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Center for Inquiry

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that works to mitigate belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal and to fight the influence of religion in government.[1][2]

Center for Inquiry
Headquarters of the CFI
Founded1991; 32 years ago (1991)
FounderPaul Kurtz
TypeNonprofit, science education
FocusPublic understanding of science, secular ethics, skepticism
Location
MethodResearch, education, outreach, and advocacy
Key people
Robyn Blumner
Barry Karr
Websitecenterforinquiry.org

History edit

The Center for Inquiry was established in 1991 by atheist philosopher and author Paul Kurtz.[3] It brought together two organizations: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (founded by Kurtz in 1976) and the Council for Secular Humanism (founded by Kurtz in 1980).[4][5] The Center for Inquiry Inc was registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in April 2001.[6]

Kurtz, a humanist who founded CFI to offer a positive alternative to religion,[7] led the organization for thirty years.[8] In 2009, Kurtz said he was forced out of CFI after conflict with Ronald A. Lindsay, a corporate lawyer hired to become CEO in 2008.[8]

Robyn Blumner succeeded Lindsay as CEO in January 2016 when CFI announced that it was merging with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.[9][10][11][12]

Committee for Skeptical Inquiry edit

 
Joe Nickell, Research Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, in office. Amherst, New York, 2013.

Through the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), and its journal, Skeptical Inquirer magazine, published by the Center for Inquiry, CSI examines evidential claims of the paranormal or supernormal, including psychics, ghosts, telepathy, clairvoyance, UFOs, and creationism. It also hosts the CSICon.

They also examine pseudoscientific claims involving vaccines, cellphones, power lines, GMOs, and alternative medicine. In the area of religion, they examine beliefs that involve testable claims, such as faith healing and creationism, but stay away from untestable religious beliefs such as the existence of God.[13]

The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), then known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), was, alongside magician and prominent skeptic James Randi, sued by TV celebrity Uri Geller in the 1990s after Randi told a newspaper interviewer that Geller's tricks "are the kind that used to be on the back of cereal boxes when I was a kid."[14] The case ran for several years, and was ultimately settled in 1995 with Geller ordered to pay the legal costs of Randi and CSICOP.[15][16]

The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group edit

 
IIG "Power Balance" testing exercise

The Investigations Group (Formerly the Independent Investigations Group), a volunteer group based at CFI Los Angeles, undertakes experimental testing of fringe claims.[17] It offers a cash prize of US$500,000 for successful demonstration of supernatural effects.[18] This prize had been previously raised to US$250,000 when the IIG re-branded as the Center for Inquiry Investigations Group (CFIIG) in 2020 before it was raised again to the current amount.[19]

The IIG Awards (known as "Iggies") are presented for "scientific and critical thinking in mainstream entertainment". IIG has investigated, amongst other things, power bracelets, psychic detectives and a 'telepathic wonder dog'.

Religion, ethics, and society edit

 
Logo of the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH)

The center promotes critical inquiry into the foundations and social effects of the world religions. Since 1983, initially through its connection with Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion, it has focused on such issues as fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam, humanistic alternatives to religious ethics, and religious sources of political violence. It has taken part in protests against religious persecution around the world[20] and opposes religious privilege, for example benefits for clergy in the US Tax Code.[21] In 2014 and 2017, respectively, the CFI won two lawsuits compelling the states of Illinois and Indiana to allow weddings to be performed by officiants who are neither religious clergy nor government officials. A similar lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of marriage law in Texas was dismissed in August 2019.[22]

CFI actively supports secular interests, such as secular state education.[23][24] It organizes conferences, such as Women In Secularism[25][26] and a conference focused on freethought advocate Robert Ingersoll.[27] CFI has provided meeting and conference facilities to other skeptical organizations, for example an atheist of color conference on social justice.[28][29]

CFI also undertakes atheist education and support activities,[30] for example sending freethought books to prisoners as part of its Freethought Books Project.[31][32]

CFI is active in advocating free speech,[33] and in promoting secular government.[34] It speaks against institutional religion in the armed forces.[35]

Free Inquiry is published by the Center for Inquiry, in association with the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH).

Publications edit

 
Tom Flynn, editor of Free Inquiry, gives a presentation on the Freethought Trail.

The results of research and activities supported by the center and its affiliates are published and distributed to the public in seventeen separate national and international magazines, journals, and newsletters. Among them are CSH's Free Inquiry and Secular Humanist Bulletin,[36] and CSI's Skeptical Inquirer, CFI's American Rationalist.[37] The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice[38] and Philo, a journal covering philosophical issues, are no longer being published.

In June 2020, CFI announced the "newly launched CFI online publication", Pensar, "the Spanish language magazine for science, reason, and freethought." It is published by Alejandro Borgo, director of CFI Argentina.[39][40]

CFI has produced the weekly radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry, since 2005. Episodes are available free for download from iTunes. Its current hosts, as of June 2020, are Leighann Lord and James Underdown. Notable guests have included Steven Pinker, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Richard Dawkins.

Projects and programs edit

Secular Rescue edit

The Center for Inquiry has an emergency fund called Secular Rescue, formerly known as the Freethought Emergency Fund. Between 2015 and 2018, Secular Rescue helped thirty individuals fleeing anti-secular regimes gain asylum.[41]

Office of Public Policy edit

The Office of Public Policy (OPP) is the Washington, D.C., political arm of the Center for Inquiry. The OPP's mandate is to lobby Congress and the Administration on issues related to science and secularism. This includes defending the separation of church and state, promoting science and reason as the basis of public policy, and advancing secular values.[42]

The OPP publishes position statements on its subjects of interest. Examples have included acupuncture, climate change, contraception and intelligent design.[43] The Office is an active participant in legal matters, providing experts for Congress testimony and amicus briefs in Supreme Court cases.[44] It publishes a list of bills it considers of interest as they pass through the U.S. legislative process.[45]

"Science and the Public" Master of Education program edit

In partnership with the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, CFI offers an accredited Master of Education program in Science and the Public, available entirely online.[46] Aimed at students preparing for careers in research, science education, public policy, science journalism, or further study in sociology, history, and philosophy of science, science communication, education, or public administration, the program explores the methods and outlook of science as they intersect with public culture, scientific literacy, and public policy.

