AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM:  Why America is so Religious Whereas Europe is More Secular

Fred Bisson is a retired professor of world, Russian, and American history.  He received his Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Michigan State University in 1974 and since then has studied at a number of universtities, including Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, University of Virginia, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Harvard, Stanford, and UC at Santa Cruz.  Fred taught history for 29 years at Keene State College, studied in India on a Fulbright, and taught as a  visiting professor at Belgorod Pedagogical Universty in Russia.  He is the author of several books including Countdown to Violence: The 1834 Charlestown Convent Riot; Franklin Pierce: A Bibliography;   and  Global Connections: The World in the Early Medieval Age.   He has just completed a five year project as the editor for the two volumes covering the early medieval age for the World History Encyclopedia, to be published by ABC-CLIO in April. 

The Red Lobster Restaurant
2625 West International Speedway, Daytona Beach
(Route 92 & I-95 Exit #261)
The public is invited.  Our usual agenda is lunch from noon to 1:00, presentation from 1:00-1:30, Q&A until 2:00 p.m.  You can order from the lunch menu.

Please email daytona@centerforinquiry.net to reserve your spot, or phone 386-671-1921, giving names as they are to appear on nametags.  There is never a charge for Friends of the Center, so join at the meeting at special rates and support our community. 

Forging a Humanist & Secular Coalition:
Taking the Next Steps
 
April 30—May 2, 2010
Holiday Inn Sarasota/Bradenton Airport
Sarasota, Florida

Interested in promoting freethought, scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and humanism?

Join HFA, CFI, AHA, and the leaders of fourteen other groups to learn about evolutionary thinking, the importance of becoming a part of the political action, attracting families and raising freethinkers, creating a community of like-minded people, and forging partnerships with other freethought and humanist groups.

Register online now!
CFI Members receive a 20% discount on conference fees!
Be sure to register as a "partnering member."

Anticipated speakers include:

• David Sloan Wilson, co-director of the Evolution Institute
• Amanda Metskas, co-author of Raising Freethinkers & executive director of Camp Quest
• Dave Shafer, president of Humanist Unitarian Universalists
• Steve Schafersman, president of Texas Citizens for Science
• Lauren Becker, VP and director of Outreach of  Center for Inquiry
• Sean Faircloth, executive director of Secular Coalition of America

Additionally, Ron Lindsay , CEO of CFI, and David Niose , president of AHA , have been invited to participate.

This conference represents a marvelous opportunity to share ideas and experiences, identify areas of common interest, and create a forum that will result in greater cooperation as we consider projects on which we can collaborate.