The Science of Miracles

by Joe Nickell

  Nickell, Joe. 1997. “The Two: A Fantasy-Assessment Biography.” Skeptical Inquirer 21, no. 4 (July/August): 18–19.

  Persuitte, David. 2000. Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon. 2nd ed. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

  Taves, Ernest. 1984. Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  Wilson, Sheryl C., and T. X. Barber. 1983. “The Fantasy-Prone Personality: Implications for Understanding Imagery, Hypnosis, and Parapsychological Phenomena.” In Imagery: Current Theory, Research and Application, edited by Anees A. Sheikh. New York: Wiley, pp. 340–90.

  Chapter 41. Visits from the Beyond

  Alvarez, Luis W. 1965. “A Pseudo Experience in Parapsychology.” Letter in Science 148:1541.

  Baker, Robert A. 1990. They Call It Hypnosis. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 179–82.

  Barrett, Sir William. 1926. Death-Bed Visions: The Psychical Experiences of the Dying. Reprinted Wellingborough, UK: Aquarian Press, 1986.

  Blackmore, Susan. 1991a. “Lucid Dreaming: Awake in Your Sleep?” Skeptical Inquirer 15, no. 4 (Summer): 362–70.

  ———. 1991b. “Near-Death Experiences: In or Out of the Body?” Skeptical Inquirer 16, no. 1 (Fall): 34–45.

  Falk, Ruma. 1981–1982. “On Coincidences.” Skeptical Inquirer 6, no. 2 (Winter): 24–25.

  Finucane, R. C. 1984. Appearances of the Dead: A Cultural History of Ghosts. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, p. 195.

  Hansel, C. E. M. 1966. ESP: A Scientific Evaluation. New York: Scribner's, pp. 186–89.

  Jahoda, Gustav. 1970. The Psychology of Superstition. Baltimore: Penguin, p. 118.

  Jung, C.G. 1960. “Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle.” In The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, edited by Sir Herbert Read et al. Bollingen Series, no. 20. New York: Pantheon, pp. 418–519.

  Kübler-Ross, Elizabeth. 1973. On Death and Dying. London: Tavistock.

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 34–41.

  ———. 1996. “Investigative Files: Ghostly Photos.” Skeptical Inquirer 20, no. 4 (July/August): 13–14.

  ———. 2001a. Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

  ———. 2001b. “John Edward: Hustling the Bereaved.” Skeptical Inquirer 25, no. 6 (November/December): 19–22.

  Randles, Jenny, and Peter Hough. 1993. The Afterlife: An Investigation into Life after Death. London: BCA; reprinted 1995.

  Sagan, Carl. 1996. The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. New York: Random House.

  Skretny, Judith. 2001. Quoted in Voell 2001.

  Steiger, Brad. 2000. Promotional blurb in Wills-Brandon 2000.

  Theisen, Donna, and Dary Matera. 2001. Childlight: How Children Reach Out to Their Parents from the Beyond. Far Hills, NJ: New Horizon Press.

  Voell, Paula. 2001. “Visitations.” Buffalo News, May 27.

  Wills-Brandon, Carla. 2000. One Last Hug before I Go. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.

  Wilson, Ian. 1987. The After Death Experience: The Physics of the Non-Physical. New York: William Morrow.

  Wortman, Camille B., and Elizabeth F. Loftus. 1981. Psychology. New York: Knopf, p. 380.

  Chapter 42. Miracles—or Parables?

  Asimov, Isaac. 1968. Asimov's Guide to the Bible. Vol. 2, The New Testament. New York: Avon.

  Connick, C. Milo. 1974. Jesus: The Man, the Mission, and the Message. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

  Craveri, Marcello. 1970. The Life of Jesus. New York: Grove Press.

  Dummelow, Rev. J. R., ed. 1951. A Commentary on the Holy Bible. New York: Macmillan.

  Enslin, Morton Scott. 1968. The Prophet from Nazareth. New York: Shocken Books.

  Chapter 43. Miracle Worker of Amsterdam

  Conte, Ronald L. 2006. “Claims of Private Revelation: True or False?” Catholic Planet. http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false01.htm (accessed June 22, 2007).

  Daily Miracle: The Eucharistic Experiences, a Summary. 2003. Amsterdam: Lady of All Nations Foundation.

  El-Fers, Mohammad. 2002. “The Seeress of Mary in Amsterdam.” Groene Amsterdammer, June 29.

  Messages of the Lady of All Nations. 1999. Amsterdam: Lady of All Nations Foundation.