Quackwatch edit

In February 2020, Quackwatch, founded by Stephen Barrett, became part of CFI, which announced it plans to maintain its various websites and to receive Barrett's library later in the year.[47]

ScienceSaves edit

ScienceSaves is a nationwide pro-science campaign to generate an appreciation for the role of science. National Science Appreciation Day started in 2022 and is part of the ScienceSaves initiative and happens annually on March 26.[48] In 2022, CFI got proclamations declaring March 26 as National Science Appreciation Day from more than a dozen states.[49]

Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science edit

Main article: Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science This programs provides teachers with tools to teach evolution.

Richard Dawkins Award edit

The Richard Dawkins Award is an annual award that was presented by the Atheist Alliance of America[50] up until July 2019, when it moved to the Center for Inquiry (CFI). According to the CFI press release "The recipient will be a distinguished individual from the worlds of science, scholarship, education or entertainment, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism, upholding scientific truth wherever it may lead".[51] The award has been presented since 2003, and is named after Richard Dawkins, an English evolutionary biologist who was named the world's top thinker in a 2013 reader's poll of Prospect magazine.[52]

Past projects and programs edit

The following projects and programs are no longer active.

Camp Inquiry edit

The Center for Inquiry organized an annual summer camp for children called Camp Inquiry,[53] focusing on scientific literacy, critical thinking, naturalism, the arts, humanities, and humanist ethical development.[54] Camp Inquiry has been described as "a summer camp for kids with questions"[55] where spooky stories were followed by "reverse engineering sessions" as the participants were encouraged to determine the cause of an apparently supernatural experience. Camp Inquiry has been criticised as "Jesus Camp in reverse"; its organisers countered that the camp is not exclusive to atheist children and that campers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions based on empirical and critical thinking.

CFI Institute edit

The Center for Inquiry Institute[56] offered undergraduate level online courses, seminars, and workshops in critical thinking and the scientific outlook and its implications for religion, human values, and the borderlands of science. In addition to transferable undergraduate credit through the University at Buffalo system, CFI offered a thirty-credit-hour Certificate of Proficiency in Critical Inquiry. The three-year curriculum plan offered summer sessions at the main campus at the University at Buffalo in Amherst.

Medicine and health edit

The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH)[57] stimulated critical scientific scrutiny of New Age medicine and the schools of psychotherapy. It supported naturalistic addiction recovery practices through Secular Organizations for Sobriety. CFI challenges the claims of alternative medicine[58] and advocates a scientific basis for healthcare.[59][60] CSMMH papers have covered topics such as pseudoscience in autism treatments[61] and in psychiatry.[62]

Naturalism Research Project edit

CFI also ran the Naturalism Research Project, a major effort to develop the theoretical and practical applications of philosophical naturalism. As part of this project, CFI's libraries, research facilities, and conference areas were available to scientists and scholars to advance the understanding of science's methodologies and conclusions about naturalism.[63]

Activities of the Naturalism Research Project included lectures and seminars by visiting fellows and scholars; academic conferences; and support CFI publications of important research. Among the central issues of naturalism include the exploration of varieties of naturalism; problems in philosophy of science; the methodologies of scientific inquiry; naturalism and humanism; naturalistic ethics; planetary ethics; and naturalism and the biosciences.[64]

Organization and locations edit

 
CFI's Rare Book Room, located at their Amherst, New York Headquarters

CFI is a nonprofit body registered as a charity in the United States.[65] It has 17 locations in the U.S., and has 16 international branches or affiliated organizations.[66] The organization has Centers For Inquiry in Amherst, New York (its headquarters), Los Angeles, New York City, Tampa Bay, Washington, D.C., Indiana, Austin, Chicago, San Francisco and Michigan.[67]

International activities edit

CFI has branches, representation or affiliated organizations in countries around the world.[67] It organizes its international activities under the banner Center For Inquiry Transnational. In addition, CFI holds consultative status to the United Nations as an NGO under the UN Economic and Social Council.[68] The center participates in UN Human Rights Council debates, for example a debate on the subject of female genital mutilation during 2014.[69]

University exchange programs edit

International programs exist in Germany (Rossdorf), France (Nice), Spain (Bilbao), Poland (Warsaw), Nigeria (Ibadan), Uganda (Kampala), Kenya (Nairobi), Nepal (Kathmandu), India (Pune and Hyderabad), Egypt (Cairo), China (Beijing), New Zealand (Auckland), Peru (Lima), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Senegal (Dakar), Zambia (Lusaka), and Bangladesh (Dhaka).[70]

Centre for Inquiry Canada edit

CFI Canada (CFIC) is the Canadian branch of CFI Transnational, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Justin Trottier served as National Executive Director from 2007 to 2011. Originally established and supported in part by CFI Transnational, CFI Canada has become an independent Canadian national organization with several provincial branches. CFI Canada has branches in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Calgary, Okanagan (Kelowna), and Vancouver.

