FAQ

  1. What is the Center for Inquiry On Campus ?
  2. What is freethought?
  3. Are you a religious organization? Are you a cult?
  4. Are you an atheist organization?
  5. Are you anti-Christian or anti-religious?
  6. What about spirituality?
  7. Who can join the Center for Inquiry On Campus ?
  8. What if I want to join but I'm still in high school?
  9. Are you a partisan organization?
  10. What is the Center for Inquiry On Campus's overall stance on political issues?
  11. Does the Center for Inquiry On Campus ally itself with other organizations?
  12. Can my group join as is, or must I start a separate Center for Inquiry On Campus club?
  13. Does membership cost anything?
  14. How is the Center for Inquiry On Campus funded?
  15. What is the Center for Inquiry On Campus 's administrative structure?
  16. How much control does the Center for Inquiry On Campus exercise over its member groups?
  17. If I don't have a group already, how can I start one?
  18. How can my group or I play a greater role in the Center for Inquiry On Campus ?
  19. Are there other similar groups or thinkers in my area?

1. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is an umbrella organization that unites student freethinkers, skeptics, secularists, humanists, and their groups on campuses across North America and around the world. We are dedicated to building student freethought communities and promoting humanism, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry. We defend civil liberties, church-state separation, and religious freedom from the Religious Right and other opposing forces. Our chief aims are to promote and defend reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in education.

2. What is freethought?
"Freethought" is the name of an American intellectual and cultural movement that can be traced back to the writings of the founders of our nation, the philosophers of the French and German Enlightenment, and the secular populists of the 19th century. A freethinker is an unbeliever who forms his or her judgments about religion using reason rather than relying on tradition, authority, faith, or established belief. Members of the freethought movement strive to free the mind of ignorant presuppositions and superstitions and are generally secular and humanist in outlook.

3. Are you a religious organization? Are you a cult?
No. The campus freethought movement is a nonreligious student movement dedicated to promoting reason, not religion; science, not pseudoscience; the poetry of science, not faith. Freethinkers emphasize reason and scientific inquiry, individual freedom and responsibility, human values and compassion, and the need for tolerance and cooperation.

4. Are you an atheist organization?
No. Most (but not all) of our members doubt or disbelieve God's existence. However, doubt of religious dogma is only a part of what defines CFI On Campus. Aside from skepticism of religious dogma, we promote religious liberty, the ethical ideals of secular humanism, and science education.

5. Are you anti-Christian or anti-religious? 
No. CFI On Campus is not anti-anything, but we are pro-academic freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of inquiry.  Therefore, CFI On Campus presents rational and scientific critiques of religious, paranormal, and pseudo-scientific claims. There are no "sacred-cows," religious or otherwise. CFI On Campus also opposes attempts to force beliefs on others. Therefore, we promote and defend church-state separation and religious liberty: the right of every person to believe and worship as he or she pleases, or not to do so at all. So, CFI On Campus is not anti-Christian or anti-religious, but we strongly oppose the politicization of personal religious beliefs.

6. What about "spirituality"?
By some definitions, the term "spiritual" may accurately describe some members of CFI On Campus. In general, freethinkers reject spiritual claims insofar as they deal with the supernatural. By contrast, spiritualists and "New Agers," who speak of spiritual forces or spiritual ways of knowing reality, reject reason in favor of tradition, speculation or mystical experience. Because of this, they wouldn't be considered freethinkers. However, if the word "spiritual" is used to refer to a strong sense of emotion, such as a deep appreciation of the arts or a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the universe (i.e.: the "poetry of science") it is compatible with freethought. Many famous freethinkers, atheists, and humanists, such as Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins, talk emotionally about their respect and awe for the size and age of the universe, the beauty of science or the power of the arts, and use the word "spiritual" in this sense.

7. Who can join the Center for Inquiry On Campus?
We welcome all college and high school students and student organizations that support our mission. Some members are religious students who are interested in freethought and related issues.
Join now!

8. What if I want to join but I'm still in high school?
CFI On Campus is primarily an organization for college and university students, but we can provide organizing resources for high school students. For more information, contact a CFI On Campus coordinator or use our join form.

