SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Vol. 17, No. 1 • Fall 1992/$6.25 ISAAC ASIMOV TRIBUTES BY ARTHUR C. CLARKE, FREDERIK POHL, HARLAN ELLISON, CARL SAGAN, STEPHEN J

MYSTICISM RUNESTONE HOAXES NIGHT TERRORS & SLEEP PARALYSIS CREATIONIST PSEUDOSCIENCE THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (ISSN 0194-6730) is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, an international organization. Editor Kendrick Frazier. Editorial Board James E. Alcock, Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, Philip J. Klass, Paul Kurtz. Consulting Editors Isaac Asimov, William Sims Bainbridge, John R. Cole, Kenneth L. Feder, C. E. M. Hansel, E. C. Krupp, David F. Marks, Andrew Neher, James E. Oberg, Robert Sheaffer, Steven N. Shore. Managing Editor Doris Hawley Doyle. Contributing Editor Lys Ann Shore. Business Manager Mary Rose Hays. Assistant Business Manager Sandra Lesniak Chief Data Officer Richard Seymour. Computer Assistant Michael Cione. Production Paul E. Loynes. Art Linda Hays. Audio Technician Vance Vigrass. Librarian, Ranjit Sandhu. Staff Leland Harrington, Jonathan Jiras, Alfreda Pidgeon, Kathy Reeves, Elizabeth Begley (Albuquerque). Cartoonist Rob Pudim.

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy, State University of New York at Buffalo. Barry Karr, Executive Director and Public Relations Director. Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director. Fellows of the Committee James E. Alcock, psychologist, York Univ., Toronto; Isaac Asimov, biochemist, author; Robert A. Baker, psychologist, Univ. of Kentucky; Barry Beyerstein, biopsychologist, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Irving Biederman, psychologist, University of Minnesota; Susan Blackmore, psychologist, Brain Perception Laboratory, University of Bristol, England; Henri Broch, physicist, University of Nice, France; Vern Bullough, Distinguished Professor, State University of New York; Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University; John R. Cole, anthropologist, Institute for the Study of Human Issues; F. H. C. Crick, biophysicist, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, Calif.; L. Sprague de Camp, author, engineer; Cornells de Jager, professor of astrophysics, Univ. of Utrecht, the Netherlands; Bernard Dixon, science writer, London, U.K.: Paul Edwards, philosopher, Editor, Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Antony Flew, philoso­ pher, Reading Univ., U.K.; Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer, executive officer, Astronomical Society of the Pacific; editor of Mercury; Kendrick Frazier, science writer, Editor, THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER; Yves Galifret, Exec. Secretary, I'Union Rationaliste; Martin Gardner, author, critic; Murray Gell-Mann, professor of physics, California Institute of Technology; Henry Gordon, magician, columnist, broadcaster, Toronto; Stephen Jay Gould, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Univ.; C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist, Univ. of Wales; At Hibbs, scientist. Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human understanding and cognitive science, Indiana University; Ray Hyman, psychologist, Univ. of Oregon; Leon Jaroff, sciences editor. Time; Lawrence Jerome, science writer, engineer; Philip J. Klass, science writer, engineer; Marvin Kohl, professor of philosophy, SUNY at Fredonia; Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director, Griffith Observatory; Paul Kurtz, chairman, CSICOP, Buffalo, N.Y.; Lawrence Kusche, science writer; Paul MacCready, scientist/engineer, AeroVironment, Inc., Monrovia, Calif.; David Marks, psychologist, Middlesex Polytech, England; David Morrison, space scientist, NASA Ames Research Center; Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. of Calif., Berkeley; H. Narasimhaiah, physicist, president. Bangalore Science Forum, India; Dorothy Nelkin, sociologist, Cornell University. Joe Nickell, author, technical writing instructor, University of Kentucky; Lee Nisbet, philosopher, Medaille College; James E. Oberg, science writer; John Paulos, mathematician. Temple University; Mark Plummer, lawyer, Australia; W. V. Quine, philosopher. Harvard Univ.; Milton Rosenberg, psychologist, University of Chicago; Carl Sagan, astron­ omer, Cornell Univ.; Evry Schatzman, President, French Physics Association; Eugenie Scott, physical anthro­ pologist, executive director. National Center for Science Education, Inc.; Thomas A. Sebeok, anthropologist, linguist, Indiana University; Robert Sheaffer, science writer; Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey Hills, N.S.W., Australia; Robert Steiner, magician, author, El Cerrito, California; Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Angeles, California; Stephen Toulmin, professor of philosophy. Northwestern Univ.; Marvin Zelen, statistician, Harvard Univ. (Affiliations given for identification only.)

Manuscripts, letters, books for review, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to Kendrick Frazier, Editor, THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, 3025 Palo Alto Dr., N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87111. Subscriptions, change of address, and advertising should be addressed to: THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703. Old address as well as new are necessary for change of subscriber's address, with six weeks advance notice. Subscribers to THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER may not speak on behalf of CSICOP or THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. Inquiries from the media and the public about the work of the Committee should be made to Paul Kurtz, Chairman, CSICOP, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703. Tel.: (716) 636-1425. FAX: (716)-636-1733. Articles, reports, reviews, and letters published in THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER represent the views and work of individual authors. Their publication does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is indexed in the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. Copyright ©1992 by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, 3965 Rensch Road, Buffalo, NY 14228. All rights reserved. THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is available on 16mm microfilm, 35mm microfilm, and 105mm microfiche from University Microfilms International. Subscription Rates: Individuals, libraries, and institutions, $25.00 a year; back issues, $6.25 each. Postmaster: THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is published quarterly. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Printed in the U.S.A. Second-class postage paid at Buffalo, New York, and additional mailing offices. Send changes of address to THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703. <^> SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Vol. 17. No. 1, Fall 1992 ] Journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

A CELEBRATION OF ISAAC ASIMOV: A MAN FOR THE UNIVERSE 30 Kendrick Frazier. Arthur C. Clarke. Frederik Pohl, Harlan Ellison, L Sprague de Camp, Carl Sagan, Stephen Jay Gould, Martin Gardner, Paul Kurtz, Donald Goldsmith, James Randi, and £ C. Krupp ARTICLES Gaia Without Mysticism Phil Shannon 48 Gaia's Scientific Coming of Age Kendrick Frazier 50 The Curse of the Runestone: Deathless Hoaxes John Whittaker 57 Night Terrors. Sleep Paralysis, and Devil-Stricken Telephone Cords from Hell Peter Huston 64 Scientific Creationism: The Social Agenda of a Pseudoscience Steven N. Shore 70 Observing Stars During the Daytime: The Chimney Myth Richard Sanderson 74 Does an Ancient Jewish Amulet Commemorate the Conjunction of 2 B.C.? David P. Rubincam 78 NEWS AND COMMENT Geller Suit Against CSICOP Dismissed / Junk Science and the Courts / US. Public Positive About Science / Francis Huxley Defends Anecdotal Evidence / American Conference on Angels / Asimov on Stamp in 2002? / Paul Kurtz Elected AAAS Fellow / For the Record J NOTES OF A FRINGE-WATCHER Marianne Williamson and 'A Course in Miracles' Martin Gardner 17 PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS TVs UFO Flap, Earthquake Lights, and Francis Bacon Robert Sheaffer 26 BOOK REVIEWS Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Vampires Among Us; Paul Barber, Vampires, Burial and Death: Folklore and Reality Peter Huston 81 RECENT BOOKS 84

ARTICLES OF NOTE 85

FOLLOW-UP The "Bloody Miracle' of San Gennaro / Atomic Arithmetic 91 FORUM Prospecting for Skepticism 97

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 99

ON THE COVER: Eggshell Earth: abstract graphics composition featuring the classic Apollo 11 photo of Earth (by Tony Craddock/Science Photo Library). Cover design by Linda Hays. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal announces the 1992 CSICOP Conference at the Harvey Hotel in Dallas, Texas Friday, Saturday, and Sunday October 16, 17, and 18, 1992 FAIRNESS, FRAUD AND FEMINISM: CULTURE CONFRONTS SCIENCE

Keynote Address (Friday at 8:30 P.M.) Richard Dawkins distinguished professor of zoology at Oxford University, author of The Blind Watchmaker and The Selfish Gene

Friday, October 16

7:30 - 9:00 A.M.: Registration 9:00 - 9:15 A.M.: Opening Remarks — Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman 9:15 A.M. - 12 NOON: MULTICULTURAL APPROACHES TO SCIENCE: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY Moderator: Eugenie Scott, Executive Director, National Center for Science Education Bernard Ortiz de Montellano, professor of anthropology, Wayne State University Diana Marinez, professor of biochemistry, Michigan State University Joseph Dunbar, professor of physiology, Wayne State University 12 NOON - 2:00 P.M.: Lunch Break 2:00 - 5:00 P.M.: GENDER ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE Moderator: James Alcock, professor of psychology, Glendon College, York University, Toronto Susan Blackmore, psychologist, University of Bristol, U.K. Carol Tavris, social psychologist, author of The Mismeasure of Woman Steven Goldberg, professor of sociology, City College, City University of New York, and author of The Inevitability of Patriarchy Friday (continued)

5:15-6:15 P.M.: Reception (Cash Bar)

6:15 - 8:30 P.M.: Dinner THE FUTURE OF SKEPTICISM: THE PRICE OF REASON with die CSICOP Executive Council, Paul Kurtz, James Alcock, Barry Beyerstein, Susan Blackmore, Kendrick Frazier, Ray Hyman, Philip J. Klass, Joe Nickell, and Lee Nisbet

8:30 P.M.: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Richard Dawkins, professor of zoology, Oxford University, and author of The Blind Watchmaker and The Selfish Gene

Saturday, October 17

8:00 - 9:00 A.M.: Registration 9:00 A.M - 12 NOON: FRAUD IN SCIENCE Moderator: Elie Shneour, Director, Biosystems Research Institute Paul Friedman, professor of radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, at La Jolla Clark Glymour, professor of philosophy, Carnegie-Mellon University Walter Stewart, National Institutes of Health

12 NOON - 2:00 P.M.: CSICOP Luncheon Sergei Kapitza, editor of Russian edition of Scientific American; member Russian Academy of Sciences Evry Schatrman, former president, French Physics Society; member French Academy of Science

2:00 - 5:00 P.M^ Two Concurrent Sessions Session 1. CRASHED SAUCERS Moderator: Philip J. Klass, leading investigator of UFO claims and former senior editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology Robert Young, education director, Harrisburg Astronomical Society James McGaha, Major, U.S. Air Force (ret.), Tucson, Arizona Kevin Randle and Donald R. Schmitt, authors of UFO Crash at Roswell Session 2. THE PARANORMAL IN CHINA Moderator: Paul Kurtz, CSICOP Chairman and professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo Guo Zheng-yi, Shen Zhen-yu, Weng Shi-da, and Dong Guang-bi, members of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology; Lin Zixin, former editor-in-chief of China's Science and Technology Daily; Yu Li, journalist and magician

6:00 - 7:00 P.M4 Reception (cash bar) 7:00 - 10:00 P.M^ Awards Banquet Entertainment by Steve Shaw, mentalist, magician and "Project Alpha" alumnus (Continual on next page.) Sunday, October 18

9:00 A.M. - NOON: Conversation Session Screening of CSICOP video; Sunday morning Tour of Dinosaur Valley State Park: See the Paluxy River footprints and the fossil imprints left by giant reptiles of eons past. Dr. Ronnie Hastings, an expert on die Paluxy River footprints, will be our tour guide. The bus will leave at 8 A.M. and arrive back at die Harvey at 1:00 P.M. A complete box lunch will be provided ($31.50 per person) This conference is hosted by die North Texas Skeptics, an independent, autonomous organization. Opinions expressed at CSICOP conferences are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of CSICOP. REGISTRATION FORM Preregistration is advised. (Students 25 or under with I.D., $25.00. Registration fee does not include meals or accommodations.) Mail to: 1992 CSICOP Conference, P.O. Box 703, Buffalo, New York 14226 •• YES, I (we) plan to attend the 1992 CSICOP Conference in Dallas. • $125 registration for person(s), includes Keynote Address. $ Q $15.00 Friday Dinner for person(s) $ • $ 15.00 Saturday Luncheon for person(s) $ • $25-00 Saturday Awards Banquet for person(s) $ . D $10.00 nonregistrant tickets) to Keynote Address for person(s) $ _ • $31.50 Tour of Dinosaur Valley State Park and Box Lunch for< person(s) $ _^ D Charge my D VISA D MasterCard O Check enclosed Total $ Acct. # : Exp Name. Address. City State Zip. Phone: (day) (evening) __^^^_____ D No, I will not be able to attend the conference, but please accept my contribution (tax- deductible) of $ to help cover the costs of this and future CSICOP events. Note: The CSICOP Hospitality Room will be open at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 15 (cash bar 7:30 to 11:00 P.M.). This room will be available for die entire conference. Accommodations: The Harvey Hotel, near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Highway 114. at Esters Blvd., 4545 W. John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX 75063. Free parking. Single $68.00, double $68.00 (plus 11% tax). (The Harvey will arrange shared doubles upon request) These special rates will be available from October 13 through October 19. For reservations call 214- 929-4500, FAX 214-929-0733. Benton's restaurant, Scoop's Diner, Cassidy's Lounge, and the Lobby Bar are on the premises, and the hotel will provide free transportation to Restaurant Row. Complimentary coffee will be available in the lobby for hotel guests. Transportation: For special conference airline rates call CSICOP's travel agent, Judy Pensack, Creative Destinations, 800-572-5440 or FAX 407-830-5530, who has arranged discounts. Free transportation to and from DFW Airport to me Harvey Hotel. For more information, call or write to Mary Rose Hays at CSICOP, Box 703, Buffalo, New York 14226 / Telephone: 716-636-1425, FAX 716-1733. Media representatives should contact Barry Karr: 716-636-1425. News and Comment * tea£S>:".»"..- 1 critical discussion and analysis of Geller Suit paranormal claims, particularly those asserted by Geller." Against CSICOP On numerous occasions, the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER has included Dismissed articles that have examined and commented upon claims of paranor­ federal court in Washington, mal powers asserted by Geller, many D.C., has thrown out a lawsuit of which have called into question Ai filed by self-proclaimed psychic Geller's claims. Uri Geller against the Committee for Judge Harris's authorization of the Scientific Investigation of Claims sanctions against Geller was made of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and has pursuant to a federal court rule that authorized the imposition of mone­ mandates the imposition of sanctions tary sanctions against Geller for if litigation is "interposed for any prosecuting the case. improper purpose, such as to harass In orders issued by Judge Stanley or cause unnecessary delay or needless S. Harris, the United States District increase in the cost of litigation," or Court for the District of Columbia, if papers filed with the court are not entered judgment on behalf of "to the best of the signer's knowledge, CSICOP and granted CSICOP's information, and belief formed after request that the Court impose sanc­ reasonable inquiry . . . well grounded tions on Geller for his prosecution of in fact . . . and warranted by existing the lawsuit. Geller commenced the law or a good faith argument for the $15-million lawsuit in May 1991 extension, modification, or reversal of against CSICOP and James Randi, existing law." alleging that Geller was defamed by Following notification of Judge Randi in statements reported in the Harris's orders, CSICOP Chairman International Herald Tribune. In its Paul Kurtz commented, "This type of motion to the Court seeking judgment libel suit, even if ultimately unsuccess­ on Geller's claims against it, CSICOP ful, threatens to chill debate on asserted that Geller had no legal or scientific issues. If such obstacles as factual basis for his assertion that these are placed, unchecked, in the CSICOP should be held liable for way of scientific research, and if one Randi's alleged statements. cannot question extraordinary claims, In a declaration filed with the Court then a serious blow will be dealt to in Geller's lawsuit, CSICOP Executive freedom of expression and of scientific Director Barry Karr stated: "I believe inquiry." Kurtz continued, "We view that CSICOP was made a defendant this case as a serious challenge to our in this lawsuit solely for the purpose First Amendment rights, and we are of harassment and intimidation, and thankful that Judge Harris chose to in the hope that the lawsuit would vindicate those rights." In addition, dissuade CSICOP from encouraging Kurtz observed, the judge's decision and providing a forum for . . . the to impose sanctions against Geller

Fall 1992 5 "sends a stern warning to those who ity" means that a successful outcome would utilize libel suits as a weapon or a correct answer when applying the to harass; such conduct can carry a expert's reasoning is sufficiently heavy price." probable for a given situation. Reli­ The plaintiff has since filed papers ability is thus partly a legal question: asking the court to overturn the Given a valid method, how certain decision, and of course we are now does the result have to be before we opposing these motions. render a judgment affecting lives and fortunes? Courts should not make the question of an expert's qualifications a substitute for examining his reason­ Junk Science ing or methodology. What is valid methodology should be determined by and the Courts: the standard of Frye v. United States: The methodology and reasoning the Not All Bad News expert uses to connect the facts to the conclusions should be generally eter Huber's new book, Galileo's accepted within the scientific com­ Revenge: Junk Science in the munity. Frye was decided in 1923 and Courtroom (see New Books, SI, soon became the accepted standard for P scientific testimony in all but medical Summer 1992, p. 421), draws a depressing outline of a judicial system malpractice cases. The case was not unable to control expert testimony in always sensibly applied, but it did give cases of novel scientific evidence and judges some basis for weeding out unable to rationally determine cause unfounded scientific opinions. in product-liability and toxic-tort Some appellate courts are now lawsuits. Huber shows that over the attempting to devise standards for past few decades the courts have scientific evidence that take into abandoned earlier rules of evidence account the validity of the expert's that screened scientific testimony for methods. In Ealy v. Richardson-Merrell, reliability in favor of a "let it all in" Inc., for example, the court held that approach that encourages damage an expert witness could not testify suits based on scientifically unfounded that his own unpublished research or even frivolous theories. Still, the showed the drug Benedictin caused picture isn't entirely bleak. There is birth defects, when a wealth of a growing reaction against the use of published epidemiological studies junk science and the hired-gun expert. showed just the contrary. The court An increasing number of legal obviously felt that expert reasoning commentators and judges realize that should be based on scientifically valid the rules of evidence have become too methods, but it did not explicitly say lax and that some reform is necessary. so, nor did it mention the Frye An important article by Bert Black standard. (1988) epitomizes this new thinking. Black would change the Federal Black argues that decisions about the Rules of Evidence (now adopted by admissibility of scientific evidence most state courts as well) to explicitly should distinguish between validity require experts to explain the reason­ and reliability. "Validity" means that ing leading to their conclusions, and an expert's conclusions result from then to judge that reasoning against sound and cogent reasoning. Validity scientific consensus. is thus a scientific question. "Reliabil­ The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of

6 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Appeals in New Orleans recently Miller conceded that these were the adopted Black's arguments and read main methodologies accepted by med­ such a requirement into the Federal ical science, yet he did not use them Rules in Christophersen v. Allied-Signal in arriving at his conclusion. The court Corp. The Fifth Circuit held that Frye held that Miller's reasoning was is not dead and that the Federal Rules nothing more than a "scientific of Evidence must be aligned with the hunch," and thus not admissible. The requirement that the expert's reason­ appellate court affirmed. ing be generally accepted within the This decision effectively overruled scientific community. several older Fifth Circuit cases that Christophersen was a toxic-tort case held that questions regarding the from a Texas federal district court. scientific bases of an expert's opinion The plaintiffs, survivors of a battery- affect ". . . the weight to be assigned plant worker, claimed that the worker that opinion rather than its admissi­ acquired a rare form of cancer from bility and should be left to the jury's years of intermittent exposure to consideration." Four judges of the 13 fumes from nickel-cadmium battery dissented, arguing that the Federal manufacture. The plaintiffs' expert, Rules cannot be interpreted to auth­ Dr. Miller, was a medical doctor with orize a court to examine methodolo­ experience in cancer treatment, and gies or disapprove an expert's opinion. certainly qualified in the usual sense. All the dissenters, in my opinion, The trial court, however, examined overlook the connection between the Miller's reasoning about how Chris- scientific validity of an expert's rea­ tophersen's cancer resulted from his soning and methodology, and the exposure. The defendants' experts all reliability of his conclusions. maintained that there was no support The Supreme Court recently from epidemiology, live animal test­ refused to hear the plaintiffs' appeal, ing, or even in vitro testing, to show so Christophersen is the law in the that this type of cancer could result federal Fifth Circuit. One of the from this particular kind of exposure. defendants' lawyers believes the

Fall 1992 7 Supreme Court declined to rule on the Christophersen v. Allied-Signal Corp., el al., issue, despite its importance, because 939 F.2d 1106 (5th Cir. 1991). the Federal Rules of Evidence are Ealy v. Richardson-Merrell, Inc., 897 F.2d 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1990). undergoing revision. The proposed Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. changes will explicitly require some 1923). determination of validity and reliabil­ McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, 529 ity before scientific evidence is admit­ F. Supp. 1255 (E.D. Ark. 1982). ted. If the revisions are adopted, all federal judges will have a uniform John A. Thomas is an attorney with a procedure to follow. practice in Grand Prairie, Texas. His Certainly there is no reason to undergraduate degree is in physics, and believe that judges cannot deal with he is former president of the North Texas the underlying rationale of scientific Skeptics, whose newsletter The Skeptic testimony merely because most of published an earlier version of this article. them do not have scientific training. In cases where the focus is directly on the scientific issue, instead of cause inferred from scientific reasoning, the Science Is Still courts generally do well. Patent litigation is a good example. District Well Regarded in U.S., and appellate courts routinely exam­ NSB Report Says ine scientific methods in the most arcane disciplines and reach sound results by analyzing how a scientific cience has to function within the expert reasons and how that reason­ present climate of increasing ing fits into the scientific consensus. public distrust of all institutions, The Arkansas creationism case, S and news reports about technological McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, matters in particular often seem to be also shows that judges can analyze negative. Given all that, one might scientific reasoning if they choose to. wonder whether the public still holds Judge Overton's opinion in that case science in any kind of high esteem. is one of the most lucid and succinct But take heart, scientists and explanations of scientific method and others concerned about the well-being practice to be found anywhere. (It was of science. published in full in Science, 215:934- The current Science Indicators* a 943, Feb. 19, 1982.) There is simply report of the National Science Board, no excuse for tossing disputes about has some generally quite positive novel scientific evidence into the jury news about U.S. public attitudes box, where the baffled jurors are not toward science and technology. The even told explicitly that they are NSB studies also indicate that Amer­ deciding a question of scientific valid­ icans' attitudes are far more positive ity, much less given any help to do than those of Western Europeans. The so. report has been out for some time now, but some of its conclusions are —John A. Thomas well worth emphasizing. Here's a summary: References 'National Science Board, Science & Engineer­ Black, Bert. 1988. A unified theory of ing Indicators—1991. Washington, D.C: scientific evidence. Fordham Law Review, U.S. Government Printing Office. 1991 (NSB 56: 597-694. 91-1).

8 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 International Comparisons of Public Attitudes Toward Science and Technology

Percentage who agree 90 80 . . ^

70 •

60 • 50 1 40 'Science and technology are making our lives 30 healthier, easier, and more comfortable." 20 10 0 I • S SJT.S.S SJ* fff .SS & f^ **/*///cT * / **/***

90 80 "It is not important for me to know 70 about science in my daily life." 60 50 40 30 20 . • 10 0 fjrj>* ^V// +/"////'/

Source: Science & Engineering Indicators. 1991

• Most Americans have a positive between education, advancements in attitude about science and technology: For science, and U.S. economic competitive­ more than 30 years, at least four out ness: Seventy-five percent of the public of five American adults have stated feels that if more Americans could that science and technology have a obtain a college degree, "big improve­ positive effect on their lives. ments" would result in science, med­ • Americans trust the motives of icine, and technology; 59 percent scientists: Eighty percent agree that predict big improvements in U.S. most scientists want to make life economic competitiveness. better for the average person. While the news is generally pos­ • Americans support federal funding itive, it is not uniformly so. Attitudes of basic research. Eighty percent agree toward space exploration have become with the proposition that even if it less positive. brings no immediate benefits, basic • Assessments of space exploration are scientific research should be sup­ changing, and in a negative direction: ported by the federal government. Between 1985 and 1990, the propor­ The value of education is also tion of Americans who felt that the recognized: costs of the space program exceeded • The U.S. public sees strong links its benefits increased from 38 to 47

Fall 1992 9 percent. the public's attitudes toward science And animal research is less readily and technology: accepted: "A substantial majority of Amer­ • Fewer Americans now approve of icans value scientific research, and using large animals in scientific research: they perceive a strong link between Between 1985 and 1990, the percen­ advances in science and technology tage who approved of research caus­ and improvements in their daily lives. ing pain to animals like dogs and Even if they are unsure about the chimpanzees—even if it results in new actual processes of scientific work, knowledge about human health—fell Americans are positive about the from 63 to 50 percent. institutions of science, about scient­ And people are troubled about ists, and about government support education: for research. • Americans are increasingly con­ "American optimism about science cerned about the quality of science and stands out among the industrialized mathematics education: Since 1985, the countries; compared with Canada, percentage of adults who agree that Japan, and the nations of Western science and mathematics education in Europe, the United States scores high U.S. schools is inadequate has risen on a set of indicators of public con­ from 63 to 72 percent. fidence in science." Here is how the NSB report sum­ The U.S. survey data are largely marizes a broad range of studies about from surveys by researcher Jon D. Miller. This was the first Science Indicators report to include comparisons with similar surveys in 15 other countries. One question gave respondents a chance to express a negative view about the value of science: "It is not important to me to know about science in my daily life." Only about 12 percent of U.S. respondents agreed; in every other country more than 20 percent agreed (from more than 40 percent in Spain, Greece, and Belgium, down to 21 percent in Canada). All this is despite the generally poor knowledge about scientific concepts on the part of the American public, which could certainly be troubling for the future. "The U.S. public has maintained its strong support for science while remaining unaware of basic scientific concepts about the natural world. Most adults are not conversant with the broad scientific questions under­ lying a number of contemporary public policy issues. They often reject scientific explanations that disagree

10 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 with other beliefs, and their otherwise ideas, of other methods, of considering strong support for science is more information that does not conform to equivocal when scientific and moral scientific methodology? Should skep­ questions conflict. tics seriously consider evidence that "Americans are increasingly con­ rests wholly on personal experience, cerned about the quality of education trusting to the truth of the teller or in the United States and overwhelm­ to one's own senses? ingly favor more training in science Francis Huxley, a member of the and mathematics." famous British Huxley family, raised Some caveats and concerns: these questions when he spoke to the Although the report was published New Mexicans for Science and Reason early this year, the U.S. surveys for (NMSR) at a special meeting in Santa this report were conducted in Sep­ Fe. In a most amusing presentation, tember and October 1990. It will be Huxley gave forth with numerous interesting to see whether the next anecdotes concerning various expe­ biennial Science Indicators report shows riences and people in his life, all of the same degree of positive attitudes which confirm to him that science is toward science, or whether the gener­ foolishly limited. In essence, he said, ally heightened negativism prevalent although an experience may not be this year toward other institutions repeatable, it is verifiable, and one (Congress, for example) will rub off should give paranormal experiences on science as well. In addition, science credence. Is an experience, then, as as an institution has had plenty of bad important as a replicable experiment? publicity itself in the past year (several Although Huxley does not claim to significant science fraud cases, scan­ speak for the entire New Age move­ dals over misuse of federal funds at ment, it is this attitude that informs several universities, and serious prob­ it: science is harsh, forbidding, cold, lems with several expensive space afraid of new ideas that undermine its experiments have all been in the public edifice and its prestige, and is limited eye), so much so that last August Time to gray experimentation. Contrarily, produced a cover story, "Science we all have experiences that seem Under Siege." beyond explanation. We should rely on So while science may have been our perceptions and experiences as a held in generally high esteem in the source of valid information. U.S., the question is, will it remain so? This is the challenge set out before skeptics today; that night, it was -K.F. presented by Huxley. Huxley's talk came about through a challenge issued by his wife, Adele Getty, in The Sun, a New Age monthly Francis Huxley's published in Santa Fe. With the cooperation of St. John's College, Alternative View NMSR accepted the challenge of an J of the Universe exchange of views so that each group might learn something of the interests and concerns of the other. It is re science and skepticism unne­ difficult, however, to describe Hux­ cessarily limited in their ap­ ley's talk in any detail. Aproach to the phenomena of Huxley has a genius for presenta­ the world? Are skeptics afraid of other tion. He has a sonorous voice, a calm,

Fall 1992 11 yet lively, dignified, elegant manner, He was acquainted with a woman, and he presents himself and his stories Rosiland Heyward, who had written with humor and dispatch. What it all several books on ESP for the Society amounted to is a different question. for Psychical Research, a British group The substance of the talk, its center, of long standing. She was married to was never defined. One must infer it a colonel who enjoyed great success from what was said and not said. The dowsing for oil in Arabia. Heyward talk was, then, an entertaining set of related that when she received a anecdotes just basted together. psychic message, she considered it an Huxley is the great-grandson of order. On the more familial level, she T. H. Huxley, "Darwin's Bulldog," the and her husband communicated son of Julian, and the nephew of psychically on a regular basis, calling Aldous. He has a B.S. and an M.A. each other when needed from remote from Oxford and has been assistant parts of the house and from more curator of the Liverpool Museum. He distant places during the war, when is the cofounder of Survival Interna­ telephones were unavailable. Accord­ tional. Given this background, Huxley ing to Huxley, the couple were happy does support the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER to demonstrate their powers to oth­ in its efforts to root our charlatans, ers, including members of the Society but he dislikes its animus against for Psychical Research. believers. In reference to other paranormal Quoting Pyrrho, the 4th century phenomena, Huxley spoke positively B.C. philosopher, he said that, since one of the I-Ching's being useful because cannot reconcile differing opinions it is self-reflective and thus causes the about the world, one should hold one's reader to be the same, which, one mind in suspense, in divine rest. He should note, is exactly what the spoke of skeptical doubt of such SKEPTICAL INQUIRER had to say about phenomena as extrasensory percep­ astrology and why it is it seems to tion: that they can be explained work. through coincidence and chance, that Further on and farther out, Huxley the results of tests have been twisted spoke of his admiration for a Brazilian by cheating on statistics. He noted that psychic surgeon who is able to predict Samual T. Gill criticizes phenomena who will faint during his audiences. that disappear when doubted and that He is then decent enough to cure skeptics believe we can communicate them. During an operation Huxley through the five senses only. observed, the surgeon drew out In contrast, Huxley presents him­ congealed ectoplasm, after which the self as a "natural historian"; his case patient was cured. The most dramatic was built on anecdotes, including his event came when the surgeon pain­ own. Many examples followed. One fully pushed a drinking glass into took place upon a night when he Huxley's sternum to take away his awoke for no particular reason, energy and use it to revivify a dying dressed, went outside, and then to a man. Huxley fainted from the pain, house two doors down, to the base­ but the dying man recovered. Mind ment apartment where, going in over matter, Huxley observed. Equally through the window, he found a impressive, this same surgeon chan­ friend suffocating in bed and so saved neled Nero with an exactness that her life. He has no doubts about that rivaled Suetonius. night, but he also had no reason to As his account went on, Huxley do as he did. proclaimed doubt about a few phe-

12 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 nomena. He views ESP card-guessing mation. If one wishes to overturn old tests as boring and ludicrous, with rules, one must understand how much the odds millions to one. Any ESP is at stake and how difficult it is to that exists will fade with the increas­ prove asserted new phenomena. ing boredom. Chance governs some There are ages of accumulated evi­ phenomena, such as the idea that dence, a heritage that should not be given enough monkeys attached to thrown out lightly. Imagination is typewriters, one will eventually type terrific, but then comes testing. Such out Shakespeare's Hamlet. Both this testing often shows the coincidences and the Hundredth Monkey hy­ and anecdotes of Huxley and his peers pothesis he views as absurd. Huxley to be meaningless. Thus one should is also dubious of more mundane consider it significant that in more questions, such as elements of psy­ than 100 years of testing there has chology and the Jungian theory of the not been one repeatable demonstration unconscious. of a paranormal power. In the end, he said that skepticism There were areas of agreement. As should be alternated with belief and to the assertion that science is a way that it is better to be a fool than a to keep from being "ripped off," both knave. What you do has a conse­ Huxley and Geohegan were able to quence, he stated, even if it is not agree that they don't like being replicable. humbugged, although Huxley As a counterpoint to Huxley's believes skeptics can humbug them­ presentation, NMSR's chairman, John selves out of "moments." Geohegan, presented the skeptics' In the end, Huxley reaffirmed his viewpoint. He said skeptics follow belief that one must not scorn anec­ certain rules, the first being testing, dotes; one must not limit awareness i.e., Don't take anybody's word for but keep the doors of perception open. it. Show me, he said. People like He tells of what happens in the "living the Maharishi are unconvincing moment," the interpersonal; he lives because they refuse to demonstrate the moment to the fullest. Thus one their claims. Give me enough infor­ can make use of the experiences of mation to repeat the experiment, life. Do not explain experience, he but I do not accept the concept that enjoins us, use it. I do not need to explain the pheno­ Thus we are left with these two menon. Using a double-blind tech­ ways of viewing the experience of life: nique, so that the experimenter explain the marvelous so it can be cannot fudge the results, is important; harnessed, use the marvelous as is falsifiability—the possibility of whether it can be explained or not. proving claims to be false. Last, he One suspects further debate is said, science says nothing about moral necessary. principles, nor does it deny the super­ natural; for the latter, there is merely —John Pen La Farge no evidence. Clearly, what most troubled John Pen La Farge is a writer, editor, Geohegan is that New Agers may not and historian in Santa Fe, New Mexico. understand the scientific concepts and This is a slightly different version of an facts they attack, and thus threaten article he wrote for the newsletter of New not only to ignore but to deny them Mexicans for Science and Reason, the and thus discard a vast area of human Enchanted Skeptic, of which he is the endeavor, a treasure-trove of infor­ editor.