Board edit

Reza Abbaszadeh
Aspen, CO
Entrepreneur
Vinod Bhardwaj
Maui, HI
Inventor, entrepreneur
David Cowan
Atherton, CA
Investor, venture capitalist
Richard Dawkins
Oxford, UK
Author, evolutionary biologist, lecturer
Brian Engler
Burke, VA
Operations Research Analyst, Nonprofit Executive
Barry Kosmin
Hartford, CT
Educator
Bill Maxwell
St. Petersburg, FL
Columnist, University Professor, Screenwriter
Julia Sweeney
Los Angeles, CA
Comedian, Actress
Eddie Tabash (Chair, Board of Directors)
Beverly Hills, CA
Attorney
Dr. J. Anderson Thomson
Charlottesville, VA
Author, psychiatrist
Leonard Tramiel
Palo Alto, CA
Scientist, Educator

Affiliate organizations edit

List of affiliates edit

Organizations affiliated with the Center for Inquiry include:

Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society edit

The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society (ISIS) is an organization of writers that promotes the ideas of secularism, democracy and human rights within Islamic society.[73][74][75] Founded in 1998 by former Muslims, the best known being Ibn Warraq,[76] the group aims to combat theologically driven fanaticism, violence and terrorism. The organization subscribes to the rule of secular law, freedom of speech and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It does not promote any belief system or religious dogma.

In the media edit

CFI participates in media debates on science, health,[77] religion and its other areas of interest. Its "Keep Healthcare Safe and Secular" campaign promotes scientifically sound healthcare.[60][78] It has been an outspoken critic of dubious and unscientific healthcare practices, and engages in public debate on the merit and legality of controversial medical techniques. In 2014, CEO Ron Lindsay publicly criticized Stanislaw Burzynski's controversial Texas cancer clinic.[79]

CFI campaigns for a secular society, for example in opposing the addition of prayer text on public property.[80] The center supports secular and free speech initiatives.[81]

On November 14, 2006, the CFI opened its Office of Public Policy in Washington, DC, and issued a declaration "In Defense of Science and Secularism", which calls for public policy to be based on science rather than faith.[82] The next day The Washington Post ran an article about it entitled "Think Tank Will Promote Thinking".[1]

In 2011, video expert James Underdown of IIG and CFI Los Angeles did an experiment for "Miracle Detective" Oprah Winfrey Network which replicated exactly the angelic apparition that people claim cured a 14-year-old severely disabled child at Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. The "angel" was sunlight from a hidden window, and the girl remained handicapped.[83]

Consumer fraud lawsuits against CVS and Walmart edit

In July 2018, CFI filed suit against CVS in the District of Columbia for consumer fraud over its sale and marketing of ineffective homeopathic medicine. The lawsuit in part accused the CVS of deceiving consumers through its misrepresentation of homeopathy's safety and effectiveness, wasting customers’ money and putting their health at risk. Nicholas Little, CFI's Vice President and General Counsel said, "CVS is taking cynical advantage of their customers’ confusion and trust in the CVS brand, and putting their health at risk to make a profit and they can't claim ignorance. If the people in charge of the country's largest pharmacy don't know that homeopathy is bunk, they should be kept as far away from the American healthcare system as possible."[84] In May 2019, CFI announced that they have filed a similar suit against Walmart for their range of homeopathic products.[85][86] In July 2019, CFI announced that the Stiefel Freethought Foundation was contributing an additional $150,000 to the previously committed $100,000 to support the two lawsuits.[87] In 2020 both cases were dismissed.[88] In September 2022 the District of Columbia’s Court of Appeals revived the lawsuits.[89]

 
Sikivu Hutchinson speaking at the Center for Inquiry, Washington, DC, in 2010

Lack of racial diversity on its board of directors edit

In 2016, the atheist Sikivu Hutchinson criticized the merger of the secular organizations Center for Inquiry and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, which gave Richard Dawkins a seat on the board of directors of the Center for Inquiry. Her criticism was that both organizations had all white boards of directors.[90]

Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins, 2011 edit

During Richard Dawkins' October 2011 book tour, Center for Inquiry – the tour's sponsor – signed a contract with Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, Michigan, as the venue site. After seeing an interview with Dawkins on The O'Reilly Factor, an official at the club cancelled Dawkins' appearance. Dawkins said that the country club official accepted Bill O'Reilly's "twisted" interpretation of his book The Magic of Reality without having read it personally.[91][92] Sean Faircloth said that cancelling the reading "really violates the basic principles of America ... The Civil Rights Act ... prohibits discrimination based on race or religious viewpoint. ... [Dawkins has] published numerous books ... to explain science to the public, so it's rather an affront, to reason in general, to shun him as they did."[93] CFI Michigan executive director Jeff Seaver stated that "This action by The Wyndgate illustrates the kind of bias and bigotry that nonbelievers encounter all the time."[94][95] Following the cancellation, protests and legal action by CFI against the Wyndgate Country Club were pursued.[96][97] In 2013 this case was settled in favor of the Center For Inquiry.[98]

CSH actions against faith-based initiatives edit

In 2007, CSH sued the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) to block the use of state funds in contracts to faith-based programs for released inmates, claiming that this use is prohibited under the "No Aid" provision or Blaine amendment of the Florida constitution. The initial decision found in favor of the DOC but, on appeal, the case was remanded in 2010 on just the issue of the unconstitutionality of appropriating state funds for this purpose.[99]

While this case was in progress, after the appellate finding, Republican legislators began an effort to amend the Florida constitution to remove the language of the Blaine amendment, succeeding in 2011 to place the measure on the 2012 ballot as amendment 8.[100][101] The ballot measure failed.[101][102]

In 2015, CHS (now CFI) and the state (along with its co-defendants) both filed for summary judgement. The court granted the state's motion in January, 2016, allowing the contested contracting practice to continue.[103] After consideration, CFI announced in February, 2016, that it would not appeal.[104][105]

Heckled at the UN edit

CFI representative Josephine Macintosh[106] was repeatedly interrupted and heckled by the delegation from Saudi Arabia whilst presenting the center's position on censorship at the UN Human Rights Council. CFI advocated free speech, and opposed the punishment by Saudi authorities of Raif Badawi for running an Internet forum, whom they accused of atheism and liberalism. CFI's statement was supported by the American, Canadian, Irish, and French delegates.[33]

Blasphemy Day edit

Blasphemy Rights Day International encourages individuals and groups to openly express their criticism of or outright contempt for religion. It was founded in 2009 by the Center for Inquiry.[107] A student contacted the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York, to present the idea, which CFI then supported. Ronald Lindsay, president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, said regarding Blasphemy Day, "We think religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are, but we have a taboo on religion", in an interview with CNN.[108] It takes place every September 30 to coincide with the anniversary of the publications of the controversial Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons.

