Center for Inquiry
Encyclopedia
The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a non-profit educational organization with headquarters in the United States
whose primary mission is to encourage evidence-based inquiry into paranormal
and fringe science
claims, alternative medicine
and mental health practices, religion
, secular ethics
, and society. CFI is dedicated to promoting and defending science, reason, and free inquiry in all aspects of human interest.
. It brought together two organizations: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
(CSICOP) and the Council for Secular Humanism
(CSH), both of which had previously operated in tandem but were now formally affiliated under one umbrella. By 1995 CFI had expanded into a new 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) headquarters in Amherst, NY, and in 1996 opened its first branch office in Los Angeles
, CFI West. In the same year, CFI founded the Campus Freethought Alliance, organizing college students around issues of importance to CFI and its members.
By 1997 CFI had begun expanding its efforts internationally through an association with Moscow State University
. CFI Moscow now operates an exchange program where Russian students and scholars are able to visit CFI headquarters in Amherst, NY and participate in a summer institute each year. Additional international programs exist in Germany (Rossdorf), France (Nice), Spain (Bilbao), Poland (Warsaw), Nigeria (Ibadan), Uganda (Kampala), Kenya (Nairobi), Nepal (Katmandu), India (Pune) (Hyderabad), Egypt (Cairo), China (Beijing), New Zealand (Auckland), Peru (Lima), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Senegal (Dakar), Zambia (Lusaka), and Bangladesh (Dacca).
Between 2002 and 2003 CFI opened two new branches in New York City
and Tampa, FL in addition to expanding its West Coast branch into a new building in Hollywood, California. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, CFI West also became home to the Steve Allen Theater, named after the former Tonight Show host
and CFI supporter. By 2004, CFI continued to expand into cities across the United States with the creation of a network of community organizations called "CFI Communities" in cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Tucson, Tallahassee, FL, Indianapolis
, and Fort Lauderdale.
In 2005 CFI once again expanded its Amherst headquarters with a new 15600 square feet (1,449.3 m²) research wing. Additionally, CFI was granted special consultative status with the United Nations
the same year.
Since 2006 CFI has been expanding rapidly with a series of new branches in cities across North America and around the world. These include new Centers for Inquiry in Toronto
, London
, Washington DC, Indianapolis, IN, Grand Rapids, MI, and Austin, TX. The branch in Washington is headquarters to CFI's Office of Public Policy, which represents CFI's interests on Capitol Hill.
" magazine, the Center for Inquiry evaluates claims of the paranormal
(phenomena allegedly beyond the range of normal scientific explanations), such as psychic phenomena, ghosts, communication with the dead, and alleged extraterrestrial
visitations. It also explores the fringes and borderlands of the sciences, attempting to separate strictly evidence-based research from pseudosciences.
addiction recovery practices through Secular Organizations for Sobriety
.
, critical inquiry into the foundations and social effects of the world religions. Since 1983 it has focused on such issues as fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam, humanistic alternatives to religious ethics, and religious sources of political violence. It is also the home of its affiliated organization, the Council for Secular Humanism
, publisher of Free Inquiry
magazine, a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist thought and discussion.
, Canada. Originally established and supported in part by CFI Transnational, CFI Canada has become an independent Canadian national organization with several provincial branches.
In late 2009, they announced a new bus campaign called the Extraordinary Claims Campaign.
in 1996 by Derek Araujo and others in order to reach out to university and high-school students. Center for Inquiry - On Campus provides funding, speakers or debaters, literature, and other promotional and educational resources to student groups that affiliate, and supports almost 200 campus groups around the world. In 2000, as a result of a dispute over management and funding of the organization, a number of volunteering students on the group's executive committee organized the split-organization Secular Student Alliance
, with largely the same ends—to promote secular humanism
as an alternative to religious lifestyle and politics on college and high campuses. However, as neither organization demands exclusivity in association, many campus groups maintain ties to both organizations. Center for Inquiry - On Campus is directed by Lauren Becker and employs a staff of eight organizers who help CFI student groups to advance their aims at their respective schools.
" and "Skeptical Inquirer
" magazines. These groups draw upon volunteers and Center for Inquiry members and supporters who are enthusiastic about CFI's efforts to advance the scientific outlook in our society and who wish to become active in the organization.
