Introduction
"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to
persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
--Carl Sagan
- Lecturers' background information
- Explanation of code names
- Survey of beliefs
- Need for a course debunking pseudoscience
- 28% of Americans surveyed believe in astrology; 18% aren't sure
- 60% believe in ESP
- 30% believe in visits by extraterrestrials
- 25-50% believe in ghosts, faith healing, communication with the dead,
and lucky numbers
Reference: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/c7/c7s5.htm
- Peter Duesberg, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley, denies that HIV causes AIDS.
Christine Maggiore, founder of Alive & Well AIDS Alternatives,
and HIV+ follower of Duesberg did not take antiretroviral drugs and breast fed her two children. Her
daughter, age 3, died of AIDS related pneumonia in May 2005. Pseudoscience kills.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Maggiore
- South African President Thabo Mbeki, follower of Duesberg, doubts the link between HIV
and AIDS. The country's health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang,
terms the FREE anti-retroviral drugs provided by the West "poisons"
and urges instead a natural remedy of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic,
ginger, beet root, and spinach. "While the AIDS epidemic sweeps
through Africa, the Vatican has decreed that the provision of condoms
in the area would be a sin." (Global Village Idiot by John O'Farrell)
President George W. Bush has an "abstinence first" policy that limits
the distribution of prophylactics which are proven to prevent the spread
of HIV. Pseudoscience kills.
- Chiropractic manipulation of the neck caused fatal strokes in
45-year-old Lana Dale Lewis in 1996, and 21-year-old Laurie Jean
Mathiason in 1998. Pseudoscience kills.
Reference: Skeptical Inquirer Vol. 28, No. 3, May/June 2004.
http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2006/12/must-see-dangers-of-chiropractic.html
- 10-year-old Candace Newmaker died while being smothered with pillows
and a flannel sheet during "attachment therapy" in 2001.
Pseudoscience kills.
Reference: http://healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Attachment-therapy/
- 5-yr old Abubakar Tariq Nadama died while receiving chelation therapy August 2005.
He was autistic. He was being treated for heavy metal (lead, mercury, etc.) poisoning.
Lead and mercury DO NOT CAUSE AUTISM. Pseudoscience kills.
Reference: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05237/559756.stm
- John Stoll from Bakersfield, California, served 20 years in prison for
sexually molesting children as part of Satanic ritual abuse before his
conviction was overturned. He and 45 others were the victims of a modern
witch hunt. Reference: http://skepdic.com/satanrit.html
- This country spends billions of your tax dollars removing asbestos
from schools and other public buildings. ENVIRONMENTAL
ASBESTOS DOES NOT CAUSE
LUNG CANCER and if the goal is to reduce the number of fibers in the
air, then it is far better to leave it in place than to
remove it.
- Course information and requirements
- Plagiarism warning
- Astrology information collected for an
individualized horoscope reading
- Explanation of code numbers
- Attendance Quiz #1
- See how the CFB3333 workload compares to other Cultural Formations classes.
Dean Dennis Cordell in the General Education Office says that the
minimum CF load is:
- 150 pages per week reading (over 2000 per semester),
- 20 pages writing + rewrites per semester
CF3324 An Archeology of Values - Foster, Gattens
2 5-page analysis papers, midterm, final, attendance, grooming.
10 required books.
CFA3336 Gender and Globalization - Lockwood
2 7-8-page papers, midterm, final, attendance.
4 books.
CFA3399 In Search of Ice Age Americans - Meltzer
15-20-page (minimum) research paper, midterm, final, attendance, tardiness.
2 books, 26 journal articles.
Notice that all of these classes include a midterm exam which we have
chosen not to give.