The View from Number 80

Goodbye Chuck

80 was saddened to hear recently of the death of one of the movie industry's greats, Chuck Jones. Animation director and creator of, amongst others, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and a particular favorite, Wile E Coyote, died at home aged 89. A winner of 3 Oscars for his Looney Tunes work and an honorary Oscar for a lifetime's achievement in animation this talented man offered a harder edge to cartoon humor compared with the saccharine Disney output. His now hard to find autobiography, Chuck Amuck, is well worth seeking out. Thanks, Chuck, for the priceless gift of many hours of laughter.

Gong Show

It is not often that 80 is in even slight agreement with the hard old men that unfortunately still run The People's Republic of China but with regard to the cult known as Falun Gong or Falung Dafa there is a small measure of accord. Falun Gong receives fairly kindly press in the West and little scrutiny. This would appear to be in reaction to the Chinese government's repression according to the "my enemy's enemy is my brother" school of thought. Whilst 80 in no way condones the heavyhanded crackdown in China it is well worth asking would any sane person want such a "brother" as Falun Gong and more particularly its founder, Li Hongzhi?

Trumpeting Buddha

A little background is necessary here - for starters what is Falun Gong? FG seems to be a ragbag of beliefs and ideas culled from various philosophies and religions such as Taoism and Buddhism with a large measure of the frankly crackpot ideas of Li Hongzhi, former trumpet-player and a "Living Buddha" to his followers. Li himself no longer lives in China having wisely relocated to the spiritual haven of New York with his wife and daughter. Here he publishes books plugging his beliefs and ideas which are also very actively promoted on the internet.

Invisible Wall Walker

At the heart of FG is the very old Chinese idea of qi gong, which according to the ever reliable Skeptic's Dictionary is the practice of "energy cultivation". (see also this page from Quackwatch) 80 assumes that along with other types of energy popular in both ancient ideas and the New Age revivals it is undetectable to the everyday and tedious workings of physical science. For what 80 feels is an overly kindly look at FG see ReligiousTolerance.org which manages to mention only the philosophical and religious aspects avoiding the more outlandish claims of its founder. Li has taken facets of traditional beliefs and added in some cases a modern twist. According to the Chinese authorities he has changed his recorded date of birth to match that of the founder of Buddhism - something he denies. What he does like to imply, in an interview with Time magazine and elsewhere, is that he is from a "higher level" and has come to rescue the human race from evil. Amongst the powers he is claimed to possess are invisibility and the ability to walk through walls. Both achievements are likely to have been useful in avoiding the Chinese authorities. The unworthy thought occurs that if in fact he can do these things why is he not helping his followers back home like the qi type superman that he claims to be?

Hokum Energy

One serious accusation aimed at Li's teachings by the Beijing bosses and others is his approach to illness and medicine. Illness and disease are caused by a "black energy" (if ever a word was misused it is energy) He claims that he does not tell people to eschew the use of medicine yet then goes on to talk of the thousands that he has healed personally - many of them terminally ill. According to Beijing many people have died forsaking regular medical treatment for the dubious benefits of Falun Gong. Whilst 80 does not take such statements as necessarily accurate it fits together with Li's world view. This is a world of magical powers, (energies) that with the proper meditative techniques and practices can be manipulated to combat disease and evil. In other words pretty much the same old hokum that has been peddled again and again throughout history - surely if it worked, once would be enough. (A modern touch has been added by Li's claim that aliens are with us on Earth - but even this is far from original as regular readers will know.) For those interested in further information about Falun Gong and Li these websites can oblige. (Also of note is the National Qi Gong College, UK - here is a quote from their pages "If you have a serious health problem and need a miracle, click here to arrange an appointment." Whilst not related, as far as 80 knows, to Falun Gong this is a fine example of irresponsibility in pursuit of money - a consultation will set you back $150 or £85. Nowhere on the page does it recommend consulting a genuine medical practitioner - this is not just irresponsible but also despicable.)

Sunken Claims

In the previous issue, Don't Mention Atlantis, a look was taken at the cult archaeology of Graham Hancock and his belief, backed up by no credible evidence, that a lost civilization, far older than any known, was responsible for many ancient sites' supposed astronomical alignments, revolving around a significant date. He has now been given the opportunity by Channel 4 television in the UK to promote his latest musings in a glossy documentary series currently being aired. It is now generally acknowledged that the rise in sea level at the end of the last ice age slowly inundated many areas of human occupation, and also this event may lie behind many of the flood myths from around the globe. There are many documented cases of drowned neolithic sites on continental shelves about which there is no dispute. The title of Hancock's new series, Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age, shows his take on things immediately - he looks for and tries hard to convince you that he has found the remains of drowned cities, proof of his ancient civilization ( a much more telegenic moneyspinner than say, neolithic villages).

