No matter the topic, I have learned to always read posts from Stephen Black. I am usually rewarded with at least a chuckle. Dr. Black, your students are blessed (hmm...holy water contamination?) Christian Hart, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology Department of Behavioral Studies Santa Monica College -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Black To: TIPS Sent: 10/13/00 9:34 PM Subject: Holy water! On Fri, 13 Oct 2000, David wrote: > > > > Lenington, S. (1979). Effect of holy water on the growth of > > radish plants. Psychological Reports, 45, 381-382 > > > > Stephen always makes _me_ do all the work! :) > > Abstract > The mean growth of 12 radish seeds in peat pots watered with > holy water was not significantly different from that of 12 > watered with tap water. Limitations on data are listed. (8 ref) > > One limitation seems obvious to me. Considering how many vessels of > water have been blessed since the inception of Christianity, it's > likely that all tap water contains traces of holy water, which would > impart grace homeopathically via the memory of holiness. Thus, > adequately unholy control water may not be obtainable from any > terrestrial source. > Hmm. The results certainly dampen (yes!) enthusiasm for further research into radish-holy water interactions. Perhaps low power is the problem, as John Kulig suggests, although I thought we were dealing with a Higher rather than a Lower Power. David has suggested a more imaginative explanation of this disappointing outcome. But is it testable? Fortunately, there is exciting recent news that liquid water may exist on Mars, presumably unadulterated by holy water. When we get there and collect some, we will remove the last hole in this research, and be able to wholly answer the holy water question. (must be stuff like this that drove McBurney away) -Stephen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470 Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661 Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Department web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy Check out TIPS listserv for teachers of psychology at: http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/southerly/tips/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
