What is the CFI Community of Harlem?

The Harlem Community offers an opportunity to put your principles into practice by joining other rationalists to work for positive change in society. In addition, the Harlem Community sponsors social events for freethinkers as well as intellectual programming, and assists with campus outreach.

CFI Communities provide an ethical alternative to religious and paranormal worldviews. In this time of rising religiosity, anti-intellectualism and political turmoil on ethical issues, it is critical that rationalists and freethinkers join together to protect civil liberties, defend reason, and work toward increasing scientific literacy.

We meet every month in Harlem to discuss how religiosity impedes our progress in the Black community spiritually, intellectually and more importantly, economically. Learn how empowering activism, education and fellowship can be.
Meetings are on the LAST Sunday of every month:  Starting January 2008: 1/27, 2/24, 3/30, 4/27, 5/25, 6/29, 7/27, 8/31, 9/28, 10/26 (NO MEETINGS: NOV AND DEC)
at 1:00 P.M.
Harlem State Office Building  (Trains: 2, 3, A, B, C, D)

The influence of God & religion are the most problematic issues in the world today. As it relates to Black people, God & religion were used to justify slavery for over 300 years. Do you know that the very bible, which is found in a large number of Black households, was used to indoctrinate Blacks into a system that instilled fear and obedience? This book was most effectively used to remove all opposition to the inhumanity suffered by Black people. You should recognize that God & religion are used to both pacify and exploit the masses. The inhumanity that takes place across the world goes unchecked and unchallenged because the masses believe their faith in God will correct all wrongs. Why is hopelessness and despair so high even with the saturation of churches in the Black community? If the Black community is to thrive economically and intellectually, we need remove the spell that religion has over us. Let the Black community determine its own FATE through hard work, reason, critical thinking and science, rather than religious dogma. _______________________________________________________________________

Past discussion topics: (Partial list)
---CFI-Harlem book discussion: "Infidel" by A.H. Ali
---Is a $50 million church a wise investment in the Black community?
---"Is religion driving Black people crazy in London?" (The U.S., too) Seventy-five percent     of  Black people in the UK attend church on a regular basis compared to 5% of British whites. African and African Caribbean people make-up almost 10% of the in-patients in psychiatric wards despite being only 3% of the population.
---"Why didn't Katrina shake Black people's faith?"
---Father Divine: "When Black preachers give rather than take."
---"Hispanic Group Thrives on Faith and Federal Aid" NY Times; Is this a deal with the proverbial devil? Should the Black church do this considering our dire needs?