by Joe Nickell
Chapter 49. Taking Up Serpents
1. Portions of this article were adapted from the author's Looking for a Miracle (1998) and Secrets of the Sideshows (2005).
Chapter 57. Fire from Heaven—or Hell?
1. Larry Arnold (1995, 338) considers the deaths of Aaron's sons to have been “a double SHC.”
Introduction. Toward a Science of Miracles
Hume, David. 1777. “Of Miracles,” included in the posthumous edition of Enquiries Concerning the Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals. 2nd ed. Reprinted London: Oxford University Press, 1902, pp. 109–31.
Lewis, C. S. 1947. Miracles: A Preliminary Study. Reprinted New York: Macmillan, 1988.
McGlynn, Hilary, ed. dir. 1997. Webster's New Universal Encyclopedia. New York: Barnes & Noble.
Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
Chapter 1. Miracle Idols
Gibson, Walter. 1967. Secrets of Magic: Ancient and Modern. New York: Grosset & Dunlap.
Hero of Alexandria. N.d. The Pneumatics; reprinted as The Pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria, facsimile of 1851 Woodcraft ed., introduced by Marie Boas Hall. New York: American Elsevier, 1971.
Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
Stavroudis, Orestes N. 1979. Letter to author from the Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, October 24.
Chapter 2. Miracle Statue of Belgium
Mullen, Peter. 1998. Shrines of Our Lady. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
———. 2004. The Mystery Chronicles: More Real-Life X-Files. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
Scherpenheuvel: Famous Shrine of Our Lady. N.d. Pilgrimage information sheet in English, provided at the basilica.
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. N.d. Large, color folder with text in four languages. Brabant, Belgium: Hageland.
Smith, Jody Brant. 1983. The Image of Guadalupe. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Chapter 3. The Idol of Pachacamac
Pachakamaq: Cíudad sagrada. N. d. An archaeological guide sold on site.
Rachleff, Owen S. 1971. The Occult Conceit: A New Look at Astrology, Witchcraft, and Sorcery. Chicago: Cowles.
Wehner, Ross, and Renée Del Gaudio. 2004. Moon Handbooks Peru. Emeryville, CA: Avalon.
Chapter 4. The Holy Image of Guadalupe
Brading, D. A. 2001. Mexican Phoenix: Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Callahan, Philip Serna. 1981. The Tilma under Infrared Radiation. Washington, DC: Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.
“El Vaticano.” 2002. Proceso (May 19): 29–30.
Nickell, Joe. 1997. “Image of Guadalupe: Myth-Perception.” Skeptical Inquirer 21, no. 1 (January/February): 9.
Nickell, Joe, and John F. Fischer. 1985. “The Image of Guadalupe: A Folkloristic and Iconographic Investigation.” Skeptical Inquirer 9, no. 3 (Spring): 243–55.
Smith, Jody Brant. 1983. The Image of Guadalupe. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
Chapter 5. The Painting That Performs a Miracle
Casper, Robert F. 2004. Telephone interview by Joe Nickell, August 25.
Chavez, Lorenzo. 2002. “Taos Mystery Painting Puzzles Scientists, Tourists.” August 14. http://www.archden.org/dcr/archive/20020814/2002081415wn.htm (accessed August 10, 2004).
Colombo, John Robert. 1996. Letter (with enclosures) to Joe Nickell, July 2.
———. 1999. Mysteries of Ontario. Toronto: Hounslow Press.
Crystal, Ellie. 2003. “Apparitions and Miracles.” February 14. http://www.crystalinks.com/apparitions.html (accessed August 10, 2004).
Duffy, Michael. 1995. Anders Knutsson: The Experience of Light. Available at http://andersknutsson.com/ (accessed October 15, 2003).
Gaussoin, Helen. 1998. “Ranchos de Taos Painting Shrouded in Mystery.” New Mexico, December 21.
Laurie, A. P. 1967. The Painter's Methods and Materials. New York: Dover.
“Luminescence.” 1960. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Michell, John. 1979. Simulacra: Faces and Figures in Nature. London: Thames and Hudson.
Nickell, Joe. 2003. “Haunted Plantation.” Skeptical Inquirer 27, no. 5 (September/October): 12–15.
“Phosphorescence.” 1911. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
“Phosphorescent Paint Patented.” 1879. Manufacturer and Builder 11, no. 9 (September): 199.
“Phosphorescent Pigments.” 2003. http://www.gtamart.com/mart/products/phspgmnt/paints.html (accessed October 20, 2003).
Rawson, F. L. 1914. Life Understood from a Scientific and Religious Point of View. London: Crystal Press.
