SkepDish Archive

Wine, Dinner & Conversation with Matthew Chapman

6/03/2008 2:23:00 PM ET

Don't miss the next event in CFI-NYC's new Truth Uncorked dinner series, featuring wine and intimate conversation with local authors, artists, and intellectuals.  The next dinner, on Thursday, June 12, features Matthew Chapman, the acclaimed author, film producer and director, champion of evolution, and great-great-granson of Charles Darwin.  For reservations call (212) 504-2935 or e-mail twilliams [at] centerforinquiry [dot] net.

Susan Jacoby, Chris Hedges on Reason, Religion & Politics

5/28/2008 3:37:00 PM ET

Don't miss CFI-NYC Program Director Susan Jacoby's GRITtv interview, alongside Chris Hedges, on reason, religion, and public policy.  Susan is the author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, and the recent NY Times bestseller The Age of American Unreason.  Chris Hedges, former Middle East bureau chief for the NY Times and a senior fellow at The Nation Institute, is the author, most recently, of I Don't Believe in Atheists.

CFI-NYC Co-hosts Daniel Dennett

5/22/2008 5:31:00 PM ET

Tufts philosopher and author Daniel C. Dennett (Darwin's Dangerous Idea; Consciousness Explained; Breaking the Spell) is coming to New York City on Saturday, May 31.   CFI-NYC will co-host Dennett's appearance at the New York Society for Ethical Culture from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  (See http://www.nysec.org for more information.)  A short presentation and discussion will follow a screening of Dennett's extended interview by Jonathan Miller during the making of the BBC series A Rough History of Disbelief.  The extended interview is part of The Atheism Tapes series now available on DVD.  Last year the Center for Inquiry helped bring the original BBC series to public television under the name A Brief History of Disbelief.

Susan Jacoby on The Colbert Report!

4/23/2008 10:38:00 AM ET

CFI-NYC Program Director Susan Jacoby appeared on Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report on Tuesday, April 22 to discuss her bestselling book, The Age of American Unreason.  Visit the Colbert Report web site to watch.

Paul Kurtz at the NY Academy of Sciences

by Derek Araujo • 4/11/2008 3:07:00 PM ET

CFI founder and chairman Paul Kurtz will speak about Science & Ethics on Thursday, April 17 at the New York Academy of Sciences, 250 Greenwich St.  Registration required.

CFI-NYC Theatre Club: The Quantum Eye

by Derek Araujo • 4/11/2008 3:03:00 PM ET

Join us on on Saturday, May 17 for the inaugural event our new Theatre Club: a performance of famed magician Sam Eaton's The Quantum Eye: Magic Deceptions.  Discount tickets are available.

Wine, Dinner & Conversation with Susan Jacoby

by Derek Araujo • 4/03/2008 12:33:00 PM ET

Don't miss Truth Uncorked, CFI-NYC's new monthly wine-and-intimate conversation dinners with local authors, artists, and intellectuals.  The inaugural dinner, featuring NY Times bestselling author Susan Jacoby (author of The Age of American Unreason and Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism) will occur on Thursday, April 10 at 8:00 p.m.  Sign up online or call (212) 504-2935.

First Freedom First Live Simulcast

by Derek Araujo • 3/23/2008 12:24:00 PM ET

Join CFI-NYC Program Director Susan Jacoby, CFI-On Campus President Matthew LaClair, and the New York City chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State this Wednesday, March 26 at Regal-Union Square Stadium 14 for a live, national simulcast to promote church-state separation as an issue in the 2008 election. Click here for more information.

Richard Dawkins Comes to CFI-NYC

by Derek Araujo • 3/05/2008 1:19:00 PM ET

Join CFI-NYC and the NY Society for Ethical Culture for an appearance by acclaimed author and Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins.  Prof. Dawkins is traveling the U.S. on a promotional tour for the paperback edition of his bestseller, The God Delusion.  His NYC lecture will occur on Saturday, March 15 at the Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th Street.  Free and open to the publc.  Click here for more information.

Susan Jacoby on NPR

by Derek Araujo • 3/05/2008 1:17:00 PM ET

Visit NPR's website for an interview with Susan Jacoby on her NY Times bestseller, The Age of American Unreason.

Voices of Reason: Alan Wolfe & Michael Kazin on "1968 and 2008"

by Derek Araujo • 2/28/2008 4:17:00 PM ET

Join celebrated author and scholar Alan Wolfe (director, Boisi Center for Religion and Public Life, and author, Does American Democracy Still Work), acclaimed historian Michael Kazin (America Divided: The Civil War of the Sixties), and NY Times bestselling author Susan Jacoby (The Age of American Unreason) for a panel discussion on Wednesday, March 19, on the impact of the dramatic events of 1968 on American politics on the current presidential campaign. Co-sponsored by the Gotham Center for New York City History.  Click here for registration information.