Blasphemy Day and CFI's related Blasphemy Contests[109] started (in CFI's own words) "a firestorm of controversy".[109] The use of confrontational free speech has been a topic of debate within the Humanist movement[110][111] and cited as an example of a wider move towards New Atheism and away from the more conciliatory approach historically associated with Humanism.[7][112]

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External links edit

center, inquiry, this, article, about, organization, canadian, organization, centre, inquiry, canada, nonprofit, organization, that, works, mitigate, belief, pseudoscience, paranormal, fight, influence, religion, government, headquarters, cfifounded1991, years. This article is about the US organization For the Canadian organization see Centre for Inquiry Canada The Center for Inquiry CFI is a U S nonprofit organization that works to mitigate belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal and to fight the influence of religion in government 1 2 Center for InquiryHeadquarters of the CFIFounded1991 32 years ago 1991 FounderPaul KurtzTypeNonprofit science educationFocusPublic understanding of science secular ethics skepticismLocationAmherst New York U S MethodResearch education outreach and advocacyKey peopleRobyn BlumnerBarry KarrWebsitecenterforinquiry wbr org Contents 1 History 2 Committee for Skeptical Inquiry 2 1 The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group 3 Religion ethics and society 4 Publications 5 Projects and programs 5 1 Secular Rescue 5 2 Office of Public Policy 5 3 Science and the Public Master of Education program 5 4 Quackwatch 5 5 ScienceSaves 5 6 Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science 6 Richard Dawkins Award 7 Past projects and programs 7 1 Camp Inquiry 7 2 CFI Institute 7 3 Medicine and health 7 4 Naturalism Research Project 8 Organization and locations 8 1 International activities 8 2 University exchange programs 8 3 Centre for Inquiry Canada 9 Board 10 Affiliate organizations 10 1 List of affiliates 10 2 Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society 11 In the media 11 1 Consumer fraud lawsuits against CVS and Walmart 11 2 Lack of racial diversity on its board of directors 11 3 Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins 2011 11 4 CSH actions against faith based initiatives 11 5 Heckled at the UN 11 6 Blasphemy Day 12 References 13 External linksHistory editThe Center for Inquiry was established in 1991 by atheist philosopher and author Paul Kurtz 3 It brought together two organizations the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal founded by Kurtz in 1976 and the Council for Secular Humanism founded by Kurtz in 1980 4 5 The Center for Inquiry Inc was registered as a tax exempt nonprofit organization in April 2001 6 Kurtz a humanist who founded CFI to offer a positive alternative to religion 7 led the organization for thirty years 8 In 2009 Kurtz said he was forced out of CFI after conflict with Ronald A Lindsay a corporate lawyer hired to become CEO in 2008 8 Robyn Blumner succeeded Lindsay as CEO in January 2016 when CFI announced that it was merging with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science 9 10 11 12 Committee for Skeptical Inquiry edit nbsp Joe Nickell Research Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry in office Amherst New York 2013 Through the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry CSI and its journal Skeptical Inquirer magazine published by the Center for Inquiry CSI examines evidential claims of the paranormal or supernormal including psychics ghosts telepathy clairvoyance UFOs and creationism It also hosts the CSICon They also examine pseudoscientific claims involving vaccines cellphones power lines GMOs and alternative medicine In the area of religion they examine beliefs that involve testable claims such as faith healing and creationism but stay away from untestable religious beliefs such as the existence of God 13 The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry CSI then known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal CSICOP was alongside magician and prominent skeptic James Randi sued by TV celebrity Uri Geller in the 1990s after Randi told a newspaper interviewer that Geller s tricks are the kind that used to be on the back of cereal boxes when I was a kid 14 The case ran for several years and was ultimately settled in 1995 with Geller ordered to pay the legal costs of Randi and CSICOP 15 16 The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group edit nbsp IIG Power Balance testing exerciseThe Investigations Group Formerly the Independent Investigations Group a volunteer group based at CFI Los Angeles undertakes experimental testing of fringe claims 17 It offers a cash prize of US 500 000 for successful demonstration of supernatural effects 18 This prize had been previously raised to US 250 000 when the IIG re branded as the Center for Inquiry Investigations Group CFIIG in 2020 before it was raised again to the current amount 19 The IIG Awards known as Iggies are presented for scientific and critical thinking in mainstream entertainment IIG has investigated amongst other things power bracelets psychic detectives and a telepathic wonder dog Religion ethics and society edit nbsp Logo of the Council for Secular Humanism CSH The center promotes critical inquiry into the foundations and social effects of the world religions Since 1983 initially through its connection with Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion it has focused on such issues as fundamentalism in Christianity and Islam humanistic alternatives to religious ethics and religious sources of political violence It has taken part in protests against religious persecution around the world 20 and opposes religious privilege for example benefits for clergy in the US Tax Code 21 In 2014 and 2017 respectively the CFI won two lawsuits compelling the states of Illinois and Indiana to allow weddings to be performed by officiants who are neither religious clergy nor government officials A similar lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of marriage law in Texas was dismissed in August 2019 22 CFI actively supports secular interests such as secular state education 23 24 It organizes conferences such as Women In Secularism 25 26 and a conference focused on freethought advocate Robert Ingersoll 27 CFI has provided meeting and conference facilities to other skeptical organizations for example an atheist of color conference on social justice 28 29 CFI also undertakes atheist education and support activities 30 for example sending freethought books to prisoners as part of its Freethought Books Project 31 32 CFI is active in advocating free speech 33 and in promoting secular government 34 It speaks against institutional religion in the armed forces 35 Free Inquiry is published by the Center for Inquiry in association with the Council for Secular Humanism CSH Publications