Organization:Center for Inquiry

From HandWiki
Center for Inquiry
Headquarters of the CFI
Founded1991; 35 years ago (1991)
FounderPaul Kurtz
TypeNonprofit, science education
FocusPublic understanding of science, secular ethics, skepticism
Location
  • Amherst, New York, U.S.
MethodResearch, education, outreach, and advocacy
Key people
Robyn Blumner
Barry Karr
Websitecenterforinquiry.org

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]

History

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

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

Dominique Dawes & James Underdown discuss testing of Power Balance bracelets

The Investigations Group (Formerly the Independent Investigations Group), a volunteer group based at CFI Los Angeles, undertakes experimental testing of fringe claims.[17] It was founded by James Underdown, who is currently executive director of CFI West and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.[18] The Group offers a cash prize of US$500,000 for successful demonstration of supernatural effects.[19] 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.[20]

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

Religion, ethics, and society

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[21] and opposes religious privilege, for example benefits for clergy in the US Tax Code.[22] 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.[23]

CFI actively supports secular interests, such as secular state education.[24][25] It organizes conferences, such as Women In Secularism[26][27] and a conference focused on freethought advocate Robert Ingersoll.[28] CFI has provided meeting and conference facilities to other skeptical organizations, for example an atheist of color conference on social justice.[29][30]

CFI also undertakes atheist education and support activities,[31] for example sending freethought books to prisoners as part of its Freethought Books Project.[32][33]

CFI is active in advocating free speech,[34] and in promoting secular government.[35] It speaks against institutional religion in the armed forces.[36]

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

Publications

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,[37] and CSI's Skeptical Inquirer, CFI's American Rationalist.[38] The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice[39] 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.[40][41]

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

Secular Rescue

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.[42]

Office of Public Policy

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.[43]

The OPP publishes position statements on its subjects of interest. Examples have included acupuncture, climate change, contraception and intelligent design.[44] The Office is an active participant in legal matters, providing experts for Congress testimony and amicus briefs in Supreme Court cases.[45] It publishes a list of bills it considers of interest as they pass through the U.S. legislative process.[46]

"Science and the Public" Master of Education program

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.[47] 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

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.[48]

ScienceSaves

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.[49] In 2022, CFI got proclamations declaring March 26 as National Science Appreciation Day from more than a dozen states.[50]

Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science

This program provides teachers with tools to teach evolution.

Richard Dawkins Award

The Richard Dawkins Award is an annual award that was presented by the Atheist Alliance of America[51] 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".[52] 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.[53]

Past projects and programs

The following projects and programs are no longer active.

Camp Inquiry

The Center for Inquiry organized an annual summer camp for children called Camp Inquiry,[54] focusing on scientific literacy, critical thinking, naturalism, the arts, humanities, and humanist ethical development.[55] Camp Inquiry has been described as "a summer camp for kids with questions"[56] 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

The Center for Inquiry Institute[57] 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

The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH)[58] 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[59] and advocates a scientific basis for healthcare.[60][61] CSMMH papers have covered topics such as pseudoscience in autism treatments[62] and in psychiatry.[63]

Naturalism Research Project

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.[64]

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.[65]

Organization and locations

Several wall-mounted bookshelves contain books of various colors
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.[66] It has 17 locations in the U.S., and has 16 international branches or affiliated organizations.[67] 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.[68]

International activities

CFI has branches, representation or affiliated organizations in countries around the world.[68] 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.[69] The center participates in UN Human Rights Council debates, for example a debate on the subject of female genital mutilation during 2014.[70]

University exchange programs

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).[71]

Centre for Inquiry Canada

Main article: Organization: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.

Affiliate organizations

List of affiliates

Organizations affiliated with the Center for Inquiry include:

Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society

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.[74][75][76] Founded in 1998 by former Muslims, the best known being Ibn Warraq,[77] 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

CFI participates in media debates on science, health,[78] religion and its other areas of interest. Its "Keep Healthcare Safe and Secular" campaign promotes scientifically sound healthcare.[61][79] 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.[80]

CFI campaigns for a secular society, for example in opposing the addition of prayer text on public property.[81] The center supports secular and free speech initiatives.[82]

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.[83] 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.[84]

