMANY. Gesellschaft zur wissenschaft Pietrasiewicz. E-mail: redaktoreiname.com. BELGIUM. Comite Beige Pour investigation lichen Unterrsuchung von Parawissen- www.biuletynsceptyczny-z.pl. Scientifique des Phenomenes Reputes schaften (GWUP) Germany. Amardeo Sarma, PORTUGAL. Associacao Cepticos de Portugal Pananormaux Comite Para, Belgium. J. Chairman. Tel.: 49-6154-695023. E-mail: (CEPO) Portugal. Ludwig Krippahl. E-mail: Dommanget President of the Committee. E- infoegwup.org. Arheilger Weg 11 D-64380 cepoeinteracesso.pt. Apartado 334 2676-901 mail: omer.nyseoma.be. Observatoire Royal Rossdorf, Germany, www.gwup.org. European Odivelas, Portugal, http://cepo.interacesso.pt. Belgique 3, ave. Circulate B 1180. Brussels. Council of Skeptical Organizations (ECSO) RUSSIA. Dr. Valerii A. Kuvakin. Tel.: 95-718-2178; Belgium, www.comitepara.be. Studiekring Europe. Dr. Martin Mahner. Tel.: 49-6154- e-mail: V.KUVAKINeMTU-NET.RU. Vorob'evy voor Kritische Evaluatie van Pseudoweten- 695023; e-mail: infoeecso.org. Arheilger Weg Gory, Moscow State University. Phil. Dept. schap en Paranormale beweringen (SKEPP) 11 64380 Rossdorf, Germany, www.ecso.org/. Moscow 119899 Russia, http://log.philos.msu. Belgium. Prof. Dr. W. Betz. Tel.: 32-2-477-43-11; HUNGARY. Tenyeket Tisztelk Tarsasaga TTT ru/rhs/index/htm. e-mail: skeppBskepp.be Laarbeeklaan, 103 Hungary. Prof. Gyula Bencze. Tel.: 36-1-392-2728; SLOVAK REPUBLIC (SACT). Slovak Republic. Igor B-1090 Brussels, Belgium, www.skepp.be. e-mail: gbenczeermki.kfki.hu. c/o Term^szer Kapisinsky Pavla Horova, 10 Bratislava 841 07 BRAZIL. OPCAO RACIONAL, Brazil Luis Fernando Vilaga, PO Box 246 H-1444 Budapest 8 Hungary. Slovak Republic. Gutman. Tel.: 55-21-548-2476; e-mail: fernan- INDIA. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nir- SOUTH AFRICA. Marian Laserson. P.O. Box 46212, dogutmanehotmail.com. Rua Santa Clara. 431 moolan Samiti (MANS) states of Maharashtra Orange Grove 2119 South Africa. SOCRATES. Bloco 5, Apt. 803. Copacabana-Rio de Janeiro & Goa. Dr. Narendra Dabholkar. Executive South Africa. Cape Skeptics, Cape Town. Dr. 22041-010 Brazil, www.opcaoracional.com.br. President. Tel.: 91-2162-32333; e-mail: ndab- Leon Retief. Tel.: 27-21-9131434; e-mail: BULGARIA. Bulgarian Skeptics, Bulgaria. Dr. holkan9hotmail.com. 155, Sadashiv Peth Satara leonreiafrica.com. 5N Agapanthus Avenue. Vladimir Daskalov. E-mail: egosheveeinet.bg. 415001 India, www.antisuperstition.com. Welgedacht Bellville 7530 South Africa. Krakra 22 BG-1504 Sofia. Bulgaria. Indian Rationalist Association. India. Sanal SPAIN. El Investigador Esceptico, Spain. Felix CANADA. Alberta Skeptics. Alberta. Greg Hart, Edamaruku. E-mail: edamarukueyahoo.com. Ares de Bias Gamez/Ares/Martinez. P.O. Box 904. Chairman. Tel.: 403-215-1440; e-mail: hartg 779. Pocket 5, Mayur Vlhar 1. New Delhi 110 091 Donostia-San Sebastian 20080 Spain ARP- ehumaneffort.com. PO Box 5571. Station "A", India. Dravidar Kazhagam. southern India. K. Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Calgary. Alberta T2H 1X9 Canada, www.home- Veeramani. Secretary General. Tel.: 9144- Critico ARP-SAPC Spain. Sergio Lopez. stead.com/. Alberta Skeptics, British 5386555; e-mail: periyarevsnl.com. Periyar Borgonoz. Tel.: 34-933-010220; e-mail: arpearp- Columbia Skeptics, BC and Alberta. Lee Thidal. 