Fall 1992 13 want to work with angels to "infuse A Little Bit of Heaven our culture with more kindness and compassion without pushing our will At Massachusetts on others." Angel Conference But for skeptics who want to know more about angels themselves, here's the lowdown: hey didn't watch "Angel on My • Everyone has at least one Shoulder," sing "You Are My guardian angel, even skeptics. My TSpecial Angel," or dine on angel wife, it turns out, has two (one was food cake, but the 60 people who paid standing behind and to the left of her, at least $200 each to attend the May according to Martin-Kuri). 29-31 American Conference on • Angels can't see objects, except Angels said they had a heavenly time through the perceptions of the person meditating, dancing, and making they're serving. An angel only sees various offerings to their guardian people as energy, and they are drawn angels, hoping to learn how to com­ to "positive" people the way a moth municate with them. is drawn to a flame. The driving force behind the meet­ • There are "dark" angels. They ing in North Falmouth, Massachu­ influence dark, dense, negative, and setts, was Karyn Martin-Kuri, an materialistic people. "They're very artist who claims she has been able painful to be around," she said. "Only to see and psychically converse with my compassion allows that." angels because the heavens open up • Angels need offerings and other to her, and she saw millions of angels signs of goodwill to thrive. Such as a child. offerings can be any work of art— Her organization, Tapestry, even poem, play, dance, sculpture, or piece has a toll-free number (1-800-28- of needlework—created on their ANGEL). YOU can therefore call Martin- behalf. Kuri and she can tell you what your • Evil people apparently do a better guardian angel has wanted to tell you job than the rest of us at ignoring the but you've been too out-of-touch to whisperings of their guardian angels. hear. Take Saddam Hussein. "We've been An "Angelic Consultation" costs working with his guardian angel for $50 for a half-hour or $75 for an hour some time," Martin-Kuri said. "You and, based on the sampling she gave can ask your guardian angel to work me, sounds suspiciously like a cold with his guardian angel" in hopes of reading, a technique psychics use to getting him to listen. "It's an indirect make you think they know all about system." you. Martin-Kuri said she can get • Angels may take human form or information from the caller's guardian move objects. "Angels can go into the angel because, she says, "the phone body of a person to stop a train or is just an illusion." to lift a truck off a child with extraor­ The conference coincided with a dinary strength," she said. May 12 front-page article on guardian • Some people who are reincar­ angels in the Wall Street Journal, which nated get tutoring from the archangel chronicled how angelology and angel- Michael before they begin their next related products are becoming existence. The schooling is a special popular. program set up by Michael during his Martin-Kuri and her supporters current 200- to 300-year reign as

14 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 super archangel. steadfast champion of science and Most people at the North Falmouth reason. We were pleased to provide conference seemed anxious to get a forum for them to express their better access to the angelic realm. feelings and to honor Isaac. Some of Margerite Abramo of Stony Brook, their recollections are quite touching. Long Island, was delighted when she At the end of his comment, Martin went to sleep the first night of the Gardner suggests that the U.S. Postal conference and was told in a dream Service should begin to consider a that her guardian angel's name is commemorative stamp to honor Ahvid. "I was so afraid my guardian Asimov. He's not alone. San Francisco angel's name would be Harry or Examiner science writer Keay David­ Irving." son (a recipient of CSICOP's 1991 A quick way to show that angels Responsibility in Journalism award), in exist would be for you to ask Martin- his syndicated "Mr. Science Guy" Kuri the name of a playing card you've column, relates the suggestion from just selected. Your guardian angel a California reader that we all start (who senses the card through you) can a movement to get Asimov's visage relay the card to her over the phone. on a stamp. If Elvis Presley deserves But, as she explained before the a stamp, "then why not Asimov, conference, "We're not interested in whose writings inspired and educated convincing anyone." generations of scientists and technol­ Martin-Kuri said people who know ogists." Says Davidson, "As a lifelong about angels are never alone. When Asimovian, I agree 100 percent. I call they're walking down an empty cor­ upon my readers to write the U.S. ridor, they often smile as though they Postal Service and demand that are amid a crowd of happy people. But Asimov get his own stamp." they don't walk along the side of the He gives the address, and here it corridor to physically make room for is, for the benefit of SKEPTICAL IN­ the heavenly spirits, she said. "That's QUIRER readers who might also want what they do in mental hospitals." to write: Norma Arroyo, Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, 475 —C. Eugene Emery Jr. 1'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4474-3, Washington, DC 20260-6753. Please Gene Emery is a science writer for the note that no one (except former pres­ Providence Journal. idents) can be honored with a stamp until 10 years after his or her death. As part of the homework of anyone seriously interested in this stamp movement, read James A. Michener's simov on Software Now, fascinating anecdotes about his tur­ On a Stamp in 2002? bulent service on the citizens stamp A commission, on pages 218-225 of his memoir, The World Is My Home any distinguished scientists (discussed in our Summer 1992 issue). and writers present personal Isaac Asimov's books will be around remarks in this issue about forever. Shortly before his death, the influence Isaac Asimov had on however, he participated in his first- their lives, his phenomenal output of ever software program, called Science explanatory science writing and Adventure. It was announced May 4 science fiction, and his role as a by Knowledge Adventure, Inc., an

Fall 1992 15 educational software publisher spe­ zine (published by the AAAS), said cializing in disk-based multimedia Fellows' accomplishments "often span "interactive books." Because it was decades of distinguished efforts on written by Asimov, company vice behalf of science" (255:1726). president Steve Chadima thought SI readers would want to know of Science Adventure, subtitled "Discoveries That Changed the World." The company II For the Record says it combines Asimov's text "with stunning, photographic-quality images and digitized sound in a unique n Robert E. McGrath's review of format" that can be used on the T. M. Luhrman's Persuasion of the average home or school PC. For fur­ Witch's Craft (SI, Spring 1992), the ther information contact the company I copy editor made an incorrect assump­ at 4502 Dyer St., La Crescenta, CA tion, twice replacing McGrath's "T. M. 91214. Luhrman" with "he." Our apologies to Tanya M. Luhrman. —Kendrick Frazier In the latest list of newspapers that carry astrology disclaimers (Spring 1992, p. 235), we wrongly placed the Tupelo Daily Journal in Michigan aul Kurtz Elected rather than Mississippi. Also, the newspaper is now the Northeast Mis­ Fellow of AAAS sissippi Daily Journal, Tupelo, Miss. P Several more newspapers that carry disclaimers have been brought to our SICOP founder and chairman attention and will be listed the next Paul Kurtz, professor emeri­ time we publish a full update. Ctus of philosophy at the State At the end of Milton A. Rothman's University of New York at Buffalo, article Two 19th-century Skeptics was elected a Fellow of the American (Spring 1992), the date of Fiske's A Association for the Advancement of Century of Science and Other Essays was Science during the February meeting moved forward nearly a century by of the AAAS Council. typographical transposition from the AAAS Fellows are those members correct 1899 to 1989. "whose efforts on behalf of the There was an error in the inclusive advancement of science or its appli­ page numbers we gave for the paper cations are scientifically and socially by R. A. McConnell and T. K. Clark distinguished." Kurtz was cited "for that was the subject of our News and research, publications, service to the Comment article about NAS mem­ profession, and communicating and bers' attitudes toward parapsychology interpreting science to the public," (Spring 1992). The correct reference according to AAAS executive officer is Journal of the American Society for Richard S. Nicholson. Introducing the Psychical Research, 85:333-365, listing of new Fellows, Science maga­ October 1991. o

16 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Notes of a Fringe-Watcher

MARTIN GARDNER

Marianne Williamson and D 'A Course in Miracles'

hirley MacLaine, top New Age showbiz guru, has been shoved Saside by a new woman on the block, Marianne Williamson. For several years now Williamson has been preaching up a storm about a massive Course in Miracles, said to have been dictated by none other than Jesus himself. Let's start at the begin­ ning. Helen Cohen Schucman (1909- 1981) was a psychologist on the staff of the psychiatry department of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. In the same An "inner voice" commanded Helen Schuc­ department was William N. Thetford. man to take notes on a "course in miracles." In her middle years Schucman became Thetford's assistant at New York Totally stunned, Schucman did not City's Presbyterian Hospital, where he even believe the statements she was headed the psychology department. scribbling in her shorthand notebooks. They were an unlikely pair. Thet­ When she finally confided to her boss ford, a tall, handsome bachelor, was what was happening, he advised her 14 years younger than Schucman. She to keep scribbling. Her husband, Louis was short, slight, and a professed Schucman, who ran a bookstore in atheist. Suddenly in 1965 a strange Manhattan, seems also to have been thing happened. A silent "inner voice" sympathetic. Thetford, previously an commanded her to take notes for a agnostic, became so intrigued that he "course in miracles." For almost eight began an intensive study of mysticism years (1965 to 1973) the Voice dictated and world religions. at intervals. It was not automatic Schucman would read her notes writing, because Helen was always aloud and Thetford would type them. wide awake. If a phone call interrupted There is some dispute over how much the channeling, the Voice would stop the channeled material was edited. and later take up where it had left off. Thetford claimed such changes were

Fall 1992 17 minor. From time to time they would of 300 copies—a photocopy of the ask the Voice questions. Eventually a typescript published in 1975 under the three-part manuscript was produced. imprint of Freeperson Press, San Until her death at 71, Helen refused Francisco. The next year Judy's foun­ to be identified as the channeler. Since dation printed 5,000 copies in a then Thetford has also died. hardcover set of three blue-bound Enter Judith Skutch, then the wife volumes, a total of 1,188 pages. of Robert Skutch, a New York stock­ Volume 1, 622 pages, is the Course. broker and former writer of television Volume 2, Workbook for Students, is 478 commercials. Born in Brooklyn of pages and describes an exercise for Jewish parents, Judy Skutch became each day of the year. Volume 3, extremely active in psychic circles. Her Manual for Teachers, 88 pages, further Foundation for Parapsychology Inves­ explicates the Course. The set has now tigation helped fund Stanford sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Research Institute's research on Uri The Course quickly acquired ardent Geller. She became known as "para- disciples. Psychologist Kenneth A. psychology's den mother." When she Wapnick, a Jewish convert to Roman began to read Helen Schucman's Catholicism, has dedicated his life to channeled manuscript she was spreading the new revelation. His floored, like Paul on the road to Foundation for a Course in Miracles, Damascus. Abandoning her activities in Roscoe, New York, has published in parapsychology (she had taught the six books in which he struggles to topic at New York University) Skutch harmonize the Course with Christian decided to devote all her energies to doctrine. getting A Course in Miracles into print. The Course has spawned a dozen Her organization was renamed the other books and more than a thousand Foundation for Inner Peace, now study groups here and abroad. Thet­ located in Tiburon, California. ford coedited Choose Once Again, a Reed Erickson, an American indus­ book of selections from the Course. trialist living in Mexico, shelled out Robert Skutch's Journey Without $60,000 for the Course's first printing Distance is a history of the Course. His Messages from My Higher Self was, he claims, produced by automatic writing while meditating. Centerlink issued a disk version of the Course. Steven Halpern, a New Age pianist, set passages from the Course to music. Miracle Distribution Center put Halpern's songs on audio­ tape, and Beverly Hutchinson, who also lectures on the Course, is the vocalist. An ad says the songs are "like jewels set in a background of velvet." A wag named Michael Stillwater wrote a small handbook for gardeners titled A Course in Marigolds, published by the Foundation for Dinner Peas. Judy Skutch decided to devote all her Like Mary Baker Eddy, Helen energies to getting A Course in Miracles into Schucman wrote reams of forgettable print. verse. Judy Skutch issued a posthu-

18 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 mous selection of Schucman's poems Teach Only Love, Goodbye to Guilt, and in a book titled The Gifts of God. The Children as Teachers of Peace. poems read as if they were written It is hard to believe that intelligent by the author of A Course in Miracles. people could take seriously a work that Before their divorce, the Skutches is little more than a crude rehash of had four children. A daughter, who ideas from the old New Thought is now Tamara ("Tammy") Cohen, had movement, which generated a vast exhibited as a child what her parents literature about a century ago. took to be strong psi powers. In 1985, Initiated by an amusing quack, Phin- Cohen and her mother collaborated on eas Parkhurst Quimby, the movement Double Vision, a book in which each sprouted into a variety of religions, gives an account of her psychic of which the most successful were adventures. Judy Skutch now lives in Christian Science and Unity. Belvedere, California, with her new Like New Thought, which rang all husband, retired Army officer William the changes of today's New Age, Whitsun. including psi phenomena and reincar­ The Course had a profound impact nation, the Course swarms with Chris­ on many notables in psi circles. Willis tian terminology, but uses it in Harmon, who heads the Institute of Pickwickian ways. "Atonement," for Noetics, called it "the most important example, is not the blood atonement book in the English language." Glen of Jesus. It means "at-one-ment," the Olds, former president of Kent State unity of each of us with everyone else University, was similarly smitten. A and with God. Acceptance of this "at- raft of top parapsychologists praised one-ment" is the equivalent of Chris­ the book and testified that its exercises tian conversion and rebirth. had cured their ulcers and other Central to the Course is the Hindu ailments. Other prominent New notion that time and the physical Agers were not so impressed. The world are maya, or illusions. The sole Esalen Institute's cofounder, Michael reality is Love, which is the same as Murphy, had this to say: God. Here is how the Course sums itself up in its brief introduction: But there's much more of Helen in "Nothing real can be threatened. the Course than I first thought. She Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the was brought up mystically inclined. peace of God." At four she used to stand out on The opposite of love, we are told, the balcony and say that God would give her a sign of miracles to let her is not hate but fear. All our major know that he was there. Many ideas decisions are choices between those from the Course came from the new two emotions. We can't fear if we love. thought or metaphysical schools she We can't love if we fear. What every­ had been influenced by. one else calls sin and guilt do not exist. The course puts it bluntly: "There is Psychiatrist Gerald Jampolsky was no sin," and "evil does not exist." Sin a distinguished convert. The Course is merely false thinking and percep­ banished his agony after a divorce and tion. We can be mistaken, but in God's cured his alcoholism and back pain. eyes we are all guiltless. Even Judas Well known for his work with termi­ did not sin, Schucman was told. Sin, nally ill children, Jampolsky has evil, sickness, even death, are illusions written about the Course in books with arising from an absence of love, as such titles as There Is a Rainbow Behind darkness is the absence of light. Every Cloud, Love Is Letting Go of Fear, Here is how Mary Baker Eddy said

Fall 1992 19 the same thing in her book Retrospec­ places enormous stress on right tion and Introspection: thinking—eliminating the negative, accentuating the positive. Its admoni­ [Christian] Science saith to Fear: tions, however, are expressed in such "You are the cause of all sickness; vapid cliches that they make Norman but you are a self-constituted fal­ Vincent Peale and Robert Schuller sity,—you are darkness, nothing­ seem like profound philosophers. ness. . . . You do not exist, and have Enter Marianne Williamson. Like no right to exist, for 'perfect love casteth out fear.'"... A demon­ Schucman, she comes from a Jewish stration of the unreality of evil background. She is 39, a small, fragile destroys evil. brunette, who was born in Houston, where her father is a wealthy lawyer. A college dropout, she became mired Like so many other New Agers, in a series of unhappy love affairs, Thetford likened the unreality of the alcohol and drug abuse, a nervous world to the solipsism that tinges breakdown, and endless sessions with quantum mechanics. "Somehow," he therapists. She speaks candidly of her said in an interview, "we are perceiv­ "wild" youth and "angry left-wing" ing something that isn't there, and it opinions. Reading the Course, she says, is our perception of it which gives it was her "path out of hell." reality." As Shirley MacLaine likes to say, we create our own reality. Williamson's fervent preaching— Forgiveness is another basic con­ she has the rapid-fire delivery of a cept of the Course. Once we experience televangelist—soon attracted so many atonement, cast out fear, and love one followers that Time (July 29,1991) and another and God, we automatically Newsweek (March 30, 1992) each forgive ourselves and others. Well, not devoted a full page to her growing really, because there is nothing to fame. This year HarperCollins pub­ forgive! lished her book A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course The Course's "miracles" are not in Miracles. After Oprah Winfrey said miracles in the biblical sense of she had given away a thousand copies, violations of natural laws. They are the book jumped to the top of the New simply "shifts in perception" that cast York Times "How-to" best-seller list. out fear. However, a disturbing line in the Course reads: "Miracles enable Williamson lives in West Holly­ you to heal the sick and raise the dead wood as a single mother with her baby because you made sickness and death daughter India Emmaline. In addition yourself, and can therefore abolish to lecturing regularly in Los Angeles both." I'm not sure just what that and Manhattan, she has founded a means. Like Christian Science, the Center for Living in both cities to help Course abolishes evil only by redefin­ victims of AIDS and other serious ing it. As an illusion, pain still remains. diseases. A project of the Los Angeles An old limerick puts it crisply: Center, called "Angel Food," provides meals for victims of AIDS. It is supported by such Hollywood lumi­ There was a faith-healer named Neil naries as Shirley MacLaine, Bette Who said, "Although pain isn't real, When I sit on a pin Midler, Richard Gere, and Meryl And it punctures my skin, Streep. Although not an ordained I dislike what I fancy I feel." minister, Williamson likes to "offi­ ciate" at marriages and funerals. It was As did New Thought, the Course she who officiated at Elizabeth Tay-

20 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 lor's recent marriage to Larry leprosy.' " Fortensky. Some converts to the Course are Williamson's theme song is "What loath to admit that the Voice was the the world needs now is love, sweet voice of Jesus, but passages in the love." The word love must appear in Course make this clear, and Helen her book more than a thousand times, Schucman was openly frank about it. in such sentences as "We are all part She spoke of how disturbed she had of a vast sea of love. . . . Love is a been when the Voice first identified win-mode. . . . Only love is real. itself "in no uncertain terms." One Nothing else actually exists. . . . Love reason she gave for remaining anon­ is to people what water is to plants." ymous was so "the true author, Jesus," Here are some more gems of would always be the Course's "sole Marianne's mushy metaphysics: "We inspirational figure." are pregnant with possibilities. . . . Williamson also assumes that the Nothing occurs outside our minds. Voice came from Jesus, but she adds ... If God is seen as electricity, then that "Jesus" is merely a metaphor for we are his lamps Gray clouds never the love inside us, not a "person." last forever. The blue sky does. . . . When Time and Newsweek ran their Time does not exist. .. . We're always articles about Williamson, neither had perfect. We can't not be. . . . Sickness the courage to name Jesus as the is an illusion and does not actually Course's author. I sent Time a letter exist." asking why, which was not published; "Jesus saves," Williamson tells us, but I received a surprising letter from does not mean he rescues us from an editor saying that, although they perdition. It means "Love heals the were aware that Schucman claimed mind. The leper was healed by Jesus Jesus as the author, "space limitations" because 'Jesus did not believe in prevented them from mentioning it.

Fall 1992 21 More amusing is the fact that no angels."* Can you conceive of "think­ article I've yet seen about the Course ing" without time, and in a place that reveals that Jesus once dictated is not a place? instructions to Schucman on how to One can be a deep student of the construct an electronic machine that Course, Williamson says, and either would heal sickness. Because only love believe or not believe in reincarnation. can heal, I assume the machine would Whether she believes it the way heal through the love of those who Shirley MacLaine does is hard to manufactured it. Robert Skutch, in his know. At any rate, we are mercifully history of the Course, says that the spared details about Williamson's description of the device was shown previous incarnations. to several "eminent scientists." Unfor­ However, like MacLaine, William­ tunately, none was able to understand son is aware of her good looks, humor, it. and charisma. Like MacLaine, she What about reincarnation? Like the enjoys tossing around four-letter Course, Williamson waffles. Death is words. Like MacLaine, she is self- unreal because when our bodies die, absorbed and relishing her glitzy fame. our spirit indeed lives on. It is like Like MacLaine, she is forever recalling removing an old suit of clothes, she episodes in her past, as if (for instance) writes, or like a book that never ends. anyone cares to know she was once "The end of our physical incarnation strongly attracted to a gay man. is like the end of a chapter, on some In recent months she seems to have level setting up the beginning of forgotten the Course's lessons. The another." New York Post (February 25, 1992) Again: "We have been alive forever. headed its Page Six column: "Top- We will be alive forever more." Selling Guru Trashed as Tyrant." The Does this mean previous and column pictures Williamson as future lives on earth? Williamson is "becoming a power sponge: abusing vague. She quotes the Course as subordinates, throwing temper tan­ saying, "Reincarnation cannot, then, trums, and forcing out highly con­ be true in any real sense." Why? nected board members who've "Because there is no linear time. If we brought in celebrities and millions of have past lives, or future lives, then dollars to her work." they're all happening at once." This At one party, says the Post, Wil­ is mystifying. Physicists like to define liamson "pitched a hissy" because the time as that which keeps everything host asked Shirley MacLaine to give from happening at once. Can you the fundraising speech instead of her. imagine "living" in a timeless world Also according to the Post, she told a where everything happens at once? talent manager "to go f— himself "Heaven is here," says the Course. because she wasn't properly intro­ "There is nowhere else. Here is now. duced to Dolly Parton. She seems to There is no other time." Again: be on a major power trip. She's gotten "Heaven is not a place.... It is merely rid of everyone who disagrees with the awareness of perfect oneness, and her." the knowledge that there is nothing Williamson is quoted as saying: "I else; nothing outside this awareness, should be allowed those reactions. I'm and nothing within." *In her mystifying "glossary" at the close of On the other hand, Williamson can Science ana Health, Mary Baker Eddy defined write, "Angels are the thoughts of "Angels" as "God's thoughts passing to God and in Heaven you will think like man."

22 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 not perfect." Not perfect? Doesn't the holes in their heads? Course say everyone is perfect? On May 22, 1992, the New York Williamson has called herself "a Post reported that Random House, bitch for God." Powerful Hollywood offering an advance in the millions, people, reports Page Six, "are saying had signed Williamson for two more the description is two words too long." books: On Women and The Healing of Will the sexy little guru rediscover America. Jacqueline Onassis, a Dou- love, sweet love? And will her follow­ bleday senior editor, wined and dined ers, along with other disciples of the Williamson, but Random House got Course, ever succeed in plugging the the contract. •

A Skeptic's Notebook, by Robert A. Baker, professor emeritus of psychol­ ogy at the University of Kentucky and EARTHQUAKE LIGHTS AND UFO'S CSICOP Fellow. Reality Check, by Milton Rothman, physicist, CSICOP Consultant, and author of A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism and many other science books. Beyond Belief, by Tom Flynn, electronic media expert and director of Inquiry Media Productions. Inklings, by U.K. science-writer Lewis Jones. Skeptical Briefs brings you CSICOP news and views not often found in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. (Published quarterly, in February, May, August, and November.)

The CSICOP Newsletter Fill out this coupon and send it with your payment to: Skeptical Briefs, P.O. Box 229, Skeptical Briefs is the quarterly Buffalo, NY 14215-0229 newsletter of the Committee for the Dlyr. $15 D2yrs. $28 D3yrs. $35 Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, published to inform • Check enclosed skeptics about CSICOP activities and D Charge my D VISA D MasterCard the pursuits of independent local and # other national skeptics organizations. Exp. You'll find many new features in Skeptical Briefs, including the follow­ Name ing regular columns: Barrett's Corner, by Stephen Bar­ Address rett, M.D., editor of Nutrition Forum and City cochairman of CSICOP's Paranormal Health Claims Subcommittee. State Zip

Fall 1992 23 You Can Help Build the Center for Inquiry

Martin Gardner and Steve Allen co-chair the Center for Inquiry fund-raising campaign.

Science commentator Martin Gardner and author-humorist Steve Allen, co-chairs of the Center for Inquiry Capital Fund Drive, will lead an expanding fund-raising effort, now under way. Its aim is not only to raise the funds required to complete Phase II of CSICOP's headquarters, but also to create an Endowment Fund whose income can be used in part to defray operating and maintenance costs of the new headquarters in perpetuity and to enrich all our programs. Martin Gardner, the author of numerous books, wrote the long- running "Mathematical Games" column in Scientific American for many years and is a longtime contributor to SI. Steve Allen is an author, humorist, musician, and television personality who created public television's Meeting of Minds series. His recent book Dumbth: And 81 Ways to Make Americans Smarter focused on America's crisis in critical thinking. In 1991, CSICOP and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER moved many of its offices and production facilities to a new 5,700-square-foot building near the State University of New York at Buffalo/Amherst campus. By conducting this Phase I project in cooperation with the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (CODESH), publisher of Free Inquiry magazine, and thanks to the generosity of our readers, CSICOP was able to pay almost all of its share of the costs. Phase I was never designed to house back-issue storage, our mail center, and audio-visual facilities—most of which remains seven miles away in a decaying urban neighborhood. Moreover, our new headquarters has space for only the most recent literature in CSICOP's library collection. Finally, it provides no room for our increasing number of meetings and seminars. Completing the 25,000-square-foot Phase II will consolidate all our Buffalo-area operations at one site—and provide permanent space for CSICOP's much-needed research library, seminar-meeting rooms, and additional office space. In addition, there will be room for expansion as CSICOP continues to grow. It's up To You Your contribution at this time will help us to maintain our momentum as we accumulate funds for the design and construction of Phase II. Donors of $1,000 or more will be listed in a special commemorative album. Names of donors of $5,000 or more will be inscribed on a bronze plaque. A seminar room in the Phase II building will be named after anyone giving $25,000 or more, and a wing of the building will be named for anyone giving $100,000 or more. Gifts may be paid through three-year pledges payable quarterly, or with stocks or bonds. Please make your contribution today. Make checks payable to CSICOP and mail to the CSICOP/Center for Inquiry Capital Fund Drive, Box 703, Buffalo, New York 14226-0703. Inquiries regarding substantial gifts, phased pledges, or bequests may be made in confidence to Paul Kurtz at the same address.

Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal CSICOP, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703

Yes, I support skepticism, science and reason! Here is my tax-deductible commitment to the CSICOP/Center for Inquiry Capital Fund Drive.

Name Address City State Zip D Pledge payable over three years in 12 quarterly payments. Amount: D $100 • $500 D $1,000 more O $5,000 or more • Other $ D Seminar room, $25,000 ($694.44 a month, billed quarterly.) D Wing, $100,000 ($2,777.77 a month, billed quarterly.) • My gift is for O Building Fund D Endowment D Where most needed D Check / Money Order Q MasterCard • VISA Or call 800-634-1610. • Credit Card Donors only Acct. No Exp. Date Signature Daytime Phone

D Please have campaign representative call me. Psychic Vibrations I •.-4JB5SK

ROBERT SHEAFFER

TV's UFO Flap, Earthquake lights, and Francis Bacon

or a week this spring it seemed many thousands of accounts from as if some Force from the Beyond people who happened to walk by the Fhad been unleashed. On May 15, victims' homes and notice the space­ CNBC's "The Real Story" gave us ac­ ships hovering overhead. But Jacobs counts of reincarnation, UFO encoun­ suggested that it is the aliens' amazing ters, religious visions, the Bermuda technological proficiency that permits Triangle, and witches. That same them to abduct people invisibly and evening, the Fox network presented perform other amazing feats, such as "Sightings: UFO Update" and CBS "floating" their victims out through gave us "Ancient Secrets of the Bible," closed windows. However, abduction- suggesting that the miracles of the ologist James Harder warns against Old Testament have a basis in histor­ believing that the aliens depicted in ical fact and allowing the "evidence" "Intruders" are "representative" of to be presented by creationists Duane extraterrestrial visitations. Harder Gish and Carl Baugh. On May 17, insists that benevolent visitations are NBC presented a two-hour "Unsolved "at least ten times more prevalent" Mysteries" special, more UFO en­ than the menacing ones depicted, and counters, a haunted mansion, and he suggests that CBS may have been conspiracies. That same evening, CBS misled by government misinforma­ served up the first installment of its tion aimed at frightening the public miniseries "Intruders," dramatizing into supporting continued high levels accounts of women supposedly kid­ of defense spending. And still no end napped and raped by space aliens. to the abductions is in sight: Philip J. Then on May 20, the regular weekly Klass reports in his Skeptics UFO "Unsolved Mysteries" aired, featuring Newsletter that John E. Mack, professor the 1989-90 Belgian UFO flap. It was of psychiatry at Harvard and consul­ not Halloween that motivated this tant for CBS's "Intruders," recently remarkable outpouring, but some­ received a $200,000 cash advance thing far more significant—ratings from Scribners to write a book to be time. titled The Abduction Syndrome. It's a On "Larry King Live" a few weeks safe bet that "alien abductions" are earlier, David Jacobs, the author of bound to continue for as long as people Secret Life: Firsthand Accounts of UFO are eager to hear them. Abductions, claimed that more than a In other exciting developments, the million people were abducted aboard magazine UFO Universe reports that UFOs. Jacobs admitted to sharing the Puerto Rican Research Group is King's puzzlement that there aren't announcing the discovery of a secret

26 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 UFO base at Laguna Cartagena, near Russian cosmonaut-trainee Maria the town of Lajas in Puerto Rico. Popovich included it in her book UFO Supposedly "the Federal Government Glasnost as a supposed fatality from has installed military armed forces to the saucer crash at Roswell. maintain a constant 24-hour vigilance. There are strict orders not to let anyone get near this place." Thou­ sands of residents of Lajas are said to Elsewhere on the UFO front, geo- have watched in amazement as two physicist John S. Derr got considerable F-14 fighters disappeared while pur­ public attention this past April when suing a giant triangular UFO. If SI he told the Seismological Society of readers in the area are not easily America that some UFO sightings spooked, they might want to check may be caused by impending earth­ this out. The presence of a second quakes. Tectonic strain, says Derr, alien base was reported in this same may cause luminous phenomena, magazine, this one in the Antelope known as earthquake lights, which Valley, near the Tehachapie Moun­ can be manifested as a strange glow tains of southern California. in the sky or even as mysterious- That supposed photo of a "dead looking balls of electricity that float alien" you may have seen making the in the air near fault lines. Working rounds of UFOlogy is in fact just a from a computerized list of UFO wax model that was part of the "Man sightings, after supposedly eliminat­ and His World" exhibition in Montreal ing objects that were explainable in in 1981. It was recently shown by other terms, he claims to have found Nippon Broadcasting in Japan in a a correlation linking UFO sightings documentary on UFOs, and one-time with the epicenters of future earth-

Fall 1992 27 quakes. phenomena are many orders of mag­ Actually, the tectonic strain theory nitude beyond anything that has ever is nothing new. It was first popular­ been measured. Moreover, University ized in the 1979s by psychology of Manitoba astronomy instructor professor Michael Persinger of Laur- Chris Rutkowski, Persinger's chief entian University in Ontario, with critic, has pointed out in painful detail whom Derr collaborates. Persinger how the statistical studies only give claims that tectonic strain correlates good correlations when you introduce well with not only waves of UFO a "lag" or "lead" effect as well as a sightings but other "Fortean events" distance effect, the same kind of as well. He explains that intense effects that are sometimes used to columns of electromagnetic energy produce correlations in ESP experi­ may cause objects to move about in ments. In many cases, UFO reports a manner suggesting "poltergeist in a given area were shown to be activity," while as the electro­ "correlated" with a single earthquake magnetic intensity increases we may • event several hundreds of kilometers see what are described as "animal away that had occurred many months mutilations" or hear of people mys­ earlier; and some UFO reports used teriously electrocuted, giving rise to in the correlations were shown by reports of "spontaneous human other researchers to have been caused combustion." by aircraft, stars, hoaxes, and so on. While it is well established that the Some of the more remarkable piezoelectric effect produces electro­ effects arising from tectonic strain, magnetic energy from strain in rocks, says Persinger, like sightings of like the faint current generated by a crypto-animals, may be hallucinations phonographic cartridge, the amount triggered by direct electromagnetic of energy required to produce Derr stimulation of the brain. If this is cor­ and Persinger's remarkable natural rect, it is puzzling that people under-

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 going a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance churchyard, and from symbols in a diagnostic in a hospital, where mag­ seventeen-century book. The matter netic fields billions of times stronger was nearly forgotten until Count than any occurring naturally outdoors Saint-Germain guided Middleton and are centered directly on their skulls, her followers there in 1991. do not make reports of entire choirs Middleton, Flint, and follower of angels dancing about the facility. Doug Moore started an illegal dig for the supposed vault on September 9, 1991, but didn't get very far before they were caught. Afterward, they Each year millions of tourists visit rallied public support, attempting to Bruton Parish Church, a splendidly pressure the church's vestry to preserved piece of early Americana in approve their plan. "There's a spiritual the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, energy in that vault that the vestry Virginia. Thomas Jefferson and Henry and a lot of people don't understand," Clay were no strangers there, and the said Middleton. "We know that church supports an active congrega­ [Rector] Dr. May and vestry offi­ tion to this day. What most visitors cials are not educated in this type of do not know is that, according to ancient metaphysical documents," legend, buried inside a secret vault added one of her followers. But the underneath the ruins of the original church decided against them, so the church may be the missing crown three started a second illegal dig on jewels of England, birth certificates November 27, and once again did not proving that Francis Bacon was the get very far. Finally, a permanent illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth I, restraining order was obtained pro­ and documents essential to world hibiting Middleton, Flint, and Moore peace. from setting foot on the church New Age minister Marsha Mid- property. dleton, her husband Frank Flint, their Paul Parsons, administrator at two children, and some followers Bruton Parish, notes that there was came the two thousand miles from a complete excavation around the old Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Williams­ church under Maria Hall's direction in burg to save the world from the 1938, and nothing unusual was found. disaster that, according to them, will Nonetheless, one of Middleton's befall by the year 2000 unless they followers was prepared to pledge are able to unearth Francis Bacon's $50,000 toward excavating the sup­ plans for a new world order. The posed vault, expecting to find original travelers claim to be guided by the manuscripts of the plays of Shakes­ spirit of the legendary eighteenth- peare, which of course were really century charlatan, the Count Saint- written by Sir Francis Bacon. Hall, Germain, who according to Middleton who did not take part in any of the should know about these things since illegal digs, explained that clues to the he had actually been Francis Bacon in vault could be found in the seal on a previous incarnation, as well as the Virginia state flag. The female having been Christopher Columbus. figure on the seal, standing over a These are students of Marie Bauer fallen warrior, represents Athena, Hall, the 88-year-old woman who who she said became Eve in a rein­ allegedly discovered clues to a vault carnation. Athena's spear points to the back in 1938 from supposed crypto­ ground, "where the vault is grams on the tombstones in the buried." •

Fall 1992 29 A Celebration of Isaac Asimov A Man for the Universe i

KENDRICK FRAZIER

Isaac Asimov was the master science educator of our time, and perhaps of all time. Fame came to him early for his science fiction. To me his 1, Robot (a collection of related stories), not the more renowned Foundation series, was Isaac Asimov's death his most memorable fiction, just ahead of such on April 6 was a loss to works as The Martian Way, The Stars, Like Dust, and the The Gods Themselves. the world. We here But it was his science fact, particularly his celebrate his life and science essays, that taught millions of people works. Your editor science. They turned me on to science as no begins with a personal science teacher ever did. In my freshman year overview. Interspersed, in college I was a physics major, but I suffered a rude shock: the professors didn't make physics we present invited clear and interesting the way Asimov did. reminiscences from Suddenly it was a confusing hodgepodge of Arthur C. Clarke, formulas and complex terms—not the orderly Frederik Pohl, Harlan historical progression of people and related Ellison, L Sprague de concepts that all science was with Asimov. Asimov had spoiled me! I hadn't expected this. Camp, Carl Sagan, For my interests, needs, and tastes, Asimov's Stephen Jay Gould, approach was better, and to this day I still think Martin Gardner, the historical, cultural approach to teaching Paul Kurtz, Donald science has the most merit for many kinds of Goldsmith, James students. Randi, and £ C. Krupp. Anyway I soon found myself a fledgling science writer rather than a would-be scientist. I took some comfort from the fact that Asimov, believing he'd probably not make a first-rate laboratory chemist, had taken the same path, except that he had a Ph.D. in chemistry. Sometime in those formative college years, about 1961, I wrote him. I asked if I should get