Consumer fraud lawsuits against CVS and Walmart

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."[85] In May 2019, CFI announced that they have filed a similar suit against Walmart for their range of homeopathic products.[86][87] 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.[88] In 2020 both cases were dismissed.[89] In September 2022 the District of Columbia's Court of Appeals revived the lawsuits.[90]

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

Lack of racial diversity on its board of directors

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.[91]

Wyndgate Country Club and Richard Dawkins, 2011

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.[92][93] 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."[94] 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."[95][96] Following the cancellation, protests and legal action by CFI against the Wyndgate Country Club were pursued.[97][98] In 2013 this case was settled in favor of the Center For Inquiry.[99]

CSH actions against faith-based initiatives

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.[100]

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.[101][102] The ballot measure failed.[102][103]

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.[104] After consideration, CFI announced in February, 2016, that it would not appeal.[105][106]

Heckled at the UN

CFI representative Josephine Macintosh[107] 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.[34]

Blasphemy Day

Main article: Philosophy: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.[108] 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.[109] 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[110] started (in CFI's own words) "a firestorm of controversy".[110] The use of confrontational free speech has been a topic of debate within the Humanist movement[111][8] 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

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kaufman, Marc (November 15, 2006). "Think Tank Will Promote Thinking". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401176.html. 
  2. ↑ Nicaise, Alexander (2018-05-17). "About | Center for Inquiry". https://centerforinquiry.org/about/. 
  3. ↑ Evans, Robert (October 22, 2012). "Paul Kurtz, 'giant' of humanism, dead at 86". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-religion-kurtz/paul-kurtz-giant-of-humanism-dead-at-86-idUSBRE89L19D20121022. 
  4. ↑ "Obituary: Paul Kurtz". Publishers Weekly. October 23, 2012. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/54465-obituary-paul-kurtz.html. 
  5. ↑ Cooke, Bill (2009). Dictionary Of Atheism Skepticism & Humanism. Prometheus Books. p. 310. ISBN 978-1591022992. 
  6. ↑ "Nonprofit Explorer: Center For Inquiry Inc" (in en). 2013-05-09. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/222306795. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bradley Haggerty, Barbara (2009-10-19). "A Bitter Rift Divides Atheists". NPR. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113889251. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Oppenheimer, Mark (October 1, 2010). "Closer Look at Rift Between Humanists Reveals Deeper Divisions". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/us/02beliefs.html. 
  9. ↑ Matas, Caroline (February 11, 2016). "Merger Creates America's Largest Secular Humanist Organization". The Religious Literacy Project, Harvard Divinity School. https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/news/merger-creates-americas-largest-secular-humanist-organization. 
  10. ↑ "Union of Atheist Nonprofits Forms Biggest U.S. Secular Group". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. January 22, 2016. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Union-of-Atheist-Nonprofits/235018. 
  11. ↑ Buckley, Eileen (January 22, 2016). Merger creates nation's largest secular organization. WBFO NPR Buffalo Toronto. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27.
  12. ↑ Winston, Kimberly (January 21, 2016). "'Royal wedding' of atheist group, Richard Dawkins Foundation launches woman to top post". Religion News Service. https://religionnews.com/2016/01/21/royal-wedding-atheist-group-richard-dawkins-foundation-launches-woman-top-post/. 
  13. ↑ Pigliucci, Massimo (Oct 26, 2009). "On the scope of skeptical inquiry". Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rationally-speaking/200910/the-scope-skeptical-inquiry. 
  14. ↑ 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. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-13-vw-2279-story.html. 
  15. ↑ Locy, Toni (December 10, 1994). "Psychic Can't Bend Opinion". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/10/psychic-cant-bend-opinion/a9f12d6b-255a-4acb-b224-30f02633e7ef/. 