50, E.F.K. Sampath Road Vepery. Chennai sapc.org. Apartado de Correos, 310 Moller. Tel. 604-929-6299; e-mail: leemoller Tamil Nadu 600 007 India. www.Periyar.org. E 08860 Castelldefels. Spain, www.arp-sapc.org. ehome.com. 1188 Beaufort Road, N. Indian CSICOP. India. B. Premanand. Convenor. Tel.: 091-0422-872423; e-mail: dayaminiemd4. SWEDEN. Swedish Skeptics. Sweden. Dan Vancouver. BC V7G 1R7 Canada. Ontario Larhammar, professor chairperson. Tel.: 46-18- Skeptics, Ontario. Canada. Eric McMillan. vsnl.net.in. 11/7 Chettipalayam Road Podanur Tamilnadu 641 023 India. 4714173; e-mail: vetfolkephysto.se. Medical Chair. Tel.: 416-425-2451; e-mail: erkewe-com- Pharmacology BMC. Box 593. Uppsala 751 24 pute.com. P.O. Box 53003, 10 Royal Orchard ITALY. Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Sweden, www.physto.se/-vetfolk/index.html. Blvd.. Thornhill. ON L3T 7R9 Canada. Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP) Italy TAIWAN. Taiwan Skeptics, Taiwan. Tim Holmes. www.astro.yorku.ca/-mmdr/oskeptics.html. Massimo Polidoro. Executive Director. Tel.: 39 PO Box 195, Tanzu, Taiwan Perspective. Toronto Skeptical Inquirers (TSI) Toronto. 049-686870; e-mail: polidoroecicap.org. P.O. UKRAINE. Oleg Bakhtiarov 3-B Khmelnitskogo St.. Henry Gordon, President. Tel.: 905-771-1615; e- Box 1117 35100 Padova, Italy, www..org. mail: henry_gordonehotmail.com. 343 Clark Kiev 252001 Ukraine. Ave.. W.. Suite 1009. Thornhill, ON L4J 7K5 JAPAN. Japan Anti-Pseudoscience Activities Net­ UNITED KINGDOM. The Skeptic Magazine. United Canada. Ottawa Skeptics, Ottawa, Ontario. work (JAPAN) Japan. Ryutarou Minakami. chair­ Kingdom. Toby Howard. E-mail: tobyecs.man. Greg Singer. E-mail: skepticeottawa.com. PO person. E-mail: skepticee-mail.ne.jp. c/o Ohta ac.uk. P.O. Box 475 Manchester M60 2TH Box 1237, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario KIP 5R3 Publishing Company. Epcot Bid. 1F. 22. Arakkho. United Kingdom. Canada.www.admissions.carleton.ca/-addalby/ Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 160-8571 Japan, japan VENEZUELA. La Asociacion Racional y Esceptica de cats/skeptic.html. Sceptiques du Quebec. Skeptics. Japan Dr Jun Jugaku. E-mail: Venezuela (A.R.E.V.). Guido David Nunez Quebec. Alan Bonnier. Tel.: 514-990-8099. CP. jugakujnecc.nao.acjp. Japan Skeptics. Business Mujica. 10th Street. 13th av. corner, Mini centra 202, Succ. Beaubien Montreal. Quebec H2G 3C9 Center for Academic Societies. Japan 5-16-9 Honk- comercial Oasis, Valera, Trujillo state. Canada, www.sceptiques.qc.ca. omagome, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8622 Japan. Venezuela. Web site: www.geocities.com/escep KAZAKHSTAN. Kazakhstan Commission for ticosvenezuela. e-mail: arlongehcrc.org. 2277 Winding Woods NORTH CAROLINA. Carolina Skeptics North United States Dr., Tucker, GA 30084 US. Carolina. Eric Carlson. President. Tel.: 336-758- IOWA. Central Iowa Skeptics (CIS) Central Iowa. 4994; e-mail: ecarlson6wfu.edu. Physics ALABAMA. Alabama Skeptics. Alabama. Emory Rob Beeston. Tel.: 515-285-0622; e-mail: Department. Wake Forest University. Winston- Kimbrough. Tel : 205-759-2624. 3550 Water­ webguyedangerousideas.net 5602 SW 2nd St. Salem, NC 27109 US. www.carolinaskepticS.org. melon Road. Apt. 28A. Northport. AL 35476 US. Des Moines. IA 50315 US. www.dangerous OHIO. Central Ohioans for Rational Inquiry Skeptics-Freethought Forum of Alabama ideas.net. (CORI) Central Ohio. Charlie Hazlett. President Richard G Davis Tel 256-751-4447; e-mail ILLINOIS. Rational Examination Association of RRBama66ehotmail.com. Tel.. 614-878-2742; e-mail, charlie6hazlett.net. Lincoln Land (REALL) Illinois. David PO 8ox 282069. Columbus OH 43228 US. South ARIZONA. Tucson Skeptics Inc. Tucson, AZ. James