The Skeptic Mag Hotline has been quiet the past couple of weeks because I am on a publisher's deadline to complete the first draft of the manuscript of my next book, WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN GOD, as well as trying to get out another edition of Skeptic (we just completed Vol. 6, #2 which will be going to the printer soon). We've got a terrific interview with Ray Hyman, one of the founders of the modern skeptical movement, along with Martin Gardner and James Randi, along with our cover story on Deepak Chopra.
Monday night I appeared on the NBC Nightly News, which apparently got exerpted on MSNBC and I was quoted in numerous news wires around the world as I have received numerous calls and e-mails regarding my comment that "There are plenty of professors who believe all kinds of nutty things." This was in reference to the big UFO report issued by a professor at Stanford University, in which they concluded that there is no evidence whatsoever of alien visitations but that scientists should nevertheless take UFO claims seriously.
Well, it's true that there ARE plenty of professors who believe all kinds of nutty things, but since a couple of really respected professors kinda of took offense at this remark, let me say this about that. First of all, I am a college professor so it is at least moderaly okay for me to say such a thing. But more importantly, I noticed in this report neither Robert Schaeffer nor Phil Klass, both of whom know more about these particular UFO cases than everyone on their panel combined, were on the panel. So that makes me especially suspicious that they are not really after a rational, scientific explanation of anomalous phenomena, or they were sadly misinformed about who the experts are in this field, or they didn't want to bias their study with "skeptics" on board. Who knows?
As for my comment, the NBC reporter who came to my office to film me for the Nightly News, kept saying, over and over, "but it came from a professor at Stanford University," like that makes it true. I was only trying to point out that professors do not have the final word on things. David Jacobs is a real professor at a real university and he has published an entire book about how aliens are RIGHT NOW in the process of taking over the earth. Really nutty stuff. Frank Tipler is one of the most respected global general relativists on the planet, a tenured professor at Tulane University, friends with Stephen Hawking and Kip Thorne, has published hundreds of highly regarded technical papers in his field, etc., etc., yet his theory about how physics proves the existence of God and that we are all going to be resurrected in the far future of the universe has been rejected or ignored by almost everyone in science. Now, he's got lots more credentials than I, but that doesn't make him right, or mean that I cannot make the statement that just because Frank Tipler is at Tulane University it means he is right.
Bottom line, the UFO report said what we have always said: there is no evidence of visitations to earth from aliens, only some anomalies. All fields of study have anomalies, and yes these should be studied. But in my opinion skeptics and scientists have already gone WAY beyond what is reasonable in giving these claims a fair shake. The evidence simply isn't there. If it were I'd change my mind in a heartbeat. The problem is that UFO believers, like the creationists, Holocaust deniers, cryptozoologists, and numerous other groups we deal with, do not want a fair hearing. They want confirmation of their belief. Evidence and explanations are meaningless to them. Like unsinkable rubber ducks they just keep popping up no matter how thorough the investigation. At some point you just throw up your hands and say "enough is enough, let's move on to something else."
Speaking of Randi and my God book, Randi's big annual conference is coming up the August 6-9 weekend at the Embassy Suites, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Randi has lined up some terrific speakers including the renowned MIT Artificial Intelligence guru Marvin Minsky (his book, THE SOCIETY OF MINDS, is considered one of the founding documents of the field). And, of course, the inimitable amazing one himself will be imparting his wisdom to us on the theme of the conference, "MEDIA, MYTH, MAGIC."
Somehow I got on this lineup, so I thought instead of lecturing on my usual material from WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS, I would try out a chapter from WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN GOD, specifically a theory I've been working on for about six months on the evolution of religion. That is, I've integrated data and models on religion from anthropology, sociology, psychology, evolutionary biology, and the new field of evolutionary psychology, to reconstruct historically how and why religion arose, why it is still with us, and why it is not going to go away. I am having E. O. Wilson and Frank Sulloway read through this chapter to provide critical feedback, and I also want to try it out before an audience so I will be looking for critical feedback there as well (I'd rather get slammed now than in some public forum like the New York Times).
So, I hope you can make it and encourage you to contact the James Randi Educational Foundation ASAP to reserve a place at Randi's upcoming conference. It is going to be a lot of fun. The information is below.
MEDIA, MYTH, & MAGIC
The James Randi Educational Foundation's Conference On How the Media Percieves Unusual Claims
August 6-9, 1998
"The medium is the message." Marshall Macluen
"It is more from carelessness about truth, than from intentional lying, that there is so much falsehood in the world." Samuel Johnson
"Homer Simpson doesn't really work in a nuclear power plant. He's an actor on TV." Penn Jillette
MEDIA
Unusual claims and the media are no strangers to each other. For as long as people have been relaying information to one another they've been embellishing it with details that stretch credulity.
Myth
What happens when the media continues to perpetuate unproven claims? What are some of the new mythologies that are being formed today?
MAGIC
In a world of non-stop technological achievements, where does natural become supernatural? How can incredible claims be critically evaluated? What are the dangers of uncritically accepting these claims? What are the dangers of ignoring other claims?
Join us for an exciting discussion of how the media's perception of the paranormal is shaping our culture. Including a look at current and theoretical technologies which may have a dramatic impact on the future.
Michael Shermer, Ph.D.
Editor of SKEPTIC magazine, author of the best selling book Why People Believe Weird Things
Fred Pohl
Hugo and Nebula Award winning author
Jack Horkheimer
PBS television's STAR GAZER (formerly STAR HUSTLER) and director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium
Marvin Minksy
M.I.T. professor, artificial intelligence guru, futurist
James Randi
Paranormal investigator, author, and President of the JREF
Plus Special Guests!
When: August 6-9, 1998
What:
Thursday night reception: James Randi welcomes you
Friday discussion: The Media and the Paranormal
Saturday discussion: Defining the cutting edge
Saturday night: Banquet
Sunday morning: James Randi, putting it in perspective
Also, surprise guests, panel discussions, and assorted special events Conference registration is $199 per person
Where: Embassy Suites, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
For room reservations call 1-800-EMBASSY and ask for The James Randi conference rate. Hotel rooms are $89 (plus tax) and include: Spacious, two room suites including coffee-maker, microwave, refrigerator, and a queen-sized sofa sleeper. Complimentary full cooked-to-order American breakfast every morning. Complimentary cocktail reception every evening. Complimentary 24 hour airport transportation. Outdoor pool, tropical waterfall, steam room, sauna, and Jacuzzi Located within walking distance of several restaurants: (Outback Steakhouse, Wendy's, Bobby Rubino's, Etc.)
Call 1-888-USA-JREF to register
James Randi Educational Foundation
201 SE 12TH STREET (E. Davie Blvd.) FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316-1815
Phone: + 1 (954) 467-1112; Fax: + 1 (954) 467-1660; E-mail: RANDI@RANDI.ORG