More on Susan Jacoby

by Derek Araujo • 2/18/2008 10:31:00 AM ET

Visit Salon.com for yet another story on Susan Jacoby's new book, The Age of American Unreason.   Susan will also appear on the Today Show tomorrow morning between 7:30 and 8:00.  Join us this Wednesday for Susan's public lecture and book launch party.

Susan Jacoby Appears on Bill Moyers Journal

by Derek Araujo • 2/15/2008 1:40:00 PM ET

Don't miss CFI-NYC Program Director Susan Jacoby's appearance on Bill Moyers Journal tonight at 900 p.m.  Ms. Jacoby will discuss themes from her new book, The Age of American Unreason.  Those who miss the broadcast may access it on the Journal's web site.  See immediately below for information on Ms. Jacoby's Wed., Feb. 20 lecture and book party.

NYT on Susan Jacoby

by Derek Araujo • 2/14/2008 10:42:00 AM ET

Read today's NY Times article about Susan Jacoby's new book, The Age of American Unreason . . . and join us on Wednesday, Feb. 20 for Susan's lecture and book signing.  Click here for registration and further information.

Mick Gordon & AC Grayling's Grace at MCC Theatre

by Derek Araujo • 2/01/2008 1:38:00 PM ET

Don't miss the special limited engagement of Mick Gordon and AC Grayling's acclaimed intellectual drama Grace at the Lucille Lortel Theatre through March 8.  CFI-NYC friends receive a special discount.  Call (212) 504-2945 ext. 1 for more information.  Click here for a sneak preview video.

Susan Jacoby to Deliver Darwin Day Lecture

by Derek Araujo • 1/21/2008 2:21:00 PM ET

CFI-NYC's Susan Jacoby will deliver this year's annual Darwin Day lecture as part of the Voices of Reason lecture series.  Don't miss her presentation on her new book, The Age of American Unreason.  Join us on Wednesday, February 20 at 20 E. 44th Street.  Click here for more information or to reserve tickets.

Don't Miss Harvey J. Kaye on Thomas Paine

by Derek Araujo • 1/14/2008 1:46:00 PM ET

Don't miss this year's Thomas Paine Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, January 16.  Harvey J. Kaye will speak about Paine and America's Unfinished Revolution: The Struggle for Democracy Continues.  What would Thomas Paine think about the restrictions on American civil liberties in the wake of 9/11? We'll talk about this and many other topics as relevant today as they were at the time of the American Revolution.  Click here for more information or to reserve tickets.

CFI-NYC to Organize Travel to CFI-DC "Civic Days"

by Derek Araujo • 12/08/2007 2:23:00 PM ET

CFI-NYC will organize groups of carpoolers to travel to Washington, DC for CFI-DC's Civic Days event, February 22-25, 2008.  Join CFI-DC's staff for a walking tour of the city; guided tours of the Thomas Jefferson Library of Congress and Washington's various memorials, the Air and Space, American Indian, and National History Museums; briefings on climate change, congressional issues, and the status of CFI's legal cases; and attendance of congressional briefings or hearings.   Advanced payment and registration for Civic Days is recommended.  For those interested in organizing a car pool to Washington, DC for the event, please contact Tasha Williams at (212) 504-2945 ext. 1, or e-mail

Secular Society Conference Draws Over 400

by Derek Araujo • 11/12/2007 3:38:00 PM ET

CFI-NYC's 2007 conference, The Secular Society and Its Enemies, drew more than 400 people to the New York Academy of Science's space at 7 World Trade Center this past weekend for a SOLD OUT conference.  Richard Dawkins, Alan Dershowitz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Peter Singer, Wendy Kaminer, Ann Druyan, and a host of others spoke and mingled with attendees, while Christopher Hitchens appeared in a special video interview.  DVD and internet videos are planned.  More information will appear on CFI-NYC's web site soon.

Intelligently Designed Debate

by Derek Araujo • 10/25/2007 1:16:00 PM ET

Matthew Chapman, a direct descendant of Charles Darwin and author of 40 Days and 40 Nights - Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities On Trial in Pennsylvania, has proposed that the presidential candidates hold a debate exclusively on the subject of science.  Read his guest column at the Washington Post's On Faith  blog.

