Editorial

This issue contains three varied articles on medicine, all by members. They are meant to be provocative and I hope that members will respond. Member Jim Woolnough of Auckland kindly sent me the October issue of "The N.Z. Psychic Gazette". At only 80c an issue it is value packed and I urge all members to buy one copy. This issue is worth the money for the front page poem about one's best friend, the dog (I'm clumsy and sweet and get under your feet, etc). There are articles on numerology, the psychic aura of animals and photographing ghosts. There are also the advertisements for psychic counselling, postal psychometry, Karma destiny, holistic spiritual massage, for pendulums and reflexology balls (no jokes now, please).

However, the reason that this publication was sent to me was an article by John Milne reprinted from the Evening Post Weekend magazine of August 23. The article is supposed to be debunking the skeptics but turns out to be a collection of unsupported trivia. There is an offer of $392,000 to any skeptic who can prove that he or she does NOT have psychic abilities. (The writer does not say what he will accept as proof so don't be too quick to bank the money). There is continual pride in not being logical and praise for intuition which the writer says requires a mixture of 'relaxation and indifference'. This phrase is picked out by Ron Gibbs, editor of the Psychic Gazette, as 'one of the best descriptions of the state of mind needed when developing many phases of mental mediumship'. Now it is easy " to make fun of these people but my main reaction is one of infinite sadness. My reason for mentioning it is to remind readers of what we are up against. The Gazette contains 24 pages, in three columns, it is published every month so is a much bigger operation than the Skeptic (it is, however, too small to involve GST). The Gazette has advert-isements for some 30 spiritualist churches and I guess that each one has a bigger membership than CSICOP in this country. My local library contains all the writings of Doris Stokes, despite all my entreaties to the librarian.

Everywhere, unreason reigns. Which leads naturally enough to my usual plea for material. 1 would like to have an issue on 'why people believe?' or alternatively, 'Why does every university bookshop in this country have an extensive section on the occult?' or 'What is the subject matter of the biggest non-fiction section at The Corner Bookshop and why?'. I myself am going to England via the United States soon and I hope to visit skeptics there and bring back goodies for this publication. May I wish you all a very joyful Christmas and thank you all for the encouragement and friendliness you have given me since I became editor. Best Wishes to you all.

Keith Lockett, 72 Awanui St, New Plymouth.