Shadow of the Cross. N.d. [1996]. Brochure, San Francisco de Asis, Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.
Schick, Theodore, Jr., and Lewis Vaughn. 1999. How to Think about Weird Things. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
Spilsbury Puzzle Company. 1997. Catalog item A3101, “Sunset by the Sea,” p. 80.
Chapter 6. Jesus under the Microscope
Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
———. 1997. “In the Eye of the Beholder.” Free Inquiry 17, no. 2 (Spring): 5.
Chapter 7. Snapshot Miracles
Nickell, Joe. 1993a. “Miracles in Kentucky.” Skeptical Inquirer 17, no. 2 (Winter): 120–22.
—–—. 1993b. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 177–78, 196–97.
Chapter 8. Grilled-Cheese Madonna
Chang, Daniel, and Erika Bolstad. 2004. “Virgin Mary Sandwich? Church Won't Likely Bite.” Miami Herald. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/religion/10280883.htm?template=contentM… (accessed November 29, 2004).
“It's the Son of Cod.” 2004. Daily Telegraph. http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=2282668 (accessed November 29, 2004).
Nickell, Joe. 2004. “Rorschach Icons.” Skeptical Inquirer 28, no. 6 (November/December): 15–17.
Nohlgren, Stephen. 2004. “Flapjack Jesus Flips along eBay.” St. Petersburg Times. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/20/state/Flapjack_Jesus_flips_.shtml (accessed November 21, 2004).
Poole, Buzz. 2007. Madonna of the Toast. New York: Mark Batty.
“Signs from Heaven.” 2006. Penn & Teller: Bullshit! The Complete Third Season. Three-volume DVD set, produced by Showtime.
Stollznow, Karen. 2008. “Merchandising God: The Pope Tart.” Skeptical Inquirer 32, no. 3 (May/June): 45–51.
Thompson, Carolyn. 2004. “Expert Explains Grilled Cheese ‘Miracle.’” Newsday, November 17.
“‘Virgin Mary’ Sandwich.” 2004. Available online at http://www.cnn.com/2004/us/11/23/ebay.sandwich.ap/index.html (accessed November 23, 2004).
Chapter 9. Animated Images: The “New” Idolatry
“Idolatry.” 1960. Encyclopedia Britannica.
“Images.” 1993. Collier's Encyclopedia.
Kollars, Deb, and Ed Fletcher. 2005. “Weeping or Not, Mary Is a Magnet.” Sacramento Bee, December 7.
Milbourn, Todd. 2005. “No Probe Is Planned of ‘Weeping’ Statue.” Sacramento Bee, November 29.
Nickell, Joe. 1996. “Examining Miracle Claims.” Deolog, March 4–5, pp. 14, 23.
———. 1997. “Those Tearful Icons.” Free Inquiry 17, no. 2 (Spring): 5, 7, 61.
———. 1998. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. See this source for additional cases and sources.
———. 2002. “Moscow Mysteries.” Skeptical Inquirer 26, no. 4 (July/August): 17–20, 24.
———. 2005. “’Winking J
esus’ Statue: Mystery Solved!” Skeptical Inquirer 29, no. 6 (November/December): 7–8.
Rogo, Scott D. 1982. Miracles: A Parascientific Inquiry into Wondrous Phenomena. New York: Dial Press.
“Those Who Sway Together Pray Together.” 1985. Discover, October 19.
Chapter 10. A Weeping Icon and the Crime Laboratory
Christopoulos, George. 1996. “Priest's 2nd ‘Miracle’: $800G from ‘Crying’ NY Icon Stolen.” Toronto Sun, September 8.
DiManno, Rosie. 1996. “Moolah Everywhere as the Pious Mob Weeping Madonna.” Toronto Star, September 4.
Goldhar, Kathleen. 1996. “Church of ‘Weeping’ Virgin Headed by Defrocked Priest.” Toronto Star, September 4.
Kudrez, Anastasia. 1997. “Crying Foul.” Buffalo News, August 29.
Magnish, Scot, Philip Lee-Shanok, and Robert Benzie. 1996. “Expert Unmoved by Crying Icon's ‘Tears.’” Toronto Sun, September 4.
Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions, and Healing Cures. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 54–55.
Chapter 11. The Case of the Miracle Oil
Fernandez, Lisa. 2001. “Pilgrimage: Many Doubt Mysterious Oil Can Heal Pain.” San Jose Mercury News, February 3.
Nickell, Joe. 1997. “Those Tearful Icons.” Free Inquiry 17, no. 2 (Spring): 5, 7, 61.