All At Sea

To be charitable perhaps Hancock does not appreciate that the ancient city-dwellers who first set down flood myths quite understandably projected their own civilization into the distant past instead of reflecting the neolithic reality. Some recent stories that have appeared in the press would seem to support Hancock's ideas, most particularly the supposed remains of an ancient city found in the Gulf of Cambay on India's west coast. This was heavily reported by the BBC amongst others giving prominence to the claims of the discovering scientists. It is only later in more considered reports in the Times of India that it is made clear the "discoverers" are not archaeologists but marine scientists working for the National Institute of Ocean Technology and that the excited announcements emanated from an Indian government minister who is known for Hindu fundamentalist beliefs. When marine archaeologists have a chance to look at the site perhaps all will be made clear but it is obvious that there is little evidence to examine as yet. Hancock's take on this is fairly predictable "It means that the whole model of the origins of civilisation with which archaeologists have been working will have to be remade from scratch." The phrase "jumping the gun" is one that springs to mind. For a detailed and informed look at "Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age" 80 recommends a trip to In the Hall of Maat and a look at the links at Doug's Archaeology site.

Unintelligent Design

One of the latest ploys of the creationist lobby, those folk who either can't quite manage to get their heads around the idea of evolution or find it threatening to their vision of god, is so-called Intelligent Design. This claims that evolutionary theory cannot explain all the features of life on earth (it doesn't actually claim to do so) and that because of the inherent complexity of living organisms some kind of "designer" is called for. It is obvious when examining Intelligent Design who its proponents have in mind as designer - the christian god. In order to sneak past the separation of religion and education in hopes of gathering wider support the current ID lobbyists avoid any mention of god like the plague preferring to claim they don't know who the designer might be but are sure there certainly is one. This led recently to an interview with a lawyer on BBC's Radio 4 who is pushing for adoption of intelligent design in his home state's (Ohio) school curriculum on an equal basis with evolution or alternatively the removal of evolution completely. When pressed as to who the designer might be the lawyer (what a lawyer is doing here I am not sure - must be a lack of scientists boneheaded enough) evaded the god word and babbled on about the seti@home project and aliens. This of course begs the question is god an ET?

Judo Tactics

On a related note are a couple of sites that are well worth perusal. Debunking Creation Science with Creation Science by Lucas Bachmann has an interesting take on the evolution/creation debate. The aim is clearly stated at the top of the page "This web site debunks popular creationist arguments for recent creation by linking to creationist articles that contradict or retract the argument." Bachmann has realized "creation science" is so full of self-contradictory twaddle that it can, with a little help, shoot itself in the foot - an idea 80 applauds. Maybe Bachmann is a little too optimistic assuming the creationists are going to recognize bunkum when they see it - this is from the introduction....."To my creationist readers - It is my hope that by providing these examples of creationist authorities contradicting each other, and finally admitting to their falsehoods that at a minimum you will no longer believe these falsehoods, and perhaps question the integrity of these institutions." Bachmann addresses evolutionist readers thus "Discussing creation versus evolution with a creationist is difficult and frustrating. Part of the problem is that any facts you present come from what a creationist would consider evolutionist propaganda. Thus, they will not accept the authority of any of your sources, especially when there is a creationist source that says something different. This web site links to creationist articles that allows you to use the authority a creationist gives creation scientists to your advantage." An admirable aim - an intellectual judo maneuver - which falters somewhat if the foe has no intellect.

No Answers from Duane

The second site on the creation/evolution theme tends to give the game away immediately being entitled No Answers in Genesis! The idea here is "Creationism is not the alternative to Evolution - ignorance is." - an idea with which 80 wholeheartedly agrees. The page is a list of links on Wallace, Darwin, Science/creation debate and most enjoyably Creationist Frauds. Follow a link offsite from here to a good essay by Joyce Arthur on the creationist par excellence Duane Gish and the deception and lies he uses to further his agenda. Add to this "several examples of creationist deception, creationist howlers and teaching evolution" and you have a page that 80 will be returning to often - one worth bookmarking.

Reading the Intelligent Design lobby's output and that of other creationists reminds 80 of the God of the Gaps argument. Baldly stated God was once a universal explanation for natural phenomena until science began to explain more and more relegating the powers of god to just the gaps in our knowledge. There is just enough ignorance around to keep the god of the gaps in existence - but daily his domain is shrinking. By the way here is sobering proof that you can have a degree and career in science and still believe in primitive fairy tales.

Promising Men

In the interest of some kind of balance (only kidding) do go and take a look at Promise Keepers. 80 has seen some odd christian pages over the years but this one is something special. This is the butch face of modern christianity - the premise is we are all sinful but by adhering to a strong, manly faith we can prevail. This stuff is so strange it is hard to know where to start - oh right, Adam and Eve. "Adam the father of the human race made a terrible choice. We his sons live in the aftermath of his failure. It started with an act of disobedience. He willingly joined his wife in doubting their Father's word and ignoring his instructions." So Adam's mistake was in going along with his wife - women are to blame for estrangement from god - right. What can we add to misogyny - pseudoscience babble? "We have inherited a diseased spiritual DNA. It's no wonder we find failure and sin in our lives today." Speak for yourselves boys. Best of all is an example we can all relate to - the Lone Ranger (seriously) "Regular interaction with the Bible and being held accountable by a friend will result in measurable steps toward spiritual maturity. Even the Lone Ranger had a friend." God as Tonto? I think I prefer ET.

To get the holier-than-thou taste out of your mouth take a look at this

Quotes

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle

"There are some not very bright and/or badly educated people who complain that scientific research destroys the wonder and magic of nature. ......surely it is better to know the truth than to dabble in delusions." Arthur C Clarke

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper." Robert Frost