30 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 &k I

••M ;r**«

I

Drawing by Mark Hanover a degree in science first before going Fiction. They have appeared for 33 into science journalism. I was aston­ years. Only occasionally did I find the ished and joyous when I immediately magazine itself, but about every 18 got a card back signed "Isaac Asimov," months a new collection of the essays saying yes, I should. I didn't take his was published as a Doubleday book, advice. and I eagerly awaited each new one. But I did continue to read and learn The twenty-fifth book in this series, from him. The Intelligent Man's Guide Out of the Everywhere, was published to Science, first published in 1960, was in April as a Pinnacle paperback. Just his systematic effort to cover all fields a few of the other ones: Fact and Fancy of the physical and biological sciences (the first), The Left Hand of the Electron, in one readable volume. It was exceed­ The Stars in Their Courses, The Planet ingly popular and became the model That Wasn't, Quasar, Quasar Burning for writing about science for the Bright, X Stands for Unknown, Far As "intelligent layman." Here his phe­ Human Eye Could See, and The Rela­ nomenal breadth of knowledge, easy tivity of Wrong. (The last book's title grasp of complex subject matter, and essay was published in the Fall 1989 ability and determination to write SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, and his "Asim­ directly, clearly, and simply for the ov's Corollary," about fringe-science, nonscientist shone like a brilliant was published in our Spring 1979 beacon. In three revised editions over issue; Isaac always cheerfully granted nearly three decades, the book kept me permission to reprint any of these up with the rapid advance of science. essays.) Its title also evolved, regrettably losing To this day I'd recommend any of the direct appeal to lay intelligence but these books as one of the best ways thankfully dropping the unconscious for someone interested in science to sexist bias, and the current edition (all begin to learn about it in some 940 pages) is titled simply Asimov's historical depth. His 1979 F&SF New Guide to Science. anthology, The Road to Infinity, con­ His 941-page Asimov's Biographical tained his annotated listing of the first Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 244 of these essays. now in a second revised edition, I loved the way he started each sketches the lives and achievements essay with a personal anecdote. Here of 1,510 great scientists from antiq­ his wit and humor, his jokes about his uity to modern times. It's not just ego and intellect, the esteem he highly readable—that's an Asimov accorded a desire to learn, his mas­ trademark—but he arranged it chron­ terful put-downs of those who will­ ologically, not alphabetically nor by fully demonstrated ignorance about subject, so that a careful reader can science, his cheerful embrace of the get a sense of the historical flow of values of reason and rationality, all ideas. Asimov believed that telling the came through in entertaining style. It history of science through the scien­ was the "Good Doctor" in a quiet tific contributions of the people who conversation with the "Gentle made it "stress [es] the fact that scien­ Reader." Then he'd cleverly segue to tific knowledge is the painfully gath­ the subject matter at hand, whatever ered product of thousands of wonder­ it might be, always beginning at the ful, but fallible, human minds." beginning, with a historical approach. My favorite Asimov writings were He was an innate story teller, and a his monthly science essays published very orderly one. Unlike textbooks, in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science here too he told of the people who

32 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 did science and the way the concepts developed and built upon one another over time. What a wonderful way to teach! And to be taught! These essays were more than just expositions. Like good science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke they were filled with provocative ideas. An example is the title essay in any years ago, when introducing The Tragedy of the Moon. The tragedy M Isaac Asimov to a Mensa Asimov refers to is that early people, Society meeting in London, I said, by seeing that the moon goes around "Ladies and gentlemen, there is only the earth (as the sun, planets, and stars one Isaac Asimov." Now there is no also appear to), were led by their senses Isaac Asimov, and the world is a much to believe that we are the center of the universe, an anthropocentrism poorer place. whose effects remain to this day. Isaac must have been one of the What if, he asked, Venus had had a greatest educators who ever lived, with moon of the same relative size? Such his almost half a thousand books on a moon could have been visible to the virtually every aspect of science and eye from the earth, and people would culture. His country has lost him at its have had a clear example of another moment of direst need, for he was a heavenly body besides the earth powerful force against the evils that having something revolving around it. seem about to overwhelm it (and The history of human thought and much of Western society). He stood culture might have been noticeably for knowledge against superstition, different. Balancing this "tragedy of tolerance against bigotry, kindness the moon" is "The Triumph of the against cruelty—above all, peace Moon." In this companion essay, against war. His was one of the most Asimov considered how life itself may effective voices against the "New Age" owe a seminal debt to the moon; shallow tide pools, whose ebbs and nitwits and fundamentalist fanatics flows are caused mainly by lunar tides, who may now be a greater menace may have served as the place of than the paper bear of communism molecular self-assembly that resulted ever was. in the first life-forms on earth. Isaac's fiction was as important as Perhaps a large moon is necessary for his nonfiction, because it spread the life on a planet to take hold. same ideas on an even wider scale. He virtually invented the science of Asimov did not like to travel, and robotics—and named it before it was seldom did so, preferring instead to born. Without preaching, he showed roam about the universe in his imag­ ination, and not coincidentally to keep that knowledge was better than at the typewriter (and only much later ignorance and that there were other the word processor) day and night. defenses against violence than Nevertheless, he was an outgoing, violence itself. ebullient man, with a razor wit and Finally, and not least, he was great world-class sense of humor (yes, he fun. He will be sorely missed by wrote books of limericks and books thousands of friends and millions of about humor). The first time I ever admirers. saw him was at a science-fiction convention in Washington. There he

Fall 1992 33 and Harlan Ellison were going at it (This whole amusing exchange from opposite ends of a giant, appears in Clarke's The View from standing-room-only ballroom in what Serendip, and my thanks to Arthur I can only describe as an insult-hurling Clarke for reminding me of it.) contest. The game was to see who Clarke also thought our readers could get the best of the other with might enjoy this limerick that Asimov the wittiest and most penetrating wrote on a paper napkin and gave to barbs. Harlan, who is very, very good him (he still has it) at a science-fiction at this, had here met his match. It was publisher's dinner in New York in all great fun. 1977: It was always amusing to witness the banter between Asimov and his Old Arthur C. Clarke of Sri Lanka good friend Arthur C. Clarke. They Now sits in the sun sipping Sanka Enjoying his ease constantly teased each other in print Excepting when he's over who was the better science- Receiving pleased notes from his fiction writer and the better science- banker. fact writer. Finally, they came to an equitable agreement. It was known as When CSICOP was founded by the Clarke-Asimov Treaty. As a Paul Kurtz in 1976, Asimov was one result, Clarke's nonfiction book Report of the original founding Fellows. Even on Planet Three contained this dedica­ with such luminaries as Martin tion: "In accordance with the terms Gardner, James Randi, Carl Sagan, of the Clarke-Asimov Treaty, the and B. F. Skinner as Fellows as well, second-best science writer dedicates he was perhaps the most famous. I this book to the second-best science- came on board the next year as editor fiction writer. and soon thereafter wrote Asimov Clarke introduced Asimov at a asking him to be a SKEPTICAL INQUIRER conference in 1974 as a four- consulting editor. He readily agreed. typewriter threat, "the only man who The next year I met him for the first can type separate books simultane­ time when he dropped in on a meeting ously with his two feet as well as his of the CSICOP Executive Council in two hands." He calculated that a midtown Manhattan hotel. For a Asimov to that point had been respon­ man thought to have such a formid­ sible for deforestation amounting to able ego, his first words to me were "5.7 times ten to the sixteenth micro- unexpected: "Oh, you're my editor!" hectares. . . . All those beautiful trees, This was a joke, of course, for no turned into Asimov books." Asimov writer ever less needed an editor, responded that Clarke's introduction much less me, but I have never was the very worst kind—long and forgotten that gentle kindness. clever—and intentionally so. And he Asimov mostly listened that morn­ told his audience Clarke was the kind ing (another attribute one would have of man who, upon receiving a 75-page been led to believe was uncharacter­ crank letter in an indecipherable hand­ istic). In chitchat afterward about written scrawl on onion-skin paper creationism, he quickly caught a purporting to explain the entire mortal flaw in a typical creationist universe, would reply saying he argument against evolution. "The couldn't give the theory the attention earth isn't a closed system!" he it deserved "but my friend Isaac exclaimed with an exasperated laugh. Asimov is interested in just this sort "The sun provides energy from the of thing" and give Asimov's address. outside. Nothing about evolution

34 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Frederik Pohl

saac was part of my life for more than could photograph those faces shining in I half a century. Sometimes we worked that wonderful light. And I remember together. I was his literary agent for a the Futurian days, when all of us wanted while, now and then his editor. We did so badly to get published. In those some writing together, too—a couple of poverty-stricken Depression times Isaac short stories long ago, and then Our was not only a friend, he was a valuable Angry Earth just last year—but most of economic asset, because when the thirst my memories of Isaac are not of our struck and the bankroll was flat I could professional relationship but of always walk across Prospect Park to moments we shared. I remember where his parents had their candy store huddling with him over a television set and get a free chocolate malted from his in a Boston hotel room when the first mother. Of course there are plenty of pictures of the surface of Mars were more substantial reasons to remember coming in, and the way he looked up at Isaac—all those books, all those won­ me indignantly and said, "Craters? How derful accomplishments—but those are come neither of us thought of craters some of the ones that are my own. on Mars?" I remember a Caribbean Isaac knew he was dying, and calmly cruise to watch the nighttime launch of and courageously let us know it, too. Apollo 17, when I turned around just But, even though I was forewarned, after lift-off and saw Isaac illuminated in when CBS woke me that Monday that giant sunburst Saturn-5 rocket flare morning with the word that he was gone with Bob Heinlein and Ted Sturgeon it still hurt. There has never been anyone beside him; I wished I had had the else like him, and I don't think there intelligence to take along a camera so I ever will be again.

violates the laws of thermodynamics." CSICOP never held one of its big In 1983 Asimov put together a annual conferences in New York City collection of essays for Prometheus so that we might have had Isaac as Books titled The Roving Mind. The our keynote speaker—what an attrac­ essays covered a wide variety of topics tion that would have been!—and that included fringe science, technol­ awarded him our "In Praise of Reason" ogy, the future, and social issues Award. He richly deserved it. involving science. His dedication read: When we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the SKEPTICAL To the good people of the INQUIRER in 1986, Asimov contributed Committee for the Scientific an original essay. It was titled "The Investigation of Claims of the Perennial Fringe." While it granted the Paranormal, ready appeal of comforting pseudos- an island of sanity in a sea of nonsense cience ("a thumb to suck, a skirt to hold") in comparison with uncertain One of my disappointments is that science, it ended with a ringing appeal

Fall 1992 35 that, where matters of state and writings and is filled with information democracy are concerned, we never let and delightful stories from his daily the forces of unreason prevail. "We life. must fight any attempt on the part Asimov ended the 806th and final of the fringers and irrationalists to call page of In Joy Still Felt with the now- to their side the force of the state. poignant words, "To Be Continued, . . . That we must fight to the death" Eventually." A few pages earlier he (See SI, Spring 1986, reprinted in the wrote: "It is my intention, if I live to SI anthology The Hundredth Monkey the end of the century or there­ and Other Paradigms of the Paranormal, abouts, to do a third and (I suppose) Prometheus Books, 1991.) final volume to be called The Scenes Fifteen years ago, Asimov took from a Life. . . . However, the vicis­ time out from his other works to write situdes of life are uncertain, and I may his autobiography. He finished it on not get the chance to do that third New Year's Eve, 1977; it and a coro­ volume...." In Joy Still Fell, published nary had cut into his productivity in 1980, was Asimov book number somewhat: in his annual end-of-year 215. It's astonishing to realize that in stocktakings he noted that in 1977 he his final 12 years of life he would more had published only ten books (!), the than match that total output. By the fewest in seven years; and in 1978, time of his death, early in the morning seven. The autobiography turned out on April 6, 1992, the number of to be 640,000 words long, and his Asimov books had long since passed editor said it would have to be pub­ 460 and was quickly rising toward 500. lished in two volumes. He playfully His was a prodigious and glorious protested that William Shirer's Rise body of work, and in combination of and Fall of the Third Reich was 650,000 magnitude, substance, breadth, and words long, "according to my careful diversity, it is likely never to be word count, and that's in one volume," equaled. but to no avail. The first volume Isaac Asimov would countenance (1920-1953) became In Memory Yet no illusions about the finality of death. Green; the second (1954-1978), In joy Yet through his works and in the lives Still Felt. Drawing upon daily diaries of those he affected, he will live on, he assiduously kept and strictly chron­ forever. He, perhaps more so than any ological (that sense of order again), it's other person in history, truly is a man as highly readable as all his other of, and for, the universe.

"Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process." —Isaac Asimov, Introduction to 'X' Stands for Unknown

36 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Harlan Ellison ... just sitting around, shooting the breeze with the guys, as Archimedes verything Isaac stood for, everything mixes the drinks. Ehe tried to teach us, prevents me As it was for all of us who needed a from eulogizing him by way of question answered, who called Isaac at suggesting He Has Gone to a Better all hours of the day or night, who Place. I'd really like to; but he won't drowned him in requests for answers to permit it. conundrums, so it will now be for Isaac, In the 1984 collection of his science chasing down Cervantes and Willy essays, X Stands for Unknown, Isaac Shakespeare and Jesus, buttonholing wrote: 'There seems to be a vague them for the answers to the maybe six notion that something omniscient and or seven things in the universe he didn't omnipotent must exist. If it can be know. Such little fantasies might make it shown that scientists are not all-knowing easier to live with his death, but it would and all-powerful, then that must be the only be balm for those of us who proof that something else that is listened to Isaac for decades but omniscient and omnipotent does exist. reverted to superstition when the bullets In other words: Since scientists can't whistled past our ears. synthesize sucrose, Cod exists. Cone is gone, and with the passing of "Well, Cod may exist; I won't argue Isaac, who loved us deeply enough to the point here—" chivvy us toward smartness with a And a year earlier, in The Roving relentless passion, the universe has Mind, he began an essay on "faith" shrunk more than a little. He is gone titled "Don't You Believe?" like this: and, as I write these words less than "One of the curses of being a well- twelve hours later, there is no more known science-fiction writer is that crying left in me. Those of us who were unsophisticated people assume you to so dear to his heart, well, we've known be soft in the head. They come to you for many months he wouldn't be with us for refuge from a hard and skeptical much longer; and we've had time to world. wring ourselves out. And yet there is no "Don't you believe in flying saucers? end to the sense of helplessness and they ask me. Don't you believe in loss. telepathy?—in ancient astronauts?—in Isaac was as much a part of the the Bermuda Triangle?—in life after journals that decry paralogical thinking death? as paper and ink; and though gone, he "No, I reply. No, no, no, no, and remains with us. As he remains with the again no." uncounted thousands of young people How dare I, then, dishonor all that he who read his essays and stories and was about, publicly and privately, in went into careers of scientific inquiry, print and in person, for 54 years, by who understood the physical universe suggesting that at last Isaac will be able because he made it graspable, who to get firsthand answers to the questions became better able to handle their lives that drove him crazy throughout most of because he refused to allow them to his life, from Darwin and Roentgen and accept dogma and bigotry and Einstein and Galileo and Faraday and mendacity in place of common sense Tesla and logic.

Fall 1992 37 For all of you who mourn him in "I want... I want... Isaac Asimov." your own way, the most I have to offer And Janet told him he was Isaac is this one last anecdote of how he Asimov, that he had always been Isaac viewed himself and his imminent Asimov. But he looked troubled. That passage: wasn't what he meant. Then Janet His wife, Dr. Janet Jeppson, was with remembered that Isaac had told her, him at the end, of course, and his some time ago, before he began to slip daughter, Robyn. Janet told me, the day into abstraction and silence, that if there before he died, that toward the end ever came a time when he didn't know Isaac had trouble speaking, could only who he was, if there came a time when manage a word or two from time to his mind was not sharp, that he wanted time. He would say / love you to Janet, to be let go to sleep quietly, that and he would smile. But every once in a extraordinary measures should not be while he would murmur, "I want..." taken. and never finish the sentence. "I want. And Janet understood that he was saying that he wanted to be Isaac And Janet would try to perceive what Asimov again. he needed, and she would say, "A drink Then, in that final week before 2:30 of water?" or "Something to eat?" And AM New York time on Monday, April 6, Isaac would look dismayed, annoyed, he was holding Janet's chagrined that he couldn't put the hand, and he looked up at her and said, sentence together; and after a moment very clearly, the last he would ever say, he would let it slide, and forget he had "I am Isaac Asimov." spoken. Until the time came on the Yes, he was. Yes, indeed, he was. Sunday before he went back into the hospital for the last visit, when he Copyright ©1992 by managed to say, very clearly ... The Kilimanjaro Corporation.

"Science is a process. It is a way of thinking, a manner of approaching and of possibly resolving problems, a route by which one can produce order and sense out of disorganized and chaotic observations. Through it we achieve useful conclusions and results that are compelling and upon which there is a tendency to agree."

—Isaac Asimov, Introduction to 'X' Stands for Unknown

38 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 L Sprague de Camp first met Isaac Asimov on May 7, The war news was discouraging at I 1939, at the Queens Science Fiction that time. Hitler had suddenly attacked League. When introduced, Isaac stood the Soviet Union along the border up and said: "Now you see the world's established when the two powers had worst science-fiction writer!" partitioned Poland in 1939. For a For years he made such wildly self- month, the Nazis made huge gains and deprecating remarks. Willy Ley and I took millions of Russian prisoners. Isaac once chided him about it, whereupon remarked that, the ways things were he said: "But if I don't, people will think going, he could look forward only to an I'm conceited!" early death. Asked why, he said: Willy and I told him that he could "Because I'm a Jew." avoid such a fate by simply not talking Actually he was not an observant and about himself. The advice had little had no supernatural beliefs; but Nazis visible effect, since the 19-year-old Isaac made no such distinction. was an irrepressible extrovert, Since Isaac became much more voluble, impulsive, and expansive. productive and widely read than I, the Over the next two years, I ran into honor of that first dinner's entertainment Isaac at science-fiction gatherings. On should go to him rather than to the de June 28, 1941, he came to Catherine's Camps. and my apartment on Riverside Drive In December 1941 came Pearl for dinner. In his first autobiographical Harbor. Robert Heinlein had kept in volume, In Memory Yet Creen, Isaac touch with an Annapolis classmate, A. B. wrote: "It was the first time I had ever Scoles (then a lieutenant commander), been asked to visit the home of an who had been appointed director of the established science-fiction writer. It was Materials Laboratory of the Naval Air a matter of great excitement for me." Experimental Station of the Philadelphia Later he told someone that the reason Naval Base. Aware of Robert Heinlein's he had such a soft spot for the de writing career, Scoles thought: Why not Camps was that we were the first get a few of these fellows with technical gentiles to treat him as a social equal. backgrounds, who have been writing On a later dinner visit, I offered Isaac glibly about death rays and space ships, a highball. Just a little one, he said; so I to go to work here and show what they poured him an ounce of rye whiskey can do? and added a mixer. Isaac drank the dose So Heinlein went to work at the but soon became oddly flushed and Materials Laboratory as a civilian mottled. He politely took his leave but engineer (the Navy refused to put him did not dare go home in what he back in uniform because of his medical thought was a tipsy state. He rode the history), and I joined him when when I subway from one end of the line to the finished my naval training as a other, making three round trips before lieutenant, USNR. Scoles also persuaded returning home. Actually he was not Isaac, then a graduate student at intoxicated; he later learned that he had Columbia, to come to Philadelphia as a an allergy to alcohol, which kept him a civilian chemist. virtual teetotaler all his life. For three and a half years, Heinlein,

Fall 1992 39 Asimov, and I navigated desks and Years later, when Isaac had moved fought the war with flashing slide rules. back to New York, I got him into the Soon after the war, the now-defunct Trap Door Spiders, the all-male eating, Philadelphia Record ran a feature article drinking, and arguing society formed by headed "Stranger Than Fiction." The Fletcher Pratt in 1944. Isaac remained piece derisively narrated how the Navy the club's most distinguished ornament had hired three "mad scientists" (that is, down to his death. science-fiction writers) to invent super- I considered Isaac Asimov one of my weapons, none of which worked. There oldest, closest, and most beloved was practically not a word of truth in the friends, although geographical article. Asimov's name was misspelled; I separation kept us from seeing each was wrongly identified as a University of other much more often than the California graduate and an "expert monthly meetings of the Trap Door aerodynamicist," and so on. Asimov and Spiders. This friendship endured despite I wrote angry letters, but it took a differences of background, age, and threatening call from a lawyer to make temperament. In his youth, Isaac was the paper backtrack. noisy, brash, impulsive, and intensely Actually, we three were assigned to emotional. As he explains in his separate sections and did not work autobiography, he could not resist the together; and there was little or no mad- urge to show off, express opinions, make scientist element in our work. I tested jokes, and "crack wise," even when he things like hydraulic valves for Naval knew such acts to be contraproductive. I aircraft, trim-tab controls, and was more reserved, solitary, and windshield de-icers. Asimov performed introverted, although I forced myself to the chemical jobs assigned to him. learn to do active things like riding and Heinlein's work was so secret that I still sailing. Isaac became more and more do not know what he did. involved in his writing to the exclusion Our contacts thereafter were of all else. I have traveled the world; he episodic: meetings at conventions; disliked travel, avoided airplanes, and in Catherine's and my occasional visits to recent decades refused to stir far from Boston; and intermittent his typewriter. correspondence. In 1950, while we My lifelong friendship with Isaac is were living in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, one of my most precious memories. Of Isaac visited us when he came from all the people I have known, I rate Isaac New York for a meeting of the American as the most intelligent. Added to this Chemical Society. I was struggling with brilliance of mind was character, his the plot of my novel The Glory That utter, transparent integrity, which Was. I appealed to Isaac, who made compelled him to do what he thought some sound suggestions. Since the story right, even at his own sacrifice. If, a has been reprinted several times, century hence, someone writes about including a recent new edition, the book the two of us, I shall be honored to be proved a fair success, for which Isaac briefly mentioned as "a friend of Isaac merits part of the credit. Asimov."

40 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Carl Sagan

saac Asimov was one of the great His output was prodigious, Iexplainers of the age. Like T. H. approaching 500 volumes, always in his Huxley, he was motivated by profoundly characteristic straightforward, plain- democratic impulses to communicate speaking syntax. Part of the reason his science to the public. "Science is too Foundation series on the decline of a important," he said, paraphrasing galactic empire worked so well is that it Clemenceau, "to be left to the was based on a close reading of scientists." It will never be known how Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman many practicing scientists today, in how Empire: A principal theme was the effort many countries, owe their initial to keep science alive as the Dark Ages inspiration to a book, article, or short rolled in. story by Isaac Asimov—nor how many Asimov spoke out in favor of science ordinary citizens are sympathetic to the and reason and against pseudoscience scientific enterprise from the same and superstition. He was not afraid to cause. For example, Marvin Minsky of criticize the U.S. government and was MIT, one of the pioneers of artificial deeply committed to stabilizing world intelligence, was brought to his subject population growth. by Asimov's robot stories (initially The microscopic probe he described conceived to illustrate human/robot in his novel Fantastic Voyage—which partnerships and to counter the could enter the human bloodstream and prevailing notion, going back to repair tissue damage—was, sadly, not Frankenstein, of robots as necessarily yet available at the time of his death. As malign). At a time when science fiction someone born in grinding poverty, and was mainly devoted to action and with a lifelong passion to write and adventure, Asimov introduced puzzle- explain, Asimov by his own standards solving schemes that taught science and led a successful and happy life. In one of thinking along the way. his last books he wrote: "My life has just A number of his phrases and ideas about run its course and I don't really have insinuated themselves into the expect to live much longer." However, culture of science—for example, his he went on, his love for his wife, the spare description of the solar system as psychiatrist Janet Jeppson, and hers for "four planets plus debris" and his notion him, sustained him. "It's been a good of one day carrying icebergs from the life, and I am satisfied with it. So please rings of Saturn to the arid wastelands of don't worry about me." Mars. He wrote many science books for I don't. Instead, I worry about the rest young people, and as editor of his own of us, with no Isaac Asimov around to science-fiction magazine he made inspire the young to learning and to efforts to encourage young writers. science.

Fall 1992 41 Stephen Jay Gould

y first contact with Isaac Asimov nuances either." M was daunting. I picked up the We both laughed and became good phone one day, and a voice bellowed: friends. Isaac was the best (and most "Gould, this is Isaac Asimov. I hate you." copious) there has ever been—ever "Oh," I replied with astonishing lack throughout history—in the presentation of originality, "why so?" of science. Only Galileo and Huxley "I hate you because you write so (maybe Medawar in our generation) well," he said. matched his clarity, his verve, his So I replied, "And if I had written dedication, and, above all, his moral 400 books instead of 10,1 wouldn't be sense of the Tightness and power of paying such rapt attention to stylistic knowledge.

Martin Gardner

nowing Isaac Asimov was one of my understand this is not an average brain K life's great benedictions. I can you're about to put to sleep." He even vividly recall our first meeting. Isaac had had a business card that said under his been reading my Scientific American name, "Natural Resource." Unlike the columns, and he wanted to know what truly conceited, Isaac never indulged in sort of formal training I had in false modesty. mathematics. When I told him I had No modern writer has done more, none, that I merely read what the real or is likely to do more, to introduce mathematicians were saying and then people of all ages to the wonders of tried to dish it out in entertaining ways, science and to combat the scientific he slapped his forehead. "You mean," illiteracy that increases every year. It he exclaimed, "that you are working the has seeped into Congress. It even same racket I am?" invaded the White House when it Isaac liked to pretend he was an was occupied by the Reagans. egotist, but when he talked about his Something is radically wrong with a obviously high intelligence it was always nation willing to issue a stamp honoring in such amusing ways that it annoyed no the forgettable hound dog and drug one. When Isaac was about to be given addict Elvis Presley. Let us hope that an anesthetic before an operation, someday our post office will have recalled Andy Rooney in a fine tribute to enough sense to devote a his "lovable" and "unlikely" friend, he commemorative stamp to Isaac Asimov, said to the doctor, "I hope you an authentic national treasure.

42 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 was able to publish five books by Isaac. All the manuscripts arrived in near-perfect form, needing very little editing. He was not only a master of the Paul Kurtz language, but a fierce defender of reason and science. Isaac Asimov affected all who knew I wish that Isaac had been able to him. This was not only because of his participate in a national CSICOP writing virtuosity, which he conference; but, as is well known, he accomplished with elegance and ease, was fearful of flying. We were planning but because of the incisive mind and to build a CSICOP conference around brilliant wit that he displayed in personal him in New York City and regret that he encounters. died before we could. The skeptical My first contact with Isaac was about movement has lost a powerful spokes­ 20 years ago when I asked him to join man. the humanist movement. Later, when we founded CSICOP (in 1976), I asked him if he would join our efforts, and his response was immediate and affirmative. He remained a strong supporter of the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER and invariably responded generously to our financial Donald Goldsmith appeals. He and I did a joint radio call- in interview show in New York City y acquaintance with Isaac Asimov several years ago, and he was extremely Marose from the 1974 AAAS forthright in his skepticism. I was symposium on Immanuel Velikovsky, amused by his comment that, when he which I helped to organize. Isaac then spun out his tales of science fiction, contributed the foreword to Scientists which sometimes included things like Confront Velikovsky, the book that ESP, he "never imagined people would grew out of that symposium, which I believe that crap." edited. During the final stages of Isaac was a strong atheist. He gladly preparing the manscripts for publication, endorsed the Secular Humanist as I awaited Isaac's comments on my Declaration, which I drafted in 1980. editing, he suffered a heart attack. Later he was elected a Humanist Any other writer would have let so Laureate of the Academy of Humanism. small a matter as this foreword—in a When I visited him in his apartment to book edited by an unknown—quite interview him for an article in 1982, he naturally wait for his recovery, but Isaac said that, although all too many skeptical sent me a handwritten note stating, "I atheists stay in the closet because they have annoyed everyone by having a think their views are not socially coronary and being committed to a respectable, he was going to express his hospital. Under the circumstances, I'll go own religious skepticism forcefully. Thus along with any changes you wish he made clear that he did not believe in made." Only Isaac Asimov could Cod or the immortality of the soul, and combine such generosity and that he thought that the Bible was full of organization with an ability to work on contradictions and factual errors. ten projects at once. We shall not see his like again. I was pleased that Prometheus Books

Fall 1992 43 money needlessly, but this affront brought about a rare person-to-person long-distance phone call from the alarmed author to Rawson's New York James Randi office, much to the amusement of all— except possibly the author himself. was once long ago invited to a Aware of this classic situation, I meeting of the Trap Door Spiders, an found myself one evening appearing on informal group of science-fiction and an early New York television program mystery writers in the New York area along with a number of other people, who gathered regularly for an evening of among them Isaac. Fiend that I am, I fine food and drink, always at the home changed his name on the dressing-room of a member. It was the custom that one list to Asaac Isimoff, and removed mine. visiting guest was permitted to attend, Seated at the mirror prettying up for my with the strict requirement that he had appearance, I soon heard a mighty roar to, on that occasion, provide the others echoing about the stairways of the with a good reason for his continued studio. 'There's a damn magician on this existence. (The all-male Spiders held show somewhere, and I want his heart!" these affairs in the absence of their bellowed the itinerant genius as he wives.) Apparently I was able to make an confronted this impertinence. I barely adequate case for being permitted to survived his wrath. live on, and thus I first met Isaac Asimov, Perhaps Isaac Asimov established in the company of John Dickson Carr, some sort of record for leaving his George O. Smith, Lester Del Rey, thoughts behind him, in the multitude of Frederik Pohl, and other literary books, essays, stories, and manuscripts luminaries. that he created. Every subject from the Isaac's formidable sideburns seldom Sun to the Bible came under his stopped moving as he competed with examination and was the better for it. others in improving their mutual His interaction with my life certainly knowledge of the world. He was, I served me well, and I remember him as quickly discovered, an authority on a delightful, brilliant, and kindly man everything. who never refused me a favor and who As I've always said about Isaac, he added to my enjoyment of, and had an enormously developed ego, but dedication to, science. he had every right to it. Although his The man never believed in survival name is now well known around the after death or in any of the metaphysical world, I was informed by my editor claptrap with which he was regularly friend Clayton Rawson that there was a confronted by the nut fringe. period in the early days when Isaac Paradoxically, he had a lifelong fear of suffered the indignity of having his name flying in an airplane yet wrote of heroes incorrectly spelled. At the time that he who traveled at light-speed-plus. But, for was submitting his first stories to editors all we know, dear Isaac may now be out in New York, Rawson and his colleague there among the planets and stars, Lester Del Rey played a joke on him by characteristically chasing after some mailing him an edited version of one of particularly interesting comet as the his short stories with the author's name possible subject for his next book. If the as "Asaac Isimoff." Isaac in those days galaxies have secrets, they may now pre­ had the reputation of not spending his pare to surrender them to his scrutiny.

44 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 E. C. Krupp

never got to meet Isaac Asimov. lines continue to lighten my heart: I I know him from his books. There is a line of 22 mass-market paperbacks There is no belief, however foolish, under his byline parading on one of that will not gather its faithful the shelves in my office at Griffith adherents who will defend it to the death. Observatory. (Of course, that does not count the science fiction I have at Gentle Reader, place all myths and home.) That is a small fraction of his legends of the human race at my total output, but 22 titles by one author disposal; give me leave to choose is a respectable showing on any shelf. those which I want to use and allow I am particularly fond of The Stars in me to make changes where Their Courses. It contains classic necessary, and I will undertake to prove anything you wish proven. Asimov—"Worlds in Confusion." In it, Isaac discussed the physical If I must choose between Immanuel implications of Velikovsky's pseudo- Velikovsky and Cecil B. de Mille, give scientific ideas. Asimov's essay is a me de Mille, and quickly. showpiece of popular science. Clarity, humor, logic, and anecdote—they Thanks, Isaac, I, too, prefer de are all there in spades. Some of his Mille.

"Do you suppose the general public supported Darwin and waxed enthusiastic about him and made him rich and renowned and denounced the establishment for persecuting him? You know they didn't. What support Darwin did get was from scientists. (The support any rational scientific heretic gets is from scientists, though usually from only a minority of them at first.)" —Isaac Asimov, "Asimov's Corollary," from Quasar, Quasar Burning Bright (1978) and SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (Spring 1979)

Fall 1992 45 Isaac Asimov on... "I am not a prophet by trade: I ". . . One can appreciate and merely write science fiction. take pleasure in the achieve­ However,... in May 1939, ments of science even though when I was but nineteen years he does not himself have a old, I wrote a story I called bent for creative work in 'Robbie.' It was about a robot science.... Initiation into the of the year 1998. ... It was magnificent world of science clearly an electronic computer, brings great esthetic satisfac­ but I had not bothered to fore­ tion, inspiration to youth, ful­ see miniaturization. ... (I fillment of the desire to know, never thought to call these and a deeper appreciation of brains 'computers' till the real the wonderful potentialities thing came along.) I spoke, and achievements of the therefore, of 'positronic human mind." brains,' mentioning them first in a story called 'Reason,' —"What Is Science?" which I wrote in November Asimov's New Guide 1940. ... I brought into exist­ to Science (p. 15) ence a research establishment that designed positronic brains (computers, that is) and, in a story named 'Runaround,' "My business and my passion written in October 1941,1 (even in my fiction writing) is named the science 'robotics.' to explain. Partly it is the mis­ Apparently, I was the first sionary instinct that makes person in history to use that me yearn to make my readers word, though I was not aware see and understand the uni­ of that. I thought the word verse as I see and understand existed. It exists now, of it, so that they may enjoy it as course, and my often-repeated I do. Partly, also, I do it 'Three Laws of Robotics,' first because the effort to put explicitly stated in 'Run- things on paper clearly around,' may well have helped enough to make the reader bring the word into actual understand, makes it possible . use." for me to understand, too."