9. Are you a partisan organization?
No. CFI On Campus is a non-profit educational organization that is not affiliated with any particular party or figure. There are classical liberals, fiscal conservatives, libertarians, Republicans, Democrats, social democrats, socialists and Marxists who support our aims - promoting and defending reason, science, and freedom of inquiry in education.

10. What is CFI On Campus's overall stance on political issues? 
As a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization, CFI On Campus is not permitted by IRS regulations to engage in certain types of political activity. While we have taken positions on some politically-charged issues, not every member or affiliated campus group agrees with every position. CFI On Campus recognizes and appreciates differences of political and social opinion among its members. Generally, CFI On Campus values individual freedom and civil liberties, while striving to make reason and secular values, rather than religious faith, the foundation on which a political position is based. We have taken positions on several related issues that have been attacked on religious-political grounds, such as supporting church-state separation and religious liberty; freedom of speech and conscience, and the defense of academic freedom.

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11. Does the Center for Inquiry On Campus ally itself with other organizations?
CFI On Campus collaborates with many outside organizations that have overlapping interests and goals. Such organizations include Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the First Amendment Taskforce, The Secular Web, and the National Center for Science Education. CFI On Campus continues to strive to bridge the gap between individuals and groups that support its mission.

12. Can my group join as it is now, or must I start a separate Center for Inquiry On Campus affiliate group?
Your group can join as it is now. We are an umbrella organization uniting many student groups across the world. To become associated with the CFI On Campus, existing groups need only to affiliate. If there is no freethought-related group in your area, consider working with the staff and volunteers at CFI On Campus to start one.
 
13. Does membership cost anything?
Membership is free. We ask only that members and groups use the resources that we provide in an effective and efficient manner. Of course, as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, we do encourage and appreciate donations, and all donations are tax-deductible. Please make a donation to support CFI On Campus if you can.

14. How is the Center for Inquiry On Campus funded?
CFI On Campus is a non-profit educational organization that receives funding through private donations and through sponsorship by the Center for Inquiry and its two major subdivisions: the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI, formally CSICOP), which encourages critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view, and the Council for Secular Humanism, North America’s largest organization for ethical, nonreligious people. The Center for Inquiry (CFI), the Council for Secular Humanism, and CSI are also non-profit educational organizations established in the public interest.

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15. What is the Center for Inquiry On Campus's administrative structure?
CFI On Campus is directed by staff at the Center for Inquiry-Transnational and through the direction of students who serve in appointed and elected positions. For details about getting involved with CFI On Campus at a national and/or international level, contact a coordinator.

16. How much control does the Center for Inquiry On Campus exercise over its member groups?
None. CFI On Campus exercises no official control over the campus groups that affiliate with it. Each group directs its own activities and preserves its independence and autonomy. We do provide occasional networking, promotional, programmatic, and administrative direction, in cooperation with local group leaders and members.

17. If I don't have a group already, how can I start one?
We are eager to help you start a CFI On Campus group on your campus. This usually involves advertising on the campus, gathering interested students, and then approaching the college administration for official recognition of the group. We can provide manuals and other resources detailing the formation of new CFI On Campus affiliate groups and the maintenance of existent ones. For a copy of the manual and assistance getting started, contact us at the Amherst Headquarters or use our join form.

18. How can I get more involved?
There are many opportunities for groups or individuals to become more actively involved with the CFI On Campus. All members can contribute to our bimonthly email newsletter and organize or attend CFI On Campus national or regional conferences. Additionally, members can get involved in activism campaigns and outreach programs sponsored by CFI On Campus.  For further information, check out our e-newsletter, Campus Inquirer, or contact us.

19. Are there other, similar groups individuals in my area?
CFI On Campus has groups and contacts on hundreds of high school and college campuses worldwide. In addition, since we are sponsored by the Center for Inquiry and are affiliated with the Council for Secular Humanism and CSI (both of which support networks of freethought, secular humanist, and skeptic societies throughout the world), there are bound to be many like-minded people in your area.  For information about individuals and groups in your area, see our affiliates page or contact us.