| Campus Inquirer | January 2009 |
In This Issue:
 Metro State Atheists: Making noise, making a difference in Denver
by Joel Guttormson, Metro State Atheists at MSCD
Many things happen during a college semester: mid-terms, finals, work and...activism? Yes, activism! That is the case for us, Metro State Atheists (MSA), an affiliate of the Center for Inquiry. Besides the classes, work, and other academic responsibilities that we endure, we participated in some secular activist activity that put me in the spotlight both locally and nationally. Not many can argue that 2008 wasn't a historic election, not only for the entire country, but also for Colorado as we hosted the 2008 Democratic National Convention. However, that wasn't the only history being made—at least trying to be made—in Colorado. Amendment 48, or the Personhood Amendment, was on its way to become the first legislation in the United States to not only completely ban abortion but also redefine the term "person": "to include any human being from the moment of fertilization." When our group became aware of this initiative early in the summer, we immediately knew that we had to do all we could to prevent this from passing. That is just what we did, come the fall. We contacted the political group "Protect Families Protect Choice," to offer our support, and they responded by giving us informational material as well as yard signs, stickers, etc. We then had two informational tables set up two weeks out from the election urging people to vote no on Amendment 48. This caught the eye of our local news, Channel 9, which was in the process of doing stories on the different amendments on the Colorado ballot. They asked to interview me about Amendment 48 the next day on campus as a part of their series that aired live online. Come November 4th, Amendment 48 failed miserably, much to our pleasure. We'd like to think we had a hand it its demise, seeing as we worked quite hard on campus to that end. Next, without much warning, came what would turn out to be the most media coverage we have ever received. MSA is a part of the Colorado Coalition of Reason, or COCORE, which put up 11 billboards in the Denver metro area and Colorado Springs. The message was similar to those seen elsewhere around the country. The billboards needed only eight words, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone," to ignite a controversy that took two local newscasts (11/13/08, 11/18/08) and a half-page opinion article in the Rocky Mountain News to clear up. The fervently religious were utterly offended that such a message was allowed in Denver. The story received national media attention when the Channel 7 news story made its way onto CNN.com. We saw our first hate mail ever, from Christians no less, calling us evil and full of hate. I got phone calls too! However, instead of being mean-spirited phone calls, they were supportive. A man from South Carolina called me, telling me that he appreciates what we are doing and asked me, as a fellow atheist, if there were any similar organizations such as MSA or COCORE in his area. Another call was from a Jew lending his support to the cause. This project was a great learning experience and we enjoyed the huge amount of media coverage it got. It made more of an impact that we could have hoped for in our wildest dreams. 
The last and most recent event wasn't really an event, so to speak. After rediscovering my cousin Becky via Facebook, I learned that her pastor is Bob Enyart who appeared on the same newscast as I regarding the aforementioned billboards. She told me that ever since she told Bob that I was her cousin, he has been wanting to have me on his show on 670 AM, KGOV. She then served as a go-between to make the proper arrangements for me to be on the show. In short order we arranged a date and time. I appeared on Bob Enyart Live on January 7th, 2009. We talked about atheism, the billboards, and about how I became an atheist. This was an advantageous interview as Bob has offered to advertise our events to people of an opposing viewpoint, which we believe is critical to our cause. In closing, I'd like to stress the importance of organizing. Although the task of secular activism and attempting to effect change can be tough, and at times seem impossible, it can be done, even if it's just change at the local level. Think big, but take baby steps. The American Revolution wasn't born, fought, and won in a day. We need to stay vigilant, learning from every victory and, perhaps more importantly, from every defeat. When a minority is fighting a majority who commands all the power and resources, it amplifies the importance of cohesive, organized goal-oriented activism by many orders of magnitude. Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." I believe this is insufficient and passive. You must not only be the change but also be willing to work for it. Thus, I appeal to you all: work with us, fight hard, and we can bring about the change necessary to make this country what it once was! Joel Guttormson is President of Metro State Atheists and a theoretical mathematics major, linguistics minor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Joel also volunteers for CFI as a campus regional coordinator.