—"I Am a Signpost," —Title essay of The Roving Mind The Left Hand of (pp. 331-332) the Electron (p. 28)

46 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Just About Everything "Inspect every piece of "With creationism in the sad­ pseudoscience and you will dle, American science will find a security blanket, a wither, and we will raise a thumb to suck, a skirt to hold. generation of ignoramuses What have we to offer in who will not be equipped to exchange? Uncertainty! run the industry of tomor­ Insecurity!" row, much less to generate the new advances of the days —"The Perennial Fringe," after tomorrow." SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Spring 1986 —"The Army of the Night," The Roving Mind (p. 15) "The typical exoheretic is so unaware of the intimate structure of science, of the methods and philosophy of "Do we simply shrug and say science, of the very language that the fringers will always of science, that his views are be with us and we might just virtually unintelligible from as well ignore them and the scientific standpoint. As a simply go about our business? consequence, he is generally No, of course not. There is ignored by scientists. ... In always the new generation frustration, the exoheretic is coming up. Every child ... is a very likely to appeal over the possible new field in which heads of the scientists to the rationality can be made to general public. . . . The appeal grow. We must therefore to the public is, of course, present the view of reason, valueless from the scientific not out of hope of recon­ viewpoint. The findings of structing the deserts of science cannot be canceled or ruined minds that have been reversed by majority vote, or rusted shut, which is all but by the highest legislative or impossible—but to educate executive fiat." and train new and fertile minds." —Foreword to Scientists Confront Velikovsky, —"The Perennial Fringe," edited by Donald SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Goldsmith Spring 1986

Fall 1992 47 Gaia Without Mysticism •' v ,•»?-"•: v-dW.*rTl PHIL SHANNON

he rise of environmentalism has been accompanied by the resurgence of beliefs Tabout the Earth as a living, whole organism, often involving an Earth spirit. "Spaceship Earth" is seen as a remarkable, fragile, and semi- miraculous orb of life pulsating away amidst the awesome cosmic nothingness. The most prom­ inent theory about a living Earth is the "Gaia" hypothesis, first formulated around 1970 by James Lovelock, the English inventor and geochemist, and then developed by Lovelock and A Stripped of its Lynn Margulis (microbiology professor at the University of Massachusetts) during the 1980s. New Age Put simply, the Gaia hypothesis postulates adherents, the that the Earth's biosphere (that band of air, land, and water that contains life) acts as a super- Gaia hypothesis organism with the ability to regulate environ­ stands on its own mental conditions to sustain itself, in much the same way that the human body's homeostatic as a testable and processes maintain the body's water content, perhaps fruitful temperature, and so on, at a relatively constant state (homeostasis) to keep the superorganism scientific theory. of the whole body alive. The Earth is one big body, according to Gaia; and all its parts, but crucially the living parts, function to keep it going. The "planet's homeostasis is maintained by active feedback processes operated automat­ ically and unconsciously by the biota," says Lovelock. Single-celled microbes are seen as crucial to global ecology. Higher life-forms like Homo sapiens are not as indispensable; indeed, in some versions of Gaia we are seen as a destructive virus. This nonprivileging of the human species is attractive to those environmentalists who are receptive to views that dethrone the world's most ubiquitous large mammal from center stage of the world, and that introduce (I think, justifiably) some humility into an anthropocen-

48 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 trie world that has pursued the desires one simple, linguistic level, the name of human society at the expense of "Gaia" was asking for such trouble. other species and ecosystems (which "Gaia" was chosen by Lovelock on the are also our life-support systems). suggestion of classicist William Gold- Some environmentalists are ing, his childhood friend, that he name uneasy with "Gaia," however. Love­ his theory after the ancient Greek lock's view is that, compared with the goddess of the Earth. For New Agers, robustness of Earth's regulatory this invited the familiar process of processes, humans are largely incon­ attributing physical phenomena to a sequential and Gaia/Earth can with­ mystical source unknown to, and stand the worst we can do to "her"/ unknowable by, scientific inquiry, in it. Lovelock, who discovered the this case attributing the control and ozone-depleting effect of chloro- regulation of Earth's biosphere to a fluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmos­ conscious, intervening supernatural phere, denied for 15 years that they entity, and Earth Goddess. Lovelock could do any real damage (and opposed and Margulis did not intend this the phasing out of CFCs) because Gaia interpretation. For Lovelock, "Gaia" would patch up any ozone hole. was simply an attractive shorthand, Nuclear power and bombs cannot carrying more flair and metaphoric even scratch Gaia, he maintains, meaning than his original term of supporting nuclear energy. For Love­ Biocybernetic Universal System Ten­ lock, Nature, on a global scale, is not dency (or BUST). "exquisitely sensitive to the depreda­ Nevertheless, "Gaia or BUST" tions of man," as astronomer Carl aside, the substance of the hypothesis Sagan believes. For these reasons has led many New Agers to make a many environmentalists stay at arms quantum leap from science to mysti­ length from Gaia, which has thus cism. To help understand the content tended to become the object of the of Gaia theory and its basic principles attentions of those who are motivated of operation, Lovelock often uses a by essentially spiritual Nature wor­ model of an imaginary planet called ship. A "Gaia Synthesis" convention Daisyworld. Daisyworld supports life in Colorado in 1986 had no Lovelock in the form of a black and white species or Margulis but much "geopsychol- of daisy. Early in the planet's life, and ogy" (whatever that is), Pueblo Indian (like Earth) with a faint, weak sun, the myth, "etheric" energy, dancing, and black daisies on Daisyworld dominate, rituals. since they are better at absorbing the Even staid Canberra, Australia, is sun's energy and using it for growth. not immune—"Gaia" is a "Womon- The now black-colored surface of the space" (sic) based on "the primordial planet and the sun's warming, how­ Earth goddess" and "the living pres­ ever, heat up the planet to a point ence of Earth." Its habitues hold where it becomes too hot for the black spiritual rituals "on the nights of the daisies, allowing the white daisies, Full Light Moon and the Full Dark which can reflect more of the sun's Moon," winter solstice celebrations, rays (their albedo effect), to grow and and so on. They conduct courses on balance the black daisies, thus cooling numerology, astrology, and other the planet. This black/white, heat pseudoscientific beliefs (and all for a absorption/reflection process is the not unimpressive fee, of course). thermostat that maintains a suitable heat level for daisies (life) to flourish. What has the science of Gaia got No intention or conscious manage- to do with this New Age hokum? At

Fall 1992 49 Gaia's Scientific Coming of Age

he Gaia hypothesis is 20 years critiques and countercritiques were old this year. James Lovelock sallying forth, but most often in Tfirst mentioned the term in a nonscientific arenas like television brief paper in Atmospheric Environ­ documentaries. ment in 1972. But in a very real Schneider was one of those sense Gaia's scientific coming of age who'd engaged in such debate. He's has happened only very recently— a noted climatologist at the first with the week-long American National Center for Atmospheric Geophysical Union Chapman Con­ Research with longtime involve­ ference in March 1988 in San ment in the public aspects of his Diego, and now this year with science. His books include Global publication of a major work, Scient­ Warming and The Coevolution of ists on Gaia,* based on updated Climate and Life, he's editor of the versions of papers from that con­ journal Climatic Change, and he ference. eventually wrote an overview of The book's editors, climatologist the Gaia controversy for the Ency­ Stephen H. Schneider and biologist clopaedia Britannia 1988 Yearbook Penelope J. Boston, point out in the of Science and the Future (quoted in preface that when the Gaia Martin Gardner's column on Gai- hypothesis was first introduced it aism, SI, Spring 1989). attracted attention mainly from Schneider says he "came to nonscientists. These included theo­ realize the absurdity of the situa­ logians interested in the possibility tion in which an interesting and that the Earth controlled its envi­ controversial idea like the Gaia ronment on purpose (teleological hypothesis was being debated lar­ implications) and people interested gely in nonscientific forums, if at in the "oneness of nature"—plus all." some others who thought the Gaia He and scientific colleagues idea gave license to go ahead and began discussing an AGU- pollute the atmosphere because it sponsored conference on the Gaia could take care of itself. hypothesis, and it eventually came None of these aspects were to pass. But not without obstacles. emphasized in the scientific work "The proposal to the AGU for of Lovelock and Lynn Margulis, a Chapman Conference was not note Schneider and Boston, but accepted without scientific detrac­ these "nonscientific side issues tors," Schneider and Boston write. diverted attention in the scientific "It was deemed controversial, and community away from a serious several objections were raised to it analysis of the Gaia hypothesis and both within the AGU council and its implications." In the mid-1980s, by outside scientists. It is to the credit of that council that despite *Scientists on Gaia, edited by Stephen H. some of these criticisms, many of Schneider and Penelope J. Boston. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., and London, them based on the early percep­ 1992. tions of the Gaia hypothesis as

50 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 nonscience, the council approved holding a Chapman Conference on the subject, providing outside funding could be obtained." That support came, in large part from the National Science Foundation. The rich, full-week agenda of the conference—"an illustrious event," Schneider and Boston say—is reflected in the just-published over­ size book (it weighs 3.3 pounds). Scientists on Gaia. Biologists, chemists, years following the conference would geologists, geophysicists, atmospheric be included. scientists, philosophers of science, The major proponents and critics even a congressman, George H. of Gaia all get their say, all given ample Brown, took part, all struggling to space to present the scientific facts and communicate across scientific boun­ reasoning. Here they deal with Gaia daries, for the Gaia hypothesis is a finally as a scientific hypothesis, not prime example of a concept that as New Age philosophy. demands interdisciplinary under­ The editors attempt no overall standing. summary other than to point out in The book opens with papers by the introduction that "not only is it Lovelock and Margulis, elucidating the premature to judge the extent to Gaia hypothesis in clear fashion, and which biological homeostasis has been follows with a Darwinian critique of validated, it also appears that many Gaia. It next treats the philosophical of the processes by which such feed­ and theoretical foundations of Gaia back might exist take place in geolog­ (including James Kirchner's useful ical time scales"—a warning not to taxonomy of Gaia hypotheses), then expect too much from any Gaian gets down to detailed science with corrections of human modifications of separate sections on three major the atmosphere on the time scales of proposed mechanisms (sulfur, oxy­ human civilization. gen, and carbon and biomass), fol­ In Scientists on Gaia the Gaia lowed by nine papers on other possible hypothesis is at last treated tho­ mechanisms. It concludes with sec­ roughly and seriously as a scientific tions on Gaia and catastrophe and on hypothesis. The level of debate has policy implications. The editors finally been lifted into the intellectual worked to have the authors "dejar- and scientific arena in which it gonize" their papers, and to keep them belongs. current during the book's gestation period so that discoveries in the three —Kendrick Frazier, EDITOR

Fall 1992 51 ment of the environment by the 30-percent hotter (enough to boil the daisies, or by a daisy deity, is involved water off the planet, as on Venus). in this pared-down Gaia model. Without life's intervention over 3.5 Our planet, claims Lovelock, is billion years, argues Lovelock, an essentially a more complex Daisy- environment hospitable to life would world. The crucial temperature reg­ not exist. ulator is carbon dioxide, the amount The composition of Earth's atmos­ of which (approximately 300 ppm) in phere is also anomalous. It is far from the atmosphere suits the needs of "all chemical equilibrium. An active con­ living matter on Earth, from whales trol mechanism, reasons Lovelock, to viruses, from oaks to algae," and must be keeping our atmosphere at is biologically controlled by all those 79-percent nitrogen, 21-percent oxy­ living things. Lovelock suggests that gen, and 0.03-percent COz, when we this control by life is the best way to should expect an atmosphere like that explain Earth's anomalous properties of Venus or Mars, i.e., 2-percent relative to the other planets in our nitrogen, 98-percent COz, and no solar system; namely, how Earth's oxygen (and therefore no ozone to atmosphere can violate the rules of protect cells from damaging ultravi­ steady-state chemistry and other olet radiation). Such a played-out physical and thermodynamic prop­ chemical entropy has occurred on the erties. dead planets because oxidizing gases, For example, on the basis of Earth's such as oxygen and C02, which location between our dead planet acquire electrons in chemical reac­ neighbors Venus and Mars (40 million tions, readily combine with reducing kms from Venus with its 477° average gases (e.g., hydrogen, methane, and surface temperature, and 80 million ammonia), which lose electrons. kms from Mars with its surface Venus and Mars now have atmos­ temperature of -53°), the Earth could pheres that contain only oxidizing and be expected to have a surface temper­ neutral gases; Jupiter and Saturn, only ature of about 300°, whereas it is reducing gases. So, asks Lovelock, around 13°, a temperature capable of why does the Earth's atmosphere supporting life. Furthermore, this maintain disequilibrium? Something temperature has been maintained is working to keep it that way, he over the billions of years of Earth's answers. That something, which no existence, while the Sun has grown other planet has, is life.

52 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 "Gaia, both as scientific theory and as environmental philosophy, is valuable in its own right—too valuable to be unjustly tainted by association with the New Age."

The maintenance by life of these life itself maintained by cooperatively anomalies—the level of the Earth's carrying out control functions like temperature, its stability over time, ozone formation, oxygen stabilization, and the chemical composition of the and COz/greenhouse planet-warm­ atmosphere—challenges the conven­ ing. Lovelock maintains that this early tional view among earth scientists that biological evolution from anaerobic life exists only on Earth simply microbes to photosynthesis to because of cosmic and geological luck. oxygen-breathing organisms was a This is the so-called Goldilocks the­ collective reaction by life-forms to a ory—Venus is too hot, Mars is too changing environment in a manner cold, but Earth is just right. that ultimately transformed that The Gaians, however, see a life- environment. No decision was in­ inspired order guiding the process of volved, however. No councils of life's evolution on Earth. In their view, microbes were formed to develop poli­ the first bacteria that frolicked on the cy, no Earth Goddess snapped her ooze 3.5 billion years ago were unable fingers. to breathe oxygen and produced it as This is where Gaia's critics dis­ a poisonous waste. This toxic oxygen agree. They charge that the Gaia either combined with minerals to form hypothesis is teleological; that is, it oxides or escaped to the atmosphere, invokes a goal-oriented quality from where some of it formed ozone. Over manifestly nonconscious biota. It a billion years or so, a new type of introduces a necessarily mystical microbe evolved from their anaerobic quality beyond the normal functions cousins buried in the mud away from of nonconscious life-forms known to the oxygen and ultraviolet rays. With science. Humans are purposive and a protective ozone shield, these early can consciously alter the environment, algae, the blue-green cyanobacteria, not so microbes, algae, trees, and developed photosynthesis to more rocks. Lovelock's often casual use of efficiently convert the sun's energy to the "Gaia" metaphor doesn't help plant growth. They also produced matters. He often sounds as if he is much more oxygen, which flooded the imputing intent to a She Goddess or atmosphere around 2.5 billion years to the planet. On the other hand, true ago. The second evolutionary leap believers in a Mother Earth Goddess after photosynthesis came with called Gaia really do believe in a Being organisms that developed respiration, astride and presiding over Earth the ability to breathe oxygen. About pulling biological levers. Lynn Margu- this time, atmospheric oxygen stabil­ lis, however, dissociates her scientific ized at 21 percent, enough to support concept of Gaia from the supernatural a multitude of oxygen-breathing one—"the religious overtones of Gaia organisms but below the critical level make me sick!" she said about the New for spontaneous combustion. Thus Age distortions of Gaian theory. life evolved, according to Gaia theory, Nevertheless, the critics argue that not due to luck but in conditions that the Gaia hypothesis cannot avoid

Fall 1992 53 intent. The critics claim to have mobile crusts via tectonics, the carbon simpler, nonteleological, purely geo­ has remained trapped. So Mars is cold, physical explanations for the peculiar dry, and dead, while Earth is warm, properties of Earth's biosphere. Most wet, and alive, through cosmological of these explanations are based on the and geological good fortune. mechanical power of such abiological Lovelock's counterargument is that systems as plate tectonics, volcanoes, soil microbes, that is, life, actually and continental drift. They believe control the carbon-silicate cycle, that non-Gaian accounts can better speeding up the rock weathering by explain, for example, Gaia's show­ producing C02 as they decompose piece, the life-determined COz ther­ organic matter, thereby producing mostat. According to Gaia, C02 is more carbonic acid and egging on the regulated at 0.03 percent, keeping the cycle. The microbes work faster as Earth warm enough for life, mainly they get warmer and thus aid weath­ by trees and phytoplankton, tiny ering and removal of C02, and there­ plantlike organisms in the oceans. A fore cooling the planet. Soil microbes hotter world is a wetter one, more are a sensor of temperature change. trees grow, more rain falls over land "Life is a geological force," argues masses, washing more nutrients to Lovelock. the oceans to feed more plankton, Is this argument indicative of an with the greater number of trees and unbridgeable gap between the Gaians plankton consuming more C02 from (the biologicals) and the geochemists the air in the form of dilute carbonic and geophysicians (the abiologicals)? acid, which weathers the rocks by Or is there a basis for arguing that combining with silicate materials, the our planet's biosphere is regulated by resulting carbon compounds flowing a complex of both geological and to the sea to rest as sedimentary rocks. biological mechanisms? There are The upside of this geochemical ther­ three broad positions on this ques­ mostat is explained by plate tecton­ tion—the strong, moderate, and weak ics—the continental drift across the versions of Gaia, in which life respec­ Earth's crust. This banging and grind­ tively controls, modifies, or merely ing around carries the oceanic sea- influences the global environment. floor carbon sediments to the margins Strong Gaia argues that life is crucial of the continents as the sea floor in regulating the environment of our spreads, the sediments sliding under planet, that the Earth has cybernet- the land masses and down toward the ically kept its cool temperature (13° interior of the planet, where they instead of the 300° predicted by encounter rising temperature and planetary location) through the pressure, the resulting reaction releas­ agency of life, which has been con­ ing C02 from the calcium carbonate trolling C02 levels for 3.5 billion that finally enters the atmosphere by years. Weak Gaia attributes some way of mid-ocean ridges or volcanic influence on the biosphere to life but eruptions, and warming up the Earth. no controlling role. Moderate Gaia On Mars, by contrast, this geological holds that life is one factor modifying thermostat failed. As the C02 rained the environment, making it signifi­ out of the Martian air, Mars, being cantly less extreme. Life is important further from the sun, cooled far but not regulatory. Holders of this enough so that all the water froze, and view recognize Gaia (even in its strong being too small a planet to provide version) as a scientific hypothesis, enough internal heat to drive the capable of being tested, and with

54 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 empirically testable predictive ability. Gaia has come in from the eccentric "Gaia may be right or wrong, fringe; it has left its spiritual dives. In 1988, at a prestigious biannual but it is a scientific concept, conference sponsored by the Amer­ strong enough to escape the ican Geophysical Union, the entire week was devoted to Gaia theory. (See smothering embrace of the New box.) Despite the cameo appearance Age, and it will live or die by of a certain Brother John from the San Francisco. Institute of Immortalism, the scientific sword." this gathering of the world's most eminent geophysicists, as New Scientist in the paranormal to seek to justify reported, "was, by common consent, their beliefs by an appeal to science the coming of age of Gaia as a subject (whether pseudoscience or a distor­ for respectable scientific inquiry." tion of legitimate science). One sim­ The supernatural appropriation of ilarity involves taking metaphor the scientific Gaia hypothesis by the literally. To some, Gaia means an Earth New Age is illegitimate. Just as our Goddess. Similarly, the heart of bodies are made up of billions of living quantum physics, Heisenberg's uncer­ but nonconscious cells that, thanks to tainty principle (which states that you our body's evolution, respond auto­ can't have your subatomic cake [the matically to environmental factors in measurement of the position of an a way that takes care of the whole electron or an atom] and eat it too body, so with the Earth no supra- [measure its motion], or vice versa, natural being is required to guide the and that thus describing its reality, [a planet's biotic bits. thing with both position and motion] The genuine, and unresolved, is dependent on the observer) is often question for the Gaia hypothesis is a taken, by the paranormal set, to mean purely scientific one—Does planet that all reality, not just atomic physics, modification occur biologically or is ultimately subjective, that all truth geologically, or through some combi­ is relative. So if you believe in numer­ nation of both? Even if Gaia, like many ology, auras, ESP, various energies intuitively attractive, operationally beyond the Fab Four (electromagnet- elegant, and wrong theories, falls flat ism, gravity, the strong, and weak on its face, it will have had scientific nuclear forces) then these exist for value in bringing new insights into our you. Astrologers, in addition, appeal understanding of the evolution of life to quantum physics' demonstration of on earth and the interplay of living the apparent lack of causality in the organisms and their environment. subatomic world to argue that the Philosophically, too, it will have astrological impact of the planets on brought a needed self-effacement to human affairs can circumvent the an environmentally dangerous, be­ need to demonstrate a mechanism of cause technologically powerful, self- causation. Homeopathy, acupuncture, centered species. and other "healing" techniques attempt to elaborate a theoretical and Of particular relevance to skeptics applied science. in the Gaian tryst of science, envir- onmentalism, and spirituality are the A second parallel between Gaia and parallels between the embrace of Gaia the paranormal paradigm is that both by believers in a supernatural Earth leap to a supernatural conclusion to Spirit and the tendency for believers explain gaps in scientific knowledge.

Fall 1992 55 As our body of scientific knowledge spirituality in uneasy tension. I have has grown, it has, paradoxically, before me the current issue in which shown us how much we don't know we are told of Thailand's annual vege­ (as Einstein and Newton, among tarian festival in which a firewalking others, have humbly recognized). This medium "performs fantastic and has allowed the emergence of a magical feats. . . . He is able to pierce Pseudoscience of the Gaps to be his cheeks with a sharp sword and to proposed for any phenomenon as yet hit himself with heavy objects without inexplicable by current science. The feeling any pain. As the medium science of the Gaia hypothesis has passes each house, firecrackers are shown us how much we don't know thrown onto him in a gesture of about Earth's history and the regu­ respect." lation of its atmosphere for and by its Gaia, both as scientific theory and tenants. For those predisposed to as environmental philosophy, is val­ supernatural explanations, Gaia as a uable in its own right—too valuable god fills this gap (and in the process, to be unjustly tainted by association not so much hurdling Occam's Razor with the New Age. Gaia may be right as dodging it). or wrong, but it is a scientific concept, The third main parallel between strong enough to escape the smoth­ Gaia and the New Age concerns the ering embrace of the New Age, and eclectic nature of the New Age, which it will live or die by the scientific sweeps up into its wizard's hat a sword. plethora of ideas, some of which are nevertheless valuable. Ecological and Phil Shannon (P.O. Box 186, Woden, natural lifestyle practices, such as ACT 2606, Australia) is a statistical vegetarianism, for example, are often liaison officer with the Australian part of the New Age basket of goods Commonwealth government who has long but also enjoy a more reputable been active in the environmental movement scientific pedigree. and long been interested in the processes As a member of the Vegetarian and philosophy of science. This article is Society, I receive its national maga­ adapted by permission from The Skeptic zine, one which holds science and (Australia).

The Importance of Being Unpredictable

Every important discovery in science is by definition unpredictable. If it were predictable, it would not be an important discovery. The purpose of science is to create opportunities for unpredictable things to happen.

—Freeman Dyson, "The Importance of Being Unpredictable,' From Eros to Gaia, Pantheon Books, New York, 1992.

56 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 The Curse of the Runestone: Deathless Hoaxes

JOHN WHITTAKER

n teaching archaeology I hear various extraor­ dinary ideas that my students and the general I public pick up from the media. Trying to squelch them is like stamping on a rubber spider—it was never real, but it simply can't be killed. Particularly annoying are the innumer­ able instances of proved frauds that are still used as "evidence" for one silly idea or another. In & fact, the mark of a really good fraud seems to The uses of the be that it lives on and on even after all reasonable evidence has shown it up. Kensington I started thinking harder about this after runestone in its visiting the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota, not long ago: This is the modern past and modern home of the Kensington runestone, "discov­ contexts illustrate ered" in 1898 by a Minnesota farmer. The runic inscription on it tells a dramatic story: some of the reasons successful Eight Goths and 22 Norwegians on exploration journey from Vinland over the west. We had hoaxes are camp by 2 skerries one day journey north from difficult to this stone. We were and fished one day. After we came home found 10 men red with blood discredit. They fit and dead. Ave Maria [stone actually says AVM] human needs save from evil. Have 10 of our party by the sea to look after our ships 14 days journey and expectations. from this island. Year 1362. (Runestone Museum Pamphlet)

The stone now is enshrined in a glass case in a small museum of local history, attached (significantly) to the Chamber of Commerce. Its recent history has been almost as stormy as the story it purports to tell. Olof Ohman, the farmer, claimed to have found the stone in the roots of a tree. In 1907 Hjalmar Holand, a Wisconsin scholar studying

Fall 1992 immigrant history, was shown the itself. It implies exploration of the stone. Vastly impressed, he re­ interior of America by Vikings, a searched and publicized it, wrote difficult task with little obvious books (Holand 1932; 1940; 1956) and motive. The supporters point to a brief articles, and had it sent to the Smith­ documentary mention of an expedi­ sonian and the World's Fair. It became tion to Greenland at about the right a cause celebre in the local papers and time, but there is no evidence that it even nationally, with bitter scholarly actually took place; and Greenland is disputes about the historical back­ a far piece from the known area of ground, the linguistic evidence of the Viking contact on the coast of New­ inscription, and the circumstances of foundland. And of course it is even the find. It was eventually acquired farther from Newfoundland to Min­ for display in the Runestone Museum, nesota. The stone says the Vikings where it sits to this day. were 14 days from the sea, which To modern scholars, the Kensing­ friends of the runestone take to mean ton runestone is insignificant, because Hudson Bay. Do a simple calculation it is quite clear that it is a hoax. A with a map—it is a minimum of 900 number of people have debunked it miles from Hudson Bay to central on many grounds, the most thorough Minnesota. That's if you have wings. being Erik Wahlgren (Wahlgren 1958, Viking travelers are assumed to have 1986; Blegen 1968). Most scholars say followed the Nelson River upstream, it is linguistically not what it should sailed south down Lake Winnipeg, and be—the runes are wrong for the date followed the Red River and then a given, and the language reflects the series of discontinuous lakes and nineteenth-century heritage of a rivers into Minnesota (Holand 1956). Swedish-American farmer. The sup­ The real travel distance would be more porters prefer to emphasize Ohman's than 2,000 miles. Never mind the lack of education, or even stupidity, necessary portages, difficult condi­ to argue that he could not have tions, and wrong turns. Two thousand produced so sophisticated a hoax. miles in 14 days assumes more than However, it appears (Wahlgren 1958) 140 miles a day. Hardy (and speedy) that his possessions included a Swed­ Vikings indeed! ish book titled The Well-informed So for all these reasons and more, Schoolmaster, which contained a runic the Kensington runestone is not alphabet, as well as Montelius's His­ considered to be useful evidence of tory of Sweden, which provided infor­ Viking presence. The idea would, in mation on runic inscriptions and even fact, have died long ago but for the on the problem of Norse contact with efforts of Hjalmar Holand. He was one North America. Around the turn of of those intelligent single-minded the century, Scandinavian school­ scholars who, once they get a bee in children learned about runes, and the their bonnet, never give up, regardless Scandinavian newspapers in Minne­ of the facts. But other factors help to sota were publishing articles on runes, keep the hoax alive, and it is indeed Scandinavian antiquity, the Viking alive and well today. explorations in America, and even the sagas themselves. Such things were The Runestone Museum presents very much part of Olof Ohman's the runestone's story as accepted fact. cultural context. A short video shows costumed "Vik­ ings" rowing ships, and recreates the One can also think critically about finding of the runestone. A scholarly the implications of the monument young man in the role of Holand

58 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 examines the stone with a magnifying glass and pronounces it authentic. The language of the inscription is claimed to show features that no one would have known in the nineteenth century and to have encoded in it secret messages, including the author's name, "Ivar, not Olof Ohman." The doubts of most scholars are mentioned only to show the struggles and per­ secution suffered by Ohman and Holand. The displays on the museum's walls duplicate these themes, and it is noticeable that the newspaper clippings displayed are heavily weight­ ed toward "Scholar Pronounces Runes Genuine" rather than reflecting the other side of the controversy. A small display case contains a few "Viking" artifacts: a couple of large axes, a couple of small flimsy ones, and a strike-a-light or fire-steel. The large axes are not weapons, but early The Kensington runestone (photo courtesy American broad-axes. They are of of the Runestone Museum, Alexandria. course remarkably well preserved for Minn.). medieval iron found in a wet climate. evidence is shockingly bad, but pre­ The two small "ceremonial halberds" sented with a refreshing confidence have long been recognized by every­ that must sway a lot of visitors. Why one else as tobacco cutters from a bother? One reason is apparent as you nineteenth-century advertising cam­ drive into town. Viking Motel, Viking paign (Wallace 1971; McKusick and Auto Parts, Viking Office Supply, and Wahlgren 1980), but are still billed as numerous other "Viking" businesses Viking artifacts in the display and in catch the eye. I counted 10 of them the video. The fire-steel is claimed to before reaching the museum; the be in Viking style, but similar forms phone book lists 22. In the street in occur world-wide and can be pur­ front of the museum, there is a huge chased today at "Buckskinner" meets. polychrome statue of a Viking, com­ The video makes only a passing plete with shield, spear, sword and reference to the one good Norse site obligatory but nonauthentic horned in North America, L'Anse aux Mea­ helmet. The museum facade features dows (Ingestad 1971; 1977). It is not a "Viking-for-a-day" theme with a named or described. The center of the sketchy plywood longboat and a fat runestone room is shared by a poor cartoon Viking with a face cut-out for model of a Viking ship that was once visitor photos. Inside, the museum carried in a parade, and a rather nice sells plastic Viking helmets (horned, though idealized mock-up of a Norse of course), runestone mugs and cups, hut. The implication is that these plastic runestone models, runic tee- things were in Minnesota, although shirts, and a couple of books support­ the captions at least do not say so. ing the fraud (Hall 1982; Leuthner And so on. The purported Viking 1988). The nay-sayers are not in

Fall 1992 59 evidence. My favorite item is the milk- to find their place in a new country, chocolate runestone. experiencing some prejudice, and Well, rather obviously, one reason reflecting on their Scandinavian roots. for the survival of the Kensington In 1893 a replica Viking ship was sailed myth is commercial exploitation. to America from Norway for the Those involved in buying the stone Chicago World's Fair, and several or listed as sponsors of the exhibit scholars were arguing that the Norse include many of the major businesses had beaten Columbus to the New in town, not just those with "Viking" World. This radical idea found great in the name. But I suspect this is a favor in the Scandinavian community, secondary addition to the Kensington combining elements of pride in their story. Ohman might have had profit old-world heritage of hardy viking- in mind when he made the thing, but hood with the distinction of being the it is hard to say now. The more "true" discoverers of America. The important reason for the Kensington runestone and other finds of the day stone's past and present success is its provided an early Scandinavian her­ place in local culture. It is axiomatic itage in Minnesota, thus legitimizing that successful frauds fit someone's the struggles of the nineteenth- expectations, and the reason some century immigrants and their claim to frauds do not die is that someone still the land, already, according to the wants to believe in them. The video runestone, sanctified with the blood expresses this very well. Ohman's son of their ancestors. is portrayed looking over the find- Today ethnic pride and heritage is spot. "Yup," he says, "them boys was still important, and common history, here all right." The video goes on to factual or mythical, helps hold a note that the runestone is part of the community together. The Kensington proud local heritage. Therein lies the myth still retains its legitimizing key. value. However, one major theme has The importance of the runestone changed. In the nineteenth century, and its story in local heritage can be one obstacle to European settlement seen in the way the stone is treated of the country was its native inhab­ as a symbolic object. In the museum itants. In some parts they were a real room, it sits in the center facing the danger, in other places and times they door, the first object to catch the eye were more of a symbol of struggle in as you enter. Spotlighted in its glass the new land. The Kensington stone case, it is almost holy in its isolation in fact can be seen as "documenting" and display. Old photos document an apparently unprovoked attack by times when, flanked by dignitaries and savage natives on the forefathers of honor guards, it was ceremonially the Scandinavian settlers, further revealed to wondering crowds. The legitimizing their claim to disputed text is gospel too, transmitted in land. You might expect this theme to books, in decorative runes on the still be important—further north in museum walls, on replicas, and carved Minnesota there is an ongoing and into a granite monument 12 times the rather vicious dispute over native runestone's rather unimpressive fishing rights on the lakes. However, doorstep size. a more important consideration has The cultural context, past and intervened: No one wants to emphas­ present, makes sense of all this. When ize ethnic disputes these days or Olof Ohman carved the stone, the offend potential tourist customers Scandinavian settlers were struggling with controversial issues.

60 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 In the museum two murals recreate can Indians was closed for events at Kensington. Both show remodeling. It will be interesting to heavily armed but happy stereotyped see what role they have when that Vikings carving runestones in a display is set up again. Will they be bucolic setting that resembles modern part of the runestone story? I suspect Minnesota. The hills are tidy and not. More likely they will be included cleared, and nothing in the Vikings' with either the natural history or the faces or the background of the murals local nineteenth-century pioneer reflects the fact that the runestone is exhibits that actually make up the bulk supposed to be commemorating fallen of the museum. comrades "red with blood and dead." The portrayal of the stereotyped The American Indians themselves Vikings—hardy male explorers, well have pretty much vanished from the armed but not engaged in distressing story and the museum. One of the conflict—is a further reflection of how mural scenes is the backdrop for a the desire to believe works. From the display of stuffed wildlife in their historical and mythical themes pre­ habitat. On one hill, the Vikings, sented to us, we select those that unperturbed are carving their memor­ support a particular view of the past, ial, while in the next valley a peaceful and usually that view of the past in village can be seen, with natives turn supports our ideas about how the dancing and planting obliviously. This world is or ought to be now. We all is in rather grotesque contrast not do this—it is a problem with interpre­ only to the story told by the runes­ tations of legitimate archaeological tone, which we have no reason to finds, and with the way we view and believe, but also to the accounts in the teach history. George Washington sagas, which may not be true in detail, never cut the cherry tree, but the but which are probably good reflec­ image of a small, honest boy with a tions of the historical state of affairs. Two sagas deal with the dis­ ' covery of Vinland (which was not Minnesota): Both describe conflict with natives, and modern scholars suggest that this is one reason the poorly supported Norse settle­ ments could not be main­ tained (Jones 1986; Magnusson and Palson 1965). Ohman may have been influenced by the sagas as well as by want­ ing a dramatic story line for his runestone, but the museum is not true to either saga or runestone.

At the time of my visit Purported route of the Vikings to the site of the Kensington in 1991 the museum's stone by way of Hudson Bay (photo courtesy of the small section on Ameri­ Runestone Museum, Alexandria, Minn.).

