CFI-NYC eBulletin - October 2009
October 1, 2009
In this eBulletin
-- Three October public lectures: Jennifer Michael Hecht; Michael De Dora Jr.; and our Voices of Reason event, "Church and State in the Obama Era."
-- Our monthly roundup of community events.
-- Show your commitment to science, reason, free inquiry, and humanist values: become a Friend of the Center!
CFI-Harlem Leader Sibanye Dead at 49
This month's eBulletin unfortunately begins with some sad news: the leader of the CFI-Harlem community, Sibanye (real name Herbert Crimes), died earlier this week. He was 49. Sibanye -- whose name means “we as one” in Swahili -- was part of a limited but rich history of freethought leadership in Harlem. In the early part of the 20th century, the great African American intellectual, orator and social activist Huber Henry Harrison led a group of non-theists in Harlem. In the 1990s, Eugene Charrington of Brooklyn headed the Harlem Atheist Association.
Friends and family are planning to devote the CFI-Harlem October meeting to a secular remembrance of Sibanye. This will take place on Oct. 25, 1-4 p.m., at the Harlem State Office Building (163 W. 125th street). Sibanye’s friend, Martey Young, is playing an integral role in planning this, and asks that if you would like to be involved in any way, you call him at 646.230.6408. Also, feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have: mdedora@centerforinquiry.net.
Warmest thoughts,
Michael De Dora Jr., Executive Director, Center for Inquiry | New York City
October Public Lectures
Oct. 18: Freethought Day Celebration: Brunch With Jennifer Michael Hecht
Join CFI-NYC and the Secular Humanist Society of New York (SHSNY) for
what promises to be an enlightening and entertaining talk by
award-winning author
Jennifer Michael Hecht
,
followed by a free-wheeling question-and-answer portion and discussion
-- all in celebration of Freethought Day (Oct. 12). October is
Freethought Month and Freethought Day is Oct. 12 because on that day in
1692, Governor
William Phips of the Massachusetts Colony declared that “spectral
evidence” would no longer be admissible in court, thereby ending -- for
lack of real-world evidence -- the Salem Witch Trials.
Brunch at the historic Pete’s Tavern is just $20, for your choice of 11 excellent entrees, one drink, plus coffee or tea, and including all taxes and tips -- cash or check only, at the door, please. Reservations are a must! The room only holds 45 people. E-mail editor@shsny.org, or phone 212-308-2165. Click here for more information.
Oct. 25: Michael De Dora Jr. on "The Future of Freethought"
A society that values freethought might look something like this: secular, and based on reason, science, free inquiry, and humanism. Yet as wonderful as this might sound for many of us, Americans currently live in a very different society: certain religious and other unreasonable beliefs control the country’s public policy and social discourse–and these beliefs are largely off the conversation table. There is a burgeoning freethought movement working to address this problem. Accordingly, there are questions to ask about the movement itself. Michael De Dora Jr. , executive director of the Center for Inquiry in New York City, will tackle some of those questions crucial to the future of the freethought movement in a Sunday platform talk at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.
Admission is free and open to the public. The event will be held at 11:15 a.m. at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, at 2 West 64th Street at Central Park West. Click here for more information.
Oct. 27: Voices of Reason: Church and State in the Obama Era
Our fall Voices of Reason series turns its attention to a subject that’s very much on the minds of secularists—what has, and has not, changed in the relationship between government and religion since the election of President Barack Obama. Rob Boston , assistant communications director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Rev. Edwin Sanders , senior servant of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church of Nashville, Tennessee and a U.S. government consultant on HIV/AIDS programs around the world, will join Susan Jacoby , author of “The Age of American Unreason,” for a freewheeling panel discussion followed by a question-and-answer session.
Admission is free and open to the public. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Church, 1157 Lexington Avenue (between 79th and 80th Streets).
Click here for more information.
October Community Events
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. : CFI-Brooklyn Philosophy and Fries: Should Health Care Workers Be Able to Deny Care on Religious Grounds? Click here for more.
Tuesday , Oct. 13, 2:30 p.m. : The Jolly Thirteen Club, a monthly conversation-based meal on skepticism. Click here for more.
Thursday, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. : SHSNY Book Club, on "Complexity: Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos." Click here for more.
Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 p.m. : CFI-Harlem meeting: special secular remembrance of deceased leader Sibanye. Click here for more.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 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.