. Operated by the Center for Inquiry, it is the largest library of its kind in the world. The building is over 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) with meeting rooms and special collections housing 60,000 volumes of works specializing in science
, skepticism
, freethought
, humanism
, and American philosophical naturalism, and includes the complete line of Prometheus Books titles, a collection of Martin Gardner's books and papers, Steve Allen's manuscripts, and other special holdings.
It was opened on June 9, 1995 in Amherst by Steve Allen
, Leon Jaroff, Herbert Hauptman, Stan Lundine
, and Kendrick Frazier
to name a few.
Activities of the Naturalism Research Project include lectures and seminars by visiting fellows and scholars; academic conferences; and support CFI publications of important research. Among the central issues of naturalism include the exploration of varieties of naturalism; problems in philosophy of science; the methodologies of scientific inquiry; naturalism and humanism; naturalistic ethics; planetary ethics; and naturalism and the biosciences.
. Previous relief efforts have included aid for survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
and the October 2007 California wildfires
.
, and CSICOP's Skeptical Inquirer
, as well as the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice, The Skeptic
in the UK and Philo
.
CFI also produces the popular weekly radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry
.
Video expert James Underdown IIG and CFI West does an experiment for "Miracle Detective" Oprah Winfrey Network which replicates exactly the angelic apparition that people claim cured a 14 year old severely disabled child at Presbyterian Hemby Childrens Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina
. The "angel" was sunlight from a hidden window, and the little girl is still severely handicapped.
' October 2011 book tour, Center for Inquiry - the tour's sponsor - signed a contract with Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan, as the venue site. After seeing an interview with Dawkins on The O'Reilly Factor
, an official at the club cancelled Dawkins' appearance. Dawkins said that the country club official accepted Bill O'Reilly
's "twisted" interpretation of his book "The Magic of Reality" without having read it personally. Sean Faircloth
said that cancelling the reading "really violates the basic principles of America ... The Civil Rights Act ... prohibits discrimination based on race or religious viewpoint. ... [Dawkins has] published numerous books ... to explain science to the public, so it's rather an affront, to reason in general, to shun him as they did." CFI Michigan executive director Jeff Seaver stated that "This action by The Wyndgate illustrates the kind of bias and bigotry that nonbelievers encounter all the time." Following the cancellation, protests and legal action by CFI against the Wyndgate Country Club were pursued.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
whose primary mission is to encourage evidence-based inquiry into paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
and fringe science
Fringe science
Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
claims, alternative medicine
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
and mental health practices, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, secular ethics
Secular ethics
Secular ethics is a branch of moral philosophy in which ethics is based solely on human faculties such as logic, reason or moral intuition, and not derived from purported supernatural revelation or guidance...
, and society. CFI is dedicated to promoting and defending science, reason, and free inquiry in all aspects of human interest.
History
The Center for Inquiry was established in 1991 by philosopher and author Paul KurtzPaul Kurtz
Paul Kurtz is a prominent American skeptic and secular humanist. He has been called "the father of secular humanism." He is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo, having previously also taught at Vassar, Trinity, and Union colleges, and the New School for...
. It brought together two organizations: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry , formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal , is a program within the U.S...
(CSICOP) and the Council for Secular Humanism
Council for Secular Humanism
The Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
(CSH), both of which had previously operated in tandem but were now formally affiliated under one umbrella. By 1995 CFI had expanded into a new 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) headquarters in Amherst, NY, and in 1996 opened its first branch office in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CFI West. In the same year, CFI founded the Campus Freethought Alliance, organizing college students around issues of importance to CFI and its members.
By 1997 CFI had begun expanding its efforts internationally through an association with Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. CFI Moscow now operates an exchange program where Russian students and scholars are able to visit CFI headquarters in Amherst, NY and participate in a summer institute each year. Additional international programs exist in Germany (Rossdorf), France (Nice), Spain (Bilbao), Poland (Warsaw), Nigeria (Ibadan), Uganda (Kampala), Kenya (Nairobi), Nepal (Katmandu), India (Pune) (Hyderabad), Egypt (Cairo), China (Beijing), New Zealand (Auckland), Peru (Lima), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Senegal (Dakar), Zambia (Lusaka), and Bangladesh (Dacca).
