Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis

Sagan continues his assault on the irrational with the historical note that fundamentalist Christians and Jews reject claims by faith healers, UFO apostles, witches, fire breathers and all kinds of supernatural entities. This is due to admonition in Deuteronomy against consulting with wizards and diviners (fortune tellers). The only way to test and therefore accept a proposition is by examining the evidence to support it. Sagan tells of several outright frauds perpetrated on an unwary public and indolent media.

In one brazen example, a 19-year-old named Jose Luis Alvarez claimed to be able to channel the spirit of Carlos, "an ancient soul" who entered his body after a motorcycle accident. Alvarez/Carlos became a New Age icon, made numerous public appearances where the wisdom of the ancients was purveyed. During an appearance on Australian television, Carlos put a curse on the...