edit nbsp Tom Flynn editor of Free Inquiry gives a presentation on the Freethought Trail The results of research and activities supported by the center and its affiliates are published and distributed to the public in seventeen separate national and international magazines journals and newsletters Among them are CSH s Free Inquiry and Secular Humanist Bulletin 36 and CSI s Skeptical Inquirer CFI s American Rationalist 37 The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice 38 and Philo a journal covering philosophical issues are no longer being published In June 2020 CFI announced the newly launched CFI online publication Pensar the Spanish language magazine for science reason and freethought It is published by Alejandro Borgo director of CFI Argentina 39 40 CFI has produced the weekly radio show and podcast Point of Inquiry since 2005 Episodes are available free for download from iTunes Its current hosts as of June 2020 update are Leighann Lord and James Underdown Notable guests have included Steven Pinker Neil deGrasse Tyson and Richard Dawkins Projects and programs editSecular Rescue edit The Center for Inquiry has an emergency fund called Secular Rescue formerly known as the Freethought Emergency Fund Between 2015 and 2018 Secular Rescue helped thirty individuals fleeing anti secular regimes gain asylum 41 Office of Public Policy edit The Office of Public Policy OPP is the Washington D C political arm of the Center for Inquiry The OPP s mandate is to lobby Congress and the Administration on issues related to science and secularism This includes defending the separation of church and state promoting science and reason as the basis of public policy and advancing secular values 42 The OPP publishes position statements on its subjects of interest Examples have included acupuncture climate change contraception and intelligent design 43 The Office is an active participant in legal matters providing experts for Congress testimony and amicus briefs in Supreme Court cases 44 It publishes a list of bills it considers of interest as they pass through the U S legislative process 45 Science and the Public Master of Education program edit In partnership with the Graduate School of Education at the State University of New York at Buffalo CFI offers an accredited Master of Education program in Science and the Public available entirely online 46 Aimed at students preparing for careers in research science education public policy science journalism or further study in sociology history and philosophy of science science communication education or public administration the program explores the methods and outlook of science as they intersect with public culture scientific literacy and public policy Quackwatch edit In February 2020 Quackwatch founded by Stephen Barrett became part of CFI which announced it plans to maintain its various websites and to receive Barrett s library later in the year 47 ScienceSaves edit ScienceSaves is a nationwide pro science campaign to generate an appreciation for the role of science National Science Appreciation Day started in 2022 and is part of the ScienceSaves initiative and happens annually on March 26 48 In 2022 CFI got proclamations declaring March 26 as National Science Appreciation Day from more than a dozen states 49 Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science edit Main article Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science This programs provides teachers with tools to teach evolution Richard Dawkins Award editMain article Richard Dawkins Award The Richard Dawkins Award is an annual award that was presented by the Atheist Alliance of America 50 up until July 2019 when it moved to the Center for Inquiry CFI According to the CFI press release The recipient will be a distinguished individual from the worlds of science scholarship education or entertainment who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism upholding scientific truth wherever it may lead 51 The award has been presented since 2003 and is named after Richard Dawkins an English evolutionary biologist who was named the world s top thinker in a 2013 reader s poll of Prospect magazine 52 Past projects and programs editThe following projects and programs are no longer active Camp Inquiry edit The Center for Inquiry organized an annual summer camp for children called Camp Inquiry 53 focusing on scientific literacy critical thinking naturalism the arts humanities and humanist ethical development 54 Camp Inquiry has been described as a summer camp for kids with questions 55 where spooky stories were followed by reverse engineering sessions as the participants were encouraged to determine the cause of an apparently supernatural experience Camp Inquiry has been criticised as Jesus Camp in reverse its organisers countered that the camp is not exclusive to atheist children and that campers are encouraged to draw their own conclusions based on empirical and critical thinking CFI Institute edit The Center for Inquiry Institute 56 offered undergraduate level online courses seminars and workshops in critical thinking and the scientific outlook and its implications for religion human values and the borderlands of science In addition to transferable undergraduate credit through the University at Buffalo system CFI offered a thirty credit hour Certificate of Proficiency in Critical Inquiry The three year curriculum plan offered summer sessions at the main campus at the University at Buffalo in Amherst Medicine and health edit The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health CSMMH 57 stimulated critical scientific scrutiny of New Age medicine and the schools of psychotherapy It supported naturalistic addiction recovery practices through Secular Organizations for Sobriety CFI challenges the claims of alternative medicine 58 and advocates a scientific basis for healthcare 59 60 CSMMH papers have covered topics such as pseudoscience in autism treatments 61 and in psychiatry 62 Naturalism Research Project edit CFI also ran the Naturalism Research Project a major effort to develop the theoretical and practical applications of philosophical naturalism As part of this project CFI s libraries research facilities and conference areas were available to scientists and scholars to advance the understanding of science s methodologies and conclusions about naturalism 63 Activities of the Naturalism Research Project included lectures and seminars by visiting fellows and scholars academic conferences and support CFI publications of important research Among the central issues of naturalism include the exploration of varieties of naturalism problems in philosophy of science the methodologies of scientific inquiry naturalism and humanism naturalistic ethics planetary ethics and naturalism and the biosciences 64 Organization and locations edit nbsp CFI s Rare Book Room located at their Amherst New York HeadquartersCFI is a nonprofit body registered as a charity in the United