 Expanding the Niche of Secular Humanism
by Barry Greenstein, Secular Society of Temple University
"What do atheists need to organize around? Surely it can't be atheism. Isn't that like herding cats?" We've all had that conversation where these questions inevitably arise. Atheism, of course, is not a system of belief, but rather a specific theological position. Secularism and humanism, however, are not exclusively "atheist" issues. Both secularism and humanism touch on a wide range of issues important to the contemporary world. As inheritors of the Enlightenment era, we are also modernists. As modernists, we must be engaged with our communities in ways that demonstrate the values in our rhetoric beyond the familiar project of promoting science and church-state separation. These are important projects, but they are not the only areas where humanistic values such as science, reason, ethics and free inquiry apply. A few weeks ago, I attended a presentation given to the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia by Fred Edwords, Director of Communications for the American Humanist Association. The presentation focused on the project of mainstreaming humanism in the eyes of the media. One of his finer points was the specialization of interest taken by the media, what we might call identity politics. He stressed a point that I myself have made in meetings with a local coalition called Philadelphia Coalition of Reason (PhillyCoR), of which my student organization, Secular Society of Temple University, is an active member. Fred's point, and mine, was that skepticism and humanism were already "mainstream." Thus, in no way do we represent a fringe. Secularism, Fred reminded us, refers to the neutrality of government with regard to religion. It is not a life stance or a worldview, and the association of secularism with atheism, he said, was a bad idea. Secularism invokes a pluralistic and open society that is consistent with constitutional and democratic institutions. These institutions protect religious freedom as well as freedom from religion. However, the media tends to pigeonhole issues as "gay issues," "women's issues," "atheist issues," and so on, contributing to the much-disparaged invisibility of atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, and humanists. This is the challenge we face as humanists working to expand our voice and fill relevant niches in public discourse. Controversies over evolution and bioethics have sometimes been labeled "atheist issues" or "secular issues" by a myopic media, when these are only the tip of the iceberg for secular humanists. Technically speaking, most issues of public concern (with the exception of specifically ecclesiastical matters) are "secular" issues. We know this, as recently the Center for Inquiry's Office of Public Policy was one of many instrumental organizations behind the passing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Humanism, suffrage, civil rights, and feminism have had a long history of overlap. That a non-religious ethics has so frequently been in the service of the rights of women, homosexuals, and other minorities testifies against our ideological opponents' claims that one can have no moral compass without religion. Further dispelling the myth of religion's exclusive claims to morality and charity, PhillyCoR's Secular Service Club engages in community service. Community service attracts a wider range of participants than lectures and movie nights, and secular organizations have nothing to lose and everything to gain by partnering with religious organizations on community service projects. Community service is also an excellent platform to promote the values of education and critical thinking by providing much needed reading material to disadvantaged schools and prisons, and showing that we, too, have a stake in our communities. Secular humanism is an expansive worldview. An inherent dedication to free inquiry in all aspects of human life promises virtually no limit to its relevance. By engaging our communities as volunteers and educators, we demonstrate that our life stance is nothing less than mainstream. Barry Greenstein is a senior at Temple University. He majors in biological anthropology, and serves as Vice President of the Secular Society of Temple University and of the Undergraduate Anthropology Association. Barry is also a volunteer campus regional coordinator for CFI.
April 9-12, 2009
Join scientists, philosophers, writers and politicians this April at the Center for Inquiry's 12th World Congress. The four-day event features more than 30 prominent speakers from across the globe, who will engage the public in discussions and panels focusing on science and public policy to coincide with the bicentennial of the births of Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, scientists and scholars from around the world will analyze the role of science, explore its connections to public policy, and examine its significance for the global community. The keynote address will be delivered by Christopher Hitchens, journalist, literary critic, and author of several highly acclaimed books, including the bestseller god is not Great and the recently published The Portable Atheist. The Congress will take place at the Bethesda Hyatt, Bethesda, Maryland (accessible by Metro, just outside of Washington, D.C.). Presenters include a host of the biggest voices for science, reason, and secular ethics. Scheduled to speak are: - Paul Kurtz, Ph.D.