———. 1999. “Miracles or Deception? The Pathetic Case of Audrey Santo.” Skeptical Inquirer 23, no. 5 (September/October): 16–18.
———. 2008. “Lourdes Medical Bureau Rebels.” Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell (blog). http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/lourdes_medical_bureau_rebels/ (accessed April 12, 2010).
Sullivan, Randall. 2004. The Miracle Detective: An Investigation of Holy Visions. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.
Chapter 12. Hindu Statues That Drink Milk
Jayaraman, K. S. 1995. “India's ‘Milk Miracle’ Is Hard to Swallow.” Nature 377 (September 28, 1995).
Nickell, Joe. 1996. “Milk-Drinking Idols.” Skeptical Inquirer 20, no. 2 (March/April 1996): 7. See this source for additional news sources.
———. 2001. Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, pp. 312–15.
Chapter 13. The Statues That Glow
Duvall, Edward J. 1952. Modern Sign Painting. Wilmette, IL: Frederick J. Drake.
Green, Mike. 2003. “Colorado Capitol Walk.” June 22. http://www.angelfire.com/co3/avaconvention2003/taw/denvercapitolarticle01.html (accessed October 13, 2003).
Horton, John. 2003. “Skeptics, Believers Flock to Statues.” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 14.
Kubik, Maraline. 2003. “Campbell Statue: It's No Miracle, but It's Nice, Officials Say.” Youngstown Vindicator. http://www.vindi.com/print/278677665434201.shtml (accessed August 9, 2003).
Nickell, Joe. 2001. “Adventures of a Paranormal Investigator.” In Skeptical Odysseys, edited by Paul Kurtz. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 219–32.
Owen, Robert E. 1958. New Practical Sign Painting. Milwaukee, WI: Bruce.
“Priest Offers Explanation for Glowing Statue.” 2003. http://www.onnnews.com/story.php?record=26055 (accessed August 15, 2003).
Sutherland, William. 1889. The Art & Craft of Sign-Writing. Reprinted New York: Crescent Books, 1989.
Swierz, Michael. 2003. Interview with Joe Nickell, August 16.
Chapter 14. The True Cross: Chaucer, Calvin, and Relic Mongers
Bella, Francesco, and Carlo Azzi. 2002. “14C Dating of the ‘Titulus Crucis.’” Radiocarbon 44, no. 3, pp. 685–89.
Calvin, John. 1543. Treatise on Relics. Translated by Count Valerian Kasinski, 1854. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: John Stone, Hunter, 1870, pp. 217–18; reprinted, with an introduction by Joe Nickell. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2009, pp. 49–112.
Chaucer, Geoffrey. Ca. 1386–1400. The Canterbury Tales. Various editions (e.g., trans. by Coghill [2003] and Tuttle [2006]; see also No Fear Literature [2009] and Dunn [1952]).
Coghill, Nevill, trans. 2003. Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales. London: Penguin Books.
Cruz, Joan Carroll. 1984. Relics. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor.
Dunn, Charles W., ed. 1952. A Chaucer Reader: Selections from The Canterbury Tales. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.
Encyclopedia Britannica. 1978. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.
Marica, Patrica. 2007. Museo del Tesoro di San Lorenzo. Genoa, Italy: Sagep Edditori Srl.
“Museum of the Treasury of the Cathedral of St. Lawrence of Genoa.” N. d. Four-page guide text in English, provided by the museum.
Nickell, Joe. 1990. Pen, Ink, and Evidence: A Study of Writing and Writing Materials for the Penman, Collector, and Document Detective. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
———. 2007. Relics of the Christ. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
———. 2009. “Introduction.” In Treatise on Relics (1543) by John Calvin. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 7–48.
No Fear Literature: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. 2009. New York: SparkNotes.
Thiede, Carsten Peter, and Matthew d'Ancona. 2002. The Quest for the True Cross. New York: Palgrave.
Tuttle, Peter, trans. 2006. The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics.
Chapter 15. The Holy Blood
Aspeslag, Pierre. 1988. Chapel of the Holy Blood, Bruges. Ostend, Belgium: s.v. Van Mieghem A.
Bruges Tourist Guide. 1998. Brussels, Belgium: Editions THILL S. A.
Calvin, John. 1543. Treatise on Relics. Translated by Count Valerian Kasinski, 1854. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: John Stone, Hunter, 1870, pp. 217–18; reprinted, with an introduction by Joe Nickell. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2009.
Catholic Encyclopedia. 1913. New York: Encyclopedia Press.
Coupe, Alison, ed. 2009. Michelin Belgium Luxembourg (travel guide). Watford, Herts, England: Michelin Apa.