  16. ↑ Uri Geller vs. James Randi decision 
  17. ↑ "ClairAudient Test". Ustream. 2011-08-21. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/clairaudient-test. 
  18. ↑ "Ten New Fellows Elected to Committee for Skeptical Inquiry". Center for Inquiry. November 23, 2020. https://centerforinquiry.org/news/10-new-fellows-elected-to-committee-for-skeptical-inquiry/. 
  19. ↑ "The CFIIG Paranormal Challenge". CFI Investigations Group. April 8, 2012. https://cfiig.org/paranormal-challenge. "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." 
  20. ↑ "The $250k Challenge". Center for Inquiry Investigations Group. April 8, 2012. https://cfiig.org/250k-challenge/. 
  21. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (2014-06-12). "Ted Cruz Joins Demonstrators in Front of White House; Calls on Obama to Help Imprisoned Sudanese Christian Woman". The Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/news/ted-cruz-joins-demonstrators-in-front-of-white-house-calls-on-obama-to-help-imprisoned-sudanese-christian-woman-121430/. 
  22. ↑ "CFI Tells Federal Court: End Taxpayer Funding of Clergy Housing". Center for Inquiry. 2014-06-24. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cfi_tells_federal_court_end_taxpayer_funding_of_clergy_housing/. 
  23. ↑ Natanson, Hannah (2019-08-21). "This nonprofit is fighting to give nonreligious couples more choice in who marries them. Texas just dealt them a setback.". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/21/this-non-profit-is-fighting-give-non-religious-couples-more-choice-who-marries-them-texas-just-dealt-them-setback/. 
  24. ↑ Winston, Kimberly. "Supreme Court prayer ruling may spur new alliances". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/supreme-court-prayer-ruling-may-spur-new-alliances-_-resend/2014/05/08/12b93e52-d6d8-11e3-8f7d-7786660fff7c_story.html. 
  25. ↑ "Mass. High Court upholds 'under God' in pledge". The Beacon. Acton, MA: GateHouse Media. 2014-05-09. http://acton.wickedlocal.com/article/20140509/News/140506125. 
  26. ↑ "Women in Secularism III: 2014 Conference in Alexandria, VA". Center for Inquiry. 2014-04-25. http://www.womeninsecularism.org/. 
  27. ↑ Stedman, Chris (2014-05-10). "Why atheists should care about transgender issues: A conversation with Kayley Whalen". Religion News Service. https://religionnews.com/2014/05/10/why-atheists-should-care-about-transgender-issues-a-conversation-with-kayley-whalen/. 
  28. ↑ "Celebrate Ingersoll! New Conference August 16–17". Center for Inquiry. 2014-05-23. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/celebrate_ingersoll_new_conference_august_16-17/. 
  29. ↑ Hutchinson, Sikivu (2014-06-25). "Atheism has a big race problem that no one's talking about". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/. 
  30. ↑ "Moving Social Justice Conference: October '14 CFI-Los Angeles". Black Skeptics. The Orbit. March 20, 2014. https://the-orbit.net/blackskeptics/2014/03/20/moving-social-justice-conference-october-14-cfi-los-angeles/. 
  31. ↑ Jenkins, Colette M. (2014-05-17). "Northeast Ohio billboard campaign urges nonbelievers to 'come out of the closet'". Akron Beacon Journal. https://www.beaconjournal.com/akron/lifestyle/northeast-ohio-billboard-campaign-urges-nonbelievers-to-come-out-of-the-closet. 
  32. ↑ Zaimov, Stoyan (2014-01-14). "Secular Group to Send 'Freethought' Books to Prisoners as Alternative to Religion". The Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/news/secular-group-to-send-freethought-books-to-prisoners-as-alternative-to-religion-112609/. 
  33. ↑ Winston, Kimberly (January 25, 2014). "Atheist groups cater to a captive audience: Prisoners". USA Today. Religion News Service. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/01/25/atheists-prison-outreach/4797469/. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Donaghy, Rori (2015-02-12). "Saudi Arabia attempts to silence NGO at Human Rights Council". Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-attempts-silence-ngo-human-rights-council. 
  35. ↑ "Atheist to deliver town's opening prayer". The Record. Associated Press (Troy, New York). June 20, 2014. https://www.troyrecord.com/news/atheist-to-deliver-town-s-opening-prayer/article_c3be5b7e-efe9-5b96-86ca-4c6bde28783b.html. 
  36. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (2014-05-28). "To Expand Religious Freedom in the Military, Republicans Need to Win the Senate, Congressman Says". The Christian Post. https://www.christianpost.com/news/to-expand-religious-freedom-in-the-military-republicans-need-to-win-the-senate-congressman-says-120507/. 