- James Randi
- Patricia Scott Schroeder
- Lawrence Krauss Ph.D.
- Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D.
- Richard Wiseman, Ph.D.
- Barbara Forrest, Ph.D.
| - Ibn Warraq, MA
- Austin Dacey, Ph.D.
- Ronald A. Lindsay, Ph.D.
- Eddie Tabash
- Joe Nickell, Ph.D.
- and dozens more!
| Early Registration Recommended!
Up to 1,000 people are expected to attend, including representatives from 22 Centers for Inquiry throughout the world. Student Pricing Available! Student groups should also check with their schools to see if funding is available to send group members to the conference. Information and online registration is available at www.centerforinquiry.net/worldcongress. To view pricing packages and register directly, click here.
After much anticipation, the new CFI Blog has arrived! Join in the discussions or just stop by to read current and archived entries from the Center's fellows, officers, investigators, field organizers and more. Enter Free Thinking
Student Volunteer Opportunities with the Center for Inquiry Get involved with the campus freethought movement on the international scale! You can contribute your knowledge and wisdom as an experienced campus group leader, or donate your design or writing skills.  CFI is looking for student volunteers to advance reason, science, and freedom of inquiry on campuses at the national or international level. Below are brief descriptions of the volunteer committees:
Digital Media Outreach: assists in creating multimedia resources for the CFI On Campus website and viral videos for outreach. Promotions: designs campus promotional materials including stickers, buttons, brochures, flyers, and posters.  Podcast: contributes to the Course of Reason, CFI's new podcast highlighting campus freethought activism.
Publications: helps coordinate revisions of CFI's Campus Group Organizing Guide and contributes to the Campus Inquirer, the Secular Humanist Bulletin, and other publications at CFI. To get involved with a committee or for more information about the committees, e-mail Debbie Goddard at dgoddard [at] centerforinquiry.net.
Bring Point of Inquiry to your Campus Radio Station  CFI invites you to bring Point of Inquiry, its radio show and podcast, to your campus. Point of Inquiry, connected with Skeptical Inquirer and Free Inquiry magazines, is the weekly long-format interview show hosted by D.J. Grothe, focusing on exploring the implications of the scientific outlook with leading thinkers from many different fields. Past episodes have featured prominent scientists and social critics, including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jill Tarter, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker, Ann Druyan, Christopher Hitchens, Michael Shermer, Susan Jacoby, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett. Bring Point of Inquiry to your campus! Point of Inquiry can now be heard on a number of campus and community radio stations throughout North America. The process for bringing the show to your school involves the following: - Let us know of your interest by emailing Dan Riley at driley [at] centerforinquiry.net.
- Contact your community's or school's radio station to explore the possibility (is there an opening in the schedule?).
- Download the POI episodes, or request higher-quality digital recordings of past episodes from CFI. Any past episode is available for re-broadcast for free.
This is another way that you can help advance science and secular values at your school. We're looking forward to working with you to bring the show to new audiences!
Celebrate Darwin Day!  All over the world, freethinkers and supporters of science are getting together to celebrate Darwin Day on or around February 12th. This year is a special anniversary—not only does 2009 mark the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, but it also marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's seminal work, On the Origin of Species. What is your campus group doing to celebrate Darwin Day? Let us know by e-mailing driley [at] centerforinquiry.net. If you're hosting a major event that's open to the public, we'll list it on the CFI On Campus Events Calendar and send out an event invitation to contacts in your region. Resources and suggestions can also be found at http://www.darwinday.org.
Upcoming Events Thursday, January 29, 7:00 p.m.
Ken Loukinen: "Improving the Public Image of Non-Believers"
CFI Ft. Lauderdale
Jim Ward Community Center, 301 NW 46th Avenue, Plantation, FL Thursday, January 29, 7:30 p.m.