States 65 It has 17 locations in the U S and has 16 international branches or affiliated organizations 66 The organization has Centers For Inquiry in Amherst New York its headquarters Los Angeles New York City Tampa Bay Washington D C Indiana Austin Chicago San Francisco and Michigan 67 International activities edit CFI has branches representation or affiliated organizations in countries around the world 67 It organizes its international activities under the banner Center For Inquiry Transnational In addition CFI holds consultative status to the United Nations as an NGO under the UN Economic and Social Council 68 The center participates in UN Human Rights Council debates for example a debate on the subject of female genital mutilation during 2014 69 University exchange programs edit International programs exist in Germany Rossdorf France Nice Spain Bilbao Poland Warsaw Nigeria Ibadan Uganda Kampala Kenya Nairobi Nepal Kathmandu India Pune and Hyderabad Egypt Cairo China Beijing New Zealand Auckland Peru Lima Argentina Buenos Aires Senegal Dakar Zambia Lusaka and Bangladesh Dhaka 70 Centre for Inquiry Canada edit Main article Centre for Inquiry Canada CFI Canada CFIC is the Canadian branch of CFI Transnational headquartered in Toronto Ontario Canada Justin Trottier served as National Executive Director from 2007 to 2011 Originally established and supported in part by CFI Transnational CFI Canada has become an independent Canadian national organization with several provincial branches CFI Canada has branches in Halifax Montreal Ottawa Toronto Saskatoon Calgary Okanagan Kelowna and Vancouver Board editReza Abbaszadeh Aspen CO Entrepreneur Vinod Bhardwaj Maui HI Inventor entrepreneur David Cowan Atherton CA Investor venture capitalist Richard Dawkins Oxford UK Author evolutionary biologist lecturer Brian Engler Burke VA Operations Research Analyst Nonprofit Executive Barry Kosmin Hartford CT Educator Bill Maxwell St Petersburg FL Columnist University Professor Screenwriter Julia Sweeney Los Angeles CA Comedian Actress Eddie Tabash Chair Board of Directors Beverly Hills CA Attorney Dr J Anderson Thomson Charlottesville VA Author psychiatrist Leonard Tramiel Palo Alto CA Scientist EducatorAffiliate organizations editList of affiliates edit Organizations affiliated with the Center for Inquiry include Centre for Inquiry Canada Centre for Inquiry UK 71 72 Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society see below Committee for Skeptical Inquiry CSI Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion CSER Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health Practice CSMMH 57 International Academy of Humanism Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and ScienceInstitute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society edit The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society ISIS is an organization of writers that promotes the ideas of secularism democracy and human rights within Islamic society 73 74 75 Founded in 1998 by former Muslims the best known being Ibn Warraq 76 the group aims to combat theologically driven fanaticism violence and terrorism The organization subscribes to the rule of secular law freedom of speech and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights It does not promote any belief system or religious dogma In the media editCFI participates in media debates on science health 77 religion and its other areas of interest Its Keep Healthcare Safe and Secular campaign promotes scientifically sound healthcare 60 78 It has been an outspoken critic of dubious and unscientific healthcare practices and engages in public debate on the merit and legality of controversial medical techniques In 2014 CEO Ron Lindsay publicly criticized Stanislaw Burzynski s controversial Texas cancer clinic 79 CFI campaigns for a secular society for example in opposing the addition of prayer text on public property 80 The center supports secular and free speech initiatives 81 On November 14 2006 the CFI opened its Office of Public Policy in Washington DC and issued a declaration In Defense of Science and Secularism which calls for public policy to be based on science rather than faith 82 The next day The Washington Post ran an article about it entitled Think Tank Will Promote Thinking 1 In 2011 video expert James Underdown of IIG and CFI Los Angeles did an experiment for Miracle Detective Oprah Winfrey Network which replicated exactly the angelic apparition that people claim cured a 14 year old severely disabled child at Presbyterian Hemby Children s Hospital in Charlotte North Carolina The angel was sunlight from a hidden window and the girl remained handicapped 83 Consumer fraud lawsuits against CVS and Walmart edit In July 2018 CFI filed suit against CVS in the District of Columbia for consumer fraud over its sale and marketing of ineffective homeopathic medicine The lawsuit in part accused the CVS of deceiving consumers through its misrepresentation of homeopathy s safety and effectiveness wasting customers money and putting their health at risk Nicholas Little CFI s Vice President and General Counsel said CVS is taking cynical advantage of their customers confusion and trust in the CVS brand and putting their health at risk to make a profit and they can t claim ignorance If the people in charge of the country s largest pharmacy don t know that homeopathy is bunk they should be kept as far away from the American healthcare system as possible 84 In May 2019 CFI announced that they have filed a similar suit against Walmart for their range of homeopathic products 85 86 In July 2019 CFI announced that the Stiefel Freethought Foundation was contributing an additional 150 000 to the previously committed 100 000 to support the two lawsuits 87 In 2020 both cases were dismissed 88 In September 2022 the District of Columbia s Court of Appeals revived the lawsuits 89 nbsp Sikivu Hutchinson speaking at the Center for Inquiry Washington DC in 2010Lack of racial diversity on its board of directors edit In 2016 the atheist Sikivu Hutchinson criticized the merger of the secular organizations Center for Inquiry and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science which gave Richard Dawkins a seat on the board of directors of the Center for Inquiry Her criticism was that both organizations had all white boards of directors 90 Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins 2011 edit During Richard Dawkins October 2011 book tour Center for Inquiry the tour s sponsor signed a contract with Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills Michigan as the venue site After seeing an interview with Dawkins on The O Reilly Factor an official at the club cancelled Dawkins appearance Dawkins said that the country club official accepted Bill O Reilly s twisted interpretation of his book The Magic of Reality without having read it personally 91 92 Sean Faircloth said that cancelling the reading really violates the basic principles