Between 2002 and 2003 CFI opened two new branches in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Tampa, FL in addition to expanding its West Coast branch into a new building in Hollywood, California. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, CFI West also became home to the Steve Allen Theater, named after the former Tonight Show host
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
and CFI supporter. By 2004, CFI continued to expand into cities across the United States with the creation of a network of community organizations called "CFI Communities" in cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Tucson, Tallahassee, FL, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and Fort Lauderdale.
In 2005 CFI once again expanded its Amherst headquarters with a new 15600 square feet (1,449.3 m²) research wing. Additionally, CFI was granted special consultative status with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
the same year.
Since 2006 CFI has been expanding rapidly with a series of new branches in cities across North America and around the world. These include new Centers for Inquiry in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Washington DC, Indianapolis, IN, Grand Rapids, MI, and Austin, TX. The branch in Washington is headquarters to CFI's Office of Public Policy, which represents CFI's interests on Capitol Hill.
Paranormal and fringe science claims
Through the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, publisher of "Skeptical InquirerSkeptical Inquirer
The Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
" magazine, the Center for Inquiry evaluates claims of the paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
(phenomena allegedly beyond the range of normal scientific explanations), such as psychic phenomena, ghosts, communication with the dead, and alleged extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
visitations. It also explores the fringes and borderlands of the sciences, attempting to separate strictly evidence-based research from pseudosciences.
Medicine and health
The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH) stimulates critical scientific scrutiny of New Age medicine and the schools of psychotherapy. It supports naturalisticHumanistic naturalism
Humanistic naturalism is the branch of philosophical naturalism wherein human beings are best able to control and understand the world through use of the scientific method. Concepts of spirituality, intuition, and metaphysics are not pursued because they are unfalsifiable, and therefore can never...
addiction recovery practices through Secular Organizations for Sobriety
Secular Organizations for Sobriety
Secular Organizations For Sobriety , also known as Save Our Selves, is a non-profit network of autonomous addiction recovery groups. The program stresses the need to place the highest priority on sobriety and uses mutual support to assist members in achieving this goal...
.
Religion, ethics, and society
The Center promotes, through its connection with Committee for the Scientific Examination of ReligionCommittee for the Scientific Examination of Religion
The Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion, or CSER, is based at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York. According to its mission statement, CSER is a research consultation devoted "to the study of religion and ethics from the standpoint of philosophical naturalism and to the...
, critical inquiry into the foundations and social effects of the world religions. Since 1983 it has focused on such issues as fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam, humanistic alternatives to religious ethics, and religious sources of political violence. It is also the home of its affiliated organization, the Council for Secular Humanism
Council for Secular Humanism
The Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
, publisher of Free Inquiry
Free Inquiry
Free Inquiry is a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part of the Center for Inquiry. Philosopher Paul Kurtz is the editor-in-chief and Thomas W. Flynn the editor. Feature articles cover a wide range of topics from a...
magazine, a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist thought and discussion.
CFI Canada
It is the Canadian branch of CFI transnational, headquartered in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. Originally established and supported in part by CFI Transnational, CFI Canada has become an independent Canadian national organization with several provincial branches.
In late 2009, they announced a new bus campaign called the Extraordinary Claims Campaign.
Center for Inquiry - On Campus
CFI On Campus (originally the Campus Freethought Alliance) is a program launched by the Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular Humanism
The Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
in 1996 by Derek Araujo and others in order to reach out to university and high-school students. Center for Inquiry - On Campus provides funding, speakers or debaters, literature, and other promotional and educational resources to student groups that affiliate, and supports almost 200 campus groups around the world. In 2000, as a result of a dispute over management and funding of the organization, a number of volunteering students on the group's executive committee organized the split-organization Secular Student Alliance
Secular Student Alliance
The Secular Student Alliance , founded in May 2000, is an independent, democratically structured organization in the U.S. that aims to serve the needs of freethinking high school and college students. The Secular Student Alliance is based in Columbus, Ohio...