Massimo Pigliucci: "How is Science Relevant to Philosophy?"
University of Guelph, Science Complex Atrium, Guelph, ON Friday, January 30, 7:00 p.m.
Graham Wood: "Detecting Design"
CFI Amherst, 1310 Sweet Home Road, Amherst, NY Friday, January 30, 7:00 p.m.
Keith Oatley: "Emotional Intelligence and the Intelligence of Emotions"
CFI Ontario, 216 Beverley Street, Toronto, ON Sunday, February 1, 10:30 a.m.
4th Annual National Conference: "Let the Children be Free with Science Education"
CFI India
The Press Club, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India Sunday, February 1, 11:00 a.m.
Maggie Jackson: "The Perils of Cultivating an Attention-Deficient Nation and the Prospects for Change"
CFI Los Angeles, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA Tuesday, February 3, 6:30 p.m.
Dan Barker: "Losing Faith in Faith"
GW SKEPTIC
George Washington University, Marvin Center Amphitheater
800 21st Street, 3rd Floor, NW, Washington, DC Sunday, February 8, 12:00 p.m.
Jim Strayer: "The Real Charles Darwin"
CFI Daytona Beach
Red Lobster Restaurant, 2735 N. Atlantic Avenue (Rte A1A), Daytona Beach, FL Sunday, February 8, 1:00 p.m.
Ivan Phillips and Ayala Leyser: "So Just How 'Rational' Are We?"
CFI Chicago
University Center East building, 750 S. Halsted (UIC campus), Room 613, Chicago, IL Sunday, February 8, 2:00 p.m.
Debbie Goddard: "Diversity and the Freethought Movement"
CFI DC, 621 Pennsylvania Ave SE (Eastern Market metro), Washington, DC Thursday, February 12, 6:30 p.m.
Dan Barker vs. Kyle Butt: "Does God Exist?"
USC Pastafarians
University of South Carolina, Russell House Ballroom, Columbia, SC Thursday, February 12, 7:00 p.m.
DJ Grothe: "Darwin Made Me Do It"
UNI Freethinkers
University of Northern Iowa, Center for Multicultural Education, 2nd Floor, Maucker Student Union, Cedar Falls, IA Friday, February 13, 7:00 p.m.
DJ Grothe: "Darwin Made Me Do It"
ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society
Iowa State University, Memorial Auditorium, Campanille Room, Ames, IA Sunday, February 15, 11:00 a.m.
David Contosta: "Darwin and Lincoln's Revolutionary Lives"
CFI Los Angeles, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 15, 12:00 p.m.
Darwin Day: Kids' Events
CFI Austin
603 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX Sunday, February 15, 12:00 p.m.
Darwin Day Event: "Orchids Through Darwin's Eyes"
CFI DC
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC Sunday, February 15, 1:30 p.m.
Dr. Joanna Masel: "Honoring Darwin's Birthday"
CFI Southern Arizona
University of Arizona, Duval Auditorium, UMC, 1501 North Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ Sunday, February 15, 3:00 p.m.
Darwin Day Lectures
CFI Austin
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX Sunday, February 15, 4:30 p.m.
David Contosta: "Darwin's and Lincoln's Revolutionary Lives"
CFI Orange County
Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA Thursday, February 26, 6:30 p.m.
Barbara Oakley: "Can Our Genes Help Make Us Evil?"
CFI DC, 621 Pennsylvania Ave SE (Eastern Market metro), Washington, DC Monday, March 2, 7:30 p.m.
Richard Dawkins: "The Purpose of Purpose"
Michigan State University
Wharton Center Auditorium, Bogue Street & Wilson Street, East Lansing, MI
News of Note: News items featuring the Center for Inquiry and affiliated campus groups: Articles of Note: |
Tell-a-friend!
![](http://img.getactivehub.com/dawn/custom_images/center_for_inquiry/"_space.gif"){kind=small}