PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Nathan Bupp
Phone: (716) 636-4869 x 218
E-mail: nbupp@centerforinquiry.net
Center for Inquiry Announces Spring Lecture Series
March 19, 2007
Public Discussions to Examine the Varieties of Unbelief in American Society
Contact: Nathan Bupp
Phone: (716) 636-4869 x 218
Fax: (716) 636-1733
E-mail:
nbupp@centerforinquiry.net
Amherst, New York (March 19, 2006)—-The recent spate of books on “The New Atheism” continues to garner national and international attention in the pages of Newsweek , Wired , The New York Times , the Washington Post , and National Review . Books such as Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion , Daniel Dennett's Breaking the Spell , Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation , and physicist Victor Stenger's God: The Failed Hypothesis continue to top the nation's best-seller lists, and this May will see the release of yet a fifth book: God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by social observer and critic Christopher Hitchens.
While some American's believe that it has become open season on their religious faith, others see these new books as an opportunity to peel back the veil on an alternative approach to humanity's greatest questions, an approach that has been around as long as Confucian China and the ancient Greeks. With deep historical roots, this alternative approach casts its sails on doubt and scientific skepticism rather than faith. Most believe that an open exchange of ideas between these two competing worldviews is a good thing.
In the interest of fostering a continuing exchange of ideas, the Center for Inquiry (CFI), a think tank in Amherst with a focus on science and secularism, will kick off its 2007 Spring Lecture Series on Friday, March 23 at 7 pm with Christopher Hitchens. The series will be called "The Varieties of Unbelief," and feature seven talks by leading writers and intellectuals through June 1st. "Nonbelievers come in many varieties. We hope to show that they have a wide range of attitudes—and equally diverse questions—about topics including reality, religion, and what it means to live a good life," said Nathan Bupp, Communications Director at CFI. Do people need a religion to keep them in line? Does the idea of faith hold up to the philosophical burden of supporting absolute truth claims? What are the most reliable ideals for people to aspire to if they yearn to live in peace and harmony? Bupp says that physicists, philosophers, sociologists, and experts from many fields will address these important questions from a variety of viewpoints during the Center’s spring lecture series. The line-up includes:
Christopher Hitchens “Does Religion Make People Behave Better?” March 23
Christopher Hitchens is a columnist for Vanity Fair and Free Inquiry magazines , and a contributing editor for The Atlantic magazine. Hitchens is the author of several books including Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (2005). He is best known among secular humanists for his groundbreaking expose of Mother Teresa, and more recently for breaking with many on the left in his support of the War on Terror.
Susan Haack “Fallibilism and Faith” March 30
Susan Haack is a Professor of philosophy and law at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. She has made contributions in the fields of philosophy of language, epistemology and metaphysics. Books she has written include Manifesto of a Passionate Moderate: Unfashionable Essays (1998) and Defending Science: Within Reason Between Scientism and Cynicism (2003).
Victor Stenger, “God: the Failed Hypothesis” April 6
Victor Stenger is an emeritus professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Hawaii and adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado. He is the President of Colorado Citizens for Science (CCFS) and the author of five published books including the new bestseller, God: the Failed Hypothesis (2007).
Erik Wielenberg, “Values and Virtue in a Godless World” April 13
Erik Wielenberg is a professor of philosophy at DePauw University and author of the controversial book, Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe (2005).
Jennifer Michael Hecht, “The Happiness Myth” April 27
One of America’s leading intellectual writers and often-called the new Sontag, Jennifer Hecht's scholarly articles and poetry have been published in many journals and magazines. She has also written book reviews for The New York Times and the Washington Post . Recent books written by Hecht include Doubt: A History (2003), a wide-ranging, epic study of religious doubt and The End of the Soul (2003).
Wendy Kaminer “Topic TBA” May 4
Wendy Kaminer is a lawyer and feminist writer. Kaminer has been a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union and a staff attorney in the Office of the Mayor of New York City. She has written several books on contemporary social issues, including A Fearful Freedom: Women's Flight from Equality (1990) and I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional (1992), about the self-help movement.
Barry Loewer “Quantum Mechanics and Free Will” June 1
Barry Loewer is currently a professor of philosophy at Rutgers University and a visiting professor at the University of Michigan and NYU. Loewer’s Research areas include philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics. An interpreter of the scientific legacy of philosopher David Hume, Loewer’s many published works include Meaning in Mind (with Georges Rey) (1991) and Physicalism and its Discontents (2001).
The general admission to the series will be $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID. One can purchase the entire Spring Lecture Series in full for $50. Friends of the Center for Inquiry (members) will be admitted free of charge. For more information please call (716) 636-4869, ext. 300.
