A look at how our news media treats religion, how cultural religious attitudes have been institutionalized in the press, and what does, and doesn't, get generally covered. Honour killings, miracles, Christmas, and atheism all give a window into how the press interacts with faith. Presented by the Center for Inquiry and University of Toronto Secular Alliance. 

 Show your support for UTSA- check out their Facebook Page.

 Grant LaFleche is a long time, awarding winning journalist and columnist working at the St. Catharines Standard in Niagara, Ontario.

He has also engaged in several public debates on faith, science, politics and atheism and was the opening speaking at Brock University's annual conference on world religions in 2009.

When: Friday February 10, 2012

Where: University of Toronto- OISE Room 2211 (225 Bloor Street W)

What Time: 6pm

How Much: $7 General

                   $5 Student Admission

                   FREE for CFI Members

BONUS: Get a 1yr Student Membership to the Centre for Inquiry and receive FREE admission to Media and Religion, The God Helmet AND How Dan Barker Lost His Faith in Faith

Media and Religion Event

General Admission $7.00 CAD Stuent Admission $5.00 CAD Student Membership + Admission $20.00 CAD

Please Note:  CFI will be closed to non participants during this time.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety Group of Toronto (SOSGT) is:

1. Secular: SOSGT credits the individual for achieving and
maintaining his or her own sobriety and is ideal for those
uncomfortable with the spiritual content of 12-step programs.
The group is secular and religiously neutral.

2. Sobriety focused: Sobriety, defined as the priority of abstaining
from alcohol and other mind-altering drugs, is the number-one
priority. A recovering alcoholic must abstain from all drugs or
alcohol. SOSGT is focused on the “Sobriety priority”, maintaining
that sobriety is a separate issue from all else.

3. Inquiry-minded: SOSGT is free from dogma or the towing of
any party line. SOSGT is not in competition with other groups and
respects recovery in any form, regardless of the path by which it is
achieved. SOSGT supports healthy skepticism and encourages the
use of the scientific method to understand alcoholism.

4. All-welcoming: All those who sincerely seek sobriety are
welcome as members of SOSGT.

5. Support-group based: Although sobriety is an individual
responsibility, life does not have to be faced alone. The support of
other alcoholics and addicts is vital to recovery. In SOSGT, members
share experiences, insights, information, strength and
encouragement in friendly, honest, anonymous and
supportive group meetings

6. Autonomous: SOSGT has no hidden agenda and is concerned
with achieving and maintaining sobriety. SOSGT has no opinion on
outside matters and does not wish to become entangled in outside
controversy.

7. Communications-based: Honest, clear, and direct
communication of feelings, thoughts, and knowledge aids in
recovery and in choosing nondestructive, nondelusional, and
rational approaches to living sober and rewarding lives.

8. Voluntary-based: SOSGT is run by a democratically elected
steering committee of volunteers and all members are welcome to
take part in its governance and direction.

9. Confidential: As knowledge of addiction might cause a person
harm or embarrassment in the outside world, SOS guards the
anonymity of its membership and the contents of its discussions
from those not within the group

10. Effective: SOSGT is effective because it encourages the
scientific study of all aspects of alcoholism and addiction, rather
than limiting its outlook to one area of knowledge or theory of
alcoholism and addiction.

Group and Meeting Structure

SOSGT is a nonprofit, autonomous, nonprofessional self-help group.

The typical meeting is held weekly for 1.5 hours, with a 10-15 minute break in
the middle. Family or friends requiring support, and those with other addiction
problems (ex: gambling, drug addiction, etc) are welcome

The typical meeting agenda is as follows:
1) Welcome and introductions from meeting leader
2) Announcements and policies
3) Anniversaries
4) Reading from the SOS guidebooks
5) Introductions from newcomers
6) Readings from literature on freethought, critical
thinking and rational inquiry
7) Open discussion, often topical
8) Closing

The National Executive Council (NEC) consists of all CFI branch leaders (paid and voluntary) as well as the chairs of each national committee.

These meetings ensure consistency and communication from coast to coast.

They serve as a way of disseminating and discussing new policies, campaigns and activities and hearing concerns or ideas from representatives of all our programs and locations.

