CFI-NYC eBulletin - November 2009
October 30, 2009
In this eBulletin
-- Our big November event: Celebrating 150 Years of 'Origin of Species' at the New York Academy of Sciences, with Gerald Edelman, Paul Ekman, and Terrence Deacon.
-- Our monthly roundup of community events.
-- Show your commitment to science, reason, free inquiry, and humanist values: become a Friend of the Center!
November Public Lectures
Nov. 17: The Pyschology of Religion: Religious Belief and the Mind
Why do people believe in religious claims? How does religious belief influence a person's interaction with the world? Does religious belief result in measurable changes in the human mind? And where does what many call "spirituality" and "spiritual experience" fit into all of this? A panel including scientist-come-philosopher Massimo Pigliucci , historian-philosopher-poet Jennifer Michael Hecht , and NYU's Zoran Josipovic , Ph.D., will tackle these questions and more.
Admission is free and open to the public. A Q&A session will follow the presentations from the panelists. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for Inquiry | New York City and the NYU Atheists, Agnostics, and Freethinkers. Click here for more information.
Nov. 24: Celebrating 150 Years of 'Origin of Species'
The Center for Inquiry | New York city is co-sponsoring a very special event at The New York Academy of Sciences. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's landmark book, "Origin of Species," three leading scientists -- Gerald Edelman, Paul Ekman, and Terrence Deacon -- will discuss the importance of Darwin's theory of evolution and how his observations informed their three very diverse fields of work -- neurobiology, psychology, and linguistics.
Admission is $25 and tickets must be bought in advance. Click here for more information.
October Community Events
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. : CFI-Brooklyn Philosophy and Fries: Metaphysics: What Is It? What's It Good For? Click here for more.
Friday , Nov. 13, 8:00 p.m. : The Jolly Thirteen Club, a monthly conversation-based meal on skepticism. Click here for more.
Thursday, Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m. : SHSNY Book Club, on "The Moral Animal," by Robert Wright. Click here for more.
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. : Drinking Skeptically, a pub-based monthly drinking meetup promoting fellowship and networking. Click here for more.
Show Your Commitment to Reason, Science, Free Inquiry, and Humanist Values
In the contemporary marketplace of ideas, one can find responsible, objective, and evidence-based information on everything from foreign policy to hormone replacement therapy. Yet when it comes to some of our most fundamental questions -- about human values, the transcendent, or the borderlands of science -- one often only hears from partisans of traditional religion, New Age practitioners, or anti-science movements.
With its network of scientists and other thinkers, its grassroots advocacy and public education organizations, and its popular and scholarly publications, the Center for Inquiry fills this gap, lending a credible voice to critical inquiry and the scientific outlook.
Help CFI promote and defend science, reason, freedom of inquiry and humanist values by becoming a Friend of the Center. Friends of the Center receive:
- Free or discounted admission to CFI events
- A handsome enamel lapel pin and colorful CFI vinyl decal
- 10% discount for national events sponsored by CFI and its affiliates, the Council for Secular Humanism & the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
- Invitations to special “Friends” events and private receptions
- 15% discount on selected Prometheus Books titles
- One Center for Inquiry guest pass to give to a friend
- Knowledge that you are helping an important cause
Join the Center for Inquiry by becoming a Friend of the Center.
Join CFI in the Western Caribbean
CFI Travel Club Adventure: The Western Caribbean, Nov. 12-20, 2009
We are happy to announce the 6th Annual Center for Inquiry Travel Club Event. Please join your host, Paul Kurtz, and staff sailing on Carnival Miracle®.
Enjoy 8 days of conversation, camaraderie and fun with like-minded folks. Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, visit the countries of Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. Savor 4 days at sea, stretching your mind and body, participate in challenging presentations and pleasant on-board activities. November 12-20, 2009.
For more information and registration, visit http://www.centerforinquiry.net/cruise2009.
Everything, including all times, itinerary and pricing, is subject to change at any time.
The CFI-NYC Capital Campaign
The next step of CFI-NYC's development is to take its place as a leading cultural institution. To this end, we are seeking to purchase a 5,000+ square-foot property in Manhattan (hopefully with room for expansion) to serve as the headquarters for our growing staff and to become a permanent home for reason, science, and secular values in New York.
We are challenging our friends -- humanists, skeptics, and freethinkers in the New York area -- to help us exceed our goal of raising $6.25 million. Our goal is based on the amount considered necessary to purchase and renovate a building that will suit our needs.
Our capital campaign brochure is available for download on our website at http://www.centerforinquiry.net/nyc/news/capital_campaign .To request a hard copy of our brochure, or to inquire about making a contribution, call Sherry Rook, Vice President of Development, at (800) 818-7071.