  37. ↑ "Secular Humanist Bulletin". The Council For Secular Humanism. 2008-11-11. http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php/articles/category/shb. 
  38. ↑ The American Rationalist volume LVII May/June 2011, Number 3, ISSN 0003-0708.
  39. ↑ "Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice". Srmhp.org. http://www.srmhp.org/. 
  40. ↑ "Introducing PENSAR: Spanish Language Skeptic Magazine". CFI. 17 June 2020. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/introducing-pensar-spanish-language-skeptic-magazine/. 
  41. ↑ "Pensar (Home)". CFI. https://pensar.org/. 
  42. ↑ Robson, David (2018-01-18). "The 'Underground Railroad' To Save Atheists". The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/01/the-underground-railroad-to-save-atheists/550229. Retrieved 2018-02-14. 
  43. ↑ "CFI Office of Public Policy". Center for Inquiry. http://centerforinquiry.net/opp/. 
  44. ↑ "CFI Office of Public Policy". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/opp/opp_work/category/positions/. 
  45. ↑ "Press release – Amicus brief to Supreme Court". Center For Inquiry. January 28, 2014. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/newsroom/cfi_tells_supreme_court_hobby_lobby/. 
  46. ↑ "CFI Office of Public Policy". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/opp/opp_work/category/bills/. 
  47. ↑ "Science and the Public, EdM". University at Buffalo. http://www.buffalo.edu/gse/online/programs/masters/science.html. 
  48. ↑ Fidalgo, Paul (February 26, 2020). "Quackwatch Joins the Center for Inquiry". https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/quackwatch-joins-the-center-for-inquiry/. 
  49. ↑ "Science Advocates Call for Governors to Declare a National Science Appreciation Day". Center for Inquiry, Inc. November 11, 2021. https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/science-advocates-call-for-governors-to-declare-a-national-science-appreciation-day/. 
  50. ↑ "State Proclamations". March 21, 2022. https://sciencesaves.org/state-proclamations/. 
  51. ↑ "The Richard Dawkins Award" (in en-US). http://atheistallianceamerica.org/the-richard-dawkins-award/. 
  52. ↑ "Richard Dawkins Award Moving to the Center for Inquiry". Center for Inquiry. April 16, 2019. https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/richard-dawkins-award-moving-to-the-center-for-inquiry/. 
  53. ↑ "Richard Dawkins named world's top thinker in poll". theguardian.com. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/apr/25/richard-dawkins-named-top-thinker. 
  54. ↑ "Camp Inquiry". Holland, New York: Campinquiry.org. http://www.campinquiry.org/. 
  55. ↑ Hagerty, Barbara Bradley (August 7, 2008). "Camp Offers Training Ground For Little Skeptics". NPR. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93174374. 
  56. ↑ "Angie McQuaig: Camp Inquiry: A Summer Camp for Kids With Questions". Huffingtonpost.com. July 15, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angie-mcquaig/camp-inquiry-a-summer-cam_b_645900.html. 
  57. ↑ "Institute Catalogue". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/education/institute_catalogue/. 
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 "CSMMH". Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. 2010-09-25. http://www.csmmh.org/. 
  59. ↑ "The pseudoscience of homeopathy". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-pseudoscience-of-homeopathy/2014/05/08/90e0de76-d55b-11e3-8f7d-7786660fff7c_story.html. 
  60. ↑ "CFI and CSI Petition FDA to Take Action on Homeopathic Drugs". Center for Inquiry. 2011-08-30. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cfi_and_csi_petition_fda_to_take_action_on_homeopathic_drugs. 
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 "CFI Launches Campaign to Keep Religion and Pseudoscience Out of Health Care". Center for Inquiry. 2014-06-03. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/safe_and_secular/. 
  62. ↑ 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. http://www.srmhp.org/0401/media-watch.html.  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
  63. ↑ "Power Therapies and possible threats to the science of psychology and psychiatry". By: Devilly, Grant J. Australian & 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.
  64. ↑ "Education". Center for Inquiry. n.d.. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/research/. 
  65. ↑ Shook, John (March–April 2007). "Center for Inquiry launches Naturalism Research Project". Skeptical Inquirer 31 (2). http://business.highbeam.com/5799/article-1G1-159963517/center-inquiry-launches-naturalism-research-project. 
  66. ↑ "About". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about. 