of America The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race or religious viewpoint Dawkins has published numerous books to explain science to the public so it s rather an affront to reason in general to shun him as they did 93 CFI Michigan executive director Jeff Seaver stated that This action by The Wyndgate illustrates the kind of bias and bigotry that nonbelievers encounter all the time 94 95 Following the cancellation protests and legal action by CFI against the Wyndgate Country Club were pursued 96 97 In 2013 this case was settled in favor of the Center For Inquiry 98 CSH actions against faith based initiatives edit In 2007 CSH sued the Florida Department of Corrections DOC to block the use of state funds in contracts to faith based programs for released inmates claiming that this use is prohibited under the No Aid provision or Blaine amendment of the Florida constitution The initial decision found in favor of the DOC but on appeal the case was remanded in 2010 on just the issue of the unconstitutionality of appropriating state funds for this purpose 99 While this case was in progress after the appellate finding Republican legislators began an effort to amend the Florida constitution to remove the language of the Blaine amendment succeeding in 2011 to place the measure on the 2012 ballot as amendment 8 100 101 The ballot measure failed 101 102 In 2015 CHS now CFI and the state along with its co defendants both filed for summary judgement The court granted the state s motion in January 2016 allowing the contested contracting practice to continue 103 After consideration CFI announced in February 2016 that it would not appeal 104 105 Heckled at the UN edit CFI representative Josephine Macintosh 106 was repeatedly interrupted and heckled by the delegation from Saudi Arabia whilst presenting the center s position on censorship at the UN Human Rights Council CFI advocated free speech and opposed the punishment by Saudi authorities of Raif Badawi for running an Internet forum whom they accused of atheism and liberalism CFI s statement was supported by the American Canadian Irish and French delegates 33 Blasphemy Day edit Main article Blasphemy Day Blasphemy Rights Day International encourages individuals and groups to openly express their criticism of or outright contempt for religion It was founded in 2009 by the Center for Inquiry 107 A student contacted the Center for Inquiry in Amherst New York to present the idea which CFI then supported Ronald Lindsay president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry said regarding Blasphemy Day We think religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are but we have a taboo on religion in an interview with CNN 108 It takes place every September 30 to coincide with the anniversary of the publications of the controversial Jyllands Posten Muhammad cartoons Blasphemy Day and CFI s related Blasphemy Contests 109 started in CFI s own words a firestorm of controversy 109 The use of confrontational free speech has been a topic of debate within the Humanist movement 110 111 and cited as an example of a wider move towards New Atheism and away from the more conciliatory approach historically associated with Humanism 7 112 References edit a b Kaufman Marc November 15 2006 Think Tank Will Promote Thinking The Washington Post Archived from the original on October 29 2017 Retrieved April 29 2020 Nicaise Alexander May 17 2018 About Center for Inquiry Evans Robert October 22 2012 Paul Kurtz giant of humanism dead at 86 Reuters Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved April 30 2020 Obituary Paul Kurtz Publishers Weekly October 23 2012 Retrieved April 30 2020 Cooke Bill 2009 Dictionary Of Atheism Skepticism amp Humanism Prometheus Books p 310 ISBN 978 1591022992 Nonprofit Explorer Center For Inquiry Inc ProPublica May 9 2013 Retrieved January 18 2023 a b Bradley Haggerty Barbara October 19 2009 A Bitter Rift Divides Atheists NPR Archived from the original on April 1 2019 Retrieved July 23 2014 a b Oppenheimer Mark October 1 2010 Closer Look at Rift Between Humanists Reveals Deeper Divisions The New York Times Archived from the original on December 19 2019 Retrieved May 1 2020 Matas Caroline February 11 2016 Merger Creates America s Largest Secular Humanist Organization The Religious Literacy Project Harvard Divinity School Archived from the original on March 24 2020 Retrieved May 1 2020 Union of Atheist Nonprofits Forms Biggest U S Secular Group The Chronicle of Philanthropy January 22 2016 Archived from the original on July 27 2020 Retrieved May 1 2020 Buckley Eileen January 22 2016 Merger creates nation s largest secular organization WBFO NPR Buffalo Toronto Archived from the original on July 27 2020 Winston Kimberly January 21 2016 Royal wedding of atheist group Richard Dawkins Foundation launches woman to top post Religion News Service Archived from the original on April 23 2020 Retrieved April 29 2020 Pigliucci Massimo October 26 2009 On the scope of skeptical inquiry Psychology Today Retrieved May 17 2020 Ybarra Michael J September 13 1991 The Psychic and the Skeptic Uri Geller and James Randi have fought each other for nearly 20 years Now they re at it again Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on July 27 2020 Retrieved May 17 2020 Locy Toni December 10 1994 Psychic Can t Bend Opinion The Washington Post Archived from the original on August 18 2020 Retrieved May 17 2020 Uri Geller vs James Randi decision via Wikisource ClairAudient Test Ustream August 21 2011 Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved September 3 2014 The CFIIG Paranormal Challenge CFI Investigations Group April 8 2012 Archived from the original on February 25 2023 Retrieved February 24 2023 CFIIG will work with applicants to design the test protocol and define the conditions under which the test will take place In most cases the applicant will be asked to perform an informal demonstration of the claimed ability or phenomenon if the demonstration is successful it will be followed by a formal test which will be administered by CFIIG representatives The 250k Challenge Center for Inquiry Investigations Group April 8 2012 Archived from the original on September 29 2020 Retrieved September 13 2020 Gryboski Michael June 12 2014 Ted Cruz Joins Demonstrators in Front of White House Calls on Obama to Help Imprisoned Sudanese Christian Woman The Christian Post Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 CFI Tells Federal Court End Taxpayer Funding of Clergy Housing Center for Inquiry June 24 2014 Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Natanson Hannah August 21 2019 This nonprofit is fighting to give nonreligious couples more choice in who marries them Texas just dealt them a setback The Washington Post Archived from the original on September 14 2019 Retrieved October 3 2019 Winston Kimberly Supreme Court prayer ruling may spur new alliances The Washington Post Archived from the original on