Steuart Campbell

[[File:Steuart1.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Campbell in 2006]]
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{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with the pro-Scottish Independence blogger [[Stuart Campbell]]}}

'''Steuart Campbell''' {{lived|1937}} is a [[UK|British]] writer on [[skepticism|skeptical]] subjects, including debunkings of [[UFO]] sightings, the [[Loch Ness Monster]], and [[Christianity]]. In most cases his method is to run through alleged sightings of a supposed mysterious phenomenon and provide [[rational]] explanations for each occurrence, thereby demonstrating the implausibility of the claimed [[supernatural]] phenomenon.

He was born in Birmingham, England but has lived in Edinburgh for many years.<ref>{{wpa|Steuart Campbell}}</ref> He is (as of 2019) Secretary and Treasurer of the Edinburgh Secular Society.<ref>[http://edinsecsoc.org/the-team/ The Team], Edinburgh Secular Society website, accessed 30 Aug 2019</ref>{{Dead link}}

==Books==
===''The Loch Ness Monster: The Evidence'' (1986)===
This considers claims that [[Nessie]], some kind of monster, inhabits Loch Ness in [[Scotland]]. He runs through a long list of individual sightings and considers possible explanations, including otters, floating logs, ripples, seiches (layers of different-temperature water), fermented sawdust, and pranksters. ''The List'' called it "concise, readable, and exhaustive".<ref>[https://archive.list.co.uk/the-list/1986-09-19/36/ Reviews: The Loch Ness Monster: The evidence], Andrew Bethune, ''The List'' (Edinburgh and Glasgow), 19 Sep 1986</ref>

===''The UFO Mystery Solved'' (1994)===
This sets out to explain how most UFOs actually have scientific causes, such as weather, mirages, and [[star]]s.

He has said on the subject of UFOs, "After 30 years' investigation, I've never found myself unable to explain a UFO report. People are largely ignorant of [[astronomy]] and meteorological optics and tend to prefer exotic explanations, perhaps derived from [[The X-Files|''The X-files'']]. Even professionals like pilots are deceived by simple things like the planet [[Venus]]."<ref>"Letter: UFOs and tourism." Steuart Campbell, Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), 27 June 2002, p. 17. SPN.SP00, [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A87866495/SPN.SP00?u=nlibscot&sid=SPN.SP00&xid=95018b2e via Gale]. Accessed 30 Aug. 2019.</ref>

===''The Rise and Fall of Jesus'' (1996)===
This investigates the [[historicity of Jesus]]. He claims that [[Jesus]] did exist but was born in Galilee (but not in [[Nazareth]]), and the [[Biblical]] story was vastly exaggerated for effect.<ref>"Letter: Bible story untrue." Steuart Campbell. Sunday Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), 26 Dec. 1999, p. 10. SPN.SP00, [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A79658830/SPN.SP00?u=nlibscot&sid=SPN.SP00&xid=1d118de2 via Gale]. Accessed 30 Aug. 2019.</ref>

===''Chinook Crash'' (2007)===
This investigates conspiracy theories around the {{wpl|1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash||.}} On 2 June 1994, an RAF Chinook helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in southwest Scotland while carrying a lot of senior intelligence experts with knowledge of [[Northern Ireland]]. [[Conspiracy]] or cock-up? Campbell blamed the crash on pilot error, with the pilots flying into cloud but failing to climb, and therefore hitting the ground.<ref>{{wpa|1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash}}</ref> Since then, the pilots have been cleared of charges of negligence, following revelations that there may have been a technical fault in the helicopter's navigation and communications systems and the craft may not have been airworthy: there have been calls for further inquiries. But while acknowledging that the exact cause is not known, Campbell stuck to the theory that pilot error was largely responsible despite the opposition of many with military connections who refuse to believe that air force pilots could ever make mistakes.<ref>[https://newsnet.scot/archive/why-did-an-raf-chinook-crash-into-the-mull-of-kintyre/ Why did an RAF Chinook crash into the Mull of Kintyre?], Steuart Campbell, Newsnet.scot, May 5, 2014</ref><ref>"Letter: Chinook mystery." Steuart Campbell, Sunday Times (London, England), 24 July 2011, p. 24. SPN.SP00, [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A262251272/SPN.SP00?u=nlibscot&sid=SPN.SP00&xid=d5a065ba via Gale]. Accessed 30 Aug. 2019.</ref> At any rate, the more outlandish theories should be ignored.

==TV==
He has also appeared in various television documentaries, including the self-explanatory ''History's Mysteries: The Loch Ness Monster'' (2006), discussing [[UFO]]s in ''The West Lothian Question'' (2004), UFOs again in ''Strange But True?'' (1994 and 1997), more Nessie in ''Encounters: The Secrets of Loch Ness'' (1995), and visions of the [[Virgin Mary]] in ''Mysterious Universe'' (1994).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7582064/?ref_=tt_cl_t11 Steuart Campbell], IMDb</ref>

==Other writing==
He has written many shorter articles, and is also a frequent writer of letters to newspapers, often attacking [[climate change]] skeptics, commenting on [[nuclear power]], lamenting the decline of the English language, and defending his various rationalist ideas/promoting his books.

==External links==
* [https://www.steuartcampbell.com/ His website]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|90%}}

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[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Skeptics]]
[[Category:Ufology]]

Categories: Authors, British people, Living people, Skeptics, Ufology