Organizing Doubt: Before CSICOP Had a Name by Massimo Polidoro

Massimo Polidoro recounts the early 1970s efforts by James Randi, Martin Gardner, and Ray Hyman to create what would eventually become CSICOP, revealing that the modern skeptical movement began not with a clear structure but with strategic debates over tone, mission, funding, and even its name. Long before it had a public identity, the group wrestled with how to promote rigorous evaluation of paranormal claims without appearing merely "debunking," gradually shaping a vision centered on education, evidence, and responsible criticism. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2026/02/organizing-doubt-before-csicop-had-a-name/ About the Author: Massimo Polidoro is an investigator of the paranormal, author, lecturer, and co-founder and head of CICAP, the Italian skeptics group. His website is at www.massimopolidoro.com. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/