Bloomberg, Chairman. Tel.: 217-726-5354, Shore Skeptics (SSS) Cleveland and counties. McGaha. E-mail: JMCGAHAePimaCC.Pima.EDU. e-mail: chairmanereall.org. PO Box 20302. Springfield. IL 62708 US. www.reall.org. Jim Kutz. Tel.: 440 942-5543; e-mail: iimkutz 5100 N 5abino Foothills Dr., Tucson, AZ 85715 US. 6earthlink.net. PO Box 5083, Cleveland, OH Phoenix Skeptics. Phoenix, A7 Michael luck- KENTUCKY. Kentucky Assn. of Science pole, P.O. Box 60333. Phoenix, AZ 85082 US. 44101 US. www.southshoreskeptics.org/. Educators and Skeptics (KASES) Kentucky Association for Rational Thought (ART) CALIFORNIA. Sacramento Organization for Prof Robert Baker. 349S Castleton Way, North Rational Thinking (SORT) Sacramento, CA. Ray Lexington, KY 40502 US. Contact Fred Bach at Cincinnati Roy Auerbach. president. Tel. 513- Spangenburg. co-founder. Tel.: 916-978-0321, e- e-mail: fwbachevisto.com. 731-2774, e-mail: raa6cinci.rr.com. PO Box mail: [email protected]. PO Box 2147, LOUISIANA. Baton Rouge Proponents of 12896. Cincinnati, OH 45212 US. www.cincinnati Carmichael, CA 95609-2147 US www.quiknet Rational Inquiry and Scientific Methods skeptics.org. ,com/-kitray/index1.html. Bay Area Skeptics (BR-PRISM) Louisiana. Marge Schroth. Tel. 225- OREGON. Oregonians for Rationality (04R) (BAS) San Francisco—Bay Area. Tully McCarroll. 766-4747. 425 Carriage Way. Baton Rouge, LA Oregon. Dave Chapman, President. Tel.: 503 292- Chair. Tel.: 415 927-1548; e-mail: tullyann6pac- 70808 US. 2146; e-mail: dchapman6iccom.com. 7555 Spring bell.net. PO Box 2443 Castro Valley. CA 94546 MICHIGAN. Great Lakes Skeptics (GLS) SE Valley Rd. NW, Salem, OR 97304 US. www.o4r.org. 0443 US. www.BASkeptics.org Sacramento Michigan. Lorna J Simmons. Contact person. PENNSYLVANIA. Paranormal Investigating Skeptics Society. Sacramento. Terry Sandbek. Tel.: 734-525-5731, e-mail: Skeptic3ieaol.com. Committee of Pittsburgh (PICP) Pittsburgh President Tel.: 916-489-1774; e-mail: tsand- 31710 Cowan Road. Apt. 103, Westland, Ml PA. Richard Busch, Chairman. Tel.: 412-366- bek6ispchannel.com. 4300 Auburn Blvd, Ste 206 48185-2366 US. Tri-Cities Skeptics, Michigan. 1000; e-mail: mindful6telerama.com. 8209 Sacramento, CA 95841 US. http-y/my.ispchan- Gary Barker. Tel.: 517-799-4502; e-mail: bark- nel.com/-tsandbek/Skeptics/skeptics.htm San Thompson Run Rd.. Pittsburgh. PA 15237 US. erg6svol.org. 3596 Butternut St., Saginaw, Ml Philadelphia Association for Critical Diego Association for Rational Inquiry 48604 US. (SDARI) San Diego, CA. county. Keith Taylor, Thinking (PhACT). much of Pennsylvania. Eric President. Tel.: 619-220-1045; e-mail: krtay- MINNESOTA. St. Kloud Extraordinary Claim Krieg. President. Tel.: 215-885-2089; e-mail: lorxyzeaol.com. 945 4th Ave. San Diego. CA Psychic Teaching Investigating Community ericephart.org. PO Box 1131, North Wales. PA 92101 US.http://mernbers.tripod.com/sdariweb/h (SKEPTIC) St. Cloud, Minnesota.lerry Mertens 19454 US. www.phact.org/phact. ome.html. Tel.: 320-255-2138; e-mail: gmertens©stcloud TENNESEE. Rationalists of East Tennessee, East state.edu. Jerry Mertens. Psychology Depart­ Tennessee. Carl Ledenbecker. Tel.: 865-982 COLORADO. Rocky Mountain Skeptics (RMS) ment, 720 4th Ave. S. St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud. MN 56301 US. Minnesota Skeptics, 8687; e-mail: Aletall6aol.com. 2123 Stony- Colo., Wyo., Utah, Mont. Bela Scheiber. Pres­ brook Rd., Louisville, TN 37777 US. ident. Tel.: 303-444-7537; e-mail: rmscentraie Minnesota. Robert McCoy. 