Fall 1992 61 their religious beliefs. The UFO phenomena may or may not all be nonsense, but many hoaxes are included in the UFO canon because they fit. As others have pointed out, Cflf-'YI: UFOlogy itself has good staying power because many people want to believe in powerful beings in space and use the image to bolster their own importance, warn of impending doom or moral retribution, reflect on the dangers or benefits of technology and contacts with other ways of life, and so on. The list is endless. Some of my colleagues and stu­ dents ask how I can be so critical of ; • ' •• • the believers in modern pseudoscience if, as I am suggesting, we should view their beliefs as serving functions in living societies. After all, an anthro­ pologist is supposed to be both an The inscription on the Kensington stone (courtesy of the Runestone Museum, Alex­ objective analyst and a believer in andria, Minn.). cultural relativity. If all cultures fill human needs, are humanly valuable hatchet is not likely to go away. in some deep ways, and should be Myth and history is perpetuated approached on their own terms, because it is useful in the present, and where do I get off criticizing them? this can be seen quite clearly in the This question doesn't trouble me survival and death of hoaxes. Like the much, because I don't think that Velveteen Rabbit, if someone loves respecting other people and their right them enough, they live. The Kensing­ to believe what they want, or respect­ ton runestone is useful in the eco­ ing other cultures and trying to nomic and cultural life of its understand how they work, means community, so you do not have to that I must give up my right to criticize rush to see it—it will be there, them and point out flaws in what they presented as if its story were true, for believe. I think the pseudoscientific a long time. The Paluxy "man tracks" beliefs in my own culture do damage in Texas are well known to be a mix to people I care about. The archaeo­ of fakes and misinterpreted dinosaur logical frauds of interest to me are tracks, but they continue to receive pretty harmless in themselves, but dishonest publicity because they they are part of a cultural pattern of support the views of a well-organized ignorance and uncritical thinking that minority. The Shroud of Turin has disturbs me. If you believe in the been known to be a fake since its Kensington runestone, no big deal; manufacture and first display in the but if you go to a psychic healer to fourteenth century. Modern carbon- remove a cancer, you are dead. An dating and other tests confirm this, intellectual climate that fosters one but a lot of people, including some who fosters the other. pretend to be scientists, prefer to I hate to end an essay on an believe in an artifact that validates amusing fraud like Kensington with o2 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 so downbeat a note, but that I fear References is one of the lessons. Runestones, UFOs, and psychic healing all exist Blegen, T. C. 1968. The Kensington Runestone: because someone wants them to, and New Light on an Old Riddle. St. Paul: because they fit and support strongly Minnesota Historical Society. held cultural values or ways of life. Hall, R. A. 1982. The Kensington Runestone For this reason, it is usually not worth Is Genuine: Linguistic, Practical, Methodo­ logical Considerations. Columbia, S.C: trying to convert believers. As a Hornbeam Press. college professor I like to feel that I Holand, H. 1932. The Kensington Stone. can educate a few people before they Ephraim, Wis.: privately published. become committed to pseudoscience, . 1940. Westward from Vinland: An and show them that better-supported Account of Norse Discoveries and Explora­ tions in America, 982-1362. New York: views of the world are just as exciting Duell, Sloan and Pierce. and a lot more useful. But maybe that . 1956. Explorations in America Before is only part of the mythology that Columbus. New York: Twayne Publishers. supports my way of life. Ingestad, A. S. 1971. "Norse Sites at L'Anse aux Meadows." In The Quest for America, Perhaps I shouldn't be so down on ed. by G. Ashe, 175-196. New York: the frauds. If you look at them in the Praeger Press. proper spirit, they present a nice object . 1977. The Discovery of Norse Settlement lesson on how we use our ideas about in America: Excavations at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, 1961-68. Oslo: the past. As part of our culture, we Universitetsforlaget. incorporate and manipulate both Jones, G. 1986. The Norse Atlantic Saga, 2nd frauds and facts to support views that ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. we like. So deft and unobtrusive are Leuthner, M. B. 1988. Crusade to Vinland: our manipulations that we rarely The Kensington Runestone. Alexandria, Minn.: Explorer. consider what we are doing. We have Magnusson, M., and H. Palsson. 1965. The a right, maybe even a duty, to sort Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of out the plausible from the worthless, America. Baltimore, Md.: Penguin Books. and deflating hoaxes is a good way to McKusick, M., and E. Wahlgren. 1980. demonstrate how evidence and scien­ Vikings in America—Fact and fiction. Early Man, 2(4):7--ll. tific method can be used to evaluate Wahlgren, E. 1958. The Kensington Stone: A ideas and discard weak hypotheses. Mystery Solved. Madison, Wis.: University But if we stop with the frauds, we of Wisconsin Press. miss the real moral, which is that all . 1986. The Vikings and America. ideas, good and bad, fight it out in an London: Thames Hudson. Wallace, B. 1971. "Some Points of Contro­ arena not just of truth and evidence, versy." In Quest for America, ed. by G. but also of emotion and bias. The Ashe, 155-174. New York: Praeger crowd gives thumbs up not just to Publishers. ideas that perform well, but also to those they like. As scientists we hope to be objective judges, but let us not John Whittaker is in the Department of fool ourselves—we too have our Anthropology, Grinnell College, Grin­ curly-haired Vikings. nell, 1A 50112.

Fall 1992 63 Night Terrors, Sleep Paralysis, and Devil Stricken Demonic Telephone Cords from Hell

PETER HUSTON

hen traveling in foreign countries on a budget, it's ironic that some of my Wmost memorable experiences have been those of just spending time and swapping stories with the people I met. Such people tend to be very interesting in themselves and, due to the transient nature of the relationship of travelers' crossing paths, much more open than they would be under a more conventional social situation. They talk about things they normally would not mention, and since they do not plan to see the person they are talking to again, they rarely regret it. They can be It was under such circumstances that I heard one of the most peculiar stories I have ever had bizarre, vivid, reason to believe. confusing, and I was sitting in the lounge of a low-cost hostel in Asia and found myself talking to another terrifying American, someone of about my age (early experiences, but twenties, at the time), approximately the same social background, and also in Asia for the first they're not time, intending to find work, to experience abnormal. Here's something different from the mundane life of why. growing up in the USA. At some point, and somehow, the conver­ sation turned to ghosts, spirits, and the supernatural. I said that I thought there might be something to it all and hoped to do some research on it someday. My new acquaintance said that he did not think it was a good idea to look for ghosts, that it was his experience that "normally they

64 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 look for you." as she lurched over his face. Finally, He then proceeded to tell me the after a period of unimaginable terror, following story. she would leave; and he would find Once, back in his "angry, punk himself able to rise and move, but in rocker" days, in a large American city, a terror-stricken state, confused and he'd gone through a period when he'd shaken up. frequently been bothered by a ghost, The "attacks by the night hag" specifically a night hag. came frequently, and he said he would The attacks had started, he said, have been convinced that he needed when he found himself waking up and serious psychiatric help, except that being unable to move, completely on at least one occasion when he was paralyzed and with a feeling of great sleeping with his girlfriend, she awoke weight on his chest. Needless to say, during one of his attacks and said that he found this disturbing, and his first she saw the night hag too. It was then thought was that it was a sign of some that he abandoned his fears and seized sort of mental illness. upon a supernatural explanation for In time things got worse. He would his experiences. awake in a paralyzed state and find I was a bit puzzled by this story himself forced to watch as an old hag and didn't know what to make of it. entered the room, floating as she The obvious explanation to me at the came. She would then alight on his time was that he had just made up bed and proceed to sit on his chest. the story to see how I would react, He would feel a palpable wave of but I just didn't think so. It was the terror, her weight bearing down and way in which he'd told the story, pinning him in place, and sometimes embarrassed and unsure of the truth, he would experience her putrid breath beyond the reality that he had experi-

Fall 1992 65 enced, unsure of the way in which I was wrong with me. would react. Hesitant. I was terrified to go to sleep at night As time went on, much to our because of my fear that I would surprise, we found our paths crossing awaken insane or go into cardiac a couple of times more, on one arrest. occasion for a very long period of time, My wife offered the explanation as we proceeded to find work, leave that I was being attacked by the ghost countries, and acquire working visas of my grandmother, who had recently and other such things. I came to know passed away on the other side of the him better and he never told any world. (I live in Asia, my grandmother similar stories or mentioned that one died in New Jersey.) I confess that I again. His stories about various things dismissed that explanation, not on any were all thoroughly grounded in skeptical, scientific grounds but be­ conventional reality, although some­ cause it would seem unlike my grand­ times the stranger versions thereof. mother to travel around the world to Overall, the more time that we torment me for missing her funeral spent together, the more he seemed when many of her nearby grand­ like a relatively honest and normal children had missed it as well. person, lacking in the motivations for At this time, my wife and I had to telling an imaginary story about ghost make a decision about whether to get attacks. a telephone installed in our apartment. On one occasion, when I asked him (In Taiwan, a telephone line often does if he'd had any more experiences with not come with an apartment and must spirits since he came to Asia, he looked be installed by each tenant at a fairly very embarrassed, said, no, and quick­ high cost.) I'd been opposed to the idea, ly changed the subject. but my wife had really wanted one. In any event, I did not put his story Eventually, I gave in, even knowing in the same category as the church- that it would be expensive in terms camp ghost stories that I'd been ex­ of both direct costs and the charges posed to in junior high. I spent a great for local and long distance phone calls. deal of time puzzling over it from time Ultimately, I again awoke unable to to time, questioning the truth of the move and finding that the telephone story itself, and looking for any cord somehow became draped over my possible explanations that might have body and was in the process of been feasible. electrocuting me. For many years I was unable to find In time it was over. I was able to one and even went so far as to have move again, but I was quite confused a similar experience myself. and upset. I was thoroughly agitated I would awake, find myself unable and very angry with my wife for not to move, and feel a great deal of noticing that I'd been shaking and pressure on my chest. I would struggle suffering from this terrible to move and find myself unable to do experience. anything beyond trembling. It was a I was even more confused to terrifying experience and like my discover that the telephone cord was friend my first explanation was that far on the other side of the room, and my mental health was going. The it was physically impossible for it to attacks continued night after night for have become draped over my body, almost a week. I was at a loss to explain even if someone had been inclined to them, fearful, and under a great deal pick it up and put it there. of stress as I tried to understand what I became convinced that I was

66 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 suffering the beginnings of some sort extension of a sleep phenomenon into of mental breakdown and phoned my the waking period. Reportedly people parents. My father told me that there can be snapped out of sleep paralysis had been occasions when he had by being touched or hearing their awakened and been unable to move. names spoken. In the absence of He had thought it very strange until outside stimulation normal sleep he mentioned it to his brother, who paralysis is of short duration and self said that he'd had similar experiences. correcting. This conversation was a major A closely related and on occasion relief to me, and it was followed by concurrent phenomenon is hypno- a cessation of such attacks. pompic hallucinations. These occur I filed these experiences away until when one awakes but hallucinates and I stumbled across a scientific explana­ sees imagery. At times these images tion for them. can be vivid and bizarre and of a What my friend and I were exper­ frightening quality. My friend's ghost iencing is often referred to as "night and my electrifying telephone cord are terror." My friend's were more like both examples of these. Although the classic variety, complete with a both had strange, unbelievable qual­ night hag, while mine was more ities, they were both vividly seen, unusual, involving a "demonic tele­ vividly experienced, and believed by phone cord from Hell." Such experien­ the experiencer at the time, and very ces, disturbing and frightening as they confusing to the victim upon the may be to the unsuspecting partici­ cessation of the experience. pants, are relatively benign and fall The ability to question subjective easily within the realm of the reality is another brain function that "explained" when understood is inhibited during dreaming. Hence properly. the bizarre but unquestioned nature Such experiences consist of two of conventional dreams. This inhibi­ aspects. The first is sleep paralysis. tion of the reality-checking function This is a relatively normal condition of the brain apparently also extends characterized by awakening to find into the period of hypnopompic hal­ oneself unable to move. Although it lucination. In some cases, this can lead is one of many indicators of the mental to intensified emotion, such as terror, illness narcolepsy, normally, in the and this is the conventional explana­ absence of other problems, it is a fairly tion for such experiences. Although unimportant, relatively common the experience of finding oneself condition. paralyzed and possibly insane is When one is asleep certain portions frightening in itself, researchers feel of the brain effectively are inhibited that the terror often felt is due to and cease to function at their normal reasons beyond this. level. One of these inhibited functions Hypnopompic hallucinations can is movement. With the obvious excep­ involve any or all of the senses, but tion of sleepwalkers (who fall well are most commonly visual or auditory. outside the scope of this article), gross Such hallucinations are normally not muscle movement is inhibited for shared. I assume my friend's girlfriend sleepers as a normal process. In the said that she had also seen the "ghost" case of sleep paralysis, the person to appease him. Or possibly she awakes before his brain can readjust actually thought that she saw some­ itself and allow for normal, uninhib­ thing. In any event, never having met ited movement. It is seen to be the her, I have no idea how she would

Fall 1992 67 respond when faced with a distraught, children's bedrooms. These are cited confused person who feared for his by adults as memories that convinced mental health. them that there might just be some­ Such hallucinations, and the thing to "the mysterious side of life." related phenomenon of hypnogogic These experiences might be more hallucinations (which occur just prior easily explained as hypnogogic hallu­ to sleeping), are not uncommon in cinations. children. Thus, when children say In the excellent collection of essays they see monsters at night at a time Phenomenon: Forty Years of Flying they should be sleeping, they just Saucers, Mark Moravec discusses might really think they are seeing hypnopompic/hypnogogic hallucina­ them. tions as they may relate to UFO Such experiences have a great deal sightings. The author states that such of relevance to investigators of "unex­ hallucinations may explain many plained phenomena," not just to those UFO-related phenomena that involve interested in "ghosts" and their super­ tired drivers and people who awake natural entities. They also provide to find strange things, like lights insight into many cases of "UFO outside their windows and little abductions" and similar phenomena. creatures in their rooms. Psychologist Robert A. Baker has The possible images from hypno­ suggested hypnopompic hallucina­ pompic hallucinations can be of vir­ tions as the explanation for the experi­ tually anything that a person might ences described by Whitley Strieber in dream about. Obviously culturally Communion. Strieber claimed to have determined UFO phenomena, ghost been abducted and manipulated by sightings that frequently involve little fetuslike-looking men who sneak "night hag"-type terrors, or the less into his bedroom repeatedly, and hostile images of recently deceased ultimately cause him a great deal of acquaintances (who have been known distress—and financial gain—by their to provide information that only actions. (This is one of several expla­ "they" would know, hence supposed nations advanced for this book.) proof of their supernatural origin), Budd Hopkins, author of Missing fairies, goblins, weird creatures, Time and one of the foremost pro­ bright lights, are all possible, just as ponents of the alien-abduction hy­ I experienced the bizarre demonic pothesis, discussed several such telephone cord from Hell. reports in a recent Omni magazine It is important to understand that article. At least three of these involved such phenomena are not a sign of children, or adults remembering child­ mental weakness or illness, but are hood experiences, seeing aliens or often experienced by people of un­ other weird strangers in their bed­ questioned sanity (and me too on one rooms before going to sleep. Hypno­ occasion). Anyone seeking to under­ gogic hallucination is an obvious stand paranormal phenomena should direction for such an investigation and be aware of this normal human it is one prominently absent from the experience. article. In Traditions of Belief, a study of Bibliography supernatural beliefs among middle- Baker, Robert A. 1987. The aliens among us: class women in today's England, by Hypnotic regressions revisited. SKEP­ Gillian Bennett, there are many other TICAL INQUIRER, Winter 1987-88. stories involving strange people in Bennett, Gillian. 1987. Traditions of Belief.

68 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 London: Penguin Books. Flying Saucers, ed. by John Spencer and Carlson, Neil R. 1986 [1977]. Physiology of Hilary Evans. New York: Avon. Behavior. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Pachulski, Roman. 1990. Psychiatric Notes. Hobson, J. Allan. 1988. The Dreaming Brain. London: Prentice Hall International. London: Penguin Books. Reed, Graham. 1988. The Psychology of Hufford, David J. 1982. The Terror that Comes Anomalous Experience. Buffalo: Pro­ in the Night. Philadelphia: University of metheus Books. Pennsylvania Press. McCarthy, Paul. 1990. True confessions: The unbearable pain, sorrow, and terror Peter Huston is a teacher of English as of alien abduction. Omni, December. Moravec, Mark. 1988. "Is There a UFO State a second language and writer currently of Mind?" In Phenomenon: Forty Years of living in Taiwan.

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Fall 1992 69 Scientific Creation ism: The Social Agenda Of a Pseudoscience

STEVEN N. SHORE

n 1859, Darwin described the origin of species and provided the critical theoretical tool, I natural selection, with which the diversity of life can be understood. In 1992, it is still obligatory in many school systems in the United States to teach the individuality of species and the principle of special creation along with evolution in high school biology classes. The it How did the intervening years have seen the tide of many efforts with an anti-evolutionary or theologi­ creationist cally fundamentalist slant ebb and flow over movement reach American public opinion. How did the creationist movement reach the the status it enjoys status that it still enjoys in this country? I believe today? that the answers lie in several directions, all of which are important for a deeper understanding of how a belief system is born, augmented, and institutionalized. One of the failures of the early anti-evolution movement, the one that very likely forced its retreat, was its inability to attain academic respectability. Yes, it continued to hold sway among the fundamentalist sects in the United States and abroad, and it continued to exert political influence at the populist level. But it was unable to maintain the early gains it had made against the teaching of evolution. During the 1960s, one of the greatest reforms of the U.S. educational system in a century was effectively mounted by the National Science Foundation. The entire science curriculum was revised, modernized, and made more rigorous. No field was overlooked. In physics and chemistry, contemporary theory and experi­ ments were included for the first time, bringing students closer to an understanding of the microphysical world. In geology, the evolution

70 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 of the earth and solar system were alternative to the "dogmatic" evolu­ stressed. And in biology, evolution tionary doctrine, a new strategy that became the foundation for teaching proved extremely successful. about the natural world. Genetics and This egalitarian argument appealed molecular biology were rapidly to people's sense of fair play and to included in textbooks, and it seemed an egalitarianism that, the creationists that the path would lead to a well- and their supporters argued, lies at the educated public, capable of judging the heart of the American character. The significance of scientific advances in argument empowered people who felt their daily lives. themselves distanced from their In the background, however, a new beliefs by an increasing reliance on movement had formed, galvanized technology and science, allowing them around the 1961 publication of The to publicly oppose the secularization Genesis Flood, by theologian John of American education with seemingly Whitcomb and engineering professor scholarly arguments. Henry Morris. The book was subtitled By the late 1970s, their efforts had "The Biblical Record and Its Scientific met with approbation in many quar­ Implications." Purporting to be a ters, well documented in Dorothy scholarly work, its main thrust was Nelkin's The Science Textbook Contro­ to attack evolution by cataloguing versies and the Politics of Equal Time. conundrums, paradoxes, and incorrect The California Board of Education explanations, and making contradic­ adopted an equal-time model for its tion proof of incorrectness. This was curriculum, and the textbook publish­ the beginning of the movement soon ers followed suit. The curriculum was to be called "creation science." Within watered down; statements that had a few years, by the mid-1960s, the previously been unequivocal in their Institute for Creation Research was evolutionary intent were altered to formed, in association with Christian imply the existence of alternative Heritage College, run by one of the interpretations without giving specific co-founders of the Moral Majority, details. As a result, students were left Tim LaHaye. The creationist move­ with an uncomfortable feeling that ment had mutated into a new entity, there was a great debate going on not anti-evolutionary in its intent so without their being privy to any of much as publicly desirous of voicing the particulars. To maintain and a "reasonable alternative" to the exploit this confusion, the ICR staff secular humanists, who had allegedly began in the late 1970s to take to the co-opted the education of the nation's road, organizing public "debates" on youth and subverted the educational the question of creation vs. evolution. system with their unsupported ideo­ Not since the Huxley-Wilberforce logical program. Duane Gish, an confrontation in 1860 had there been industrial biochemist, joined ICR in anything like it. Scientists were at a 1971 and published the principal singular loss in these public debates, biological arguments in Evolution: The their rhetoric and style being unsuited Fossils Say No! This was an enormously to such forums. Not until the recog­ successful ICR book. The ICR board nition of the creationist agenda of the of directors was composed of engi­ debates, and the increased familiarity neers and scientists with university of the scientific community with the graduate degrees. They began a well- tactics and discourse of the creation­ organized effort to present the teach­ ists, did these events produce anything ing of special creation as a legitimate but a dismal rout of the scientists.

Fall 1992 71 The failure of the creationists' documented by Richard Feynman in legislative agenda was first signaled by his autobiography (where he recounts Judge William Overton's landmark his tenure on the California Textbook decision in Arkansas in 1982 against Review Board). Ronald Reagan explic­ the state's equal-treatment law. Over­ itly approved the movement in his ton ruled that creationism was only notorious comment about his grave thinly veiled religious dogma and not doubts about the theory of evolution. worthy of inclusion in the science The growth of the home-schooling curriculum. The several other states movement and the presidential initi­ that had passed such equal-treatment atives on educational vouchers have laws were not directly affected by the all been very useful for the creationist. Arkansas decision, and what had It appears that there is a new seemed a legal juggernaut was not growth of public interest in the effectively slowed. In many of the creation/evolution question, since states the laws still remained on the debates are once again being proposed books, but they fell into disuse, or so by the creationists. This time, the it seemed. In 1985, the U.S. Supreme scientific side can draw on more Court refused to hear the appeal of experienced advocates, but they are creationists in their attempt to rein­ arguing against a belief system that state the overturned Louisiana law; excludes their standard of proof. And and faced with increased opposition to this we must recognize as the source this effort, the creationists abandoned of the problem. Science often provides their attempts to achieve legislatively answers that are at variance with what they had not been able to gain normal life experience. So, of course, by scholarship. do the paranormalists and the pseudo- The movement did not fold, how­ scientists. Since the answers are ever, any more than it had after the counterintuitive, their acceptance Scopes trial in the 1920s. ICR is well often depends on the preparation of organized, owns a publishing house, the soil into which the ideas are and continues to issue monthly tracts planted. The creationists can tap the on its efforts. Creationists have made whole cluster of religious beliefs inroads into smaller school systems. connected with biblical prophecy, Creationists have been fielded as genealogy, and morality. Scientists school-board candidates, although cannot. The cultural basis of this they do not generally make their country's collective morality is said to intentions public until elected. Despite rest on the Judeo-Christian ethic, and the disapproval of the ICR graduate therefore on the truth of the source program by the California Board of of those teachings. So the debate over Education, many individuals have re­ evolution vs. special creation takes a ceived teaching credentials and grad­ moral tone. The creationists, espe­ uate degrees from ICR programs. In cially Gish, point to secular humanists fact, the ICR graduate program's and their evolutionary philosophy as accreditation has recently been rein­ the cause of the worst fears of modern stated. Although in recent years the society—of drugs, crime, and the Texas and California school boards destruction of the "traditional fam­ have demanded a return of the cen- ily"—fears of an electorate that is trality of evolution to the science increasingly conservative on the one textbooks, publishers have been reluc­ hand and increasingly apathetic on the tant to comply and textbook review other. has been lax at best, as beautifully It is this same parallel universe that

72 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 feeds the public appetite for the Bibliography paranormal and makes it satisfying to a wide audience. Not that most para- Gish, D. T. 1979. Evolution: The Fossils Say normalists can, or do, invoke morality No! San Diego: Creation Life Press. on behalf of their claims, but that Godfrey, L. R., ed. 1983. Scientists Confront organizational and systematizing Creationism. New York: Norton. properties of paranormal beliefs, like Montagu, A., ed. 1984. Science and Creation­ religious beliefs, are very powerful. ism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Morris, H. M., ed. 1974. Scientific Creation­ Scientific creationism is just a trick for ism. San Diego: Creation Life Press. making fundamentalism socially Neikin, D. 1982. The Creation Controversy: acceptable. Parapsychology legiti­ Science or Scripture in the Schools. Boston: mizes prophecy. Past-life regression Beacon Press. scientifically supports the cross- . 1977. Science Textbook Controversies and the Politics of Equal Time. Cambridge: cultural belief in reincarnation and the MIT Press. immortality of the soul. In a world Whitcomb, J. C, and H. M. Morris. 1961. where quantum mechanics can be The Genesis Flood. Grand Rapids, Mich.: applied to crystals to produce either Baker. semiconductors or mystic healing, we must strengthen people's understand­ ing of the nature of the scientific Steven N. Shore is an astronomer and enterprise, not just the trivial recita­ physicist at the NASA Goddard Space tion of its products. This is the central Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, and lesson of, and the central weapon is a consulting editor of the SKEPTICAL against, scientific creationism. INQUIRER.

OUT THERE Rob Pudim

ANOtslVM

Fall 1992 Observing Stars During the Daytime: The Chimney Myth t

RICHARD SANDERSON

belief has come down through the ages that stars can be glimpsed in daytime if A the observer peers at a small section of sky from the bottom of a tall chimney or a deep well. The chimney or well supposedly shields the direct light from the sun. This reduces the amount of light entering the eye, causing the eye's pupil to open as it does at night, allowing It's an old idea, more light to fall upon the retina. One day nearly 20 years ago, while I was and an working as a teenage apprentice in the plane­ appealing one. tarium at the Springfield (Massachusetts) Science Museum, several colleagues and I got But does it work? into a discussion about this old belief. We were overheard by the museum's director, the late Frank Korkosz, and he invited us to settle the question by performing an observation. Korkosz led us down into the museum's basement to the base of a tall, narrow chimney. A small door near the floor allowed access to the chimney— it was just big enough to stick your head through. I recall a feeling of wonder at the prospect of seeing the nighttime stars simply by looking upward through this long shaft. The idea that stars can be seen during the day dates back at least to the time of Aristotle in the fourth century B.C. Aristotle wrote that stars had been seen in broad daylight by persons looking at the sky from deep within a cavern. Pliny, who lived nearly 2,000 years ago, had heard that a similar phenomenon occurred when the sky was observed from the bottom of a deep well. This concept found its way into literature, thanks to writers like Kipling, who wrote about "the gorge that shows the stars at noonday clear," and Dickens.

74 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Alexander von Humboldt, the noted German scientist and naturalist, repeatedly tried to observe stars during the daytime from mines in Siberia and America. He failed every time. Even the great astronomer Sir John Herschel had heard of this belief. He knew an optician who became inter­ ested in astronomy after observing the "regular appearance at a certain hour for several successive days, of a considerable star through the shaft of a chimney." This, of course, was secondhand evidence, and it appears that Herschel never bothered to repeat the observation for himself. Astronomer E. Walter Maunder, writing at the turn of the century, described the chimney myth as a "widespread tradition." This myth no doubt was perpetuated by such accounts as the following, which appeared in Sir Robert Ball's popular 1889 book Star-Land: "[The stars] can sometimes be seen in daylight in rather an odd way. If you can obtain a glimpse of the blue sky on a fine day from the bottom of a coal pit, stars are often visible. The top of the shaft This illustration appeared in the 1899 edition is, however, generally obstructed by of Sir Robert Ball's 1889 book Star-Land, with the caption "How the stars are to be seen the machinery for hoisting up the coal, in broad daylight." but the stars may be seen occasionally through the tall chimney attached to stars can be seen near the sun. But a manufactory when an opportune let's confine our discussion to the disuse of the chimney permits of the earth's surface. observation being made. The fact is Venus, the brightest of the planets that the long tube has the effect of as viewed from earth, is occasionally completely screening from the eye the visible during the day. I once sighted direct light of the sun. The eye thus Venus during an early summer after­ becomes more sensitive, and the noon from the mountaintop site of the feeble light from the stars can make annual Stellafane telescope-maker's its impression, and produce vision." convention in Springfield, Vermont. The stars do shine in the daytime The sky was unusually transparent sky, but they are completely over­ that day and appeared deep blue, with powered by the brilliant glare of the Venus shining as a tiny pinpoint of sun and the atmospheric scattering of light if you knew exactly where to sunlight. In space, where there is no look. Sirius, the brightest star in the air to scatter the sun's light and nighttime sky, was above the horizon brighten the sky, the sky is black and at the time but remained invisible.

Fall 1992 75 Venus blazes about ten times brighter Astronomers have long known than Sirius. that stars can be glimpsed during the Some observers claim to have day through a telescope. Stars are so observed Jupiter with the naked eye distant that they appear as pinpoints in the daytime sky. Since Jupiter in ordinary telescopes, regardless of shines almost twice as brightly as the the magnification. High magnification star Sirius, we cannot rule out the reduces the "surface brightness" of possibility that under ideal conditions, the sky by spreading a tiny section of such as from a high mountain summit, sky across the telescope's large appar­ a couple of the brightest nighttime ent field of view, and this increases stars might barely be visible during the contrast between the star and the daytime. However, I've never heard background sky, rendering the star of an observation that verifies this. visible. There are rare circumstances when A total solar eclipse affords the only one or more stars can become visible opportunity to observe stars sprinkled during the daylight hours. When an across the daytime sky. During total­ aging star explodes in a gigantic ity, when the moon completely covers cataclysm known as a supernova, its the sun's disc, the brightest stars can brightness can increase millions of easily be seen twinkling in the dark times until it becomes a daylight blue sky. The darkness of the July 11, object. The supernova observed by the 1991, total eclipse revealed bright Chinese in 1054 was seen in the winter stars like Sirius, Betelgeuse, daytime sky for several weeks. Nearby and Capella. A total solar eclipse supernovas are extremely rare, and produces this effect because the sun's nobody alive has ever seen one. light is blocked before it enters the

Total solar eclipses provide unique opportunities to view stars spinkled across the daytime sky. This photograph, taken by the author at the July 11, 1991, total eclipse from Baja California, shows the beautiful solar corona surrounding the moon's silhouette.

7o SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 earth's atmosphere. You can block out a total eclipse occurs once every year the sun's disc simply by holding up or two, the path of the moon's shadow your thumb, but by the time the often falls upon remote parts of the sunlight reaches your thumb, part of globe, making this a rare spectacle. it has already been scattered by air The ability to see stars in the molecules to give the sky its bright daytime sky is an exotic and captivat­ blue luster. ing concept for most people, which I experienced feelings of exhilara­ may account for the popularity of the tion and intense wonder when I saw chimney myth. The myth itself may stars in the daytime sky for the first have been born when someone looked time, during the total phase of the upward through a chimney or a well 1973 total solar eclipse in Kenya. and mistook Venus, which can be seen Anyone who has witnessed a total during the day, for a star. This would eclipse cannot fail to be moved by this certainly explain the observations "forbidden" view of the nighttime made by Herschel's optician friend. stars. This phenomenon was des­ As Korkosz stood watching, I cribed by a teenage sailor named James looked upward through that museum Fenimore Cooper, who was destined chimney 20 years ago and saw a to become a famous author, when he brilliant circle of sky surrounded by observed the great total solar eclipse the inky blackness of the chimney of June 16, 1806, from his home in interior. The pupils in my eyes did the Finger Lakes region of New York dilate, for the tiny section of visible State. Years later Cooper wrote: sky was almost blindingly bright. I immediately realized that I would Looking westward a moment, a never see stars during the daytime by spark appeared to glitter before my using this technique. As we left the eye. For a second I believed it to be an optical illusion, but in another museum's basement, Korkosz instant I saw it plainly to be a star. reminded us that there is only one star One after another they came into that can easily be seen during the view, more rapidly than in the daylight hours of any clear day, and evening twilight, until perhaps fifty that is the nearest and most important stars appeared to us, in a broad dark star, our sun! zone of the heavens, crowning the pines on the western mountain. Bibliography This wonderful vision of the stars, during the noontide hours of day, Ball, Sir Robert Stawell. Star-Land. Boston: filled the spirit with singular Ginn & Co. 1899 (revision of 1889 sensations. edition). Cooper, James Fenimore. "The eclipse" Putnam's Magazine, September 1869. Because of the relative sizes of Maunder, E. Walter. Astronomy Without a movements of the earth, moon, and Telescope. London: Knowledge Office, sun, the absolute maximum duration 1902. of totality during a total solar eclipse Rao, Joe. Your Guide to the Great Solar Eclipse of 1991. Cambridge, Mass.: Sky Publish­ is only 7 minutes 31 seconds. In ing, 1989. addition, the spectacular total phase of an eclipse can only be seen by Richard Sanderson is an avid amateur individuals situated along the path of astronomer and past president of the totality, the path of the moon's Springfield (Massachusetts) Stars Club. shadow across the earth, which is He is an astronomy columnist for the generally 50 to 200 miles wide and Springfield Journal. Address: P. O. Box thousands of miles long. Even though 54, Monson, MA 01057.

Fall 1992 77 Does an Ancient Jewish Amulet Commemorate the Conjunction of 2 B.C.?

DAVID P. RUBINCAM

n the evening of June 17, in the year 2 B.C., low in the western sky the planets OJupiter and Venus appeared very close to each other—perhaps close enough to be considered, however temporarily, a "star." The date of this conjunction is of course near that traditionally given for the birth of Christ. The nearness of the date, together with the fact that the two planets may have been so close that The amulet shows their disks overlapped (DeYoung and Hilton a crescent moon, 1987), led Roger W. Sinnott to speculate that the conjunction was in fact the Star of Bethle­ but the moon was hem (Sinnott 1986). full at the time. Sinnott also speculated that an ancient Jewish amulet, believed to be from the early centuries That's just one of the Christian era, commemorates the con­ problem. junction. He found a drawing of the amulet in Erwin R. Goodenough's monumental Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period, a multivolume monograph whose title well explains the contents. The drawing, taken from volume 3 (Goodenough 1953b), is reproduced here as Figure 1. It shows a star between the feet of a lion. Since the conjunction took place in the constellation of Leo the lion in just this position, Sinnott would appear to have a case. Further investigation, however, casts doubt on this interpretation of the amulet. A slight reason for doubt is the object in front of the lion. Goodenough (1953a: 260) says, "The lion is probably eating lamb or a calf," even though to a naive eye it looks as though the lion is drinking through a straw from a water

78 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

These four illustrations are from Erwin R. Goodenough, Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period. Copyright ©1953 by P.U.P. © renewed. Reproduced by permission of Princeton University Press. skin. Whatever the object is, the usual was a new moon in Leo at the time drawings of Leo do not contain of the conjunction, then this would anything but the lion. But this is weak certainly lend support to Sinnott's evidence. speculation. The moon, together with Of more moment is the crescent the planets, would have been a beau­ moon shown above the lion. If there tiful sight and worthy of commem-

Fall 1992 79 oration. Another possibility is that the The problem is that the moon was "star" is the planet Venus by itself. The full on the evening of June 17, 2 B.C., crescent moon and Venus are often and nowhere near Leo. In fact, the conspicuous together in the morning moon would have been rising in the or evening sky. Moreover, the star and east while the conjunction was setting crescent combination is much older in the west. Since it would have been than 2 B.C. Schaefer (1991) has traced odd of the amulet-maker to throw in depictions back as far as 2500 B.C. the wrong phase of the moon for such Where does all this leave the a memorable event, the identification original amulet? We can say that it with the conjunction seems dubious. depicts a lion, which may be Leo, with Perhaps the most compelling rea­ the crescent moon and a "star," which son for doubt is the existence of other could possibly be the sun or Venus. Jewish amulets from the same period. Probably the star and the moon are A perusal of the very volume from centered in the figure for reasons of which Figure 1 is taken shows other artistic symmetry, just as they are star and moon combinations. The symmetrically offset in the amulets amulets shown in Figure 2, for exam­ shown in Figure 2. This, together with ple, each display a star and a crescent the fact that there was no crescent moon with creatures that are clearly moon in Leo on June 17, dims the not constellations of the Zodiac. chances that the amulet commemo­ Further, the star and the moon seem rates the conjunction of 2 B.C. to be positioned for reasons of artistic I thank James Hilton of the U.S. symmetry and not for the depiction Naval Observatory for verifying that of actual astronomical events. Also of the moon was full at the time of the interest in Figure 3, which shows a conjunction of 2 B.C. lion, a crescent moon, and seven stars, rather than just one. Other drawings (not shown) from Goodenough's References many volumes show what appear to DeYoung, James A., and James L. Hilton. be stars inside the crescent moon, an 1987. Star of Bethlehem. Sky and Tele­ astronomical impossibility. scope, 73: 357-358, April, Goodenough, Erwin R. 1953a. Jewish Symbols And is the "star" really a star?" in the Greco-Roman Period, vol. 2. New Goodenough (1958: 194) says of one York: Pantheon. of his figures, ". . . In the middle is . 1953b. Jewish Symbols in the Greco- the 'star and crescent,' a design I take Roman Period, vol. 3. New York: normally to be the moon and sun. Pantheon. . 1958. Jewish Symbols in the Greco- ..." Describing the amulet in question, Roman Period, vol. 8. New York: he says, ". . . Lion with star (sun) and Pantheon. crescent . . ." (Goodenough 1953a: Schaefer, B. 1991. Heavenly signs. New 260). So the "star" may be the sun. Scientist, December 21/28, pp. 48-51. Evidence against his point of view is Sinnott, Roger W. 1986. Computing the Star of Bethlehem. Sky and Telescope, 72: 632- the lion with the seven stars. The 635, December. seven "stars" may be the seven known planets, as Goodenough (1953a: 258) himself states. Or they may simply be David P. Rubincam is with the Geo- seven stars, because seven was a dynamics Branch, Code 921, Laboratory mystical number in the Jewish faith. for Terrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard In any case, it would be strange to Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD show a lion surrounded by seven suns. 20771.