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 1995. Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 2001. “Exorcism: Driving Out the Nonsense.” Skeptical Inquirer 25, no. 1 (January/February): 20–24.

  Punt, Jozef Marianus. 2002. Statement as Bishop of Haarlem, May 31. In Sigl 2005, pp. 4–5.

  Sigl, Fr. Paul Maria. 2005. Ida Peerdeman. Civitella del Tronto, Italy: Family of Mary.

  Stravinskas, Peter M. J. 2002. Catholic Dictionary. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor.

  Van der Ven, Pieter. 2002. “Van half-gek tot Zalig Is maar een kleine stap” (“From Half-Mad to Beatified Is Just a Small Step”). Trouw, June 20.

  Chapter 44. Mysteries of Popular Saints

  Bernhardson, Wayne. 2004. Moon Handbooks Argentina. Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel.

  “Evita Biography.” 2005. Available online at http://papercamp.com/biog21.shtml (accessed September 9, 2005).

  Fouché, Gwladys. 2002. “Eva Peron.” Guardian, July 26.

  McInnis, Judy B. 2001. Review of Marta Raquel Zabaleta's Feminine Stereotypes and Roles in Theory and Practice in Argentina before and after the First Lady Eva Perón (2002). Delaware Review of Latin American Studies 2, no. 2 (July 15). Available online at http://www.udel.edu/LAS/Vol2-2McInnis-ZabaletaRev.html (accessed November 7, 2005).

  Morrison, Eddy. 2005. “The Colourful Career of Eva Peron.” Spearhead. http://www.spearhead.com/0412-em.html (accessed November 7, 2005).

  Mosca, Alexandria Kathryn. 2005. “The Enduring Legacy of Eva Peron.” Available online at http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=toolbarinstant&hl=en&ion=1&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS435US435#hl=en&tbo=d&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS435US435&output=search&sclient=psyab&q=The%20Enduring%20Legacy%20of%20Eva%20Peron&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=5a810d94e64ac590&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42553238,d.aWM&biw=1093&bih=445 (accessed September 9, 2005).

  Nickell, Joe. 2002. “”Miraculous’ Image of Guadalupe Painted.” Skeptical Inquirer 26, no. 5 (September/October): 13.

  “Which Coffin Holds the World's Most Beautiful Corpse?” 1978. In Out of This World, edited by Perrott Phillips. Paulton, UK: Phoebus, pp. 115–20.

  Chapter 45. Tijuana's Murderer “Saint”

  “Juan Soldado.” 2009. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Soldado (accessed May 25, 2009).

  Maher, Patrick. 1997. “After They Shot Juan.” San Diego Reader, December 4. (Refurbished January 30, 2008. Available online at http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2008/jan/30/after-they-shot-juan/ [accessed May 25, 2009].)

  Nickell, Joe. 2004. “Mythical Mexico.” Skeptical Inquirer 28, no. 4 (July/August): 11–15.

  ———. 2006. “Argentina Mysteries.” Skeptical Inquirer 30, no. 2 (March/April): 19–22.

  Schreck, Alan. 1984. Catholic and Christian. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Books.

  Thompson. Stith. 1955. Motif-Index of Folk Literature. Rev. ed. Vol. 2 of 6 vols. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

  Vanderwood, Paul. 2004. Juan Soldado: Rapist, Murderer, Martyr, Saint. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

  Chapter 46. Stigmata: Wounds of Christ

  Barbet, Pierre. 1950. A Doctor at Calvary. Fr. ed.; Eng. trans. Garden City, NY: Image Books, 1963, pp. 103–20.

  Biot, René. 1962. The Enigma of the Stigmata. New York: Hawthorn Books.

  Coulson, John, ed. 1958. The Saints: A Concise Biographical Dictionary. New York: Hawthorn Books, pp. 187–88.

  “Francis of Assisi, St.” 1960. Encyclopedia Britannica.


  Harrison, Ted. 1994. Stigmata: A Medieval Phenomenon in a Modern Age. New York: St. Martin's Press.

  Jones, Alison. 1994. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Saints. Ware, UK: Wordsworth Editions, pp. 116–18.

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 1998. Inquest on the Shroud of Turin. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 61–63.

  ———. 1999. “Thumbs Down on Fox's ‘Signs from God.’” Skeptical Inquirer 23, no. 6 (November/December): 61.

  Radford, Ben. 1999. Film review of Stigmata. Corrales Comment, September 25.

  Randi, James. 1999. Randi's Archive, James Randi Educational Foundation, July 30.