The National Executive Council Meeting happens every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.

Admission: FREE for CFI members, $4 non-Members, please bring exact amount | ***NEW LOCATION AND DATES! starting Thursday, November 17th, 2011 - check all details before coming***

READING THE BOOK BEFORE COMING TO THE CLUB IS A STRICT REQUIREMENT (first timers are allowed to audit one session without having read the book) | WE STAY ON TOPIC

Book title will be posted closer to this event. Please check back soon!

Normally held every THIRD Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - exceptions will be posted here and on the pages linked below.

Dedicated to providing a friendly, free-thinking environment in which to discuss books that inspire rewarding conversation on subjects related to science and philosophy.

We read a diverse range of books, covering content that is strictly scientific, strictly philosophical, both scientific and philosophical, as well as topics concerning the philosophy of science and the science of philosophy. Wow!

Books for discussion are suggested and voted upon IN PERSON at the end of each session.

Admission: FREE for CFI members, $4 General, please bring exact amount 

CFI Ontario's Cafe Skeptique is a fun and fascinating discussion group that focuses on a range of topics within the realm of skepticism such as pseudo-science, alternative medicine, conspiracy theories, etc. It's open to the public and everyone is welcome to join in!

This month's topic: TBA - Topic and final location confirmation will be announced closer to this event. Please check back soon! 

Normally held every THIRD Saturday of the month at 5:00 p.m., at Free Times Cafe, 320 College St. just west of Spadina Ave. Exceptions will be posted clearly when they apply.

For your convenience we also coordinate this and other events and invite online discussion at the following social networking sites:

The Canadian Secular Alliance is interested in political issues touching on church-state separation, the integrity of science in government and education, equality rights for non-believers and freedom of speech, the press and free inquiry.  

Meetings are held every first and third Monday at 7 pm at the Centre for Inquiry. Visit www.secularalliance.ca for more information To find out how you can be added to our discussion e-mail list or attend our meetings, please contact us at: research@secularalliance.ca

About

The Canadian Secular Alliance is a non-profit, public policy think-tank advancing church-state separation and the neutrality of government in matters of religion.  The CSA believes in church-state separation - the idea that the government of Canada should not favour one religion over others, or religious belief over non-belief. Our goal is not to promote atheism - rather, our commitment is to liberal-democratic principles of equality, fairness, and justice for all under the law, regardless of religious belief or lack thereof.  The CSA is always actively seeking the involvement of more Canadians who support our objective of church-state separation.

Who We Are

The CSA is a voluntary organization of Canadian citizens that holds the position that religions (belief systems allegedly derived from celestial and invisible and scientifically undetectable supernatural entities) are not essential to morality, good social organization and the rule of law, or political will.  CSA supports the proposition that humans are born with the innate capacity to develop a conscience and to govern themselves accordingly, and that such conscience does not derive from adoption of religious dogma.  With respect to religious beliefs and government, CSA advocates government free from religious dogma, upholding equality to all, regardless of religious belief or lack thereof.

Mission Statement

CSA is dedicated to the promulgation, through media, through political action and through public discourse of the propositions that reason and skeptical inquiry are the guiding principles by which humanity should govern itself, that the scientific method is the best basis on which reality can be measured and understood, and that moral order in society is obtained through the appropriate application of these propositions.

CSA is opposed to the preferential treatment that society accords to religion and works to expose the falsity of this preference and redress it with secular concepts of fairness.

CSA will primarily focus on issues of interest to the non-religious, including atheists, agnostics, and humanists, as there exists no other organization to oppose prejudice and indifference displayed towards individuals, groups, associations and organizations holding these non-religious views; however, CSA will advocate equal and fair treatment on behalf of others who do not share its world view.

CSA will form alliances with religious organizations to bring about social or legal change where common interests prevail.