80 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Book Reviews

Vampires: The Good, the Bad, and the Just Plain Ugly Vampires Among Us. By Rosemary Ellen Guiley. Pocket Books, New York, N.Y., 1991. 270 pp. Paper, $4.99.

Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality. By Paul Barber. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1988. 236 pp. Cloth, $30.00. Paper $9.95.

PETER HUSTON

t is not just coincidence that at repeats what they have said. Such about the time I discovered well- writers are usually fond of statements I researched, scientific-minded publi­ like "We all, ultimately, determine our cations explaining supernatural and own reality" and "Who can determine paranormal phenomena, I not only what is really true?" Ultimately the became interested in science but also book becomes a paperback. began enjoying bad low-budget horror The only thing that makes Vampires movies again. So it was with great Among Us stand out in the crowd is interest that I read two nonfiction its unique subject, something that the investigations into vampire phe­ author terms "Vampire Reality." nomena. Unfortunately, she never says what As for the first, Vampires Among Vampire Reality really is, but appar­ Us, by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, most ently assumes that the reader will readers of this journal should be understand. I never did catch on, I'm reasonably familiar with this sort of afraid. product, and I think product is an The book has ten chapters, cover­ appropriate word. ing a wide variety of disparate This kind of thing starts with a vampire-related phenomena. Among professional writer who writes a the subjects discussed are a survey of considerable amount about psychic vampires in movies and historical phenomena, reincarnation research, legends; a few local modern-day and other mysterious happenings. He folklorish tales concerning vampires or she then embarks on another book, and vampirelike ghosts; a group of surveying and condensing the more evil, vampirelike spirits who mani­ interesting literature on the subject. fested themselves through a Ouija The writer interviews the more board and possessed some high school outspoken believers in the field and girls; and some people who have had

Fall 1992 81 incredibly realistic dreams about and "psychic vampires." The reader is vampires. left in the dark about the sources of Chapter 5 covers a 1970 vampire these statements and who believes panic in a London cemetery that them. Were they the author's personal culminated in a media circus, with a opinions or were they derived from man named Sean Manchester her reading? Did they result from allegedly killing a vampire with a some sort of research claim from some wooden stake. Manchester has pub­ shadow science? There's no way to lished two contradictory accounts of know. his story. Although the book is labeled "non- Chapter 8 deals with stories about fiction," I think the giveaway of the "psychic vampires," human and oth­ intended audience lies in the final erwise, who exist by draining off pages, where Pocket Books advertises people's "psychic energy" with no its Occult Fiction list. Last summer I physical attack involved. Like the book read Stephen King's vampire thriller, itself, these reports show little con­ Salem's Lot. I suggest that those sistency, documentation, or depth. looking for undocumented vampire The concept of what this psychic thrills read that instead. energy might be is left completely Although I did not expect Vampires unexamined. Among Us to convince me of the At times, rather than arguing for reality of vampires, I had expected to the existence of any sort of vampires, enjoy it. I had hoped for a collection the author appears to be surveying of documented, interesting historical belief in vampires in present-day and contemporary incidents that England and America through a series might resemble a vampire legend. I of interviews with believers and had expected these to be tied together devoted vampire fans. I found these with some clever arguments explain­ interviews disturbing and ultimately ing how vampires might exist in depressing. The social context was today's world and what they could be, often difficult to get a handle on. The whether undead, living, or disincar- subjects appeared to be a long line of nate spirits, or otherwise. With a little confused, pale people united in their luck these incidents and arguments wish to become genuine undead might have provided some mysteries vampires, and in their love of horror to try to solve and perhaps to find movies and the Anne Rice fictional more conventional explanations for. vampire series. These people did They did not. generally seem to believe in the reality For those who desire to investigate of vampires, often claiming to be in vampire legends in a rational manner, contact with them, but the book however, I suggest they read Paul makes no attempt to follow up on Barber's Vampires, Burial, and Death: these claims. Folklore and Reality. Barber traces the When the author attempts to go substance and spread of the vampire beyond reporting others' claims, she legends of Eastern and Middle Europe. does not do well. For instance, she Such beliefs, like those in witchcraft makes mistakes in her descriptions of and werewolves, were often taken lucid dreaming and attacks of the quite seriously and could cause panic "night hag," a peculiar form of sleep over wide regions. The author then paralysis and hypnopompic hallucina­ tries to determine what could cause tion. There are also sections where she rational, thinking people to believe expounds on "psychic self-defense" they were being stalked by "undead"

82 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Illustration from Vampires Burial, and Dealt), by Paul Barber. beings. driving red bloodlike liquid out of the Barber is a folklorist who began to mouth. When a stake is driven into suspect that many European vampire such a body, it will often drive gas up legends and scares could be attributed through the larynx and produce a to a poor understanding of the spread screaming noise as well as a strong of disease and the behavior of decom­ stench. posing human bodies. Barber became quite interested in For instance, someone in a peasant this sort of explanation and surveyed village might get sick and die before the literature in many fields, including his or her intended time, and this vampire-related folklore, forensic might be followed by other deaths. science, embalming, and the methods The inhabitants, at a loss to explain used to dispose of corpses in a wide such happenings, might blame the variety of cultures. He does an admir­ first person to die, who they believe able job of research. His book should may have become a vampire. They be a classic in explanations of folklore would then dig up the body and for some time. discover that it was not stiff, as they Much as I admire Barber's work, had expected, but was bloated and had this book is most certainly not for blood on its mouth. The peasants everyone. Considerable space is de­ would then drive a stake into the body, voted to describing the behavior of and there would be a terrible stench corpses in a detailed and scientific and a horrible scream. manner, and it can at times be quite One scientific explanation would gruesome. Still, the emphasis on de­ be that the first victim might merely tail is valuable, and Barber's book be the first caught by a minor plague. provides a fascinating piece of investi­ Surprisingly, dead bodies do not gative research into traditional super­ remain stiff; after a period of time they natural beliefs and their explanations. return to limpness. Also, as the body begins to decompose gas is produced Peter Huston is a teacher and writer who and the body becomes bloated, often currently lives in Taiwan.

Fall 1992 83 Recent Books

Au Coeur de 1'Extra-Ordinaire. Henri that lead to sincere belief in alien Broch. lTiorizon Chimerique, 7-8 Rue abductions, satanic kidnappings, Leyteire, 33000 Bordeaux, France, spirit-channeling, recall of past lives, 1991. 386 pp. 120F, paper. Compre­ and so on. Such anomalous or "super­ hensive popular book, by French bio- natural" experiences are manifesta­ physicist and CSICOP Fellow, pro­ tions of cryptomnesia, or hidden vides critical examinations of virtually memories, Baker suggests. This is a every class of pseudoscientific or phenomenon in which experiences fringe-science claims. In French. With that initially made little impression are witty line illustrations by Paul filed away in the brain and later Lebrun. suddenly recalled in altered form. Baker also explores what should and Beyond the Body. Susan J. Blackmore. should not be defined as mental Academy Chicago Publishers, 213 disease, how delusions and illusions West Institute Place, Chicago, IL affect behavior, and the way the media 60610, 1992. 284 pp. $13.00, paper. have contributed to the growth and Welcome paperback edition of Black- spread of urban legends and other more's 1984 book investigating the modern folklore. out-of-body experience. A new post­ script by the author summarizes what On the Wild Side. Martin Gardner. has happened since, including tests of Prometheus Books, 700 E. Amherst many of the hypotheses. Readers of Street, Buffalo, NY 14215, 1992. 257 Blackmore's recent writings in SI will pp. $24.95, cloth. The latest collection be familiar with her naturalistic of Gardner's essays from the SKEPTI­ explanations of the OBE phe­ CAL INQUIRER (the first half of the nomenon: the famous "tunnel effect" book) and essays and reviews in the can be accounted for in physiological New York Review of Books and other terms, and other OBE phenomena can publications. Critical examinations of be explained as the effect of a strug­ dozens of fringe claims and their gling brain attempting to build a model proponents: the "nutshell' earth, of reality with no outside input and creationism, relativism, astrology, therefore calling upon memory and speaking in tongues, ESP, PK, Wil- imagination. helm Reich, Colin Wilson, Aleister Crowley, Oral Roberts, Robert Gen­ Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions try, Ira Einhorn, Frank Tipler, and from Within. Robert A. Baker. John Beloff. Prometheus Books, 700 E. Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14215, 1992. 373 Psychology. Second Edition. Douglas pp. $27.95, cloth. An important exam­ A. Bernstein, Edward J. Roy, Thomas ination by a psychologist of the K. Srull, and Christopher D. Wickens. hallucinatory or delusionary experi­ Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992, ence and anomalies of memory, 830 pp. New introductory textbook is, including their many manifestations according to the authors, explicitly

84 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 designed to draw students' attention Elizabeth Metzger Armstrong. Pren­ to the importance of critical thinking tice Hall, 1991. 292 pp. $17.95, and to give them rules for, and practice paper. Generously illustrated explora­ at, approaching phenomena from a tion into the "grand parade of the scientific point of view. Each chapter, colorful, idiosyncratic, and some­ for example, contains a "thinking times visionary leaders of a wide array critically" section that helps students of American health reform move­ evaluate assertions using a five-step ments." Dozens of health trends, system: What am I asked to believe? beliefs, and cures are here, and their What is the evidence? Are alternative "often wild, wacky, and amusing explanations available? What addi­ claims": homeopathy, vegetarianism, tional evidence would be useful in phrenology, hydropathy, mineral evaluating alternatives? What conclu­ water, chiropractice, patent medi­ sions are most reasonable? cines, electrical cures, divine healing, Hollywood, organic America (Rodale The Great American Medicine Show: & Co.), dieting crazes. Includes a final Being an Illustrated History of chapter on "Fitness: The Ultimate Hucksters, Healers, Health Evange­ Cure." lists, and Heroes from Plymouth Rock to the Present. David Armstrong and —Kendrick Frazier

Articles of Note

DiBattista, D., and M. L. Shepherd. French, Christopher C. "Population "Teachers' Beliefs Regarding Sugar Stereotypes and Belief in the Para­ Consumption and Hyperactivity in normal: Is There a Relationship?" Children." Paper presented at the Australian Psychologist, vol. 27, 1992, Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psy­ pp. 57-58. Tell people to choose a chological Association, Boston, number between 1 and 10. By far the Massachusetts, April 1992. Although most popular response will be "7." the available body of scientific evi­ This is an example of a population dence does not support the notion that stereotype. Stage psychics exploit sugar has adverse effects on the such effects in their acts. This study behavior of hyperactive children, a of 58 subjects demonstrates a number mailed questionnaire revealed that of other population stereotypes in a more than 85 percent of 389 Canadian study ostensibly investigating telep­ primary-school teachers believe that athy. People show a strong tendency it does. Fifty-five percent of them had to choose certain predictable re­ counseled parents of hyperactive sponses: two simple drawings? (house children to reduce their children's and circle the most popular); two-digit sugar consumption to control their number? (37% of responses gave 21, activity levels. 22, or 23, with 23 the most popular);

Fall 1992 85 two geometric forms, one inside the Merskey, H. "The Manufacture of other? (30% gave a circle in a triangle, Personalities: The Production of 26% a circle in a square). No corre­ Multiple Personality Disorder." Brit­ lation was found, however, between ish Journal of Psychiatry, 160: 327-340, the tendency to choose stereotypical 1992. Unprecedented numbers of responses and scores on the Belief in cases of MPD have been diagnosed, the Paranormal scale. mainly in North America, since 1957. Widespread publicity for the concept Gould, Stephen Jay. "The Most makes it uncertain whether any such Unkindest Cut of All." Natural His­ case can now arise without having tory, May 1992, pp. 2-11. Painful essay been promoted by suggestion or prior on Adolf Eichmann's January 1942 preparation. To determine if there is Wannsee Protocol, which summar­ any evidence that MPD was ever a ized the Nazi plan for what was spontaneous phenomenon, the au­ euphemistically called the "final solu­ thor, a psychiatrist, examined a series tion to the Jewish question"—the of cases of MPD from the earlier lit­ systematic murder of millions of erature. Finds that no report fully Jews. The rarely discussed second half excluded the possibility of artificial of the Protocol uses as its rationale production. "The diagnosis of MPD against racial mixing and for genocide represents a misdirection of effort the concept of natural selection. This, which hinders the resolution of cries Gould, is "the absolute ultimate serious psychological problems in the in all conceivable misappropriation lives of patients," says Merskey. [of the theory of natural selection]. To think that the key phrase of my Moore, Randy. "Debunking the professional world lies so perversely Paranormal: We Should Teach Crit­ violated in the very heart of the ical Thinking as a Necessity for chief paragraph in the most evil Living, Not Just As a Tool for document ever written! What symbol Science." American Biology Teacher, of misuse could possibly be more January 1992, pp. 4-9. Lengthy, com­ powerful?" Calls upon scientists to be prehensive article by the magazine's vigilant in combatting misuses of editor begins as editorial calling for scientific concepts, and humble in teaching biology students to synthes­ pointing out that moral questions ize information and think critically— have to be answered from outside not just in class but outside of school science—although scientists can and should speak out strongly on moral as well. Laments the popularity of issues as human beings. astrology "and similar pseudoscientific shams," which attest to lack of critical thinking, and says, "Science remains James, Mary, and Kate Loewenthal. the most successful way of under­ "Handwriting Stereotypes for the standing the world." Then describes Judgement of Depression." The jour­ in some detail 15 kinds of "fantasies nal of Social Psychology, 131 (5): 749- popular among people who cannot or 750, 1991. Study concludes that lay will not think critically," including judgments of depression based on astrology, New Age claims, numerol­ handwriting are reliable, but that is ogy, creationism, prophecy, L. Ron because the handwriting of de­ Hubbard's wild claims, psychics and pressed persons is untidy not because ESP, and "surprise appearances and of any more esoteric graphological wild doings by religious celebrities" analyses. (crying statues of Mary, etc.). "I'm not

86 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 suggesting that we turn our biology religion." No analysis here, but ends courses into discussions of the para­ with a telling quote: "Everything is normal or occult. . . . However, we becoming more tabloid." have many opportunities—often in­ formal and outside of class—to urge Randi, James. "Help Stamp Out students to think critically." Absurd Beliefs." Time, April 13,1992, p. 80. Strongly worded guest essay by Morgan. J. P., N. R. Chaganty, R. C. the indefatigable magician and Dahiya, and M. J. Doviak. "Let's Make debunker of psychic pretensions: a Deal: The Player's Dilemma." "Everywhere we look we find anti- American Statistician, November 1991, scientific bias and belief in the unbe­ pp. 284-289, 347-348. Another exam­ lievable. . . . 'Police psychics' have ination of the three-door problem as been investigated scientifically and presented and debated recently in found to be of absolutely no use; in Parade magazine. "The solution and fact, they impede investigations. . . . failed attempts at solution are rich in Currently, German science is agog their lessons in thinking about con­ with its exciting discovery of 'E rays,' ditional probability." which are said to come from deep within the earth and cause cancer and Paskal, Cleo. "Space Aliens Made Me which cannot be detected by any Cynical! The View From Tabloid known scientific instrument. . . . Valley." Columbia Journalism Review, Washington spoon-bending parties May/June 1992, pp. 18-19. Brief once­ are regularly attended by top brass over look at recent headlines and from the Pentagon. . . . Acceptance of stories in the six largest supermarket nonsense as a harmless aberration can tabloids. Quotes Eddie Clontz, editor, be dangerous to us. . . . [It can] cripple Weekly World News: "Everybody else our perception of the world around is trying to demystify everything. us. We must reach for the truth, not We're trying to do the opposite, to for the ghosts of dead absurdities." mystify them. We're in a constant struggle against medicine, science, and —Kendrick Frazier

A REMINDER

All subscription correspondence (new subscriptions, renewals, back-issue orders, billing problems) should be addressed to: SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, BOX 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703 All editorial correspondence (manuscripts, letters to the editor, books for review, authors' queries) should be addressed to the Editor's office in Albuquerque: Kendrick Frazier, Editor, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, 3025 Palo Alto Dr. N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87111 Inquiries concerning CSICOP programs or policies should be addressed to: Paul Kurtz, Chairman, CSICOP, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703

Fall 1992 87 «* Skeptical Fill in the gaps in your Inquirer SKEPTICAL %£* INQUIRER collection 15% discount on orders of $100 or more ($6.25 for each copy. To order, use reply card insert.)

SUMMER 1992 (vol. 16, no. 4): Freedom of scientific hysteria episode, Stewart. Acceptance of personality test inquiry under siege, Kurtz. Psychic experiences: Psychic results, Thiriart. Belief in astrology: A test of the Barnum illusions, Blackmore. The scientist's skepticism, Bunge. The effect, French, Fowler, McCarthy, and Peers. A test of persistent popularity of the paranormal, Lett. Self-help clairvoyance using signal-detection, McKelvie and Gagne. books: Pseudoscience in the guise of science? Gambrill. Intercessory prayer as medical treatment? Wittmer and Ghost lights in Texas, Unite. Big bang theory still lives, Zimmerman. Tipler's Omega Point theory, Martin Gardner. Gardner. FALL 1990 (vol. 15, no. 1): Neural Organization SPRING 1992 (vol. 16, no. 3): Special Report: The Technique: Treatment or torture, Worrall. The spooks Maharishi caper: JAMA hoodwinked, Skolnick. Myths of of quantum mechanics, Stenger. Science and Sir William subliminal persuasion: The cargo-cult science of sublim­ Crookes, Hoffmasler. The 'N' machine. Camming. Biological inal persuasion, Pralkanis; Subliminal perception: Facts and cycles and rhythms vs. biorhythms, Wheeler. The . fallacies, Moore; Subliminal tapes, Phelps and Exum. The Avro mysterious finger-lift levitation, Gardner. 1990 CSICOP VZ-9 'flying saucer/ Blake. Two 19th-century skeptics: Conference. Augustus de Morgan and John Fiske, Rothman. The sad SUMMER 1990 (vol. 14, no. 4): Ghosts make news: How story of Professor Haldane, Martin Gardner. four newspapers report psychic phenomena, Klare. WINTER 1992 (vol. 16, no. 2): On being sued: The chilliing Thinking critically and creatively, Wade and Tavris. Police of freedom of expression, Kurtz. The crop-circle pheno­ pursuit of satanic crime, Part 2, Hicks. Order out of chaos menon, Nickell and Fischer. Update on the 'Mars effect/ in survival research, Berger. Piltdown, paradigms, and the Ertel. A dissenting note on Ertel's 'Update,' Kurtz. Magic paranormal, Feder. Auras: Searching for the light, Loftin. Melanin: Spreading scientific illiteracy among minorities, Biorhythms and the timing of death, Lester. Relativism Part 2, de Montellano. Adventures in science and cyclosophy, in science, Gardner. de Jager. Searching for security in the mystical, Grimmer. SPRING 1990 (vol. 14, no. 3): Why we need to understand Probability paradoxes, Gardner. science, Sagan. The crisis in pre-college science and math FALL 1991 (vol. 16, no. 1): Near-death experiences, education, Seaborg. Police pursuit of satanic crime, Part Blackmore. Multicultural pseudoscience: Spreading scien­ 1, Hicks. The spread of satanic-cult rumors, Victor. Lying tific illiteracy, Part 1, de Montellano. Science and common- about polygraph tests, Shneour. Worldwide disasters and sense skepticism, Aach. Spook Hill, Wilder. Lucian and moon phase, Kelly, Saklofske, and Culver. St. George and Alexander, Rowe. 1991 CSICOP conference, Shore and the dragon of creationism, Gardner. Frazier. Reeder feedback from Urantia to Titanic, Gardner. WINTER 1990 (vol. 14, no. 2): The new catastroph- SUMMER 1991 (vol. IS, no. 4): Lucid dreams, Blackmore. ism, Morrison and Chapman. A field guide to critical think­ Nature faking in the humanities, Gallo. Carrying the war ing, Lett. Cold fusion: A case history in 'wishful into the never-never land of psi: Part 2, Gill. Coincidences, science'? Rothman. The airship hysteria of 1896-97, Paulos. Locating invisible buildings, Plummer. True Bartholomew. Newspaper editors and the creation-evolu­ believers, Bower. Cal Thomas, the big bang, and Forrest tion controversy, Zimmerman. Special report: New Mims, Gardner. evidence of MJ-12 hoax, Klass. The great Urantia mystery, SPRING 1991 (vol. 15, no. 3): Special report: Hi-fi Gardner. pseudoscience, Davis. Searching for extraterrestrial FALL 1989 (vol. 14, no. 1): Myths about science, Rothman. intelligence: An interview with Thomas R. McDonough. The relativity of wrong, Asimov. Richard Feynman on Getting smart about getting smarts, Faulkes. Carrying the fringe science. Luis Alvarez and the explorer's quest, war into the never-never land of psi: Part 1, Gill. Satanic Muller. The two cultures, Jones. The 'top-secret UFO cult 'survivor' stories, Victor. 'Old-solved mysteries': The papers' NSA won't release, Klass. The metaphysics of Kecksburg incident, Young. Penn & Teller, the magical Murphy's Law, Price. The Unicorn at large, Gardner. iconoclasts, Gordon. Magic, medicine, and metaphysics in SUMMER 1989 (vol. 13, no. 4): The New Age—An Nigeria, Roder. What's wrong with science education? Examination: The New Age in perspective, Kurtz. A New Look at the family, Eve. Three curious research projects, Age reflection in the magic mirror of science, O'Hara. Gardner. The New Age: The need for myth in an age of science, WINTER 1991 (vol. 15, no. 2): Special report / Gallup Schultz. Channeling, Alcock. The psychology of channeling, poll: Belief in paranormal phenomena, Gallup and Newport. Reed, 'Entities' in the linguistic minefield, Thomason. Science and self-government, Piel. West Bank collective Crystals, Lawrence. Consumer culture and the New Age, (continued on next page) Rosen. The Shirley MacLaine phenomenon, Gordon. Special Ten years of negative research in parapsychology, report: California court jails psychic surgeon, Brenneman. Blackmore. Does astrology need to be true? Part 2: The SPRING 1989 (vol. 13, no. 3): High school biology answer is no, Dean. Magic, science, and metascience: Some teachers and pseudoscientific belief, tot and Dunn. Evidence notes on perception, D. Sagan. Velikovsky's interpretation for Bigfoot? Dennett. Alleged pore structure in Sasquatch of the evidence offered by China, Lo. Anomalies of Chip footprints, Freeland and Rowe. The lore of levitation. Stein. Arp, Gardner. Levitation 'miracles' in India, Premanand. Science, WINTER 1986-87 (vol. 11, no. 2): Case study of West pseudoscience, and the cloth of Turin, Nickell. Rather than Pittston 'haunted' house, Kurtz. Science, creationism and just debunking, encourage people to think, Seckel. MJ-12 the Supreme Court, Seckel, with statements by Ayala, papers 'authenticated'? Klass. A patently false patent myth, Gould, and Gell-Mann. The great East Coast UFO of August Sass. 1986, Oherg. Does astrology need to be true? Part 1, Dean. WINTER 1989 (vol. 13, no. 2): Special report: The Homing abilities of bees, cats, and people, Randi. The EPR 'remembering water' controversy, Gardner and Randi; paradox and Rupert Sheldrake, Gardner. Followups: On Bibliographic guide to the 'dilution controversy.' fringe literature, Bauer; on Martin Gardner and Daniel Pathologies of science, precognition, and modern Home, Beloff. psychophysics, Jensen. A reaction-time test of ESP and FALL 1986 (vol. 11, no. 1): The path ahead: Opportunities, precognition. Hints and Dennison. Chinese psychic's pill- challenges, and an expanded view, Frazier. Exposing the bottle demonstration, Wu Xiaoping. The Kirlian technique, faith-healers, Steiner. Was Antarctica mapped by the Watkins and Bickel. Certainty and proof in creationist ancients? Jolly. Folk remedies and human belief-systems, thought, Leferriere. Reuter. Dentistry and pseudoscience, Dodes. Atmospheric FALL 1988 (vol. 13, no. 1): Special report: Astrology and electricity, ions, and pseudoscience, Dolezalek. Noah's ark the presidency, Kuril and Bob. Improving Human and ancient astronauts, Harrold and Eve. The Woodbridge Performance: What about parapsychology? Frazier. The UFO incident, Ridpath. How to bust a ghost, Baker. The China syndrome: Further reflections on the paranormal unorthodox conjectures of Tommy Gold, Gardner. in China, Kuril. Backward masking, McIver. The validity SUMMER 1986 (vol. 10, no. 4): Occam's razor, Shneour. of graphological analysis, Furnham. The intellectual revolt Clever Hans redivivus, Sebeok. Parapsychology miracles, against science, Grove. Reich the rainmaker, Gardner. and repeatability, Flew. The Condon UFO study, Klass. SUMMER 1988 (vol. 12, no. 4): Testing psi claims Four decades of fringe literature, Dutch. Some remote- in China, Kurtz, Alcock, Frazier, Karr, Klass, and Randi. The viewing recollections, Weinberg. Science, mysteries, and appeal of the occult: Some thoughts on history, religion, the quest for evidence, Gardner. and science, Stevens. Hypnosis and reincarnation, Venn. SPRING 1986 (vol. 10, no. 3): The perennial fringe, Pitfalls of perception, Wheeler. Wegener and pseudos­ Asimov. The uses of credulity, de Camp. Night walkers and cience: Some misconceptions, Edelman. An investigation mystery mongers, Sagan. CSICOP after ten years, Kurtz. of psychic crime-busting, Emery. High-flying health quackery, Crash of the crashed-saucers claim, Klass. A study of the Hines. The bar-code beast, Keith. Occam's Razor and the Kirlian effect, Watkins and Bickel. Ancient tales and space- nutshell earth, Gardner. age myths of creationist evangelism, Mclver. Creationism's SPRING 1988 (vol. 12, no. 3): Neuropathology and the debt to George McCready Price, Gardner. legacy of spiritual possession, Beyerstein.Varietie s of alien WINTER 1985-86 (vol. 10, no. 2): The moon was full experience, Ellis. Alien-abduction claims and standards of and nothing happened, Kelly, Ration, and Culver. Psychic inquiry (excerpts from Milton Rosenberg's radio talk- studies: The Soviet dilemma. Ebon. The psychopathology show with guests Charles Gruder, Martin Orne, and of fringe medicine, Sabbagh. Computers and rational Budd Hopkins). The MJ-12 Papers: Part 2, Klass. Dooms­ thought, Spangenburg and Moser. Psi researchers' inatten­ day: The May 2000 prediction, Meeus. My visit to the tion to conjuring, Gardner. Nevada Clinic, Barrett. Morphic resonance in silicon chips, FALL 1985 (vol. 10, no. 1): Investigations of firewalking, Varela and Letelier. Abigail's anomalous apparition, Durm. Leikind and McCarthy. Firewalking: reality or illusion, The riddle of the Colorado ghost lights, Bunch and White. Dennett. Myth of alpha consciousness, Beyerstein. Spirit- The obligation to disclose fraud, Gardner. rapping unmasked, V. Bullough. The Saguaro incident, WINTER 1987-88 (vol. 12, no. 2): The MJ-12 papers: Part Taylor and Dennett. The great stone face, Gardner. I, Philip J. Klass. The aliens among us: Hypnotic regression SUMMER 1985 (vol. 9, no. 4): Guardian astrology study. revisited, Baker. The brain and consciousness: Implications Dean, Kelly, Rotton, and Saklofske. Astrology and the commod­ for psi, Beyerstein. Past-life hypnotic regression, Spanos. ity market, Rotton. The hundredth monkey phenomenon, Fantasizing under hypnosis, Reveen. The verdict on Amundson. Responsibilities of the media, Kurtz. 'Lucy' out creationism, Gould. Irving Kristol and the facts of life, of context, Albert. The debunking club, Gardner. Gardner. SPRING 1985 (vol. 9, no. 3): Columbus poltergeist: I, FALL 1987 (vol. 12, no. 1): The burden of skepticism, Randi. Moon and murder in Cleveland, Sanduleak. Image Sagan. Is there intelligent life on Earth? Kurtz. Medical of Guadalupe, Nickell and Fischer. Radar UFOs, Klass. Phren­ Controversies: Chiropractic, Jarvis: Homeopathy, Barrett, ology, McCoy. Deception by patients, Pankralz. Commun­ M.D.; Alternative therapies, Jones; Quackery, Pepper. ication in nature, Orstan. Relevance of belief systems, Catching Geller in the act, Emery. The third eye, Gardner. Gardner. Special Report: CSICOP's 1987 conference. WINTER 1984-85 (vol. 9, no. 2): The muddled' Mind Race,' SUMMER 1987 (vol. 11, no. 4): Incredible cremations: Hyman. Searches for the Loch Ness monster, Razdan and Investigating combustion deaths, Nickell and Fischer. Kielar. Final interview with Milbourne Christopher, Subliminal deception, Creed. Past tongues remembered? Dennett. Retest of astrologer John McCall, lanna and Tol- Thomason. Is the universe improbable? Shotwell. Psychics, bert. 'Mind Race,' Gardner. computers, and psychic computers, Easton. Pseudoscience FALL 1984 (vol. 9, no. 1): Quantum theory and the and children's fantasies, Evans. Thoughts on science and paranormal. Shore. What is pseudoscience? Bunge. The new superstrings, Gardner. Special Reports: JAL pilot's UFO philosophy of science and the 'paranormal,' Toulmin. An report, Klass; Unmasking psychic Jason Michaels, Busch. eye-opening double encounter, Martin. Similarities SPRING 1987 (vol. 11, no. 3): The elusive open mind: between identical twins and between unrelated people, Wyatt et al. Effectiveness of a reading program on paranormal belief. Woods, Pseudoscientific beliefs of 6th- graders, A. S. and S. ]. Adelman. Koestler money down the psi-drain, Gardner. SUMMER 1984 (vol. 8, no. 4): Parapsychology's past eight years, Alcock. The evidence for ESP, C. £. M. Hansel $110,000 dowsing challenge, Randi. Sir Oliver Lodge and the spiritualists, Hoffmaster. Misperception, folk belief, and the occult, Connor. Psychology and UFOs, Simon. Freud and Fliess, Gardner. SPRING 1984 (vol. 8, no. 3): Belief in the paranormal worldwide: Mexico, Mendez-Acosta; Netherlands, Hoebens; U.K., Hutchinson; Australia, Smith; Canada, Gordon; France, WINTER 1980-81 (vol. 5, no. 2): Fooling some people Rouze. Debunking, neutrality, and skepticism in science, all the time. Singer and Benassi. Recent perpetual motion Kurtz. University course reduces paranormal belief. Gray. developments, Schadewald. National Enquirer astrology The Gribbin effect, Roder. Proving negatives, Pasquarello. study, Mechler, McDaniel, and Mulloy. Science and the MacLaine, McTaggart, and McPherson, Gardner. mountain peak, Asimov. WINTER 1983-84 (vol. 8, no. 2): Sense and nonsense FALL 1980 (vol. 5, no. 1): The Velikovsky affair — articles in parapsychology, Hoebens. Magicians, scientists, and psy­ by Oberg, Bauer, Frazier. Academia and the occult. Green- chics, Game and Kirwan. New dowsing experiment, Martin. well. Belief in ESP among psychologists, Padgett, Benassi, The effect of TM on weather, Trumpy. The haunting of and Singer, Bigfoot on the loose, Kurtz. Parental expec­ the Ivan Vassilli, Sheaffer. Venus and Velikovsky, Forrest. tations of miracles, Steiner. Downfall of a would-be psychic, Magicians in the psi lab, Gardner. McBurney and Greenberg. Parapsychology research, Mishlove. FALL 1983 (vol. 8, no. 1): Creationist pseudoscience, SUMMER 1960 (vol. 4, no. 4): Superstitions, Bainbridge Schadewald. Project Alpha: Part 2, Randi. Forecasting radio and Stark. Psychic archaeology, Feder. Voice stress analysis, quality by the planets, Dean. Reduction in paranormal Klass. Follow-up on the 'Mars effect/ Evolution vs. belief in college course, Tobacyk. Humanistic astrology, creationism, and the Cottrell tests. ' Kelly and Krutzen. SPRING 1980 (vol. 4, no. 3): Belief in ESP, Morris. UFO SUMMER 1983 (vol. 7, no. 4): Project Alpha: Part 1, Randi. hoax, Simpson. Don Juan vs. Piltdown man, it Mille. Goodman's 'American Genesis,' Feder. Battling on the air­ Tiptoeing beyond Darwin, Greenwell. Conjurors and the waves, Slavsky. Rhode Island UFO film, Emery. Landmark psi scene, Randi. Follow-up on the Cottrell tests. PK hoax, Gardner. WINTER 1979-80 (vol. 4, no. 2): The 'Mars effect' — SPRING 1983 (vol. 7, no. 3): Iridology, Worrall. The Nazca articles by Kurtz, Zelen, and Abell; Rawlins; Michel and Francoise drawings revisited, Nickell. People's Almanac predictions, Gauquelin. How I was debunked, Hoebens. The metal Donnelly. Test of numerology, Dlhopolsky. Pseudoscience bending of Professor Taylor, Gardner. Science, intuition, in the name of the university, Lederer and Singer. and ESP, Bauslaugh. WINTER 1982-83 (vol. 7, no. 2): Palmistry, Part. The FALL 1979 (vol. 4, no. 1): A test of dowsing, Randi. Science great SRI die mystery, Gardner. The 'monster' tree-trunk and evolution, Godfrey. Television pseudodocumentaries, of Loch Ness, Campbell. UFOs and the not-so-friendly Bainbridge. New disciples of the paranormal, Kurtz. UFO skies, Klass. In defense of skepticism, Reber. or UAA, Standen. The lost panda, van Kampen. Edgar Cayce, FALL 1982 (vol. 7, no. 1): The prophecies of Nostradamus, Randi. Cazeau. Prophet of all seasons, James Randi. Revival of SUMMER 1979 (vol. 3, no. 4): The moon and the Nostradamitis, Hoebens. Unsolved mysteries and extra­ birthrate, Abell and Greenspan. Biorhythms, Hines. 'Cold ordinary phenomena, Gill. Clearing the air about psi, reading,' Randi. Teacher, student, and the paranormal, Randi. A skotography scam, Randi. Krai. Encounter with a sorcerer, Sack. SUMMER 1982 (vol. 6, no. 4): Remote-viewing, Marks. SPRING 1979 (vol. 3, no. 3): Near-death experiences, Radio disturbances and planetary positions, Meeus. Divin­ Alcock. Television tests of Musuaki Kiyota, Scott and Hutchin­ ing in Australia, Smith. "Great Lakes Triangle," Cena. son. The conversion of J. Allen Hynek, Klass. Asimov's Skepticism, closed-mindedness, and science fiction, Beyer- corollary, Asimov. stein. Follow up on ESP logic, Hardin and Morris and Gendin. WINTER 1978-79 (vol. 3, no. 2): Is parapsychology a SPRING 1982 (vol. 6, no. 3): The Shroud of Turin, Mueller. science? Kurtz. Chariots of the gullible, Bainbridge. The Shroud image, McCrone. Science, the public, and the Tunguska event, Oberg. Space travel in Bronze Age China, Shroud, Schafersman. Zodiac and personality, Gauquelin. Keightley. Followup on quantum PK, Hansel. FALL 1978 (vol. 3, no. 1): An empirical test of astrol­ WINTER 1981-82 (vol. 6, no. 2): On coincidences, Ruma ogy, Bastedo. Astronauts and UFOs, Oberg. Sleight of Falk. Croiset: Part 2, Hoebens. Scientific creationism, Schade­ tongue, Schwartz. The Sirius "mystery," Ridpath. wald. Follow-up on 'Mars effect,' Rawlins, responses by SPRING/SUMMER 1978 (vol. 2, no. 2): Tests of three CS1COP Council and Abell and Kurtz. psychics, Randi. Biorhythms, Bainbridge. Plant perception, FALL 1981 (vol. 6, no. 1): Gerard Croiset: Part 1, Hoebens. Kmetz. Anthropology beyond the fringe. Cole. NASA and Test of perceived horoscope accuracy, Lackey. Planetary UFOs, Klass. A second Einstein ESP letter, Gardner. positions and radio propagation, lanna and Margolin. FALL/WINTER 1977 (vol. 2, no. 1): Von Danikens, Story, Bermuda Triangle, 1981, Dennett. Observation of a psychic, The Bermuda Triangle, Kusche. Pseudoscience at Science Mclntyre. Digest, Oberg and Sheaffer. Einstein and ESP, Gardner. N- SUMMER 1981 (vol. 5, no. 4): Investigation of 'psychics, rays and UFOs, Klass. Secrets of the psychics, Rawlins. Randi. ESP: A conceptual analysis, Gendin. The extrover­ SPRING/SUMMER 1977 (vol. 1, no. 2): Uri Geller, Marks sion-introversion astrological effect, Kelly and Saklofske. Art, and Kammann. Cold reading, Hyman. Transcendental Medi­ science, and paranormalism, Habercom. Profitable night­ tation, Woodrum. A statistical test of astrology, McGervey. mare. Wells. A Maltese cross in the Aegean? Loftin. Cattle mutilations, Stewart. SPRING 1981 (vol. S, no. 3): Hypnosis and UFO FALL/WINTER 1976 (vol. 1, no. 1): Dianetics, Wallis. abductions, Klass. Hypnosis not a truth serum, Hilgard. Psychics and clairvoyance. Fine. "Objections to Astrology," H. Schmidt's PK experiments, Hansel. Further comments Westrum. Astronomers and astrophysicists as astrology on Schmidt's experiments, Hyman. Atlantean road, Randi. critics, Kurtz and Nisbel. Biorhythms and sports, Fix. Von Deciphering ancient America, McKusick. A sense of the Daniken's chariots, Omohundro. Follow-up

