CFI Forums

Pot Luck CFI Amherst

2012-04-10T13:49:50-05:00

Potluck Dinner Weds 04-10-2012 7:00 PM Come and meet fellow non-believers and make some new friends. Bring a dish to pass and a beverage.

From: Center For Inquiry - Indianapolis

2012-06-10T00:26:05-05:00

This is a most unexpected development in the Religious community.

Check this out!!

Teresa MacBain - “From the Edge of Faith to the Embrace of Reason”

Watch video
June 03, 2012
Center For Inquiry - Indianapolis

Teresa MacBain is the executive director for The Clergy Project, a safe haven for active and former clergy who do not hold supernatural beliefs. The Clergy Project is working to expand its reach by providing tangible assistance to transitioning clergy via a financial grant and reemployment aid. She is now working to raise awareness for the freethought community and, in particular, the fellow clergy persons who are still trapped in the pulpit.

http://www.clergyproject.com/

Church pastors become atheists

Interesting piece on a Texas news station. Rather dramatic way to come out atheist.
http://www.click2houston.com/page/search/pns-hou/search/-/1736528/-/view/asSearch/-/12qrabxz/-/index.html?provider=site&cx=partner-pub-1569153127812452:6n1nw8-otn0&cof=FORID:9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Church+pastors+become+atheists&sortBy=score

Chicago Events

2010-09-13T17:53:43-05:00

Is there a Darwin Day event being planned in Chicago this year?

Carl Sagan Day in Fort Lauderdale

2009-11-12T11:53:01-05:00

Deep gratitude for those who assembled Carl Sagan Day this past Sunday, here in Fort Lauderdale. You all should be feel proud of your accomplishments.
I think it’s important to thank the presenters with a personal note from those who attended. Most of the time, these folks lecture on their own free time to our benefit.
Case in point: Russell Romanella who gave an extraordinary presentation.
A copy oif my email to him:

Russell,
I again wanted to thank you again for your rather illuminating and inspiring presentation today in Fort Lauderdale. I cannot remember the last time that I was as moved by a speaker. Your talk repeatedly made me laugh, and at other times, brought me to tears as you helped me revivify my limited understanding of the infinite beauty of the Cosmos.
It was also glaringly obvious that you have invested a lot of time and energy putting the presentation together; the material, the slides and the multi-media. You should be very proud of your hard work, and I commend you for your apparent dedication.
It’s nice to know there are people like you who are enthusiastically spreading the importance of space investigation and exploration, and are doing so on the payroll of all Americans. Please continue your “popularization of science,” for it is desperately in need of resuscitation!
We are fortunate to have you working at NASA and I am grateful for your decision to share your time with us today.

his email addresss, should anyone want to second my thoughts:
russell dot romanella at nasa dot gov

CFI Second Life

2007-10-16T21:19:44-05:00

It may be an stupid idea, but anyone here ever considered the idea of creating a virtual office of the CFI in the Second Life ? There is absolutely no place to discuss skeptic ideas there…

CFI-SAZ

2008-07-14T19:55:18-05:00

1) Where can one find a comprehensive definition of a CFI Forum?
2) What constitutes a “Title” as above.
3) Who can tap into this Forum?
4) How are the comments grouped such that a Community can contain its posts within a given Community?
5) Should a Community design its own blog on its web site or use the CFI Forum?
6) Where is the glossary of terms?
7) Is there a tutorial? What resources are available for Community to learn about the CFI Forum?

CFI London - Weird Science

2009-01-16T02:37:31-05:00

Centre For Inquiry London
and South Place Ethical Society present

WEIRD SCIENCE

A day exploring the science of the weird, and weird and flaky science.

Saturday, 17th January 2009. 10.30am-4pm.

Venue:
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
London
WC1R 4RL

£10 (£5 for students, members of SPES, BHA, GLHA and subscribers to New Humanist - bring proof to the event)

To book tickets by either paypal or cheque, hit the SUPPORT button at the top of the homepage and follow the instructions.

