Skeptic: Extraordinary Claims, Revolutionary Ideas, and the Promotion of Science

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2006 January–June

January 5th: Einstein & the Church
William C. Waterhouse investigates a statement, attributed to Albert Einstein, ostensibly praising the Church.
January 9th: The Privileged Planet
Charles G. Lambdin reviews the film “The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe.”
January 19th: Spring 2006 Lecture Series
Michael Shermer announces a new season of lectures and conferences sponsored by the Skeptics Society.
January 23rd: Coast to Coast; annual conference; 9/11
Michael Shermer debates Dr. Gary Schwartz, Russell Targ, and Dean Radin; the Skeptics Society announces its 2006 annual conference; Richard Morrock reviews The New Pearl Harbor: Disturbing Questions about the Bush Administration and 9/11, by David Ray Griffin.
February 2nd: The Soul of Science; Darwin Day in NYC
We announce Michael Shermer’s new pocket-book The Soul of Science and Darwin Day events in New York City with Richard Milner.
February 9th: Keep Religion Out of the Science Classroom
The Skeptics Society launches its 2006 public relations campaign to stop religion from being taught in schools.
February 16th: Intelligent Design and SETI
Robert Camp explores the validity of William Dembski’s argument from analogy for Intelligent Design.
February 23rd: Daniel Dennett – Believing in Belief
Michael Shermer reviews Daniel C. Dennett’s book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.
March 2nd: Giving the Devil His Due
Michael Shermer asserts that David Irving’s three-year prison sentence for denying the Holocaust “is an assault on the civil liberties of us all.”
March 9th: Deities for Atheists — The Science Without a Subject
Michael Shermer reviews George Basalla’s book Civilized Life in the Universe: Scientists on Intelligent Extraterrestrials.
March 16th: “The Environmental Wars” 2006 conference
The Skeptics Society announces its 2006 Caltech conference called, “The Environmental Wars”.
March 24th: Science on a Sweatshirt
David Ludden reviews Moti Ben-Ari’s book Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science.
March 30th: The Skeptic Forum
Jim Dominic, Administrator of The Skeptics Society Forum shares with us his notes on running a skeptic discussion board.
April 5th: Prayer & Healng
Michael Shermer reports on the findings of a recent scientific study that tested the efficacy of intercessory prayer.
April 13th: Random Thoughts in Kentucky
Jeff Prewitt shares with us his report on the debate between William Dembski and Michael Shermer that took place on March 23rd at the Discovery Institute, University of Kentucky.
April 20th: A Skeptic’s Defense of Supernatural Television
Jason Colavito comes to the rescue of fiction with a skeptical defense of television shows that incorporate the supernatural.
April 27th: The Memory of Marilyn Monroe
Mark Bellinghaus critiques the Marilyn Monroe Exhibit (and briefly debunks the psychic James Van Praagh) that opened in Long Beach, California in November 2005.
May 3rd: “One of You Will Betray Me”
Tim Callahan reviews The Gospel of Judas, National Geographic Channel, Sunday, April 9, 2006; and The Gospel of Judas (National Geographic, 2006, ISBN 1426200420), by Bart Ehrman (Commentary), Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst (Eds).
May 12th: Scientology & SHAM
Michael Shermer presents a Rolling Stone article on Scientology that he calls “one of the most thoughtful, reasoned, and highly-readable pieces on the Church.” Also, Shermer explores the “Sham Scam,” based on Steve Salerno’s book SHAM: The Self-Help & Actualization Movement.
May 18th: Peak Oil & the Skeptical Environmentalist
Skeptic presents a link to a Reason magazine article by Ronald Bailey, called “Peak Oil Panic.” We also remind readers about a Skeptic magazine back issue in which Frank Miele debunks Bjørn Lomborg’s book, “The Skeptical Environmentalist.”
May 25th: Facilitated Communication; Flipping on Climate Change
Dr. Lawrence Norton reviews a recent Time magazine article that touted the virtues of Facilitated Communication, and Michael Shermer shares with us the evidence for anthropogenic global warming.
June 1st: Neuroscience & Morality
Kenneth W. Krause reviews Laurence R. Tancredi’s book, Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals About Morality.
June 12th: Post-Conference Report
As a follow-up to our annual conference, we link to a couple of independent blogs that have reported on and summarized the events of the weekend.
June 20th: What Galileo Wrought
John C. Snider reviews Galileo’s Children: Tales of Science vs. Superstition (edited by Gardner Dozois).
June 29th: The Last Animal on Earth
Michael Shermer reviews Lonesome George: The Life and Loves of a Conservation Icon by Henry Nicholls.