New-Old Insight into the "Bloody Miracle" of San Gennaro HENRI BROCH

his note concerns the scientific In fact, this sort of explanation was correspondence recently pub­ proposed by various persons. Perhaps Tlished in Nature (353:507, 1991) the first was Professor Albini (Uni­ titled "Working Bloody Miracles," by versity of Naples), in a paper titled Luigi Garlaschelli et al., in which the "Sulla immobilita dei liquidi vischiosi authors propose that thixotropy may non omogenei,"1 published in 1590! furnish an explanation of the miracle At this time, Albini had done the of the liquefying blood of San Gen­ "San Gennaro blood experiment" with naro (Saint Januarius) in Naples, Italy, powdered chocolate, water, sugar, and present it as a new insight into casein, lactoserum, and cooking salt the understanding of this miracle. The and had shown that substances like SKEPTICAL INQUIRER recently sum­ this one could be liquefied under the marized this report (Spring 1992, influence of movement.2 p. 236). Since the Nature authors say, "Our • The authors say, "We propose that replication of the phenomenon seems thixotropy may furnish an explana­ to render this sacrifice [the opening tion . . ." of the miraculous vial] unnecessary," it seems to me appropriate to bring Sorry, but thixotropy failed to some information to your readers' explain the attested cases in which the attention. Essentially, this sacrifice "blood" had been liquefied without any has been rendered unnecessary by stress applied to the vial, failed to previous explanations of the miracle, explain the attested cases in which the explanations that are more fruitful "blood" had not been liquefied even than the thixotropic theory, which is when the vial was manipulated and not convenient for this miracle and, shocked, failed to explain the attested moreover, not a new theory. cases in which the "blood" resolidified while the vial was not left to stand • The authors say, "We propose that (the procession was not ended!), and thixotropy may furnish an explana­ failed to explain the attested various tion . . ." aspects of the miracle, "duro," "glo-

Fall 1992 91 betto" (small, hard core floating on the Untrue! History substantiates the liquefied part), or the forming of contrary. I quote myself: "The clergy bubbles giving a characteristic moss. of Naples has frequently used the "Working Bloody Miracles" also alleged miracle of Saint Januarius for contains some mistakes. the benefit of political passions. When A small inexactitude is the state­ Championnet, leading a French army, ment that a vial of the blood of Saint took possesion of Naples in 1799, he Januarius "has been liquefied every learned that, to incite the public few months since 1389 in Naples." In against him, the miracle of Saint fact, since 1659 a secular deputation Januarius would not take place. On the is supposed to take part in the obser­ precise day the blood was to be vation of this miracle, and minutes are exhibited, he went to the cathedral; reported since that time; a chronicle the blood had not liquefied, and the should exist from 1340 to 1393, but people were beginning to get agitated. this, although possible, seems not very Then the republican general said to reliable one of his aides-de-camp: 'Go to the Some mistakes are more serious. priest who is officiating and tell him To quote two basic sentences from that if the blood is not boiling within the Nature report: five minutes I will have Naples bom­ barded.' Within five minutes the 7 • "The phenomenon seems genuine, miracle had taken place." is well documented, and is still To complete the information and regarded as unexplained." prove the two fundamental sentences in the "Nature report" incorrect, I Untrue! The "still regarded as relate a single testimony (I have unexplained" shows a lack of infor­ already reported this elsewhere).8-9 mation on the part of the authors and This testimony is dated October 1921: is really funny, since an explanation "When last year I had the privilege can be found, for example, in Larousse's above mentioned of discussing biblical Dictionary of the 19th Century! miracles in this journal, I made allusion Some years ago, I reconstituted a to the spasmodically liquefying blood "miraculous" vial, reproducing all of St. Januarius. This has elicited from aspects of the miracle of Naples, my medical friend, Frederic Newton according to the recipe of Pierre Williams, L.S.A., L.R.C.P., a well- Larousse (briefly, "sulfuric ether known fellow of the Linnean Society, reddened with plant Alkanna Tincto- the following record of a personal ria and the obtained dye saturated experience that, in my humble opin­ with spermaceti"3 and this reconsti- ion, deserves the widest possible tution has been "well publicized" by recognition. He says: reporters.45 For details on the story, the Larousse's mixture and mine, and When at Naples several years ago, other things, see references 6-8 and I visited the municipal hospital and especially reference 7. called at the hospital dispensary to The phase transitions of this new have a talk with the American pharmacist who superintended the portable miracle are simply the con­ department. While there, a young sequence of temperature variations. acolyte from the Cathedral di San Gennaio (St. Januarius) came in and • "Thus a successful performance of asked the pharmacist for the usual the rite does not involve any conscious mixture for use at the feast, which cheating." was to take place the next day (the

92 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 first Saturday in May). With a smile gratify that appetite."10 and a few words of banter, the Without comment. pharmacist prepared a mixture of ox-bile and crystals of Glauber's salt Notes (sulphate of soda), and, keeping the written message, handed it to the 1. G. Albini, C. R. Altai. Sc. Fis. e Mai., messenger to take back to the 2, January 1, 1890. cathedral sacristy. After thus dis­ 2. C. Piancastelli, Revue Metapsychique, missing the acolyte, the practical 3:31-63, 1966. 3. P. Larousse, article on Saint Januarius pharmacist simply remarked to me in his Universal Dictionary, 19th century that miracles took place nowadays, (quoted at length in references 6 and 7, pp. and this one was prepared in a 103-104), no date. hospital pharmacy with very satis­ 4. P. Jerome, Revolution, 284:22-23, factory results. The next morning 1985. the pharmacist and I sat in a cafe 5. S. Benedetti, Nice-Matin, September and watched the solemn procession 20, 1988, p. 3. of the liquefied blood from the 6. H. Broch, Patriote-Cote d'Azur, 732:2, church Santa Chiara on its way to 1981. the cathedral. Thanks to my genial 7. H. Broch, he Paranormal (Paris: Seuil, companion, the "miracle" was 1985). 8. H. Broch, International videotex Minitel quite successful. He also explained service 36.15 ZET (University of Nice-Sophia that at the second celebration, Antipolis, 1986 and sq.). which takes place on 16th December 9. H. Broch, Au Coeur de I'Eztra- in the cathedral only (without a Ordinaire (Bordeaux: Horizon Chimerique, procession), the liquefaction is 1991). slower on account of the cooler 10. T. R. R. Stebbing, Hibbert Journal, weather. 21:156, 1921.

Henri Broch, Biophysics Laboratory, "It seems that in all ages, while University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, credulity keeps its mouth open, there Pare Valrose, 06108 Nice cedex 2, will ever be miracle-mongers keen to France.

On the Origins of Atomic Arithmetic WALTER R. HEARN

n "Cold Fusion Chicken" (News and reviewed skeptically 20 years ago. The Comment, Winter 1992), Bill Mal­ English version, translated from the I colm and Phil Garnock-Jones French by Michel Abehsera, was responded to some bizarre ideas of "a published by Swan House Publishing 'French scientist' named Kervan," Co. of Binghamton, New York. Abeh­ found in a 1990 New Zealand farming sera wrote in the Foreword that he magazine. had put all of Kervran's books into The "French scientist" cited must one. be none other than Louis C. Kervran According to the translator, Kerv­ (note spelling), author of Biological ran started publishing his discoveries Transmutations (1972), a book I in 1959, encountering "violent oppo-

Fall 1992 93 sition from skeptical people who were three welders died, and Kervran reluctant to accept something new." "received all the detailed reports, In July 1960 "a French scientific review including autopsies." That year he published an article on Louis Kerv­ "saw the light," jumping to an aston­ ran," and in 1962 Biological Transmu­ ishing conclusion to explain the tations was published by Labrarie "puzzling observations." From ques­ Maloine. It went through three edi­ tionable, incomplete evidence, Kerv­ tions, followed by Transmutations ran extrapolated to a whole new Nalurelles (1963), Transmutations a science in which chemical elements are Faible Energie 1964), Preuves Relatives transmuted by the exchange of a I'Existense des Transmutations Biolo- nuclear particles, primarily in meta­ giques (1968), and Transmutations bolic reactions. Biologiques en Agronomic Kervran reasoned that if a nuclear The English version resembled an proton in one atom of the diatomic authentic technical treatise bearing a nitrogen molecule could switch to the few tables, graphs, and chemical other nucleus in the molecule, the N formulas. Yet the cover promised "a atom (atomic no. 7) losing the proton new science" within, proclaiming would become a C atom (at. no. 6) and (with exclamation point) that "the the one gaining it would become an movement of life proceeds from the O atom (at. no. 8). He concluded that constant changing of one element into at the surface of the hot metal some another!" At first glance a reader with N-N molecules must have become C- some knowledge of chemistry could O, inhaled by the welders. Ever since have assumed that the word element his boyhood days in Brittany, he was simply being used in other than wrote, he had wondered where its chemical sense, and might blame chickens got enough calcium to pro­ poor translation for various other duce eggshells, and now he suddenly strange features. Within a few pages, realized that one could get to the Ca though, it was inescapable that the atomic number of 20 by a combination author was making the kinds of of Si (14) plus C (6), or from K (19) outlandish claims that caught the plus H (l). No problem—except, of attention of Malcolm and Garnock- course, that chemistry doesn't work Jones. Kervran was playing arithmet­ that way. ical games with atomic numbers, as Kervran's book jumped from one in the examples cited in SI. practical application of his wonderful On the title page, Louis Kervran new arithmetical chemistry to was identified merely as an "active another. He made sweeping state­ member of the New York Academy ments claiming that all ordinary of Sciences," a hint that the author chemical explanations had been ruled might be short on other scientific out, but without supplying any mean­ credentials. What positions had he ingful data. His Chapter 19 ("How to held? The text occasionally dropped Make Experiments with Biological a hint: "As a high official of the French Transmutations Successful") was government, I had the unique priv­ essentially a description of how not to ilege of using any official laboratory." do chemistry. He wrote that, in 1935, "my job was to investigate the conditions" sur­ In order to succeed in transmuting rounding an accident in which an elements biologically it is necessary oxyacetylene welder died from to abandon certain concepts of the carbon-monoxide poisoning. In 1955 so-called "exact" sciences, which are

94 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 exact only for simple and isolated cases soil, preferring to grow experimental foreign to biology. (P. 114) plants in earth "rich in microorga­ nisms." He included a lot of technical- After several paragraphs on the sounding detail in his directions for limitations of biological transmutation studying phosphorous variation in (some of the product element had to growing plants, but brushed off the be present initially "to serve as a chemical analyses critical to such an catalyst"), Kervran continued: experiment: "The amount of phos­ phorous is determined by adding a One should never start with abso­ sulfo-molybdic solution (classical lutely pure products. The metabolic method)." conditions of the animal or vegetal My unsigned review appeared in cell must be retained in order to the AAAS journal Science Books (May verify an increase of the elements, 1973, p. 41), which has since become a proof which will have no room for Science Books & Films: contention on the part of those chemists who are prone to reject everything new a priori. (P. 115) Unfortunately the Library of Con­ gress has no classification for"Pseu- doscience, biological," where Instead of doubly distilled water, he Kervran's book belongs. It certainly recommended Evian mineral water for does not belong in QP171 (Metab­ culture media. Likewise, he was not olism) where it has in fact already in favor of using sterilized seeds or been placed. Metabolism? Not

Fall 1992 95 likely! The author hints at as yet MacEntee of that university with undiscovered enzymes to carry out hardly a trace of skepticism: "If he is fantastic "nuclido-biological reac­ correct, this book is a marvelous tions" in which Na is transmuted contribution to man's welfare." to K, Si to Ca, Ca to Mg, P to S, On the other hand, in Library etc. An educational purpose might Journal (August 1972, p. 2623), Jerrold be served by assigning science students this book without com­ H. Zar, of the Department of Biolog­ ment and asking for their impres­ ical Sciences of Northern Illinois sions. Any student who failed to University in DeKalb, thoroughly account for biological observations blasted the book as "a modern-day by hypotheses more plausible than alchemy."'And an unsigned capsule transmutations of elements, or who review appeared in Choice (November failed to comment on the inadequate 1972, p. 1149), published by the description of chemical analyses and Association of College and Research the uncritical citation of published Libraries, a division of the American sources, should be failed. Unfortu­ Library Association: nately, gullible people not trained in evaluating experimental results and distinguishing useful theories from Presents an unsubstantiated thesis. bizarre ones may be taken in, since Kervran outlines his theory super­ the author (or perhaps the trans­ ficially, ignores pertinent literature, lator) has tied these bio-chemical and presents inadequate experi­ speculations to popular causes: mental support. Abehsera's compil­ organic gardening and do-it- ation of Kervran's writings is yourself medicine. fragmented and entirely unconvinc­ ing. This volume must be consid­ ered an exercise in pseudo-science The translator's Foreword revealed and is unequivocally not recom­ certain "spiritual" inclinations that mended. today might be called "New Age," but Kervran himself seemed to operate in By now I was curious about the a totally secular vein. Some months Kervran book's American publisher; later, though, I recall stumbling across so while in the library I turned to the a copy of Bible-Science Newsletter 7th edition of Publishers Directory. In containing an enthusiastic endorse­ 1987 Swan House Publishing Co. was ment of Kervran's challenge to well- still in business, though it had moved established scientific principles. I gave to Brooklyn, New York. Michel Abeh- no more thought to Louis Kervran sera was listed as "owner and pres­ until reading the communication in ident." Subjects: "natural healing, the recent SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. macrobiotic cooking, Jewish philo­ Realization that Kervran's pseu- sophy." Under "Selected Titles," five doscience is still alive, at least in New books were listed, one of them being Zealand, now made me wonder how Louis C. Kervran's Biological Trans­ other reviewers had originally mutations. assessed Biological Transmutations. In the 1965-84 Master Cumulation of —Walter R. Hearn Book Review Index I found citations of four reviews, including my own. Sure Walter Hearn, of Berkeley, California, enough, in Bestsellers (1 July 1972; p. is a former biochemistry professor who 169), published by the University of edits the Newsletter of the American Scranton (Pennsylvania), Kervran's Scientific Affiliation, published by a claims were summed up by Francis J. "fellowship of Christians in the sciences."

96 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Forum

Prospecting for Skepticism ROGER KLARE

live in a rural county in southeast took money for his services the water Ohio. Finding underground water he had just located would disappear. I in this area is not always easy. Before the water-witchers came, Recently, some people I know needed one of the farm residents had a very to drill for water on their farm. They good idea of where to drill the well. needed to find it quickly, so after con­ He thought there might be sufficient tacting a well-driller they turned to water near a 90-foot maple tree. It was a water-witcher to determine where a good clue as it turned out, for the to drill. driller developed the successful well The water-witcher carefully right next to that tree. Other clues marked the exact spot where water also indicated that underground water would be found. The well-driller might be nearby. In retrospect, the proceeded to drill but came up empty. chances for finding water were better Five more water-witchers came and than originally thought. made their solemn pronouncements; So why bring in skepticism after each marked a different spot. The the water-witchers were gone? I had property owners picked one of these hoped to locate some geological infor­ locations, and this time the driller mation and some inexpensive experts found plenty of water. Once again, the before drilling began. But time was ancient ritual of dowsing had appar­ short, and the decisions were not mine ently proved itself. to make. Still, I wanted to learn more The prospecting for water was about water-witching in general and over, but my prospecting for skepti­ my friends' situation in particular. cism had just begun. I understood why I listened to their experiences. They the people on this farm had relied on wanted to know why water-witching water-witching. Quite simply, they appears to work and what field faced an uncertain situation in which experiments show. Having read an they had to act quickly. The dowsers excellent study of water-witching came with glowing recommendations, (Evon Z. Vogt and Ray Hyman, Water. and their services were free. Yet, as Witching USA, 2nd ed., University of I discovered, the farm residents Chicago Press, 1979), I could answer harbored many doubts about water- these questions. As we talked, I witching. Some things were just too discovered a lode of incipient unbelievable, they said. They told me skepticism. how one dowser insisted that if he All too often, we become polarized

Fall 1992 97 in the battle to combat pseudoscience. helped strengthen the skepticism they On one side are the true believers, and had already expressed to me. And on the other side are the skeptics. although the information did not We're locked in an intractable battle. change what happened in this case, Meanwhile, most people are in the knowledge can help encourage the vast middle ground. Many in this questioning attitude that's in all of us. middle group are skeptical about So we should keep up our prospect­ paranormal claims, although they do ing for skepticism. There's much not officially label themselves as valuable ore just waiting to be tapped. skeptics. The people I talked to asked about the evidence for water- witching. I could tell them that the Roger Klare was chief science writer for scientific evidence for this practice is Mission to Mars: A National Traveling not convincing. This information Exhibition for Science Education.

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98 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Letters to the Editor

Subliminal advertising? cookies. The word was obviously (to me) scratched into the brown textured It comes as no surprise to me that a surface of a cookie pictured on the front majority of the American public believes of the package. that subliminal advertising works, as While some would cite my testimony reported in Anthony R. Pratkanis's as evidence of American marketers' article, "The Cargo-Cult Science of Sub­ subtly attempting to control our minds liminal Persuasion" (SI, Spring 1992). through subliminal means, I prefer to As an adjunct professor of commu­ believe the sexy cookie caper is the result nications at Iona College, New Rochelle, of another, much more mundane cause. N.Y., I teach an advertising copywriting Through Socratic questioning I elicit course to juniors and seniors majoring from the class a list of the possible ways in communications. When we get to the s-e-x could have wound up on the cookie consumer motivation part of the cur­ package. The list ranges from Duncan riculum, I always make a point of asking Hines's deliberately directing a conspir­ students to indicate, by a show of hands, acy to the purely by-chance formation if they believe subliminal advertising of the letters in the cookie dough. (This works, and if they believe it is being latter explanation is akin to the theo­ widely practiced by advertisers today. retical construct that if you put a Invariably, the overwhelming major­ monkey at a word processor long ity or students (12 to 13 out of 14, 15, enough, hell eventually write Hamlet.) or 16 in the course) say they believe both Since the students do have some that it works and that it is in general knowledge of the printing production use by advertisers. I've often been asked process, the list they create also includes by a student at the conclusion of one the possibility that some anonymous of my quick classroom surveys, "When printing press operator, lithographer, are you going to teach us to do it?" (More plate-maker, photo technician, or other about this in a minute.) tradesman etched the errant letters onto In the ensuing class discussion, with­ the printing plates or separations as a out fail someone will raise the "Eat prank or as an act of revenge for a real Popcorn/Drink Coke" study as "proof" or imagined wrong suffered. that subliminal advertising works. And While I can't prove what the truth as proof that it is being widely used by is about how sex wound up on the advertisers and advertising agencies, the Duncan Hines cookie package, I have students present a host of examples been around enough printing plants and (verbally) of ads they have heard con­ printers over the past 30 years to say tained graphic sexual cues: a naked that, lacking any evidence about conspir­ woman's form in an ice cube, in a glass, acy theories, I feel comfortable in my in an ad for vodka, in some magazine; belief of the prank theory. the word "sex" in the grains of a de­ Turning to the question of whether tergent, in a photo, in an ad for a laundry subliminal advertising works, that is, product, etc. whether it produces the intended effect, At some point in the discussion, I tell I look to my own experience and that the class that I have personally seen the of every other advertising professional word "sex" clearly (once you know it's I've come in contact with over almost there) on a box of Duncan Hines oatmeal 30 years.

Fall 1992 99 If subliminal advertising techniques I became better and better at seeing were being used, and if those techniques things that weren't there, some friends actually worked, wouldn't there be one began to think it quite odd. textbook available that tells us copy­ My conversion came about in a writers and art directors how to do it? startling fashion. I was looking at one Wouldn't there be one seminar for of my roommate's drawings one day, professionals that explains the tech­ and I began to notice all the subliminal nique? Wouldn't every advertising cues that I was so used to seeing in ads. agency teach its creative staff the secrets Was my roommate one of "them"? Of of subliminal persuasion? course not. I saw right away that I'd been How come in my 30 years as a duping myself. copywriter, copy chief, creative director, So if you run across people with great and agency president I have never had skill at finding subliminal messages, a client say to me, "Okay, on this ad suggest (kindly) that they check works we want to go with a subliminal sell. of art that they are confident have no Use the hidden-naked-lady-in-the- subliminal content. You may create clouds technique"? some converts to reason. How come I've never had a creative director, account supervisor, or other James J. Kramer agency executive say to me, "Psst, here's Roseville, Minn. how we do the subliminal stuff"? Either it's just not done, or every time it was my turn to learn it, I was absent. Augustus De Morgan And finally, how come in all these years of advertising history there has Now and then it is important for us to never been one whistle-blower who has remind ourselves that ours has not come forward in a fit of conscience to necessarily been the only, or even the spill the beans about what goes on most, skeptical century. Milton A. behind the closed doors of those big, bad Rothman's "Two 19th-century Skep­ advertising agencies with regard to tics: Augustus De Morgan and John subliminal advertising techniques? Has Fiske" (SI, Spring 1992) reminds us of there never been a disgruntled agency two of the best skeptics of the preceding employee looking to get even with his century. De Morgan was an especially boss who was on the inside and privy intriguing character, who twice resigned to the secrets of the trade? his professorship at the University of I don't think so. London over matters of principle involv­ ing his attempts to hold the university Berton M. Miller to its pledge to remain completely New York, N.Y. nonreligious. I would add just two comments to Rothman's account of De Morgan. He may be "somewhat forgot­ I was glad to see a theme of understand­ ten" now, but he is certainly not entirely ing toward the unenlightened running forgotten. Among logicians in particular through your latest issue. Kind insist­ (and De Morgan was one of the best ence is much more effective than of his age), he is well known for the antagonism in changing people. rules of the propositional calculus which I was one of the many in the 1970s now bear his name—De Morgan's Laws. who, with Wilson Bryan Key's books to Indeed, in recent years there has been guide their way, became quite proficient a renewal of interest in De Morgan at finding "subliminal" cues in advertis­ among logicians and philosophers ing. Most of the people I introduced this because of his many original ideas concept to were interested in it, and they concerning the logic of relations. often joined me in hunting through More important, Rothman has magazines for evidence, though they missed a great opportunity to remind tended to lose interest after a while. As us that De Morgan exemplified the

100 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 principle that wit is often the skeptic's a letter to De Morgan, dated June 9, most effective tool. His A Budget of 1863, from William Howitt, accompa­ Paradoxes was compiled and published nying some extracts from Howitt's book after his death by his wife, Sophie "given by spirit dictation," which De Elizabeth De Morgan. It contains many Morgan had asked for. Since De Mor­ examples of De Morgan's acidic wit gan's preface is dated "July 1863," it is aimed at a variety of mathematical and likely that he was using Howitt's scientific cranks. But perhaps the best extracts in its preparation. It is note­ item in the collection, the one Rothman worthy that in this 1863 account of his might have done well to point to, was seance with Mrs. Hayden he writes that a review of a book on spiritualism: From he screened the alphabet, from which Matter to Spirit, by CD., with a preface letters were indicated by raps, from Mrs. by A.B., 1863, In his Recent British Hayden's view; whereas in a letter Philosophers (3rd ed., 1877) David Mas- written shortly after the seance in son said of De Morgan's review of From 1853—published in his wife's Memoir in Matter to Spirit that "for ingenuity and 1882—there is no mention of this sceptical suggestiveness, as well as screening. wit, . . . there is nothing in the 'Liter­ Augustus De Morgan had many ature of Spiritualism' comparable" (p. admirable qualities, but skepticism was 184). Now what makes this review all not a prominent feature of his character. the more interesting—and effective—is the fact that the book De Morgan was M. H. Coleman reviewing was a fake. The author, CD., Putnoe was Sophie De Morgan; the prefacer, Bedford, England A.B., was De Morgan himself.

George Englebretsen Milton A. Rothman's focus on Lennoxville, Quebec nineteenth-century skeptic Augustus Canada De Morgan is somewhat superficial. Evidently Rothman is unaware that De Morgan was a convinced spiritualist and Milton Rothman's article, "Two 19th- investigated clairvoyance, raps, and century Skeptics," is distinctly mislead­ table-turning. He was the anonymous ing in including Augustus De Morgan author of the preface to his wife's book as an example. De Morgan may have From Matter to Spirit: The Result of Ten been skeptical of the "crotchets" pro­ Years' Experience in Spirit Manifestations pounded by cranks in his own field of (1863), but later had the courage to give mathematics, but in other areas he was up his anonymity when the second far from skeptical. Indeed, he was one edition of the book was published. I of the first English intellectuals to suggest Rothman should consult the endorse the paranormal character of the entry on De Morgan in my Encyclopedia phenomena exhibited by the American of Occultism & Parapsychology (3rd ed., medium, Mrs. Hayden, who gave a Detroit, 1991). seance at his home during her visit to England in 1853. In 1854 his wife, Sophie Leslie Shepard De Morgan, discovered that their young Stillorgan, Co. Dublin servant, Jane, possessed mediumistic Ireland powers: in addition to table-turning and spirit-rapping, Jane exhibited "travelling clairvoyance"—the nineteenth-century Readers of Rothman's article on De equivalent of "remote viewing." In 1863 Morgan and Fiske will be interested to Sophie De Morgan published her book, know that there is a modern sequel to From Matter to Spirit, and her husband De Morgan's book A Budget of Paradoxes. contributed a lengthy preface endorsing Of the three classical Greek geometry the phenomena he had observed. I have problems, squaring the circle, duplicat-

Fall 1992 101 ing the cube, and trisecting the angle, Milton Rothman replies: attempts at the last one are still wides­ pread. This is due, in part, to the fact that it is often discussed in high school M. H. Coleman and Leslie Shepard claim geometry courses. Many budding that Augustus De Morgan was a confirmed mathematicians have spent some time spiritualist because he wrote a preface to attempting this, the writer included, From Matter to Spirit, his wife's book. until a good teacher carefully explained 1 do not have this book in my library, and the difference between something never so cannot comment on it directly. However, having been done and the impossibility De Morgan gives it a lengthy review in of it being done. Unfortunately, many A Budget of Paradoxes, and from internal teachers do not explain this well, and evidence 1 deduce that De Morgan was many students do not understand the simply kidding around. (You have to significance of the difference. Angle understand English humor.) He was, in fact, trisectors and others who claim to prove giving his readers a fine lesson in logic: the rationality of it or V 2 are frequent namely, how to avoid making false inferences visitors to some university departments from the facts. To quote De Morgan: "A.B. of mathematics. very distinctly said that he knew some of Underwood Dudley has made it his the asserted fads, believed others on professional hobby to collect the works testimony, but did not pretend to know of modern mathematical cranks, espe­ whether they were caused by spirits, or had cially trisectors. He has written a won­ some unknown and unimagined origin. This derful little book, after De Morgan, he said as clearly as 1 could have said it titled A Budget of Trisedions. In it he gives myself." more than 100 trisection attempts, with his commentary. There is a general Of course, A.B., the author of the preface description of the type of person who to From Matter to Spirit, was Augustus spends his time trisecting angles, with De Morgan himself, and he clearly refuses details on three particular individuals. to claim that the fads described by CD. He also gives a number of ways that (Sophie De Morgan) can be explained only an angle can be trisected, if you admit by psychical phenomena. Later he says: tools besides the traditional compass and "A.B. recommended the spirit-theory as an straightedge. hypothesis on which to ground inquiry; As Rothman mentions, in 1897 the that is, as the means of suggestion for the Indiana Legislature came close to legis­ direction of inquiry. . . . Many of [the lating the value of JI to be 3.2. An account reviewers] consider A.B. as adopting the of this is contained in "House Bill No. spirit-hypothesis. The whole book was 246, Indiana State Legislature, 1897," by written, as both the authors point out, to Will E. Edington {Proc. of the Indiana suggest inquiry to those who are curious; Acad, of Sci., 45: 205-210, 1935). The CD. firmly believing, A.B. as above." One perpetrator of this bill was one Edward might infer from this that there was some J. Goodwin. Interestingly, Goodwin dissension in the De Morgan household managed to publish a short note on his about the validity of spiritualism. results in the American Mathematical Monthly, 1: 246-247, 1894 (before it Elsewhere in A Budget of Paradoxes, became a publication of the Mathemat­ while reviewing a book called The Divine ical Association of America), and he used Drama of History and Civilization, by this fact as an argument in support of the Reverend James Smith, De Morgan the bill. writes: "J have several books on that great paradox of our day, Spiritualism. . . ." Robert L. Foote De Morgan's use of the word "paradox" Dept. of Mathematics & clearly indicates that he lumped spiritualism Computer Science together with perpetual motion, squaring the Wabash College circle, and the other lunacies that he Crawfordsville, Ind. budgeted.

