Paul Kurtz, considered by many the father of the secular humanist movement, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo. As chair of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), the Council for Secular Humanism, and Prometheus Books, and as editor-in-chief of Free Inquiry Magazine, he has advanced a critical, humanistic inquiry into many of the most cherished beliefs of society for the last forty years. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been featured very widely in the media, on topics as diverse as reincarnation, UFO abduction, secular versus religious ethics, communication with the dead, and the historicity of Jesus.

In this conversation with D.J. Grothe, Paul Kurtz describes the Center for Inquiry’s transnational efforts, detailing its activities to advance science and secular values in the Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Canada and various countries in Africa, the Middle East and South America. He shares some of the history of the worldwide skeptical and humanist movements, and shows how the recent worldwide expansion of the Center for Inquiry is a result of its commitment to what he calls “planetary humanism.”

http://www.pointofinquiry.org

Thanks for the update. The breadth of CFI’s efforts is wonderful. It provides an oasis of hope in places that desperately need some. The publication translations in arabic seem particularly important.

I have been somewhat involved with CFI Toronto.  I just wonder if CFI by attempting to go ‘transnational’ may not be spreading its resources too thin when the United States is the greatest example of theocratic extremism in the western world?

I hope the upcoming election (and time) will help alleviate much of the US problem - which is insane. CFI receives support from all over the world. I think the transnational approach is appropriate and makes CFI stronger. I could be wrong.

We are living in a global community and we need transnational support for the social movement.  With the help of centers in other countries, we can help burst the bubble of isolation that much of the United States is living in.

I know that help goes both ways.  I picked up that CFI were trying to do things in other countries. It is great to achieve a global perspective but talking in terms of financial solvency, no free thinking group in the US comes close to the resources of some of these Christian and Intelegent design lobbyists
Did Bill Gates give CFI a billion bucks and I didn’t hear about it?

Thomas Donnelly - 16 May 2008 03:25 PM

In this conversation with D.J. Grothe, Paul Kurtz describes the Center for Inquiry’s transnational efforts…
... the recent worldwide expansion of the Center for Inquiry is a result of its commitment to what he calls “planetary humanism.”

The CFI umbrella is remarkably large. 

Is the skeptical movement half of CFI at all skeptical about the secular humanism half? 

The word Transnational was new to me—always something to learn on these podcasts.

I found this episode to be the most inspiring and hopeful thing that I have heard in a long time.

I think CFI should be the flagship for the whole pro-science movement.

traveler - 17 May 2008 01:27 PM

I hope the upcoming election (and time) will help alleviate much of the US problem - which is insane. CFI receives support from all over the world. I think the transnational approach is appropriate and makes CFI stronger. I could be wrong.

I don’t see any election alleviating America’s widespread obscurantism and hostility to reason. It will take a much longer, deeper change in the cultural zeitgeist in America before
the (as you accurately describe it) “insane” current situation can be put behind us. That assumes it even can be done, which is a very iffy proposition.

Like you, I’m delighted to see this new emphasis on the “transnational” approach; there are plenty of places around the world where the secularist/rationalist worldview could
find more fertile soil than here in the US.

We are in complete agreement. Note that I did parenthetically add “time” since you are correct - no election by itself will save us. I do try to be an optimist, however. Not always easy, but within my power as a human.

I think changing the USA may not be as long of a process as it seems.

If meme theory (Dawkins, Dennet, Blackmore) is correct then one idea can rapidly overthrow another. In fact there seems to be some evidence for this in language, as it has demonstrated something akin to punctuated equilibrium, or rapid evolutionary bursts.  In history Christianity overturned hellenistic polytheism with simple yet effective competitive strategies akin to those we see in genetics. That is, if meme theory is right.

I think that some other things to consider is that most people identify as political moderates, which makes me wonder how fundamentalist they really are.
I think people are generally open minded, and the culture war is not for deeply entrenched minds, but for minds which are in constant flux.

This seems to match nicely with what Hitchens and Dawkins have reported from their book tours, that America is much more open to atheism than either of them ever imagined.

With an organization as powerful and influential as CFI, the simple commitment to increase the presence of the Center in each of our communities could create a massive cultural impact within our lifetimes.

I think that the evidence supports this if one sees what each Center for Inquiry has accomplished in all of the cities which it is in.

I for one know that CFI Ontario has become a real player in Canadian politics and its director, Justin Trottier, has literally become a hero of mine. He is the first hero I have ever had who is actually younger than I.

I also know that CFI in Washingtong DC is actively lobbying congress.

I should not need to remind anyone of the wonderful things that Paul Kurtz reported in this episode.

Truthfully, CFI is demonstrating the effectiveness which we really need to see America return to its once strong commitment to enlightenment principles.

It is clear that freethinkers are truly todays heirs of the founding father’s original movement, and CFI seems to have the muscle necessary to carry our ideas into the marketplace in a significant way.

Damn, I think I should add here that I have never received a dime from CFI, and have actually given them a few of my own.

My opinions are sincere, even if they sound a little zealous.

traveler - 19 May 2008 06:39 AM

We are in complete agreement. Note that I did parenthetically add “time” since you are correct - no election by itself will save us. I do try to be an optimist, however. Not always easy, but within my power as a human.

Very true. Underneath my crusty exterior, I’m basically a “glass half full” kind of guy myself.

I read yesterday that 30% of the youth within the New Life Church Colarado (Ted Haggard) say they are imbrassed to say they are fundimendalists.
Dan Dennant says the numbers of christrian extremists within the US are getting smaller but they are getting desperate and getting louder.

There seems to be an usually high amount pro-life videos being put up on Youtube lately. Is this some underhanded Republican Conservative right campaign strategy to get the republicans back into power now that McCain has conveniently switched to Pro Life just in time for the election. Knowing anti-abortionists don’t care about anything but Jesus and abortions they will stay republican.

Aushawster - 19 May 2008 07:15 AM

I read yesterday that 30% of the youth within the New Life Church Colarado (Ted Haggard) say they are imbrassed to say they are fundimendalists.
Dan Dennant says the numbers of christrian extremists within the US are getting smaller but they are getting desperate and getting louder.

There seems to be an usually high amount pro-life videos being put up on Youtube lately. Is this some underhanded Republican Conservative right campaign strategy to get the republicans back into power now that McCain has conveniently switched to Pro Life just in time for the election. Knowing anti-abortionists don’t care about anything but Jesus and abortions they will stay republican.

I think that these are important factors.

I am 100% pro-choice, but have been astounded by the number of pro-life atheists I have met.

I think the whole thing just needs a little organized push, and even the pro-life movement can be wrested from fundamentalists. They should not get to keep anything without a fight.

Even the best biblical scholars tend to be atheists.

mindcore - 19 May 2008 07:18 AM

Even the best biblical scholars tend to be atheists.

LOL spoken like an true atheist

Atheists do need to speak up about our personal morals.  I for one am only pro-choice when it comes to others when speaking about my own pesonal views using abortion as a counterseptive is discusting.

The problem with ‘Conservitives’ they have a tunnel vision view that excluded everything outside of what their faith dictates.

Aushawster - 19 May 2008 07:35 AM

mindcore - 19 May 2008 07:18 AM

Even the best biblical scholars tend to be atheists.

LOL spoken like an true atheist

Atheists do need to speak up about our personal morals.  I for one am only pro-choice when it comes to others when speaking about my own pesonal views using abortion as a counterseptive is discusting.

The problem with ‘Conservitives’ they have a tunnel vision view that excluded everything outside of what their faith dictates.

Well said.