Re: SI Digest 12-4-97

SkeptInq@aol.com
Thu, 4 Dec 1997 15:32:31 -0500 

 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ELECTRONIC DIGEST

 December 4, 1997.

 SI Electronic Digest is the weekly e-mail news update of the Committee for
the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP.)

 http://www.csicop.org.

 The Digest is written and edited by Matthew Nisbet and Barry Karr.  SI
Digest has over 1600 readers worldwide, and is distributed via e-mail from
the Center for Inquiry-International, Amherst N.Y., USA.

 PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR SKEPTICAL FRIENDS.

 For free Digest subscriptions, go to:
 http://www.csicop.org/list/index.html#subscribe

 Send comments, media inquiries and news to:
 SINISBET@aol.com
 (716-636-1425)

 CSICOP publishes the bi-monthly SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, The Magazine for Science
and Reason. To subscribe at the $17.95 introductory price, call 1800-
634-1610. The November/December issue features Dave Thomas on "Hidden
Messages and The Bible Code."


 In this week's SI Digest:

 -- CSICOP Making News in 1997.
 -- SELF Magazine Explores Spiritualism and the New Age.
 -- CSICOP Webpage Chosen One of the Top 500 on the Web.
 -- Heaven's Gate Mansion May Soon Be Sold.
 -- Evolution vs. Creationism Debate On PBS.



 CSICOP MAKING NEWS IN 1997.

 AMHERST, NY. --  In 1997, CSICOP and SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Magazine fielded
hundreds of inquiries from the international media resulting in over a 1,000
news features and stories.  Inquiries ranged from the need for expert opinion
and research information to story ideas and reprint permission.  The
following is a sample of some of the radio programs, television shows, and
publications:

 RADIO (national and syndicated)
 Art Bell Show, ABC Radio News, BBC Radio Network, CBS Radio Network, G.
Gordon Liddy Show, Jim Bohannon Show, Roger Hedgecock Show, Michael Reagan
Show, NPR Science Friday, Talk of America Radio Network, Victoria Jones Show,
Wisconsin Public Radio.

 TELEVISION (national and syndicated)
 ABC News, ABC Good Morning America, ABC 20/20, ABC Politically Incorrect,
ASCII Productions (Japan), Arts and Entertainment (A&E), CBC News (Can.),
CFTO-TV (Can.), CFMT-TV (Can.), Channel 4 (England), CNBC Hollywood Today,
CNN News, Fox News, Discovery Channel, Entertainment Tonight, Fox News,
Global News Service (Can), MSNBC, NBC Dateline, NOVA, Paramount Television,
PBS, VH1 Pop-Up Video, WGBH-TV Boston PBS.

 PRINT (incomplete list.  #'s indicate multiple articles.)
 American Medical News, Atlanta Journal, Boston Globe, Buffalo News, Chicago
Tribune-Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Columbia Journalism Review, Dallas Morning
News, Denver Post, El Correo (Spain), El Nuevo Herald (Spain), Florida Today,
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Globe and Mail (Can.), Houston Chronicle,
Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Minneapolis Star Tribune,
New York Times, Newsday, Newsweek, Orange County Register, Portland
Oregonian, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union Tribune, San Juan Star (PR),
Seattle Times, Scientific American, The Scientist, Science, The Science News,
Science Writers Journal, Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, USA Today, Wall Street
Journal.

 Since its formation in 1976, CSICOP has advocated a balanced, critical and
scientific treatment of pseudoscience and the paranormal in the media.  At
the World's Skeptics Congress in 1996, CSICOP founded the Council for Media
Integrity, a network of distinguished scientists, academics and members of
the media committed to monitoring media treatment of science.  The Media
Stock Fund was started in 1997 to finance the acquisition of stock in large
media conglomerates so that CSICOP as a stockholder might gain input on
programming.

 SELF MAGAZINE EXPLORES SPIRITUALISM AND THE NEW AGE.

 SELF magazine publishes the results of its May 1997 reader survey on
spiritualism in this month's December issue.  The issue has multiple articles
on new age spiritualism, alternative healing, and religion.  The articles run
the gamut between skepticism and promotion. It is recommended reading for
skeptics concerned about the media's increasing infatuation with new age
spiritualism and alternative therapies.