  Rogo, D. Scott. 1982. Miracles: A Parascientific Inquiry into Wondrous Phenomena. New York: Dial Press.

  Thurston, Herbert. 1952. The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism. Chicago: H. Regnery.

  Schnabel, Jim. 1993. “The Münch Bunch.” Fortean Times 70 (August/September): 23–29.

  Willesee, Michael (executive producer). 1999. Signs from God, Fox, July 28.

  Wilson, Ian. 1979. The Shroud of Turin. Rev. ed. Garden City, NY: Image Books.

  ———. 1988. The Bleeding Mind: An Investigation into the Mysterious Phenomenon of Stigmata. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

  Chapter 47. The Case of Padre Pío

  Cruz, Joan Carroll. 1977. The Incorruptibles. Rockford, IL: Tan.

  “Crying Statue Not a Miracle.” 2002. Available online at http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_542662.html (accessed March 12, 2002).

  Grossman, Cathy Lynn. 2002. “John Paul II Is History's Champion Saintmaker.” USA Today, October 3.

  McCaffery, John. 1978. Tales of Padre Pío: The Friar of San Giovanni. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel.

  Moore, Malcolm. 2007. “Italy's Padre Pío ‘Faked His Own Stigmata with Acid.’” Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1567216/Italys-Padre-Pío-faked-his-stigmata-with-acid.html (accessed October 24, 2007).

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 2001. Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

  “Padre Pío da Pietrelcina.” 2008. Vatican News Services. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-Pío_en.html (accessed April 28, 2008).

  “Pío of Pietrelcina.” 2008. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pío_of_Pietrelcina (accessed April 28, 2008).

  Rogo, D. Scott. 1982. Miracles: A Parascientific Inquiry into Wondrous Phenomena. New York: Dial Press.

  Ruffin, C. Bernard. 1982. Padre Pío: The True Story. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor.

  Thurston, Herbert. 1952. The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism. Chicago: H. Regnery.

  Wilkinson, Tracy. 2008. “Padre Pío's Body Attracts Thousands.” Buffalo News, April 25.

  Wilson, Ian. 1988. The Bleeding Mind: An Investigation into the Mysterious Phenomenon of Stigmata. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

  Chapter 48. Stigmata of a Convert

  Bernas, Lilian. 1999. This Is the Home of the Father—This Is Your Home—This Is Heaven: A Glimpse. Poole, UK: privately printed.

  ———. 2002a. Talk at Resurrection Church, Cheektowaga, NY, February 17.

  ———. 2002b. Remarks to audience at Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, March 1. (Transcript by Jenny Everett of Popular Science.)

  Christopher, Kevin. 2003. Letter to editor, Buffalo News, July 7.

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 2000. “Stigmata: In Imitation of Christ.” Skeptical Inquirer 24, no. 1 (July/August): 24–28.

  Thurston, Herbert. 1952. The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism. Chicago: H. Regnery.

  Tokasz, Jay. 2003. “In Apparent Stigmata, a Question of Belief.” Buffalo News, June 15.

  Wake, Ben. 2001. “The Crucifixion of Lilian Bernas.” Citizen's Weekly (magazine of the Ottawa Citizen), July 8, pp. C7–C9.

  Wilson, Ian. 1988. The Bleeding Mind: An Investigation into the Mysterious Phenomenon of Stigmata. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

  Zeis, John. 2003. Letter to editor, Buffalo News, June 27.

  Chapter 49. Taking Up Serpents

  Budge, E. A. Wallis. 1901. Books on Egypt and Chaldea. Vol. 2, Egyptian Magic. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner.

  Encyclopedia Britannica. 1960. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica, s.v. “Asp.”

  FitzGerald, William G. 1897. “The Fabulous Creation.” Strand (London). Reprinted in James Taylor's Shocked and Amazed!—On and Off the Midway by James Taylor and Kathleen Kotcher. Guilford, CN: Lyons Press, 2002, pp. 90–113.

  Gardner, Dick. 1962. The Impossible. New York: Ballantine Books.

  Gibson, Walter. 1967. Secrets of Magic: Ancient and Modern. New York: Grosset & Dunlap.

  Gresham, William Lindsay. 1953. Monster Midway. New York: Rinehart.

  Larue, Gerald A. 1990. The Supernatural, the Occult, and the Bible. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  Mattison, Chris. 1991. A–Z of Snake Keeping. New York: Sterling.