549 Turnpike Rd., Golden Valley, MN 55416 US. TEXAS. North Texas Skeptics NTS Dallas/Ft mindspring.com. PO Box 7277, Boulder. CO Worth area, John Blanton. Secretary. Tel.: 972- 80306 US. http://bcn.boulder.co.us/community/ MISSOURI. Gateway Skeptics, Missouri, Steve rms. 306-3187; e-mail: skeptic6ntskeptics.org. PO Best, 6943 Amherst Ave.. University City, MO Box 111794. Carrollton. TX 75011-1794 US. CONNECTICUT. New England Skeptical Society 63130 US. Kansas City Committee for (NESS) New England. MD, Skeptical Inquiry, Missouri. Verle Muhrer, www.ntskeptics.org. President. lei.: 203-281-62//; e-mail: United Labor Bldg., 6301 Rockhill Road, Suite VIRGINIA. Science 6- Reason, H3mpton ?-i:., boardetheness.com. PO Box 185526, Hamden. 412 Kansas City, MO 64131 US. Virginia. Lawrence Weinstein, Old Dominion CT 06518-5526 US. www.theness.com. NEW MEXICO. New Mexicans for Science and Univ.-Physics Dept., Norfolk, VA 23529 US. D.CJMARYLAND. National Capital Ai«a RwdStjfi imviirv "

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS

George Agogino, Dept. of Anthropology, Eastern New Laurie Godfrey. anthropologisL University of Massachusetts James Pomerantz, Provost and professor of cognitive and Mexico University Gerald GokSn. mathematician, Rutgers University, New Jersey linguistic sciences. Brown Univ. Gary Bauslaugh. educational consultant Center for Donald Goldsmith, astronomer, president Interstellar Media Gary P. Posner. M.D.. Tampa. Fla. Curriculum. Transfer and Technology. Victoria, B.C. Canada Alan Hale, astronomer, Southwest Institute for Space Daisie Radner. professor of philosophy, SUNY, Buffalo Richard E. Berendzen, astronomer. Washington, D.C Research, Alamogordo, New Mexico Michael Radner, professor of philosophy. McMaster Martin Bridgstodc. lecturer, School of Science, Griffith Clyde F. Herreid. professor of biology. 5UNY. Buffalo University. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada University. Brisbane, Australia Terence M. Hines, professor of psychology, Pace Robert H. Romer, professor of physics. Amherst College Richard Busch, magician/mentalist, Pittsburgh, Penn. University. Pleasantville. NY Milton A Rothman, physicist Philadelphia. Penn. Shawn Carlson. Society for Amateur Scientists, East Michael Hutchinson, author; ScErnou lnoumi" represen­ Karl Sabbagh. journalist Richmond. Surrey. England Greenwich, CT tative, Europe Robert J. Samp, assistant professor of education and Roger B. Culver, professor of astronomy, Colorado State Univ. PhSp A. lama, assoc professor of astronomy, Univ. of Virginia medicine. University of Wisconsin-Madison Felix Ares de Bias, professor of computer science. William Jarvis, professor of health promotion and public Steven D. Schafersman, asst. professor of geology. University of Basque. San Sebastian, Spain health. Loma Linda University, School of Public Health Miami Univ.. Ohio Michael R. Dennett writer, investigator. Federal Way, I. W. Kelly, professor of psychology. University of Beta Scheiber,' systems analyst Boulder. Colo. Washington Saskatchewan Chris Scott statistician. London, England Sid Deutsch. consultant. Sarasota. Fla. Richard H. Lange. M.D., Mohawk Valley Physician Health Stuart D. Scott Jr.. associate professor of anthropology. J. Dommanget. astronomer. Royale Observatory, Plan. Schenectady, N.Y. SUNY. Buffalo Brussels. Belgium Gerald A. Larue, professor of biblical history and archae­ Erwin M. Segal, professor of psychology, SUNY, Buffalo Nahum J. Duker, assistant professor of pathology. ology. University of So. California. Carla