Kirk, Paul L. 1974. Crime Investigation. 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
McDonald, George. 2009. Frommer's Belgium, Holland & Luxembourg. 11th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Nickell, Joe. 2007a. “The Netherlands: Visions and Revisions.” Skeptical Inquirer 31, no. 6 (November/December): 16–19.
———. 2007b. Relics of the Christ. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
World Desk Reference. 3rd ed. 2000. New York: Dorling Kindersley.
Chapter 16. The Image of Edessa Revealed
Humber, Thomas. 1978. The Sacred Shroud. New York: Pocket Books.
“Image of Edessa.” 2008. Wikipedia, http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Image_of_Edessa (accessed September 5, 2008).
“Mandylion of Edessa.” 2008. In Vatican Splendors: From Saint Peter's Basilica, The Vatican Museums, and the Swiss Guard. Vatican City State: Governatorato, pp. 55–58.
Nickell, Joe. 1998. Inquest on the Shroud of Turin: Latest Scientific Findings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
———. 2007. Relics of the Christ. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
Sox, H. David. 1978. File on the Shroud. London: Coronet Books.
Wilson, Ian. 1979. The Shroud of Turin: The Burial Cloth of Jesus Christ? Rev. ed. Garden City, NY: Image Books.
———. 1991. Holy Faces, Secret Places: An Amazing Quest for the Face of Jesus. New York: Doubleday.
Chapter 17. The Holy Mandylion: A Déjà-View
Bozzo, Collette Dufour. 1974. Il “Sacro Volto” di Genova. Rome: Instituto Nazionale d'Archeologia e Storia dell’ Arte; summarized in Wilson 1991, pp. 88, 113–14, 138.
“Church of St. Bartholomeo degli Armeni.” 2009. In The Holy Face (official brochure, in English).
“Mandylion of Edessa.” 2008. In Vatican Splendors: From Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard. Vatican City State: Governatorato, pp. 55–58.
Nickell, Joe. 1998. Inquest on the Shroud of Turin: Latest Scientific Findings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
———. 2007. Relics of
the Christ. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.
———. 2009. “The Image of Edessa Revealed.” Skeptical Briefs 19, no. 2 (June): 9–10, 15.
Turner, Jane, ed. 1996. The Dictionary of Art. Vol. 20 of 34 vols. New York: Grove's Dictionaries, p. 251, s.v. “Mandylion of Edessa.”
Wilson, Ian. 1979. The Shroud of Turin: The Burial Cloth of Jesus Christ? Rev. ed. Garden City, New York: Image Books.
———. 1991. Holy Faces, Secret Places: An Amazing Quest for the Face of Jesus. New York: Doubleday.
Wolf, Gerhard. 2005. “Circulation of Artifacts in the Mediterranean Area until the 15th Century: The Genovese Mandylion and Its Paleologic Framework.” http://www.mpg.de/840449/forschungsSchwerpunkt1 (accessed February 14, 2013).
Chapter 18. Miracle or Fraud? The Turin Shroud
Antonacci, Mark. 2000. The Resurrection of the Shroud: New Scientific, Medical, and Archeological Evidence. New York: M. Evans.
Binga, Timothy. 2001. “Report in Progress from the Director of the Center for Inquiry Libraries,” June 19.
D'Arcis, Pierre. 1389. Memorandum to the Avignon Pope, Clement VII, translated from Latin by Rev. Herbert Thurston, reprinted in Wilson 1979, 266–72.
Garza-Valdez, Leoncio A. 1993. Biogenic Varnish and the Shroud of Turin. Cited in Garza-Valdez 1999, p. 37.
———. 1999. The DNA of God? New York: Doubleday.
Gove, Harry E. 1996. Relic, Icon, or Hoax? Carbon Dating the Turin Shroud. Philadelphia: Institute of Physics.
Humber, Thomas. 1978. The Sacred Shroud. New York: Pocket Books.
Larhammar, Dan. 1995. “Severe Flaws in Scientific Study Criticizing Evolution.” Skeptical Inquirer 19, no. 2 (March/April): 30–31.
McCrone, Walter C. 1993. Letters to Joe Nickell, June 11 and 30.
———. 1996. Judgement Day for the Turin “Shroud.” Chicago: Microscope.
Nickell, Joe. 1989. “Unshrouding a Mystery: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Cloth of Turin.” Skeptical Inquirer 13, no. 3 (Spring): 296–99.
———. 1998. Inquest on the Shroud of Turin: Latest Scientific Findings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. (Except as otherwise noted, information in this chapter is taken from this source.)
