Blog Archive | Center for Inquiry

Blog Archives for October 2011

Egyptian man sentenced to 3 years in jail for blasphemy

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
October 24, 2011

A 23-year-old Egyptian man has been sentenced to three years in prison, with hard labor, for "insulting Islam" in postings on his Facebook wall.

4 Comments

Heeding (Or Ignoring) Skeptical Investigation

A Skeptic Reads the Newspaper with Ben Radford
October 22, 2011

One of the interesting things in skeptical research to see is how (or whether) skeptical investigations make it into the mainstream literature. After all, it's all well and good for skeptics to know that a case has been solved, but the real benefit is when the greater public realizes it.

Harvard Prof. Alan Dershowitz on Secularism

It’s Only Natural with John Shook
October 21, 2011

Law Professor Alan Dershowitz gives a talk on "Secular Society and its Enemies."

3 Comments

The Skepcook: Gourmet Anti-Vampire Soup

Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell
October 20, 2011

A guest who turns away from this delicious first-course offering, is probably a—well, you know what! Check the person's image in a mirror!

World To End—Again

A Skeptic Reads the Newspaper with Ben Radford
October 18, 2011

It's almost that time again. No, I don't mean fall, or Halloween, nor (shudder) the holiday season.

No, it's time for another doomsday.

Massimo Pigliucci on ethics

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
October 17, 2011

Massimo Pigliucci, philosopher at the City University of New York, writes a series of seven essays discussing ethics on his blog Rationally Speaking.

Cults, Religion, and the Presidency

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

Reverend Robert Jeffress notoriously claimed the other day that Mormonism is a cult. From the context of his remarks I don’t think he was using the term “cult” as a term of approbation. So is Mormonism a cult, and is Romney’s Mormon faith relevant to his qualifications to be president?

2 Comments

A Brief Comment on the Wyndgate Matter

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

As most of you are aware, CFI-Michigan, one of our branches, contracted with a club in suburban Detroit—The Wyndgate—to hold an event at which Richard Dawkins had graciously agreed to speak. (In fact, the event takes place this evening.) However, once the club owner became aware that Professor Dawkins is an atheist, the club cancelled the event, refusing to honor its contract.

1 Comment

Theatrically Yours: “The Ghost of Fort Niagara”

Investigative Briefs with Joe Nickell
October 11, 2011

"The Ghost of Fort Niagara" is an engaging little musical by the multitalented Neal Radice, founder and director of Buffalo's Alleyway Theatre, as well as author, composer, lyricist, and set and lighting designer—just to mention his personas that are directly involved in this Alleyway production!

2 Comments

Robert Bellah on Religion and Secularism

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

Robert Bellah discusses the origins of religion and ways of understanding the religious-secular conflict today.

The ethics of drone warfare

Democratic Discourse with Michael De Dora
October 07, 2011

Is there, or should there be, an ethical distinction between launching missiles from half a world away and sending fighter jets to carry out such an attack?

6 Comments

The Journal of Folklore Research Reviews ‘Tracking the Chupacabra’

A Skeptic Reads the Newspaper with Ben Radford
October 06, 2011

The Journal of Folklore Research, a peer-reviewed publication of the Folklore Institute at Indiana University, reviewed my recent book Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore.

No Justice Scalia

Hollywood Reality Check with Jim Underdown
October 05, 2011

A death-row inmate is denied an appeal because his attorneys had switched law firms. A letter the court sent to the inmate's lawyers' old firm is returned, and the deadline to file an appeal expires before they can respond.

1 Comment