CSA Objectives for Public Policy change

Substantive objectives:

1) equality in the marketplace of ideas, by eliminating the public subsidy to organized religion (via the granting of charitable status for the purpose of “advancing religion”)

2) a single, publicly funded, secular school system, by eliminating public financing of religious schools

3) freedom of expression for all, by removing the power of “Human Rights” agencies to censor speech (either the expression of religious opinions, or the criticism of religious opinions)

4) equality for all under the law, by not granting exemptions, special privileges and extraordinary religious accommodation based on religious belief

Symbolic objectives:

1) secularization of government operations, by eliminating the recitation of prayers as official business in legislatures and city council meetings

2) freedom of religion, by removing “blasphemous libel” from the criminal code of Canada

3) secularization of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, by removing the reference to God from its preamble

4) secularization of Canada’s national anthem, by removing its reference to God

The Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism (CASS) is a national, fast response team which critically examines scientific, technological and medical claims in public discourse. Working with our expert advisers we address factual inaccuracies and misinformation in public debates by promoting evidence-based science. To achieve these ends CASS will work within the infrastructure of CFI to co-ordinate campaigns with them and other interested parties.

Meetings will be held every first and third Monday of each month at CFI Ontario (Toronto) headquarters.

CASS consists of the following positions:
Co-Chairs: Michael Kruse and Iain Martel
Science Advisers
Committee Members (Researchers, Writers and Editors)

It is a subset of Centre for Inquiry Canada, which is a charitable, non-profit educational and advocacy organization.

Our group is always open to new members. If you are interested in getting involved please email Michael Kruse (Co-Chair) at mkruse50@gmail.com, Iain Martel (co-Chair) at iain@martelweb.org or Pam Walls (Director, CFI Ontario) at pwalls@cficanada.ca

Please Note:  CFI will be closed to non participants during this time.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety Group of Toronto (SOSGT) is:

1. Secular: SOSGT credits the individual for achieving and
maintaining his or her own sobriety and is ideal for those
uncomfortable with the spiritual content of 12-step programs.
The group is secular and religiously neutral.

2. Sobriety focused: Sobriety, defined as the priority of abstaining
from alcohol and other mind-altering drugs, is the number-one
priority. A recovering alcoholic must abstain from all drugs or
alcohol. SOSGT is focused on the “Sobriety priority”, maintaining
that sobriety is a separate issue from all else.

3. Inquiry-minded: SOSGT is free from dogma or the towing of
any party line. SOSGT is not in competition with other groups and
respects recovery in any form, regardless of the path by which it is
achieved. SOSGT supports healthy skepticism and encourages the
use of the scientific method to understand alcoholism.

4. All-welcoming: All those who sincerely seek sobriety are
welcome as members of SOSGT.

5. Support-group based: Although sobriety is an individual
responsibility, life does not have to be faced alone. The support of
other alcoholics and addicts is vital to recovery. In SOSGT, members
share experiences, insights, information, strength and
encouragement in friendly, honest, anonymous and
supportive group meetings

6. Autonomous: SOSGT has no hidden agenda and is concerned
with achieving and maintaining sobriety. SOSGT has no opinion on
outside matters and does not wish to become entangled in outside
controversy.

7. Communications-based: Honest, clear, and direct
communication of feelings, thoughts, and knowledge aids in
recovery and in choosing nondestructive, nondelusional, and
rational approaches to living sober and rewarding lives.

8. Voluntary-based: SOSGT is run by a democratically elected
steering committee of volunteers and all members are welcome to
take part in its governance and direction.

9. Confidential: As knowledge of addiction might cause a person
harm or embarrassment in the outside world, SOS guards the
anonymity of its membership and the contents of its discussions
from those not within the group

10. Effective: SOSGT is effective because it encourages the
scientific study of all aspects of alcoholism and addiction, rather
than limiting its outlook to one area of knowledge or theory of
alcoholism and addiction.

Group and Meeting Structure

SOSGT is a nonprofit, autonomous, nonprofessional self-help group.

The typical meeting is held weekly for 1.5 hours, with a 10-15 minute break in
the middle. Family or friends requiring support, and those with other addiction
problems (ex: gambling, drug addiction, etc) are welcome

The typical meeting agenda is as follows:
1) Welcome and introductions from meeting leader
2) Announcements and policies
3) Anniversaries
4) Reading from the SOS guidebooks
5) Introductions from newcomers
6) Readings from literature on freethought, critical
thinking and rational inquiry
7) Open discussion, often topical
8) Closing