102 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 Not convinced named after the fourth chapter heading, "What Hypnosis Is, What Hypnosis Is Your news report "NAS Scientists Not, and What It Does and Doesn't Do." Highly Skeptical About ESP and PK" (SI, The reviewer told us what Baker Spring 1992) comments on differences thinks hypnosis isn't and what it doesn't in doubtfulness between neurobiolo- do, but nothing of the reverse. I presume gists, chemists, and physical scientists, that is because Baker thinks hypnosis on the one hand, and anthropologists "does not exist." and organismic biologists, on the other It is clear that when one simply and (p. 231). While I might be willing to con­ totally closes the door to further inquiry sider anthropologists possibly a bit more into a phenomenon, there is no room gullible, it struck me that there is no left to study it. Unless proved by sci­ reason to expect one kind of biologist entific inquiry, such a course, I submit, to react differently from others. I is not healthy skepticism, but hypocrit­ consequently examined the NAS mem­ ical, pseudoscientific blindness—the bership groups in Table 1 quite thor­ very thing you have fought for so many oughly and could find no more than years. chance differences between disciplines. As a physician, more so as an obste­ Specifically, the distribution of skep­ trician, I have seen Cesarean sections ticism among disciplines in the whole performed utilizing "hypnosis" alone for table has a probability of occurring by anesthesia. I have personally done mid­ chance in about 39 percent of such data forceps delivery with episiotomy and (chi-square = 45.9, df = 44, p = .39). I suture repair of the vagina and perineum also tested the distribution into two utilizing only "hypnosis" for anesthesia. columns, which you discuss ("does not In both instances, the patients were occur" with "extremely skeptical" versus singing childhood songs at the time. all other categories). This has almost the Perhaps the problem, as we so often same chance probability (chi-square = encounter, is one of semantics, not of 11.9, df = 11, p = .37). Because the substance. To understand the phenom­ numbers of respondents in the elements enon called "hypnosis," in the modern of the table are small, a calculated chi- sense, we must set aside the beliefs of square may give an uncertain approx­ Mesmer and his followers, as well as the imation to the values of the continuous hype of stage hypnotists and so-called chi-square function. To avoid small mentalists, who would have us believe expecteds, I combined rows in various that there is some magic secret about ways (e.g., all physical, all biomedical, "trance" states, "suggestion," and a and all social scientists, respectively), but "power to impress one's own will upon could find no significant difference from another." Nothing could be further from a chance distribution. the truth. The contention that some disciplines Perhaps if we start with the proper exhibit a lower or higher level of definitions, as recognized by those who skepticism than others is not supported attempt to understand "hypnosis" by these data. rather than deny its existence, and in turn utilize the phenomenon for benefit Wolf Roder rather than for entertainment, or Dept. of Geography monetary gains or some kind of hocus- University of Cincinnati pocus, we can reach some kind of mutual Cincinnati, Ohio understanding. "Hypnosis" should really be called "self-hypnosis." The subject, in fact, Understanding hypnosis does it all. The "hypnotist" merely provides a method to make it easier for I have read Lewis Jones's review of the subject to do what he wants to do. Robert Baker's book, They Call It Hyp­ "Trance" state is nothing more than nosis. He thought it could better be a form of relaxation, during which the

Fall 1992 103 subject retains control. that run a disclaimer in their astrology "Suggestion" is what the "hypnotist" columns. says to the subject in this state of Imagine my surprise when the very relaxation that—if believed by the next day I opened that morning's paper subject—enables him to more easily do to find, splashed across the front page that which he finds it otherwise more of the entertainment section, a prom­ difficult to do. inent feature article on a local astrologer. One cannot, via "hypnosis," force It was all played very "straight," with anyone to do that which he would not only a vague mention of any skeptical otherwise do at all. It simply provides opinion on astrology. Most ironic, I a means to lower inhibitions, permitting think, was that at the bottom of the large the subject to accomplish something he color photo of the astrologer there was wants to do, even if that is merely to a band of type mentioning the paper's be able to act like a fool. Clearly, astrology column on page 4. And what's Kreskin's subject who could not stab him at the end of that column on page 4? in the back is a classic example. I wonder "These predictions are intended for if he would try such an experiment with entertainment value only." someone who really did want to kill him, It's too bad that the media continue but under normal circumstances would to consider so many paranormal and not muster the courage? How's that for fringe claims as mere "entertainment." a $100,000 question? Granted, the major dailies that run a Perhaps that is why so many have disclaimer with their astrology columns believed in some basic flaw in the Ger­ do, I believe, a service by pointing out man people prior to and during World the nonvalidity of astrological claims to War II. In its broadest sense, Hitler did the public. Yet, it still remains a problem accomplish something akin to "mass when they so often print very glowing hypnosis" in leading normal appearing articles on such subjects, and include people to commit the horrors of the them in their entertainment sections. holocaust. Seems to me there's a double standard If we can agree on the above, then going on here. perhaps Kreskin may have to part with his $100,000. However, if he is merely Greg Simpson trying to test the existence of magic, his Clearwater, Fla. money is quite safe. Hypnosis does exist, and if we try to understand why it exists, as defined 'Theological' fluids above, and why anesthetic states can be so readily induced without the use of Back in the 1970s, when I was at MIT, drugs, and why people want to follow a printer's devil at the Institute news­ the "leader's" suggestions, then knowl­ paper, Tech Talk, inadvertently substi­ edge will be advanced and skepticism will tuted a "T" for an "R" in "Rheological," have once again served its purpose. producing the announcement of a lecture on "The Theological Behavior of William Rosenzweig, M.D. Fluids." This would be an appropriate Burlingame, Calif. title for your notice on the work of Garlaschelli et al. on duplicating the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius Astrology as 'entertainment (SI, Spring 1992, pp. 236-237). Their suggestion that the substance thought I noted the column on disclaimers in to be the saint's blood is, rather, a major newspaper astrology columns (SI, thixotropic gel of ferrous oxide is Spring 1992) with interest, since our ingenious. It answers the objection local daily carries such a statement. Yep, repeatedly raised against rationalistic there was our paper, the St. Petersburg explanations of the phenomenon by Times, included in the list of 42 papers defenders of its miraculous nature—that

104 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 only melting of some eutectic substance ences to similar miraculously liquefying could possibly account for the liquefac­ blood in the mythologies of Greece and tion, yet the liquefaction is observed at Rome. widely varying temperatures. (See The Liquefaction of the Blood of St. Januarius, Stephen R. Wilk Catholic Publication Society, New York Melrose, Mass. (1872), or The Mystery of Naples, by Edward P. Graham (B. Herder, St. Louis, Mo., 1909). Harassing suits I would like to point out, however, that the suggestion has been made It seems to me that there is an obvious before. In their authoritative text, solution to the problem of harassing, Colloid Science (Oxford, 1949), A. E. intimidating and frivolous lawsuits, not Alexander and P. Johnson make essen­ only against CSICOP and individual tially the same observation. I quote from skeptics (SI, Spring 1992) but against page 586: whistleblowers of every variety. Surely there are congressmen and senators Thixotropic gels of ferric oxide, which who would support legislation requiring have a reddish-brown colour and the litigant who loses a civil suit to pay become more transparent in the sol the costs and legal fees of the winner. state, possibly form the contents of Such laws exist in much of the rest of the reliquaries used in certain reli­ the world, and I can see no reason why gious ceremonies as "the liquefaction they should not be instituted in the of the blood." (The occurrence of these reliquaries in such places as Naples United States. At least one prominent suggests that the materials used are American politician has publicly stated probably of volcanic origin.) that America has too many lawyers handling too many lawsuits. He cannot Alexander and Johnson's suggestion be the only person who holds such a of ferric oxide, rather than ferrous view. oxide (as Garlaschelli et al. suggest), may have been influenced by the copious William R. Harwood work of H. Freundlich, Heller, Szegvari, Red Deer, Alberta and others who performed numerous Canada experiments on sols made of ferric oxide, water, and various salts in the 1920s. Polywater In any event, the rather complex procedure used by Garlaschelli et al. The recent book review by Stephen (Nature, October 10,1991, p. 507) seems Shore (SI, Spring 1992) contains a few a little too involved, as does Hendry and statements contrary to fact. Lyon's suggestion of clotted blood mixed The fame of Boris V. Derjaguin is said with thixotropic honey (Nature, to rest "largely on his abortive work on November 14, 1991, p. 114). Based on polywater." Derjaguin is arguably the Alexander and Johnson's suggestion, the most eminent surface scientist in the true mixture might be as simple as sea (former) Soviet Union. His reputation water and ferric oxide from the slopes precedes the polywater affair, which was of Vesuvius—perhaps the extremely a mere footnote—and a late one at fine spherical particles of Fe203 meas­ that—to his distinguished career. The uring a few microns in diameter. These history of polywater began in 1962, would be admirably suited to produce when Derjaguin was 60. To my knowl­ a colloidal dispersion. If this is the true edge, he is still alive and active, although nature of the Neapolitan miracle, and he would be nearly 90. He visited Penn of similar miracles, such as the blood State a year or two ago to talk about of Saint Pantaleon and St. John the low-temperature diamond films, a field Baptist, we might expect to find refer­ in which he is a pioneer.

Fall 1992 105 Shore's second error is related to his supposed to enter or leave and take over first. He says that "we have no similar or abandon control of human bodies [to the book under review] record of the inaudibly, invisibly, and altogether polywater episode to point to." To the undetectably. Until and unless someone contrary, we have Felix Franks's Poly­ contrives to formulate a falsifiable water (MIT, 1981), which is both reincarnation hypothesis, what may superbly written and authoritative. appear to be memories of previous lives Franks, one of the world's leading must be categorically dismissed as authorities on water, "almost by coin­ simply pseudo-memories. And, if any of cidence . . . did not become involved in Talbot's supposed rememberers of past polywater research" (from the dust- lives were to come up with information jacket of Polywater). Thus he writes with that they could not have acquired by any detachment illuminated by an encyclo­ normal means, then we should have: not pedic knowledge of water (literally: he evidence for the nonhypothesis of is the editor of a multi-volume series reincarnation; but a prima facie case of on water). retrocognitive ESP.

Craig F. Bohren Antony Flew Dept. of Meteorology Reading, England Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, Pa. Davenport and Robertson

Too generous to reincarnation The book review of The Davenport Conspiracy Revisited (SI, Spring 1992) In reviewing Michael Talbot's Your Past reminded me that in the last presidential Lives: A Reincarnation Handbook (SI, campaign, one candidate seemed to Spring 1992), Peter Huston is much too believe the Davenport frauds as fact. generous. For he allows that a reincar­ U.S. New and World Report, February nation hypothesis is one possible expla­ 22, 1988: nation of material of the kind cited by Talbot, and faults him only for "largely David Frost: What's the one reference ignoring other explanations for the to the U.S. in the Bible? phenomena that he cites as evidence." Reverend Dr. Pat Robertson: I think the "young lions of Tardish." But who or what are the persons Tardish was a place near Cadiz, Spain, hypothesized as having lived before? In and those Phoenician traders everyone's everyday understanding of who . . . had ships that came over to person words—the personal pronouns, the United States. They were found personal names, words for people as far away as Davenport, Iowa. They performing certain roles, and so on— mined in Pennsylvania, and there persons are members of a very special were evidences of them in Vermont. sort of creatures of flesh and blood. It is only by mistakenly assuming that Gregory Peterson people really are not corporeal orga­ Albuquerque, N.M. nisms but incorporeal souls that anyone can come to seem to have formulated a reincarnation hypothesis, To have Dowsing questions succeeded in so doing, however, the parapsychologist would need first to I do not know whether Mark Plummer explain how these souls could at least (SI, Letters, Winter 1992, p. 213) has in principle be originally identified as read Dowsing and Church Archaeology, such and then later reidentified as the but I certainly have. It was written by same original souls. a professor of archaeology at Newcastle Yet how could this be even in prin­ University (UK) and two dowsers. The ciple possible since such souls are book is full of detailed drawings of

106 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 known church walls, overlaid with and disclose the track record of the equally detailed drawings of ancient scientists or the group of scientists walls as "found" by dowsers. Some of . . . that are quoted." References are a these drawings are marked with a single good idea, and it would have been useful black rectangle that shows the location if Koshland had given a reference for of the only test-trench that was dug. his claim that the data was inadequate These digs confirmed the prediction for and that even the most simple checks that location. of its reliability had not been made. With However, to a skeptic, there are three regard to track records, I suspect that problems with the book. First, it is clear this is one of the reasons that the press from the text that the examples shown did cover the Alar report. My impression are only a small subset (the best exam­ is that environmental groups have ples) of the total work done. Although moderately good track records. On the anathema to "hard" scientists, this sort other hand, there are well-publicized of blatant data selection seems to be cases of inadequate science, and in some entirely acceptable (and common) cases outright lies, by business (asbestos, among "softer" scientists. Second, there thalidomide, DES, and so on). If Kosh­ seems to be considerable "redundancy" land has a different impression, then I in the foundation-guessing problem, in would ask who is supposed to compile that there are clearly areas (along a line these track records, and why are we of symmetry, for instance) where it supposed to believe them? would be illogical (improbable) to expect to find walls. Moreover, anyone who had Robert Clear studied previous cases where both new Berkeley, Calif. and old walls were totally visible might soon develop a (non-mystic) "feel" for the most likely positions of "future" More on pyramid cyclosophy foundations. Third, the book contains some very detailed drawings where no I read the article "Adventures in Science attempt at all was made to check the and Cyclosophy," by Cornelis de Jager dowsers' lines. A gullible reader is likely (SI, Winter 1992) with great interest. to be left with a strong impression of Even though there are no doubts (at incredible accuracy, where none in fact least for me) that if you have even a has been demonstrated. small set of numbers you can easily manipulate them in a simple way in David J. Fisher order to obtain almost any other number Cardiff, Wales you want, some people might argue that the formulas presented by Charles Piazzi-Smyth (and, before him, by John Who should do it? Taylor, who wrote The Great Pyramid: Why Was It Built? And Who Built It? The article "Credibility in Science and in 1859) were much simpler than the Press" by Daniel Koshland (SI, WPzLwBs and others that appeared in Forum, Spring 1992) unfortunately the article. An explanation for the provides an example of the very ills it existence of simpler formulas like Piazzi- decries. From the material in the article Smyth's is the fact that the more there is no valid way of judging whether numbers available, the simpler the the National Resources Defense Council formulas needed in order to obtain any (NRDC) report on Alar was "clearly other number. Piazzi-Smyth had access dubious," and by implication whether to many more numbers than those he the press was guilty of "improper con­ seemed to have access to at first sight. duct" in covering the report. I quote from Martin Gardner's Fads and Koshland suggests that the press Fallacies in the Name of Science: "(1) Mea­ should reveal the journal in which the surement of various Pyramid lengths are "information is to be or was published far from established. ... In many cases

Fall 1992 107 Smyth had a choice of several lengths finished reading Dominic Olivastro's to pick from. In other cases he used article on calendars past, present, and measurements made by himself. And to come in The Sciences, September/ sometimes he added together conflicting October 1991. Olivastro writes, "As measurements and used the average. (2) early as 300 B.C. the Egyptians recog­ The figures which represent scientific nized that the year is roughly 365 and truths are equally vague. The distance one-quarter days long, a precision born to the sun, for example, was not known of painstaking observation." with great accuracy in Smyth's days and, Herman Kinder and Werner Hilge- besides, the distance varies considerably mann, authors of The Penguin Alias of because the earth's path is . . . an ellipse. World History, say that the Egyptians In such cases you have a wide choice had worked out the 365-and-one- of figures. You can use the earth's quarter-day calendar. This was accomp­ shortest distance to the sun, or the lished during the Old Kingdom, c. 3840- longest, or the mean. And in all three 2052 B.C. This was also the time of the cases you can choose between conflict­ construction of the Great Pyramid. ing estimates made by different astron­ I may be mistaken, but I believe omers of the time. The same ambiguity L. Sprague de Camp came to a similar applies to almost every scientific 'truth' conclusion about Egyptian mastery of employed by Smyth." practical mathematics and engineering Besides that, I think that one should in his book Ancient Engineers. not press too hard the fact that it is I'm not defending those who turn the ridiculous to find a formula that relates pyramid at Cheops into a cult, but I don't the base length of the pyramid with the know that we can rule out the possibility distance between the earth and the sun that the Egyptians had very accurate in kilometers just because the metric measures of both time and space. system was introduced only about two centuries ago. Someone might say that Monty Vierra the kilometer is a "natural" measure Gotemba, Japan (since it was originally defined so that the length of the earth meridian would be 40,000 kilometers) and deduce from What have you got to lose? it that the builders of the pyramid not only knew the distance between the Consider this scenario. You are in a dif­ earth and the sun but they also knew ficult situation when someone offers an the length of the earth meridian. You easy possible exit from the difficulty if know, if there is a way of turning an you will only temporarily and without argument upside down, someone will do apparent risk suspend your skepticism. it. In response to your reluctance, your would-be benefactor hits you with: Jose Carlos Santos What have you got to lose? Paris, France My experience some years ago may help demonstrate what you have to lose. Back in those pre-liptotripsy days I was In his excellent illustration of how in the hospital with a serious case of pseudoscience can conjure up all sorts kidney stones. Every standard procedure of explanations using numbers, Cornells short of surgery had proved unsuccess­ de Jager seems to have made the ful. The pain was so intense that only unfortunate implication that the Egyp­ large doses of morphine were effective. tians who built the Great Pyramid did After five days of this, I was having bad not know the earth's diameter and did side-effects from the narcotic, so I not know the "precise length of the stopped it cold turkey. Between the year." resulting pain and the withdrawal By coincidence, when the Winter symptoms, it was the worst day of my 1992 SI arrived, I happened to have just life.

108 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 A good friend came to visit. She said UFO remains, my brother returned us she knew a healer who had cured cases home to pick up some tools of technol­ like mine just by the laying on of hands. ogy. We returned with a compass and With my approval, the healer would a level. My youthful hopes for a close come by later. Miserable as I was, I encounter were dashed. The compass refused. Why am I so stubborn? What dutifully pointed only north. The level have I got to lose? I answered that I did unmasked the optical illusion. Tall field not know what I had to lose, but that grass along the road rose steadily up the kind of healing was a lot of bull. hillside. The dirt road, however, took a The very next morning, just before little dip, like this: I was to go into surgery, the stones passed spontaneously. Oh, the relief. Then it occurred to me: What if I had accepted the healer? Would I ever be able to feel secure in the skeptical belief system that has guided me since ado­ It was a good early learning experi­ lescence? Would the coincidental timing ence in applying the scientific method have been an emotional proof of sorts rather than blithely accepting the (much that paranormal healing works? more exciting) paranormal explanation. In the years since, I have been thank­ Many years later I attended a lecture ful many times that my determination where the speaker was an official of the at a desperate hour to resist nonsense Mutual UFO Network. The organiza­ reaffirmed my skeptical viewpoint. I tion was introduced as performing know what I otherwise would have lost. unbiased investigations with the aid of reputable scientists. My interest was Albert J. Forman piqued. Then they got into some inves­ Concord, Mass. tigation examples. Circular impressions were found after a nocturnal light show in a farmer's field. Soil samples from Youthful skeptical inquiry inside and outside the circle were analyzed. The data were presented to The optical illusion at Spook Hill (see illustrate significant changes in the soil, Guss Wilder, SI, Fall 1991 and Letters, ostensibly created by the extraterrestrial Spring 1992) must be a fairly common propulsion system of the UFO. Fortu­ phenomenon. It reminded me of a nately, my work had made me familiar similar experience from my youth, with analytical methods of this type. The growing up in an obscure little commu­ instrumentation used proves only the nity in northeastern Pennsylvania. It elements that are present in the sample. was the mid-1950s, flying-saucer sight­ The elements were the same in both ings were common news events, and I cases. Counts of their intensities were was a fascinated lad of 10 or 12 hoping different. There is some indication of the against hope for a close encounter of relative quantity of the elements present any kind. My brother, six years older in a sample that may be derived from than I, and his friends were abuzz with such intensity measurements. The mysterious effects on "gravity hill." On relative presence is estimated by the this paranormal spot, automobiles put ratio of the intensities. The absolute in neutral would roll uphill. It was counts are purely arbitrary. A quick conjectured that they may be drawn up exercise in mental arithmetic told me the hill by the powerful magnetic effects that the ratios of the intensities pre­ of the remains of a crashed UFO. Off sented were about the same for both we went to the hill to observe this "inside" and "outside" samples. mysterious effect firsthand. Indeed, the It is so easy for the desire to see what car, placed in neutral, appeared to roll we want to see to cloud objectivity. uphill for some 30 feet or so. Fortu­ Among the other burdens of parents, nately, rather than starting to dig for family, and educators, perhaps, is also

Fall 1992 109 Local, Regional, and National Organizations The organizations listed below have aims Lynn, contact, 1264 Bedford Rd., Grosse similar to those of CSICOP but are indepen­ Pointe Park, MI 84230-1116. dent and autonomous. They are not affiliated MINNESOTA. Minnesota Skeptics, Robert W. with CSICOP, and representatives of these McCoy, 549 Turnpike Rd., Golden Valley, organizations cannot speak on behalf of MN 55416. St. Kloud ESP Teaching CSICOP. Investigation Committee (SKEPTIC), Jerry Mertens, Coordinator, Psychology UNITED STATES Dept., St. Cloud State Univ., St. Cloud, ALABAMA. Alabama Skeptics, Emory Kim- MN 56301. brough, 3550 Watermelon Road, Apt. MISSOURI. Kansas City Committee for 28A, Northport, AL 35476 (205-759- Skeptical Inquiry, Verle Muhrer, Chair­ 2624). man, 2658 East 7th, Kansas City, MO ARIZONA. Tucson Skeptical Society 64124. Gateway Skeptics, Chairperson, (TUSKS), James McGaha, Chairman, Steve Best, 6943 Amherst Ave., Univer­ 2509 N. Campbell Ave., Suite #16, sity City, MO 63130. Tucson, AZ 85719. Phoenix Skeptics, Michael Stackpole, Chairman, P.O. Box NEW MEXICO. New Mexicans for Science & 60333, Phoenix, AZ 85028. Reason, John Geohegan, Chairman, 450 CALIFORNIA. Bay Area Skeptics, Wilma Montclaire SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108; Russell, Secretary, 17723 Buti Park Court, John Smallwood, 320 Artist Road, Santa Castro Valley, CA 94546. East Bay Fe, NM 87501 (505-988-2800). Skeptics Society, Daniel Sabsay, Presi­ NEW YORK. Finger Lakes Association for dent, P.O. Box 20989, Oakland, CA 94620 Critical Thought, Ken McCarthy, 107 (415-420-0702). Sacramento Skeptics Williams St., Groton, NY 13073. New Society, Terry Sandbek, 3838 Watt Ave., York Area Skeptics (NYASk), William Suite C303, Sacramento, CA 95821-2664 Wade, contact person, 97 Fort Hill Road, (916-488-3772). Skeptics Society (Los Huntington, NY 11743-2205. Western Angeles). Contact Michael Shermer, 2761 New York Skeptics, Tim Madigan, Chair­ N. Marengo Ave., Altadena 91001. man, 3159 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215. COLORADO and WYOMING. Rocky Mountain NORTH CAROLINA. N.C. Skeptics, Michael Skeptics, Bela Scheiber, President, P.O. J. Marshall, Pres., 3318 Colony Dr., Box 7277, Boulder, CO 80306. Jamestown, NC 27282. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, MARY­ OHIO. South Shore Skeptics, Page Stephens, LAND, and VIRGINIA. National Capital 6006 Fir Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 Area Skeptics, c/o D. W. "Chip" Denman, (216-631-5987). Association for Rational 8006 Valley Street, Silver Spring, MD Thinking (Cincinnati area), Joseph F. 20910. Gastright, Contact, 111 Wallace Ave., FLORIDA. Tampa Bay Skeptics, Gary Posner, Covington, KY 41014, (513) 369-4872 or 6219 Palma Blvd., #210, St. Petersburg, (606) 581-7315. FL 33715 (813-867-3533). PENNSYLVANIA. Paranormal Investigating GEORGIA. Georgia Skeptics, Anson Ken­ Committee of Pittsburgh (PICP), Richard nedy, Secretary, P.O. Box 654, Norcross, Busch, Chairman, 5841 Morrowfield GA 30091. Ave., #302, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (412- ILLINOIS. Midwest Committee for Rational 521-2334). Inquiry, Lawrence Kitsch, President, P.O. SOUTH CAROLINA. South Carolina Commit­ Box 2792, Des Plaines, IL 60017-2792. tee to Investigate Paranormal Claims, INDIANA. Indiana Skeptics, Robert Craig, John Safko, 3010 Amherst Ave., Colum­ Chairperson, 5401 Hedgerow Drive, bia, SC 29205. Indianapolis, IN 46226. TEXAS. Austin Society to Oppose Pseudo- KENTUCKY. Kentucky Assn. of Science science (ASTOP), Lawrence Cranberg, Educators and Skeptics (KASES), Chair­ President, P.O. Box 3446, Austin, TX man, Prof. Robert A. Baker, 3495 Cas- 78764. Houston Association for Scientific tleton Way North, Lexington, KY 40502. Thinking (HAST), Darrell Kachilla, P.O. LOUISIANA. Baton Rouge Proponents of Box 541314, Houston, TX 77254. North Rational Inquiry and Scientific Methods Texas Skeptics, Joe Voelkering, President, (BR-PRISM), Henry Murry, Chairman, P.O. Box 111794, Carrollton, TX 75011- P.O. Box 15594, Baton Rouge, LA 70895. 1794. West Texas Society to Advance MASSACHUSETTS. Skeptical Inquirers of Rational Thought, Co-Chairmen: George New England. Contact Laurence Moss, Robertson, 6500 Eastridge Rd.; #73, Ho & Moss, 72 Kneeland St., Boston Odessa, TX 79762-5219 (915-367-3519); 02111. Don Naylor, 404 N. Washington, Odessa, MICHIGAN. Great Lakes Skeptics, Carol TX 79761. (continued on next page) the need to pass on the tools of skeptical careful and factual way in which your inquiry to the next generation. articles are written and edited. It is, of course, important to the scientific cause Richard A. Foster you promote to always insist on factual Round Rock, Texas accuracy. I write only to point out an unfor­ tunate factual error in Martin Gardner's Virtues of common sense otherwise interesting article on J. B. S. Haldane (SI, Spring 1992, p. 247). I think that Richard A. Dengrove Stalin did not execute Beria. Beria worries too much that common sense survived Stalin to be executed by sometimes gets things wrong (SI, Khrushchev and the Soviet Politburo in Letters, Spring 1992). So what? It is still 1953—one year after Stalin's death. a valuable skill that we should practice However, Gardner was right, treason at every opportunity. I am much more was the crime. concerned by the New Age's success at Keep up the good work. persuading people to suspend com­ pletely their critical judgment. If Graydon Forrer CSICOP is to have any lasting effect on Arlington, Va. public opinion it must convince people that they will benefit if they refuse to believe claims without good reason. Demonstrating the virtues of John Aach's "common sense skepticism" might be the best way of doing this. The letters column is a forum for views on matters raised in previous issues. Brief letters Jeremy C. Henty (less than 250 words) are welcome. We Cambridge, England reserve the right to edit longer ones. They should be typed double-spaced. Due to the volume of letters, not all can be published. Wrong excutioner Address them to Letters to the Editor, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, 3025 Pah Alto I am an avid reader of your journal and Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. I am especially impressed with the

James Kimberly Apppointed Center for Inquiry Development Officer

CSICOP is pleased to announce that James B. Kimberly, of Kimberly Development Systems, Santa Barbara, California, has been named senior development officer of the Center for Inquiry Campaign. Martin Gardner is voluntary co-chairman of this effort. The Center for Inquiry Campaign's goals include raising funds for the second phase of the Center for Inquiry building program and the establishment of an endowment fund to ensure the organization's operations in the future.

110 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 17 WASHINGTON. The Society for Sensible INDIA. Indian Skeptics, B. Premanand, Explanations, Philip Haldeman/Michael Chairman, 10, Chettipalayam Rd., Dennett, T.L.P.O. Box 8234, Kirkland, Podanur 641-023 Coimbatore Tamil nadu. WA 98034. Indian Rationalist Association, Contact WISCONSIN. Wisconsin Committee for Sanal Edamaruku, 779, Pocket 5, Mayur Rational Inquiry, Mary Beth Emmericks, Vihar 1, New Delhi 110 091. Convenor, 8465 N. 51st St., Brown Deer, IRELAND. Irish Skeptics, Peter O'Hara, WI 53223. Contact, St. Joseph's Hospital, Limerick. ITALY. Comitato Italiano per il Controllo ARGENTINA. CAIRP, Director, Ladislao delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale, Enrique Marquez, Jose Marti, 35 dep C, Lorenzo Montali, Secretary, Via Ozanam 1406 Buenos Aires. 3, 20129 Milano, Italy. AUSTRALIA. National: Australian Skeptics, JAPAN. Japan Skeptics, Jun Jugaku, Chair­ P.O. Box E324 St. James, NSW 2000. person, 1-31-8-527 Takadanobaba, Regional: Australian Capital Territory, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 169. P.O. Box 555, Civic Square, 2608. New­ MALTA. Contact: Vanni Pule', "Kabbalah," castle Skeptics, Chairperson, Colin Keay, 48 Sirti St., The Village, St. Julian's. Physics Dept., Newcastle University, MEXICO. Mexican Association for Skeptical NSW 2308. Queensland, P.O. Box 2180, Research (SOMIE), Mario Mendez- Brisbane, 4001. South Australia, P.O. Box Acosta, Chairman, Apartado Postal 19- 91, Magill, 5072. Victoria, P.O. Box 1555P, 546, Mexico 03900, D.F. Melbourne, 3001. Western Australia, 25 NETHERLANDS. Stichting Skepsis, Rob Headingly Road, Kalamunda 6076. Nanninga, Secretary, Westerkade 20, BELGIUM. Committee Para, J. Dommanget, 9718 AS Groningen. Chairman, Observatoire Royal de Bel- NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand Skeptics, gique, Avenue Circulaire 3, B-1180 Warwick Don, Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Brussels. SKEPP, W. Betz, Secretary, Otago, Dunedin, NZ. Laarbeeklaan 103, B1090 Brussels (FAX: NORWAY. NIVFO, K. Stenodegard, Boks 9, 32-2-4774301). N-7082, Kattem. Skepsis, Terje Ember- CANADA. Alberta Skeptics, Elizabeth land, Contact, P. B. 2943 Toyen 0608, Anderson, P.O. Box 5571, Station A, Oslo 6. Calgary, Alberta T2H 1X9. British RUSSIA. Contact Edward Gevorkian, Ulya- Columbia Skeptics, Barry Beyerstein, novskaya 43, Kor 4, 109004, Moscow. Chairman, Box 86103, Main PO, North SOUTH AFRICA. Assn. for the Rational Vancouver, BC, V7L 4J5. Manitoba Investigation of the Paranormal (ARIP), Skeptics. Contact John Toews, President, Marian Laserson, Secretary, 4 Wales St., Box 92, St. Vital, Winnipeg, Man. R2M Sandringham 21yz. 4A5. Ontario Skeptics, Henry Gordon, SPAIN. Alternativa Racional a las Pseudo- Chairman, 343 Clark Ave West, Suite sciencias (ARP). Contact Mercedes Quin- 1009, Thornhill, Ontario L4j 7K5. Scep- tana, Apartado de Correos 17.026, E-280 tiques du Quebec: Jean Ouellette, C.P. 80 Madrid. 202, Succ. Beaubien, Montreal H2G 3C9. SWEDEN. Vetenskap & Folkbildning CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Contact Milos (Science and People's Education), Sven Chvojka, Inst, of Physics, Czech Academy Ove Hansson, Secretary, Box 185,101 23 of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 1 80 40 Stockholm. Prague 8. UKRAINE. Perspectiva, Oleg G. Bakh- ESTONIA. Contact Indrek Rohtmets, Hori- tiarov, Director, 36 Lenin Blvd., Kiev sont, EE 0102 Tallinn, Narva mnt. 5. 252001. FINLAND. Skepsis, Lauri Grohn, Secretary, UNITED KINGDOM. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Ojahaanpolku 8 Bl7, SF-01600 Vantaa. Representative, Michael J. Hutchinson, 10 FRANCE. Comite Francois pour l'Etude des Crescent View, Loughton, Essex IG10 Phenomenes Paranormaux, Claude 4PZ. The Skeptic magazine, Editors, Toby Benski, Secretary-General, Merlin Gerin, Howard and Steve Donnelly, P.O. Box RGE/A2 38050 Grenoble Cedex. 475, Manchester M60 2TH. London GERMANY. Society for the Scientific Student Skeptics, Michael Howgate, Investigation of Para-Science (GWUP), President, 71 Hoppers Rd., Winchmore Amardeo Sarma, Convenor, Postfach Hill, London N21 3LP. Manchester Skep­ 1222, D-6101 Rossdorf. tics, David Love, P.O. Box 475, Manches­ HUNGARY. Hungarian Skeptics, Janos ter M60 2TH. Wessex Skeptics, Robin Szentagothai, c/o Termeszet Vilaga, P.O. Allen, Dept. of Physics, Southampton Box 25, Budapest 8, 1444. Fax 011-36-1- University, Highfield, Southampton 118-7506. S09 5NH. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman Scientific and Technical Consultants George Agogino, Dept. of Anthropology, Eastern New Mexico University. William Sims Bainbridge, professor of sociology, Illinois State University. Gary Bauslaugh, dean of technical and academic education and professor of chemistry, Malaspina College, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Richard E. Berendzen, astronomer, Washington, D.C. Martin Bridgstock, lecturer, School of Science, Griffith Observatory, Brisbane, Australia. Richard Busch, magician, Pittsburgh, Pa. Shawn Carlson, physicist, Berkeley, Calif. Charles J. Cazeau, geologist, Deary, Idaho. Ronald J. Crowley, professor of physics, California State University, Fullerton. Roger B. Culver, professor of astronomy, Colorado State Univ. J. Dath, professor of engineering, Ecole Royale Militaire, Brussels, Belgium. Felix Ares De Bias, professor of computer science, University of Basque, San Sebastian, Spain. Sid Deutsch, Visiting Professor of electrical engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa. J. Dommanget, astronomer, Royale Observatory, Brussels, Belgium. Natham J. Duker, assistant professor of pathology. Temple University. Barbara Eisenstadt, educator, Clifton Park, N.Y. John F. Fischer, forensic analyst, Orlando Fla. Frederic A. Friedel, philosopher, Hamburg, West Germany. Robert E. Funk, anthropologist. New York State Museum & Science Service. Sylvio Garattini, director, Mario Negri Pharmacology Institute, Milan, Italy. Laurie Godfrey, anthropologist, University of Massachusetts. Gerald Goldin, mathematician, Rutgers University, New Jersey. Donald Goldsmith, astronomer; president, Interstellar Media. Clyde F. Herreid, professor of biology, SUNY, Buffalo. Terence M. Hines, professor of psychology. Pace University, Pleasantville, N.Y. Philip A. Ianna, assoc. professor of astronomy, Univ. of Virginia. William Jarvis, chairman. Public Health Service, Loma Linda University, California. I. W. Kelly, professor of psychology, University of Saskatchewan. Richard H. Lange, chief of nuclear medicine, Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, New York. Gerald A. Larue, professor of biblical history and archaeology, University of So. California. Bernard J. Leikind, staff scientist, GA Technologies Inc., San Diego. William M. London, assistant professor of health education, Kent State University. Jeff Mayhew, computer consultant, Aloha, Oregon. Thomas R. McDonough, lecturer in engineering, Caltech, and SETI Coordinator of the Planetary Society. James E. McGaha, Major, USAF; pilot. Joel A. Moskowitz, director of medical psychiatry, Calabasas Mental Health Services, Los Angeles. Robert B. Painter, professor of microbiology. School of Medicine, University of California. John W. Patterson, professor of materials science and engineering, Iowa State University. Steven Pinker, assistant professor of psychology, MIT. James Pomerantz, professor of psychology. Rice University; Gary Posner, M.D., St. Petersburg, Fla. Daisie Radner, professor of philosophy, SUNY, Buffalo. Michael Radner, professor of philosophy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Robert H. Romer, professor of physics, Amherst College. Milton A. Rothman, physicist, Philadelphia, Pa. Karl Sabbagh, journalist, Richmond, Surrey, England. Robert J. Samp, assistant professor of education and medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Steven D. Schafersman, geologist, Houston. Chris Scott, statistician, London, England. Stuart D. Scott, Jr., associate professor of anthropology, SUNY, Buffalo. Erwin M. Segal, professor of psychology, SUNY, Buffalo. Elie A. Shneour, biochemist; director, Biosystems Research Institute, La Jolla, California. Steven N. Shore, astronomer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Md. Barry Singer, psychologist, Eugene, Oregon. Mark Slovak, astronomer, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Douglas Stalker, associate professor of philosophy, University of Delaware. Gordon Stein, physiologist, author; editor of the American Rationalist. Waclaw Szybalski, professor, McArdle Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ernest H. Taves, psychoanalyst, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sarah G. Thomason, professor of linguistics. University of Pittsburgh, editor of Language.

Subcommittees Astrology Subcommittee: Chairman, I. W. Kelly, Dept. of Educational Psychology, University of Saskat­ chewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0, Canada. College and University Lecture Series Subcommittee: Chairman, Paul Kurtz; Lecture Coordinator, Ranjit Sandhu, CSICOP, Box 703, Buffalo, NY 14226-0703. Education Subcommittee: Chairman, Steven Hoffmaster, Physics Dept., Gonzaga Univ., Spokane, WA 99258-0001; Secretary, Wayne Rowe, Education Dept., Univ. of Oklahoma, 820 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019. Electronics Communications Subcommittee: Chairman, Page Stevens, 6006 Fir Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102. Paranormal Health Claims Subcommittee: Co-chairmen, William Jarvis, Professor of Health Education, Dept. of Preventive Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 933S0, and Stephen Barrett, M.D., P.O. Box 1747, Allentown, PA 18105. Parapsychology Subcommittee: Chairman, Ray Hyman, Psychology Dept., Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR ' 97402. UFO Subcommittee: Chairman, Philip J. Klass, 404 "N" Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal attempts to encourage the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and to disseminate factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community and the public. It also encourages critical thinking, an appreciation of science, and the use of reason in examining impor­ tant issues. To carry out these objectives the Committee: • Maintains a network of people interested in critically examining paranormal, fringe- science, and other claims, and in contributing to consumer education. • Prepares bibliographies of published materials that carefully examine such claims. • Encourages and commissions research by objective and impartial inquiry in areas where it is needed. • Convenes conferences and meetings. • Publishes articles, monographs, and books that examine claims of the paranormal. • Does not reject claims on a priori grounds, antecedent to inquiry, but rather exam­ ines them objectively and carefully. The Committee is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization. The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is its official journal.