The Cat in the Fez

by Austin Dacey • 10/01/2007 1:19:00 PM ET

Young Bangladeshi cartoonist Arifur Rahman, a staffer with the daily paper Prothom Alo, has been imprisoned by the current caretaker government and, according to local sources, denied access to a lawyer. The accusation? He “hurt the religious sentiment of the people.” Rahman authored a mildly satirical cartoon in which a young man appends the traditional title of respect, “Muhammad,” to a cat (Paws Be Upon Him?).  CFI’s UN representative, Austin Dacey, questioned a leading government official during his September 28 appearance at Columbia University’s World Leaders Forum (which recently hosted a certain gaydar-impaired Iranian president).  Asked why his government arrested Arifur Rahman and how restricting free expression is good for Bangladesh, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief adviser to the government, replied that “the media will remain free as long as our government is in power.” Until December 2008, when elections are promised, can Bangladeshis endure that much freedom?

Pretend Science Teacher Shills for Pretend Science

by Derek C. Araujo • 9/27/2007 2:24:00 PM ET

According to today's New York Times, several eminent scientists - including Richard Dawkins and P.Z. Myers - allegedly were deceived into participating in an upcoming film touting "intelligent design" creationism, hosted by the actor, anti-abortion crusader, and creationist huckster Ben Stein.  Stein, who believes that the theory of evolution leads to racism and genocide, would name the film "From Darwin to Hitler."  SkepDish recommends that Stein limit his science lessons to The Wonder Years.

Whom Would Jesus Sue?

by Derek C. Araujo • 9/19/2007 1:14:00 PM ET

According to law blog Above The Law, a Los Angeles attorney encountered the following language in the Governing Law section of a software license agreement: "This agreement is governed solely and exclusively by the principles written in the Holy Bible.  All disputes must be mediated by a mediator nominated by the Institute of Christian Conciliation under the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation."  Losers will be stoned to death?

NYC Skeptics Form New Association

by Derek C. Araujo • 9/17/2007 11:37:00 AM ET

The newly-formed New York City Skeptics Association has launched a new web site.  Check out their Sept. 23 end-of-summer picnic (12:30 PM, Central Park East Meadow; meet at 98th St. & 5th Ave.).

Secular Students of the World, Unite!

by Derek C. Araujo • 9/07/2007 4:37:00 PM ET

CFI-NYC will host a region-wide student organizing meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18 for college and university students who are interested in defending science and secularism on the campuses.  Join us!

CFI-NYC to Relocate to Financial District

by Derek C. Araujo • 8/28/2007 2:54:00 PM ET

On September 12, CFI-NYC will relocate to temporary office space at 80 Broad Street in the Financial District, south of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange. This relocation comes at the end of CFI-NYC's lease at Rockefeller Center, and in anticipation of its purchase of a building.  As with CFI-NYC's former space, offices will be open to the public.

Taslima Nasrin Attacked by Muslim Mob

by Derek C. Araujo • 8/10/2007 12:44:00 PM ET

Taslima Nasrin, the controversial exiled Bangladeshi writer, champion of women's rights, and critic of Islam, was attacked by angry Muslim protesters at CFI-India sponsored conference in Hyderabad.  The protesters, allegedly led by three lawmakers, ransacked the local Press Club where Nasrin appeared, throwing chairs and overturning tables.  Nasrin is reported to be safe.  Nasrin fled Bangladesh in 1994 under death threats from Islamic hard-liners.  Now living in India, she has applied for Indian citizenship or permanent resident status.

Landmark NYC Conference on Nov. 9-11: Secularists Storm Manhattan!

CFI-NYC will sponsor The Secular Society & Its Enemies, a major religion, secularism & politics conference, on Nov. 9 - 11 at the New York Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center.  Speakers include, among others, Christopher Hitchens, Alan Dershowitz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Peter Singer, Wendy Kaminer, Ann Druyan, and an unannounced, Very Special Guest.  See www.centerforinquiry/secularsociety for more information.  Space is limited.  Register now!

Desperately Seeking Secularism

by Derek C. Araujo • 7/26/2007 3:27:00 PM ET

CFI-NYC's own Susan Jacoby has inaugurated her own Washington Post-sponsored blog on secularism.  Visit The Secularist's Corner for "Not Always Polite Conversation on Religion, Politics and Liberty with Susan Jacoby."

"Muslim (apologists) Speak Out!" at Washington Post

by Austin Dacey • 7/26/2007 3:21:00 PM ET

When Washington Post's blog "On Faith" invited Muslims to speak out about terrorism and Islam, they forgot the secularists. Watch as CFI-NYC's Susan Jacoby, also a regular "On Faith" blogger, bites the hand that publishes her.

Albert Ellis: 1913 - 2007

by Derek C. Araujo • 7/25/2007 7:07:00 AM ET

Dr. Albert Ellis, one of the most influential psychologists of our time and a member of CFI-NYC's Advisory Board, died yesterday at his Manhattan home. Dr. Ellis had revolutionized psychotherapy since 1955, when he created Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the first of the now-popular cognitive behavior therapies. We will miss him very much.