Selby, anthropologist /archaeologist Temple University W«am M. London, consumer advocate. Fort Lee. New Jersey Steven N. Shore, associate professor and chair, Dept. of Barbara Eisenstadt psychologist, educator, clinician. East Rebecca Long, nuclear engineer, president of Georgia Physics and Astronomy, Indiana Univ. South Bend Greenbush. NY. Council Against Health Fraud. Atlanta, Ga. Waclaw Szybalski. professor, McArdle Laboratory. William Evans, professor of communication, Georgia Thomas R. McDonough, lecturer in engineering. Cartech. University of Wisconsin-Madison State University and SET! Coordinator of the Planetary Society Ernest H. laves, psychoanalyst Cambridge. Mass. John F. Fischer, forensic analyst. Orlando. Fla. James E. McGaha, Major. USAF; pilot Sarah G. Thomason, professor of linguistics. University of Robert E. Funk, anthropologist New York State Museum Joel A. Moskowitz. director of medical psychiatry. Pittsburgh S Science Service Calabasas Mental Health Services. Los Angeles. Tim Trachet journalist and science writer, honorary chair­ Eileen Gambrill, professor of social welfare. University of Jan Willem Nienhuys. mathematician, Univ. of man of SKEPP. Belgium. California at Berkeley Eindhoven, the Netherlands Syhrio Garattini. director. Mario Negri Pharmacology John W. Patterson, professor of materials science and • Member. CSICOP Executive Council Institute. Milan. Italy engineering. Iowa State University "Associate Member. CSICOP Executive Council

EUROPE PERU CENTERS FOR INQUIRY Dr. Martin Mariner D. Casanova 430 Arheilger Weg 11 Lima 14. Peru INTERNATIONAL D-64380 Rossdorf, Germany PO Box 703 Tel:+49 6154 695023 Amherst, NY 14226 Tel.: (716) 636-1425 FRANCE Prof. Henri Broch. Professor Valerii A. Kuvakin WEST Universite of Nice 119899 Russia, 5519 Grosvenor Ave. Faculte des Sciences Moscow, Vorobevy Gory, Los Angeles, CA 90066 Pare Valrose. 06108 Moscow State University, Tel.: (310) 306-2847 Nice cedex 2. France Philosophy Department "... to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor."

Black Hole Snacks This false-color image shows the cen­ tral region of our Milky Way Galaxy as seen by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The bright, point-like source at the center of the image was produced by a huge X-ray flare that occurred in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole at the cen­ ter of our galaxy. A scientific report was published in the September 6, 2001, Nature. NASA issued this image on September 5. Credit: NASA/MIT/F. Baganoff et al.

COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATE1 OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL

The Committee is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is its official journal. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the results of such inquiries to the scientific community, the the Paranormal encourages the critical investigation of para­ media, and the public. It also promotes science and scientific normal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientif­ inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and the use of ic point of view and disseminates factual information about reason in examining important issues. epticai inquire *t 'A AC Mint F 0 • SCKNCl A»0 REASON

CENTER FOR INQUIRY INTERNATIONAL » P.O. Box 703 Amherst. NY 14226 • Tel.: (716) 636-1425

WEST EUROPE FRFRANC/ E Los Angeles, California Rossdorf, Germany Universite oo f Nice, France PERU MOSCOW Lima, Peru Moscow State University