10.30am REGISTRATION

11am-12am

RICHARD WISEMAN

Investigating the impossible: A skeptical approach

For over 20 years, psychologist Richard Wiseman has delved deep into the mysterious world of the paranormal, carrying out high profile, and often controversial, investigations into the impossible. In this talk, Wiseman describes some of his more colourful adventures, presenting a scientific look at a range of seemingly paranormal phenomenon, including fire-walking, ghostly encounters, and ESP. Discover whether such phenomena really exist, what the future holds for parapsychology, and why we are all attracted by the lure of strange stuff. Free packet of peanuts for the best question.

About Richard Wiseman. Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman started his working life as a professional magician and currently holds Britain’s only Professorship in the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He frequently appears on the media, and has written over 60 academic articles and several books, including The Luck Factor and Quirkology.

12am-1pm

CHRIS FRENCH

Eight Years of Weird Science at Goldsmiths

The Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit (APRU) was set up by Professor Chris French in 2000 in the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths (for full details, visit http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/apru). Anomalistic psychology may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience, including (but not restricted to) those that are often labeled “paranormal”. Over the last eight years, members of the APRU have investigated a wide range of weird and wonderful topics, including alien contact experiences, sleep paralysis, haunted houses, dowsing, and telepathy. Many paranormal claims have been scientifically tested under properly controlled conditions along the way. This overview will present the results of such investigations - and also reveal why Uri Geller cannot stand Richard Wiseman!

About Chris French. Chris French is a Professor of Psychology and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths. He has published over 100 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology. His main current area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims. He is the editor of The Skeptic magazine (UK version).

2pm-3pm

STEPHEN LAW

Is creationism scientific?

Polls consistently indicate about 100 million Americans believe the entire universe is six thousand years old and that all species were created as described by Genesis. Even more amazingly, many of these people also believe that this theory is consistent with the scientific evidence. Indeed, there are multi-million dollar research centres in the U.S. run by PhD-qualified staff, that aim to defend young-Earth creationism. How have so many people become so deluded about what is, and isn’t, good science? What are the basic confusions? Stephen Law illustrates with his own pet theory – that dogs are spies from the planet Venus.

About Stephen Law. Stephen Law is senior lecturer in philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London, editor of THINK: Philosophy for Everyone (Royal Institute of Philosophy), and Provost of CFI London. He is the author of many philosophy books, including The Philosophy Files (for children 12+) and The Philosophy Gym (which contains such dialogues as “The Strange Case of The Rational Dentist” and “What’s Wrong With Gay Sex?”)

3pm-4pm

BEN GOLDACRE

Listen up flakes: science is seriously so much more interesting than anything you can make up with your woolly new age claptrap.

About Ben Goldacre. Ben Goldacre is a writer, broadcaster and medical doctor from the UK who is best known for his ‘Bad Science’ column in The Guardian newspaper, examining the claims of scaremongering journalists, quack health products, pseudoscientific cosmetics adverts, and evil multinational pharmaceutical corporations, as well as wider themes such as the medicalisation of everyday life and the psychology of irrational beliefs. He has a background in medicine and academia, trained in Oxford and London, works full time for the NHS, appears regularly on radio and TV, and has written for publications as diverse as Time Out, the British Medical Journal, New Statesman and The Lancet, as well as writing and presenting ‘The Rise Of The Lifestyle Nutritionists’ and ‘The Power of Placebo’ in 2008 on BBC Radio 4.

CFI Austin Questions

2008-10-28T12:39:18-05:00

I’ve just learned of the CFI group recently from a friend and joined the forum today. My question is about CFI Austin and how active is it exactly. I left Christianity several years ago and I have three kids that I used to take to church weekly. I don’t regret my decision but feel they could be missing something if they are not involved in some sort of group (other than my wife and me) that discusses ethics, philosophy and reason. Just a shot in the dark here really. We tried the Ethical Society of Austin and loved it, but there isn’t a young children’s program to speak of. Thank you for any insight.

Skeptic Toolbox

2008-08-03T15:32:09-05:00

On my way to the Toolbox, Eugene OR

Leaving this Thursday, Aug 7th

Wondering if there are others from here going?

Susan

Monterey County Skeptics

2008-08-04T19:24:16-05:00

We are a small group located in Monterey County, CA trying to get together a skeptic group. If you or someone you know lives in this area we would love to hear from them. And if you are visiting this beautiful area, please let us know as well. Contact us at montereycountyskeptics at yahoo dot com

Thanks,

Susan