Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

Episode Notes for
Darwin vs. the Wolfman

Brian Regal

In this episode

• The ties between silver and werewolves appears to derive from the 1941 Universal film The Wolfman.
• Before the 1941 film most werewolf legends involved people becoming wolves by ritual.
• America has legends of wolfmen in Wisconsin, described in the book The Beast of Bray Road by Linda Godfrey.
• While many sightings have been reported, there is no scientific evidence of a wolfman living in Wisconsin.
• Most of the lore of werewolves (and vampires) in pop-culture derive from movies — especially The Wolfman.
• Ancient legends of werewolves involved magical rituals, Satan, and cannibalism.
• Darwin’s theory does not allow for humans and wolves to produce hybrids.
• The rise of science and materialism demystified werewolves, but did nothing to diminish belief in the supernatural overall.
• Brian shares a story about his experience with creationists who want to leverage cryptozoology to promote their beliefs.
• He also tells us a bit about his new book Pesudoscience: A Critical Encyclopedia

For more information on pseudoscience topics covered in this episode:
http://whatstheharm.net/colloidalsilver.html
http://whatstheharm.net/reparativetherapy.html