, with largely the same ends—to promote secular humanism
Secular humanism
Secular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
as an alternative to religious lifestyle and politics on college and high campuses. However, as neither organization demands exclusivity in association, many campus groups maintain ties to both organizations. Center for Inquiry - On Campus is directed by Lauren Becker and employs a staff of eight organizers who help CFI student groups to advance their aims at their respective schools.
CFI Communities
Virtually all of these groups are outgrowths of local grassroots secular humanist and skeptical movements, most involving the leadership of local subscribers to "Free InquiryFree Inquiry
Free Inquiry is a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part of the Center for Inquiry. Philosopher Paul Kurtz is the editor-in-chief and Thomas W. Flynn the editor. Feature articles cover a wide range of topics from a...
" and "Skeptical Inquirer
Skeptical Inquirer
The Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
" magazines. These groups draw upon volunteers and Center for Inquiry members and supporters who are enthusiastic about CFI's efforts to advance the scientific outlook in our society and who wish to become active in the organization.
CFI Institute
The Center for Inquiry Institute offers undergraduate level summer school, seminars, and workshops in critical thinking and the scientific outlook and its implications for religion, human values, and the borderlands of science. In addition to transferable undergraduate credit through the State University of New York (SUNY) system, CFI offers a thirty credit hour Certificate of Proficiency in Critical Inquiry. This three-year curriculum plan offers summer sessions at the main campus at SUNY-Buffalo in Amherst and the Skeptic's Toolbox workshop at the University of Oregon, Eugene.Camp Inquiry
The Center for Inquiry organizes an annual summer camp for children called Camp Inquiry.CFI Libraries
The Center for Inquiry Libraries is a consortium of four libraries in Amherst, New YorkAmherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
. Operated by the Center for Inquiry, it is the largest library of its kind in the world. The building is over 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) with meeting rooms and special collections housing 60,000 volumes of works specializing in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, skepticism
Skepticism
Skepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
, freethought
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
, humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, and American philosophical naturalism, and includes the complete line of Prometheus Books titles, a collection of Martin Gardner's books and papers, Steve Allen's manuscripts, and other special holdings.
It was opened on June 9, 1995 in Amherst by Steve Allen
Steve Allen (comedian)
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent...
, Leon Jaroff, Herbert Hauptman, Stan Lundine
Stan Lundine
Stanley Nelson Lundine is a politician from Jamestown, New York who served as Mayor of Jamestown, a United States Representative, and lieutenant governor of New York. A Democrat, he was inaugurated Mayor in 1970 and served to 1976 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after the...
, and Kendrick Frazier
Kendrick Frazier
Kendrick Frazier is a science writer and editor. He was the editor of Science News for several years. Since 1977 he has been the editor of Skeptical Inquirer, the journal published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry [CSI. He is a member of the executive council of CSI, an international...
to name a few.
Naturalism Research Project
CFI also runs the Naturalism Research Project, a major new effort to develop the theoretical and practical applications of philosophical naturalism. As part of this project, CFI’s libraries, research facilities, and conference areas are available to scientists and scholars to advance the understanding of science’s methodologies and conclusions about naturalism.Activities of the Naturalism Research Project include lectures and seminars by visiting fellows and scholars; academic conferences; and support CFI publications of important research. Among the central issues of naturalism include the exploration of varieties of naturalism; problems in philosophy of science; the methodologies of scientific inquiry; naturalism and humanism; naturalistic ethics; planetary ethics; and naturalism and the biosciences.
Skeptics and Humanist Aid and Relief Effort
The recently renamed Skeptics and Humanist Aid and Relief Effort (previously the name began with the phrase "Secular Humanist") provides "an alternative for those who wish to contribute to charitable efforts without the intermediary of a religious organization in times of great need." As of January 2010, all funds are being directed to the group Doctors Without Borders to aid the survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. Previous relief efforts have included aid for survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
and the October 2007 California wildfires
October 2007 California wildfires
The October 2007 California wildfires were a series of wildfires that began burning across Southern California on October 20. At least 1,500 homes were destroyed and over 500,000 acres of land burned from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.–Mexico border...
.
