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Alternative Medicine • Benny Hinn: Healer Or Hypnotist? • Bogus Civil War Pterodactyl

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Alternative Medicine • Benny Hinn: Healer Or Hypnotist? • Bogus Civil War Pterodactyl Alternative Medicine • Benny Hinn: Healer or Hypnotist? • Bogus Civil War Pterodactyl SON Published by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY-INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO] • AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy. State University of New York at Buffalo Barry Karr, Executive Director Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director FELLOWS James E. Alcock* psychologist. York Univ.. Saul Green, PhD, biochemist president of ZOL James E. Oberg, science writer Toronto Consultants, New York. NY Irmgard Oepen, professor of medicine Jerry Andrus, magician and inventor. Albany, Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts (retired), Marburg. Germany Oregon and Sciences, prof, of philosophy, University Loren Pankratz, psychologist, Oregon Health Marcia Angell, M.D.. former editor-in-chief. of Miami Sciences Univ. New England Journal of Medicine C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist, Univ. of Wales John Paulos, mathematician. Temple Univ. Robert A. Baker, psychologist. Univ. of Al Hibbs, scientist Jet Propulsion Laboratory Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist, MIT Kentucky Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human under­ Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, Stephen Barrett M.D.. psychiatrist, author. standing and cognitive science, Indiana Univ. executive director CICAP, Italy consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Milton Rosenberg, psychologist Univ. of Barry Beyerstein, * biopsychologist, Simon Physics and professor of history of science. Chicago Fraser Univ., Vancouver, B.C., Canada Harvard Univ. Wallace Sampson, M.D., clinical professor of Irving Biederman, psychologist. Univ. of Ray Hyman,* psychologist. Univ. of Oregon medicine, Stanford Univ., editor, Scientific Southern California Leon Jaroff, sciences editor emeritus, Time Review of Alternative Medicine Susan Blackmore, psychologist, Univ. of the Sergei Kapitza, former editor. Russian edition. Amardeo Sarma, engineer, head of dept. West of England. Bristol Scientific American at T-Nova Deutsche Telekom, executive Henri Broch. physicist, Univ. of Nice, France Philip J. Klass. • aerospace writer, engineer director, GWUP. Germany. Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director, Griffith Evry Schatzman, former president. French emeritus of English, Univ. of Utah Observatory Physics Association Vern Bullough, professor of history, California Paul Kurtz,* chairman, Center for Inquiry Eugenie Scott physical anthropologist, execu­ State Univ. at Northridge Lawrence Kusche, science writer tive director, National Center for Science Mario Bunge, philosopher, McGill University Leon Lederman, emeritus director, Fermilab; Education John R. Cole, anthropologist, editor, National Nobel laureate in physics Robert Sheaffer, science writer Center for Science Education Scott Lilienfeld, psychologist, Emory Univ. Elie A. Shneour, biochemist, author, Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, Lin Zixin, former editor, Science and director, Biosystems Research Institute, professor emeritus of English, Univ. of Technology Daily (China) La Jolla, Calif. California, Berkeley Jere Lipps, Museum of Paleontology. Univ. of Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey F. H. C. Crick, biophysicist. Salk Inst, for California. Berkeley Hills, N.S.W.. Australia Biological Studies. La Jolla. Calif; Nobel Prize Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology, Robert Steiner, magician, author, laureate Univ. of Washington El Cerrito. Calif. Richard Dawkins, zoologist. Oxford Univ. Paul MacCready, scientist/engineer, Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer, SETI Institute, Cornells de Jager, professor of astrophysics, AeroVironment, Inc., Monrovia. Calif. Mountain View, Calif. Univ. of Utrecht, the Netherlands John Maddox, editor emeritus of Nature Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Paul Edwards, philosopher, editor. David Marks, psychologist City University, London. Angeles. Calif. Encyclopedia of Philosophy Walter C. McCrone. microscopist, McCrone David Thomas, physicist and mathematician, Kenneth Feder. professor of anthropology, Research Institute Peralta, New Mexico Central Connecticut State Univ. Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and Stephen Toulmin, professor of philosophy, Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ., U.K. science writer, Mexico City, Mexico Univ. of Southern California Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer. Foothill College, Marvin Minsky, professor of media arts and Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and direc­ Los Altos Hills, Calif. sciences, M.I.T. tor, Hayden Planetarium, New York City Kendrick Frazier,* science writer, editor. David Morrison, space scientist, NASA Ames Marilyn vos Savant Parade magazine con­ SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Research Center tributing editor and CBS News correspondent Yves Galifret. vice-president. Affiliated Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and Organizations: France of Calif., Berkeley astronomy, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Nobel Martin Gardner,* author, critic H. Narasimhaiah, physicist president. Prize laureate Murray Gell-Mann, professor of physics, Santa Bangalore Science Forum, India Richard Wiseman, psychologist University of Fe Institute; Nobel Prize laureate Dorothy Nelkin, sociologist, New York Univ. Hertfordshire Thomas Gilovich, psychologist Cornell Univ. Joe Nickell,* senior research fellow, CSICOP Marvin Zelen, statistician. Harvard Univ. Henry Gordon, magician, columnist, Toronto Lee Nisbet* philosopher, Medaille College Stephen Jay Gould, Museum of Comparative Bill Nye, science educator and television host. * Member, CSICOP Executive Council Zoology, Harvard Univ. Nye Labs (Affiliations given for identification only.) • • • Visit the CSICOP Web site at http://www.csicop.org • • • The SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (ISSN 0194-6730) u published bimonthly by the Committee for the Articles, report*, reviews, and letters published in the SKEPTJCAI INQUIRER represent the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, 1310 Sweet Home Rd„ Amherst. NY views and work of individual authors. Their publication does not necessarily constitute an 14228. Primed in U.SA Periodicals pottage paid at Buffalo. NY. Subscription prices: one year endorsement by CSICOP or its members unless so stated. (six issues). $35: rwo years, $58; three years. $81: single issue. $4.95. Canadian and foreign orders: Copyright ©2002 by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Payment in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank must accompany orders; please add US$10 per year Paranormal. .Ml rights reserved. The SKUTKAl INQUIRER is available on 16mm microfilm. for shipping. Canadian and foreign customers are encouraged to use Visa or MasterCard 35mm microfilm, and 105mm microfiche from University Microfilms International and is Inquiries from the media and the public about the work of the Committee should be made indexed in the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature. to Paul Kurt*. Chairman. CSICOP. Box 703. Amherst. NY 14226-0703. Td.: 716-636-1425. Subscriptions and changes of address should be addressed to: SKf PT1CM. INQUIRER. Box FAX: 716-636-1733. 703. Amherst. NY 14226-0703. Or call toll-free I -800-634-1610 (outside U.S. call 716-636- Manuscripts, letters, books for review, and editorial inquiries should be addressed to Kendridc 1425), Old address as well as new are necessary for change of subscriber's address, with six Frazier. Editor. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. 944 Deer Drive NE, Albuquerque. NM 87122. Fax 505- weeks advance notice. SKEPTICAL INQUIRER subscribers may noc speak on behalf of CSICOP 828-2080. Before submitting any manuscript, please consult our Guide for Authors for format and or the SkrprKAE INQUIRER. references requirements. It is on our Web site at http://www,csicop.org/si/guidc-for-authors.html IVisimastcr. Send changes of address io SKHTKAI INQI IKi.K. Box 703. Amhcrsi. NY and on page 69 of the March/April issue. Or you may send a fax request to the editor. 14226-0703. Skeptical Inquirer COLUMNS EDITOR'S NOTE 4 May/June 2002 • VOL. 26, NO. 3 NEWS AND COMMENT AAAS Session Provides Glimpse at Science-end of Alternative ARTICLES Medicine Issues, Research / Study Finds NCCAM Grants Have Produced No Useful Results / New Journal Dedicated to Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience in Mental Health / Rash of Mysterious Rashes May Be Linked to Mass Hysteria / Ohio and Washington: Agendas Push Questionable Science / Junk Science in the Oil Patch: Microlepton Fields, Again / Archaeo­ logical Institute Hosts Workshop Session on Combating Pseudo- archaeology / Astronomers Respond to Claims Universe is Young with Material for Classroom Teachers / UFOs Over Hollywood / Dec. 15 Party Features Editors to Celebrate CFI-West Occupancy/ Recent Deaths S INVESTIGATIVE FILES Benny Hinn: Healer or Hypnotist? JOE NICKELL 14 24 Who Abused Jane Doe? The Hazards of the Single Case History PSYCHIC VIBRATIONS Djinn Engine Solves the Energy Crisis Part 1 ROBERT SHEAFFER 18 Cose histories have played a long-standing role in the history of science, medicine, and' mental health. But they can mislead— NOTES ON A STRANGE WORLD especially when only half the story is told. Here's a case history A Pterodactyl in the Civil War about a case history thai proves just that. MASSIMO POLIDORO 21
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