December 11 2018 Retrieved June 9 2014 Mass High Court upholds under God in pledge The Beacon Acton MA GateHouse Media May 9 2014 Archived from the original on June 9 2014 Retrieved June 9 2014 Women in Secularism III 2014 Conference in Alexandria VA Center for Inquiry April 25 2014 Archived from the original on June 9 2014 Retrieved June 9 2014 Stedman Chris May 10 2014 Why atheists should care about transgender issues A conversation with Kayley Whalen Religion News Service Archived from the original on September 11 2020 Retrieved September 13 2020 Celebrate Ingersoll New Conference August 16 17 Center for Inquiry May 23 2014 Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Hutchinson Sikivu June 25 2014 Atheism has a big race problem that no one s talking about The Washington Post Archived from the original on October 7 2017 Retrieved June 29 2014 Moving Social Justice Conference October 14 CFI Los Angeles Black Skeptics The Orbit March 20 2014 Archived from the original on August 3 2020 Retrieved September 13 2020 Jenkins Colette M May 17 2014 Northeast Ohio billboard campaign urges nonbelievers to come out of the closet Akron Beacon Journal Retrieved September 13 2020 Zaimov Stoyan January 14 2014 Secular Group to Send Freethought Books to Prisoners as Alternative to Religion The Christian Post Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Winston Kimberly January 25 2014 Atheist groups cater to a captive audience Prisoners USA Today Religion News Service Archived from the original on December 18 2018 Retrieved December 17 2018 a b Donaghy Rori February 12 2015 Saudi Arabia attempts to silence NGO at Human Rights Council Middle East Eye Archived from the original on December 3 2020 Retrieved September 13 2020 Atheist to deliver town s opening prayer The Record Troy New York Associated Press June 20 2014 Archived from the original on December 24 2019 Retrieved June 29 2014 Gryboski Michael May 28 2014 To Expand Religious Freedom in the Military Republicans Need to Win the Senate Congressman Says The Christian Post Archived from the original on July 30 2020 Retrieved June 29 2014 Secular Humanist Bulletin The Council For Secular Humanism November 11 2008 Archived from the original on June 15 2014 Retrieved June 16 2014 The American Rationalist volume LVII May June 2011 Number 3 ISSN 0003 0708 Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice Srmhp org Archived from the original on September 15 2008 Retrieved March 1 2014 Introducing PENSAR Spanish Language Skeptic Magazine Skepticalinquirer org CFI June 17 2020 Archived from the original on December 5 2020 Retrieved February 17 2021 Pensar Home pensar org CFI Archived from the original on February 26 2021 Retrieved February 17 2021 Robson David January 18 2018 The Underground Railroad To Save Atheists The Atlantic Archived from the original on February 15 2018 Retrieved February 14 2018 CFI Office of Public Policy Center for Inquiry Archived from the original on March 22 2014 Retrieved March 1 2014 CFI Office of Public Policy Center for Inquiry Archived from the original on June 27 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Press release Amicus brief to Supreme Court Center For Inquiry January 28 2014 Archived from the original on February 3 2014 Retrieved February 6 2014 CFI Office of Public Policy Center for Inquiry Archived from the original on July 27 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Science and the Public EdM University at Buffalo Archived from the original on July 7 2017 Retrieved July 9 2017 Fidalgo Paul February 26 2020 Quackwatch Joins the Center for Inquiry Center for Inquiry Archived from the original on February 26 2020 Retrieved February 26 2020 Science Advocates Call for Governors to Declare a National Science Appreciation Day Center for Inquiry 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Catalogue Center for Inquiry Archived from the original on September 23 2008 Retrieved March 1 2014 a b CSMMH Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health September 25 2010 Archived from the original on September 25 2010 Retrieved March 3 2014 The pseudoscience of homeopathy The Washington Post Retrieved June 9 2014 CFI and CSI Petition FDA to Take Action on Homeopathic Drugs Center for Inquiry August 30 2011 Archived from the original on September 25 2011 Retrieved June 16 2014 a b CFI Launches Campaign to Keep Religion and Pseudoscience Out of Health Care Center for Inquiry June 3 2014 Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 Riggott Julie Spring Summer 2005 Pseudoscience in Autism Treatment Are the News and Entertainment Media Helping or Hurting Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice 4 1 55 58 Archived from the original on November 12 2013 Professional organizations which issued position statements indicating that facilitated communication is not a scientifically valid technique Most effective intervention for autism according to scientists Symptoms of autism Reason for the abundance of untested and ineffective therapies for autism Power Therapies and possible threats to the science of psychology and psychiatry By Devilly Grant J Australian amp New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Jun 2005 Vol 39 Issue 6 pp 437 445 This paper reviews a collection of new therapies collectively self termed The Power Therapies outlining their proposed procedures and the evidence for and against their use These therapies are then put to the test for pseudoscientific practice It is concluded that these new therapies have offered no new scientifically valid theories of action show only non specific efficacy show no evidence that they offer substantive improvements to extant psychiatric care yet display many characteristics consistent with pseudoscience Education Center for Inquiry n d Archived from the original on April 1 2012 Retrieved March 1 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10 2016 Retrieved May 16 2016 Bettis Kara February 23 2016 Atheists drop suit to block Christian prison ministry funding New Boston Post Archived from the original on July 14 2016 Retrieved May 16 2016 Saudi Arabia Tries to Silence Center for Inquiry at UN Human Rights Council 6 23 14 Archived from the original on March 2 2021 Retrieved December 27 2017 via YouTube Penn Jillette Celebrates Blasphemy Day in Penn Says Center for Inquiry September 29 2009 Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Retrieved September 30 2013 Basu Moni September 30 2009 Taking aim at God on Blasphemy Day CNN com Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved September 3 2014 a b CFI Announces Blasphemy Contest Winners Center for Inquiry November 16 2009 Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved July 23 2014 Moni Basu September 30 2009 Taking aim at God on Blasphemy Day CNN com Archived from the original on September 4 2014 Retrieved July 23 2014 Mark Oppenheimer October 1 2010 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