  Nickell, Joe. 1998. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 2005. Secrets of the Sideshows. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

  Parsons, Alexandra. 1990. Amazing Snakes. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

  Premanand, B. 1994. Science versus Miracles. Delhi, India: Indian CSICOP.

  Siegel, Lee. 1991. Net of Magic: Wonders and Deceptions in India. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  Smith, Hobart M., and Edmund D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. A Guide to Field Identification: Reptiles of North America. New York: Golden Press.

  Yardley, Jim. 1992. “Mark of the Serpent, and Poison and Pulpit.” Atlanta Constitution, February 9.

  Chapter 50. Additional Pentecostal Powers

  Baker, Robert A. 1992. Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions from Within. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  Ditmars, Raymond L. 1959. Reptiles of the World. New York: Macmillan.

  Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 2005. Secrets of the Sideshows. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

  Samarin, William J. 1972. Tongues of Men and Angels: The Religious Language of Pentecostalism. New York: Macmillan.

  “Speaking in Tongues ‘Linguistic Nonsense,’ Says U of T Professor.” 1972. Toronto Star, August 26.

  Chapter 51. Loretto Staircase:

  St. Joseph's Miracle Carpentry?

  Albach, Carl R. 1965. “Loretto Chapel Museum Staircase Wood Analysis: Miracle or a Wonder of Construction?” from Consulting Engineer. Photocopy in author's files.

  Bobbin, Jay. 1998. “The Staircase.” Review in Buffalo News, April 12.

  Bullock, Alice. 1978. Loretto and the Miraculous Staircase. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press.

  Dietz, Albert G. H. 1991. Dwelling House Construction. 5th ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

  Easley, Forrest N. 1997. A Stairway from Heaven? Privately printed.

  “Interior Decoration.” 1960. Encyclopaedia Britannica.

  Knight, Christopher. 1997. “Just What Kind of Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck?” Wall Street Journal, October 22, p. B1.

  Locke, Jim. 1992. The Well-Built House. Rev. ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

  Loretto Chapel. N. d. Text of display card, photographed by author, 1993.

  “Spruce.” 1960. Encyclopaedia Britannica.

  “Stair.” 1960. Encyclopaedia Britannica.

  Stieber, Tamar. 2000. “Loretto Staircase Mystery Unravels.” New Mexico (January): 62–66.

  Chapter 52. Exorcising Demons

  Adamson, A
pril. 2000. “Ancient Rite Generates Modern-Day Skepticism.” Philadelphia Daily News, October 3.

  Allen, Thomas B. 2000. Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com.

  Baker, Robert A. 1992. Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions from Within. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  Beyerstein, Barry L. 1988. “Neuropathology and the Legacy of Spiritual Possession.” Skeptical Inquirer 12, no. 3 (Spring): 248–62.

  Bishop, Raymond J. 1949. Typescript diary of an exorcism, April 25; reprinted in Allen 2000, 245–91.

  Christopher, Milbourne. 1970. ESP, Seers & Psychics. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.

  “Exorcism.” 1991. 20/20, ABC. April 5.

  McBrien, Richard. 1991. Interview on Nightline, ABC, April 5.

  Nickell, Joe. 1995. Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 79–82, 119–20.

  ———. 1998. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

  ———. 1999. “The Davenport Brothers.” Skeptical Inquirer 23, no. 4 (July/August): 14–17.

  Opsasnik, Mark. 2000. “The Haunted Boy.” Strange Magazine 20 (serialized on strangemag.com, http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html [accessed February 15, 2013]).

  Saulny, Susan. 1999. “Historian Exorcises Mount Rainier's Past.” Washington Post, March 24.

  “Vatican Updates Its Rules on Exorcism of Demons.” 1999. Arizona Daily Star, January 27.

  Chapter 53. Horror at Amityville

  Anson, Jay. 1977. The Amityville Horror: A True Story. New York: Bantam Books.

  Kaplan, Stephen, and Roxanne Salch Kaplan. 1995. The Amityville Horror Conspiracy. Lacyville, PA: Belfrey Books.

  Moran, Rick, and Peter Jordan. 1978. “The Amityville Horror Hoax.” Fate (May): 44–46.

  Nickell, Joe. 1995. Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 122–29. (Background for the present article has been abridged from this source.)

  Osuna, Ric. 2002. The Night the DeFeos Died: Reinvestigating the Amityville Murders. N.p.: Xlibris.

  Chapter 54. Demon Victims I Have Known

  Curran, Robert, with Jack Smurl, Janet Smurl. Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren. 1988. The Haunted: One Family's Nightmare. New York: St. Martin's.