Blog Archive | Center for Inquiry

Blog Archives for June 2011

Prominent climate skeptic funded by oil, coal companies

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
June 30, 2011

One of the most prominent scientists to reject the scientific community's consensus on climate change has admitted to being paid more than $1 million over the past decade by U.S. oil and coal companies.

1 Comment

Ohio House approves ban on abortions after heartbeat

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
June 29, 2011

The Ohio House of Representatives has voted to ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectable, which is usually around 6 or 7 weeks. The legislation does not include exceptions for rape, incest, or the mother's health.

2 Comments

Healthy Humanism

It’s Only Natural with John Shook
June 28, 2011

The all-natural, eco-friendly, and sustainable lifestance for everyone.

3 Comments

What the Catholic Church Wants

No Faith Value with Ronald A. Lindsay
June 27, 2011

At times, the Catholic Church resembles a hulking, maladroit dinosaur. But give it some credit. It knows when its vital interests are at stake. This explains its determined opposition to same-sex marriage and assisted dying, as well as its notorious obsession with forcing women to bear children. The Church will do all it can to preserve its authority, and in doing so it focuses on the most critical decisions we make during our lives. Control: that’s what the Church wants and needs.

8 Comments

Stay updated on the CFI Leadership Conference 2011

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
June 24, 2011

You can keep informed about the Center for Inquiry's Leadership Conference 2011 by following live Tweeting and blogging.

Failed “Psychic” Tip

Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell
June 21, 2011

Do "psychics" really solve crimes or help police find missing persons? Not according to an incident that drew not only Liberty County, Texas, sheriff's deputies, but also Texas Rangers, FBI agents, and cadaver-sniffing dogs, as well as a swarm of reporters and a TV helicopter.

United Nations recognizes LGBT rights for first time ever

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
June 21, 2011

The U.N. officially endorsed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights in a resolution that narrowly passed the Human Rights Council.

Faitheists are Nothing New

It’s Only Natural with John Shook
June 18, 2011

Not even the label of Faitheist is all that new.

15 Comments

Michael Shermer: The Believing Brain

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
June 16, 2011

On June 9, 2011, CFI-New York City and NYC Skeptics hosted Michael Shermer for a talk about his new book, "The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies — How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths." Full video, including both the talk and Q&A, is now on CFI's YouTube page.

“Finding Bigfoot” a Howler

Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell
June 13, 2011

Finding Bigfoot, a new series airing on Animal Planet on Sundays (10 p.m. eastern and pacific time), looks like another silly TV program aimed at the credulous. Its "special preview episode"—filmed in the "remote woods of northern Georgia," in the Chattahoochee National Forest—set forth the show's formula: make it look as much like Ghost Hunters as possible.

6 Comments

Thanks, Derek

No Faith Value with Ronald A. Lindsay
June 12, 2011

As Derek Araujo stated in his post a few days ago, he is resigning his position at CFI to pursue graduate studies in physics. Let’s see . . . with his existing law degree from Harvard and now an upcoming PhD in physics from Columbia, this means Derek will become Master of the Universe in about four years time. The good news is that it seems he will be a benign Overlord, and will treat us lesser beings kindly.

1 Comment

Religious Fundamentalism means Authoritarianism and Prejudice

It’s Only Natural with John Shook
June 11, 2011

Yet another large study shows how rigidly religious people more likely to be people who are prejudiced, authoritarian, and militaristic.

7 Comments

Carla Baron Complains About Fake Psychics

A Skeptic Reads the Newspaper with Ben Radford
June 11, 2011

A high-profile psychic failure last week has many psychics, including Carla Baron, complaining about the damage done by 'fake' psychics. Baron is also concerned that America is in the midst of a modern Salem Witch Trial.

1 Comment

Much Ado About Foreskins

No Faith Value with Ronald A. Lindsay
June 09, 2011

On the ballot in San Francisco this November will be a proposal to make it a criminal offense to perform a circumcision on a male under the age of 18. Should secular individuals — who obviously have no religious motivation to carry out such a procedure — support the ban? No. The proposed ban is a singularly bad idea.

30 Comments

Video posted: Secret Footage of “Faith Healer” Peter Popoff in Toronto last month

True North Strong & Free Thinking with Justin B. Trottier
June 08, 2011

We bear witness (as does our footage) as disgraced faith healing fraud Peter Popoff engages in laying on of hands "healings", hosts testimonials and requests large sums of money. We show him asking attendees to put "their best seed" into envelopes he passed out, as well as close up of a sick man being turned away by security staff for appearing too ill to be credibly cured. We also describe a dispute where - rather ironically - the organist for this "faith healer" wished us death by cancer.

2 Comments

Goodbye (For Now)

Reasonable Doubt with Derek C. Araujo
June 08, 2011

Later this month I will leave CFI's employment to pursue graduate studies in physics. Thank you to my friends and colleagues for a wonderful four years.

4 Comments

The Legacy of Jack Kevorkian

No Faith Value with Ronald A. Lindsay
June 07, 2011

Dr. Jack Kevorkian died Friday. To say that Kevorkian was a controversial figure would be an understatement. Controversy was what he sought, and he was not disappointed.

3 Comments

“Incendies” (A Nickell-odeon Review)

Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell
June 07, 2011

Based on a play, Scorched, by Lebanese emigrant to Montreal Wajdi Villeneuve, Incendies is at once an intriguing mystery, a compelling evocation of human values and choices (humanists take note) during a horrific war, and an utterly stunning drama about the quest for familial completeness—a drama that harks back to the ancient Sophocles tragedy, Oedipus Rex.

1 Comment