 The following are a few highlights and lowlights:

 --  91% of SELF readers believe in miracles.  87% believe in angels.  85%
believe in spirits.  41% believe in reincarnation.  91% oppose human cloning.
 Page 135.


 --  In "What Exactly Is Buddhism, Why Is It So Hip Now?" a caption reports
that when the first Dalai Lama knew that he was going to die, he entered into
a state of tantric meditation.  "Although his breathing and heartbeat ceased,
he continued meditating for 30 days without any signs of death and reportedly
took on the look of a youth."  Page 160.

 Since Buddhism is viewed by many as an effective substitute for
psychotherapy, it has grown in popularity.  Buddhism is also described as
more a science than a religion.  "Buddhism is being introduced in the West as
a technology for happiness, not a religion.  As such, it's perfect for
seekers in a rational, skeptical age.  The Dalai Lama has even come out with
a videotape entitled Secular Meditation."  Page 171.

 --  SELF reports that "a third of Americans surveyed tried at leat one
alternative medical treatment in the past year.  In 1990, nearly $1 billion
more was spent on such therapies than on traditional hospital care.  Now the
American Medical Association is calling for research into the treatment's
safety and efficacy, claiming that little or none exists." No source is
given.  Page 62.

 --  In a caption, SELF reports that "some 82 percent of us believe in the
healing power of prayer, 64 percent feel doctors should join their patients
in prayer if the patient requests it, and 28 percent believe in the work of
faith healers or personal touch."  Page 166.

 --  In an article entitled "Is It Therapy or Is It Prayer", SELF highlights
the Blanton-Peale Institute of New York "where religion and psychoanalysis
come together to heal the spirit."  Page 165.

 --  In a caption, SELF asks "Is Fasting Good for Your Health?"  No, say many
medical experts.  Fasting lowers your metabolism, breaks down needed glycogen
and muscle, may result in dangerous dehydration and may actually *increase*
toxicity in the body.  " I wouldn't recommend a one to three day fast to
anyone" says one medical expert.

 CSICOP WEBPAGE CHOSEN ONE OF THE TOP 500 ON THE WEB.

 HomePC Magazine has chosen www.csicop.org as one of the top 500 sites on the
Web in the magazine's second annual Best of the Web survey.  The editors of
HomePC spent several months scouring the World Wide Web to come up with the
top 500 sites in 30 categories.  HomePC judged sites on their design,
interactivity, creativity and most important to the magazine, depth of
content--that is, whether sites are informative, useful, entertaining or
thought-provoking.

 CSICOP's web site is maintained by Patrick Fitzgerald.  The site is an
invaluable resource to researchers and members of the media, as well as a
major point of interest on the World Wide Web for curious browsers.

 HEAVEN'S GATE MANSION MAY BE SOLD.

 RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif.--  According to the Associated Press, the owner of a
Hawaii estate has offered to swap properties for the 9,000 square foot,
seven-bedroom Heaven's Gate house.  Owned by Sam Koutchesfahani, the house
where 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed suicide, has been valued
at $1.6 million.  Other offers come from a Texan who specializes in problem
properties and from a local buyer.

 CREATIONISM VS. EVOLUTION DEBATE TO AIR ON PBS.

 On December 19, PBS's "Firing Line" will air a two-hour special on the
creation/evolution controversy.  The program will be a debate at Seton Hall
University in South Orange, N.J., before a student audience.

 Host William F. Buckley, Jr., and there colleagues will argue in favor of
the proposition, "Resolved: The evolutionists should acknowledge creation."
 Joining Buckley in the affirmative will be Berkeley law professor Phillip
Johnson, author of _Darwin on Trial, Reason in the Balance, and Defeating
Darwinism by Opening Minds; LeHigh University biochemist Michael Behe, author
of _Darwin's Black Box_; and David Berlinski, whose Commentary article last
year on the defects of evolution generated considerable attention.

 Opposing the resolution will be CSICOP fellow Eugenie C. Scott, executive
director of the National Center for Science Education; Barry Lynn, executive
director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State; philosopher
Michael Ruse, author of _But Is It Science?_; and biologist Kenneth Miller of
Brown University.

 PBS
 December 19
 8:00 pm EST  (Check your local listings.)

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