In Case You Missed It...

by Bob Ladendorf

Recent news and sources of interest, with brief summaries and a rating of the content: 1 = Pro-skeptical; 2 = Leaning skeptical; 3 = Neutral, presenting sides equally; 4 = Leaning paranormal/pseudoscientific; 5 = Pro-paranormal.

• "Counter-attack (creation v evolution)." The Economist, Aug. 17, 1996, pp. 26-7 -- Brief overview of the current status of the creation/evolution debate in the schools. Selected quote: "Their [creation scientists] persistence worries Molleen Matsumura, a director of the National Center for Science Education. ‘This year saw creationist legislation introduced in five states,' she says. ‘None of it passed, but no doubt many teachers will avoid teaching evolution rather than cause trouble.' " Rating: 3
• "Ask Marilyn." Marilyn vos Savant, Parade, Sept. 15, 1996, p. 20 -- Answers a reader's question about the Ouija board by lambasting it. "The Ouija Board is just a lot of hooey, and it scares people for nothing." To prove it's nonsense, she suggests playing it blindfolded and having friends observe what happens. Rating: 1
• "Science Solves the Ancient Mysteries of the Bible." Mike Fillon. Popular Mechanics, December 1996, pp. 39-43. Presents scientific explanations for: a possible new location for Noah's Ark; Lot's wife as a pillar of salt -- literally; the parting of the Red Sea as a natural phenomenon due to a wind shift in a "reed sea"; the Star of Bethelem as a nova star or planetary conjunctions; the Burning Bush (aka God) seen by Moses as a bush ignited by lightning in a natural gas leak; the Shroud of Turin as a hoax; and several others. Except for the Shroud of Turin, the the Lutheran author leans towards the scientific explanations for the "miracles." Illustrated. Rating: 2
• "False ‘recovered memory' defamation suit is settled." AP. State Journal-Register, Nov. 16, 1996, p. 8. News report about the Rutherfords' settling of a $1 million lawsuit against a Missouri Assemby of God church and its counselor, Donna Strand, and her husband, Pastor Robert Strand, for instilling false memories of abuse of their daughter Beth. Selected quote: "Under the counselor's guidance, she [Beth] recalled how her minister father repeatedly raped her, got her pregnant, then performed a painful coat-hanger abortion. In truth, Beth was still a virgin, and her father had had a vasectomy many years before." The Rutherfords plan to use the money by touring the country to warn others about the dangers of recovered memory therapy. Rating: 2