Creationism's Turkish Horse

by Derek C. Araujo • 7/16/2007 3:19:00 PM ET

The latest assault on Darwin's theory of evolution comes from Turkey, modern home of the ancient city of Troy.  According to an article in today's New York Times, Darwin's most recent challenger is Adnan Oktar, a primate living in Turkey.  Under the pseudonym Harun Yahya, Oktar sent unsolicited copies of a book called Atlas of Creation to members of Congress, scientists, and science museums across the United States. According to the Times, Oktar considers evolution to be "a feeble and perverted ideology contradicted by the Koran."  The Times article quotes physicist Taner Edis, a Skeptical Inquirer affiliate whose new book, An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam, was published by Prometheus Books this spring.

What Would Quasimodo Do?

by Derek C. Araujo • 7/13/2007 4:21:00 PM ET

In the latest church-state battle to hit the New York City area, the city's Department of Buildings has filed a criminal court summons against the Church of Celestial Christ on Waverly Avenue, Brooklyn for allegedly violating city zoning restrictions.  According to Dana Rubinstein of The Brooklyn Papers, the church's all-day, unpermitted, amplified Sunday services -- in a building zoned for residential use and with little soundproofing -- have riled neighbors and city authorities alike.  A spokesman for the church blamed the church's "obsessive" neighbors for the conflict.  According to him, "[t]hey should accommodate us."  Perhaps by turning the other ear?

Dhormer Upojogita? That's what we'd like to know

by Austin Dacey • 7/10/2007 6:02:00 PM ET

In case you didn't know, that's Bengali for "What Use is Religion?" An online network of humanists and freethinkers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries is translating recent humanist writings from English into Bengali. The network, Mukto-Mona, was co-founded by Jahed Ahmed, a New York-based secularist activist and longtime friend of the Center for Inquiry. In addition to Richard Dawkin's article from Free Inquiry magazine What Use is Religion? the group has translated the first chapter of Dawkins' The God Delusion. Mr. Amhed is now working on Paul Kurtz's Affirmations: Joyful and Creative Exuberance.

Along with an educational organization based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Mukto-Mona is publishing a biannual journal called Muktanwesha ("Free Inquest"), emphasizes free inquiry, humanism, and the scientific outlook. The inaugural issue of the journal, released this month, contains a translation of Kurtz's essay, Why I am a Skeptic About Religious Claims. Visit Mukto-Mona online at http://www.mukto-mona.com.

Atheists in Blogospace

by Austin Dacey • 7/02/2007 11:15:00 AM ET

Over the weekend, an eruption in the blogosphere over an article by CFI staffers Austin Dacey and DJ Grothe on whether atheism is a civil rights issue. It started when Matt "Framing Science" Nisbett criticized the PR strategy of the New Atheists, citing Dacey and Grothe for support. Popular scienceblogger PZ Myers revolted. Cue kerfuffle . . . (Don't miss DJ's exchanges with Myers in the comments section.)  A useful summary of the debate is posted by Trinifar.

Is Anyone Out There?  Apparently, Yes.

6/19/2007 4:42:00 PM ET

Gay City News has published an article by Christopher Murray about CFI-NYC's director "Giving Up The Ghost."  Rest assured that he's still breathing.

Good Reading

by Derek C. Araujo • 6/19/2007 4:42:00 PM ET

Finally, a journalist who basically gets it.  Check out The Nation's June 25 story on "The New Atheists: Toward a Revival of Secular Humanism," by Ronald Aronson, with quotes from CFI-NYC's own Susan Jacoby.  Says Aronson: "Few loud-and-clear voices have been agitating in the mainstream on behalf of the separation of church and state, for secular and public education, or demanding less rather than more political discussion of religion."  Well said, Ron. Call me if you're tired of The Nation and want to write for SkepDish.

Miller's Tale

by Austin Dacey • 6/19/2007 4:40:00 PM ET

Jonathan Miller's three-part BBC documentary, A Brief History of Disbelief, premiers on WNET / Channel 13 this July.  Local listings are finally available online.   A Brief History of Disbelief is presented by the Independent Production Fund, executive director Alvin Perlmutter, and its principal sponsor is the Center for Inquiry.

Fish Out of Water

An Open Letter to Stanley Fish

by Derek C. Araujo • 6/14/2007 12:50:00 PM ET

Seldom does an intellect as penetrating and deadly accurate as that of Stanley Fish miss its mark entirely.  Imagine my surprise and disappointment, then, on reading Professor Fish’s deficient critique of "The Three Atheists" - Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens - in his June 10 New York Times blog entry.  It is telling, if altogether unsurprising, that this noted scholar’s exceptional essay concerns the topic of faith.   Read more . . .