Affiliate Organizations
- Centre for Inquiry Canada
- Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)
- Committee for the Scientific Examination of ReligionCommittee for the Scientific Examination of ReligionThe Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion, or CSER, is based at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York. According to its mission statement, CSER is a research consultation devoted "to the study of religion and ethics from the standpoint of philosophical naturalism and to the...
(CSER) - Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health Practice (CSMMH)
- Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic SocietyInstitute for the Secularisation of Islamic SocietyThe Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society is an organization of writers that promotes the ideas of secularism, democracy and human rights within Islamic society. It is part of the Center for Inquiry....
(ISIS) - Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular HumanismThe Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
(CSH)
Publications
The results of research and activities supported by the Center and its affiliates are published and distributed to the public in seventeen separate national and international magazines, journals, and newsletters. Among them are CSER's Quarterly Review, CSH's Free InquiryFree Inquiry
Free Inquiry is a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part of the Center for Inquiry. Philosopher Paul Kurtz is the editor-in-chief and Thomas W. Flynn the editor. Feature articles cover a wide range of topics from a...
, and CSICOP's Skeptical Inquirer
Skeptical Inquirer
The Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
, as well as the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and Aberrant Medical Practices is a scientific journal published by the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health...
, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice, The Skeptic
The Skeptic (UK magazine)
The Skeptic is a British magazine and is billed as "the UK’s longest running and foremost sceptical magazine, which examines science, scepticism, secularism, critical thinking and claims of the paranormal."-History, format and structure:...
in the UK and Philo
Philo (journal)
Philo is a peer-reviewed academic journal with a focus on the discussion of philosophical issues from an explicitly naturalist perspective. The journal publishes articles, critical discussions, review essays, and book reviews in all fields of philosophy, and welcomes work on the philosophical...
.
CFI also produces the popular weekly radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry
Point of Inquiry
Point of Inquiry is the radio show and podcast of the Center for Inquiry, a think tank promoting science, reason and secular values. Started in 2005, Point of Inquiry has consistently ranked highly among similar podcasts. It has been celebrated for its guests, and for the quality of its interviews....
.
In the media
On November 14, 2006 the CFI opened its Office of Public Policy in Washington, DC and issued Declaration in Defense of Science and Secularism, which calls for public policy to be based on science rather than faith. The next day the Washington Post ran an article about it entitled "Think Tank Will Promote Thinking."Video expert James Underdown IIG and CFI West does an experiment for "Miracle Detective" Oprah Winfrey Network which replicates exactly the angelic apparition that people claim cured a 14 year old severely disabled child at Presbyterian Hemby Childrens Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The "angel" was sunlight from a hidden window, and the little girl is still severely handicapped.
Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins
During Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
' October 2011 book tour, Center for Inquiry - the tour's sponsor - signed a contract with Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan, as the venue site. After seeing an interview with Dawkins on The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, an official at the club cancelled Dawkins' appearance. Dawkins said that the country club official accepted Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
's "twisted" interpretation of his book "The Magic of Reality" without having read it personally. Sean Faircloth
Sean Faircloth
Sean Faircloth is a Maine attorney and politician. He served five terms in the Maine Legislature. Faircloth served on the Judiciary and Appropriations Committee. In his final term, Faircloth was elected Majority Whip...
said that cancelling the reading "really violates the basic principles of America ... The Civil Rights Act ... prohibits discrimination based on race or religious viewpoint. ... [Dawkins has] published numerous books ... to explain science to the public, so it's rather an affront, to reason in general, to shun him as they did." CFI Michigan executive director Jeff Seaver stated that "This action by The Wyndgate illustrates the kind of bias and bigotry that nonbelievers encounter all the time." Following the cancellation, protests and legal action by CFI against the Wyndgate Country Club were pursued.
External links
- Center for Inquiry Libraries
- Center for Inquiry - On Campus
- Center for Inquiry website
- How Camp Inquiry introduces kids to the principles of humanism by Dr. Angie McQuaig
- Point of Inquiry Point of InquiryPoint of InquiryPoint of Inquiry is the radio show and podcast of the Center for Inquiry, a think tank promoting science, reason and secular values. Started in 2005, Point of Inquiry has consistently ranked highly among similar podcasts. It has been celebrated for its guests, and for the quality of its interviews....
- the radio show and podcastPodcastA podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
of the Center for Inquiry.