  67. ↑ "About center For Inquiry". 2013. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about/branches. 
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 "About | Center for Inquiry". Center for Inquiry. 2014-04-04. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/about/branches. 
  69. ↑ "UN". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/unitednations. 
  70. ↑ "Le Conseil des droits de l'homme tient une reunion-débat de haut niveau sur la lute contre les mutilations génitales féminines – Communiqués de presse". Fr.starafrica.com. 2014-06-16. http://fr.starafrica.com/actualites/le-conseil-des-droits-de-lhomme-tient-une-reunion-debat-de-haut-niveau-sur-la-lute-contre-les-mutilations-genitales-feminines.html. 
  71. ↑ "Center For Inquiry On Campus locations". http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/groups/index/. 
  72. ↑ CFI UK is a section of the British Humanist Association
  73. ↑ "Centre for Inquiry UK". Centreforinquiry.org.uk. http://centreforinquiry.org.uk/. 
  74. ↑ Ibn Warraq, ed (2003). Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out. Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1591020684. https://books.google.com/books?id=9q0y21B9BoUC&dq=Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society&pg=PA431. 
  75. ↑ Dimitrios Roussopoulos (2007). Faith in Faithlessness: An Anthology of Atheism. Black Rose Books. p. 407. ISBN 978-1551643120. https://books.google.com/books?id=3CpLB-6qlY0C&dq=%22Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society%22&pg=PA407. 
  76. ↑ Elizabeth Warren (2003). God Caesar and the Freedom of Religion. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1410748904. https://books.google.com/books?id=tqM3UiM5VbcC&dq=%22Institute+for+the+Secularisation+of+Islamic+Society%22&pg=PA26. 
  77. ↑ A.J. Caschetta (Winter 2009). "Defending the West". Middle East Quarterly XVI (1): 77–79. http://www.meforum.org/2069/defending-the-west. Retrieved 2012-08-23. 
  78. ↑ "Dr. Oz's bad day on Capitol Hill". TheHill. 2014-05-14. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/209611-dr-oz-gets-tough-treatment-on-weight-loss-claims/. 
  79. ↑ "The Fight To Take Back Our Health Care System From Junk Science". 2014-06-05. http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/05/3445016/secular-health-care/. 
  80. ↑ Liz Szabo (2014-07-25). "Texas medical board charges controversial cancer doctor". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/24/new-charges-for-burzynski/13111483/. 
  81. ↑ Kimberly Winston (2014-06-06). "Senate approves prayer plaque for World War II monument". Deseret News. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865604661/Senate-approves-prayer-plaque-for-World-War-II-monument.html?pg=all. 
  82. ↑ "Coalition of US-Based Firms Urges Pakistan to End Social Media Censorship | NDTV Gadgets". Gadgets.ndtv.com. 2014-06-12. http://gadgets.ndtv.com/social-networking/news/coalition-of-us-based-firms-urges-pakistan-to-end-social-media-censorship-540206. 
  83. ↑ Park, Bob (2006-11-17). "Freedom Of Science: in Defense of Science and Secularism" (blog). http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN06/wn111706.html. 
  84. ↑ "Guardian Angel: Video Expert Re-Creation". Oprah Winfrey Network. 2011-01-20. http://www.oprah.com/own-miracle-detectives/Guardian-Angel-Video-Expert-Re-Creation. 
  85. ↑ "Center For Inquiry Sues CVS for Fraud Over Sale of Homeopathic Fake Medicine" (Press release). Center for Inquiry. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  86. ↑ Gibson, Kate (June 10, 2019). "Walmart sued over marketing of homeopathic treatments". https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-sued-over-homeopathic-medicine-marketing/. 
  87. ↑ "Walmart Sued For Fraud: Nation's Largest Retailer Deceives And Endangers Consumers With Homeopathic Fake Medicine". Center For Inquiry. May 20, 2019. https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/walmart-sued-for-fraud-homeopathy/. 
  88. ↑ "Lawsuit Targeting Walmart and CVS Over Fake Medicine gets $250,000 Boost From Stiefel Freethought Foundation". Center For Inquiry. July 10, 2019. https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/lawsuit-targeting-walmart-and-cvs-over-fake-medicine-gets-250000-boost-from-stiefel-freethought-foundation. 
  89. ↑ "Judge Dismisses CFI Suit Against Walmart On Homeopathy; Appeal Planned". Skeptical Inquirer (Amherst, New York: Center for Inquiry). September–October 2020. 
  90. ↑ Grzincic, Barbara (September 30, 2022). "Walmart, CVS must face lawsuit over placement of homeopathic product". https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/walmart-cvs-must-face-lawsuit-over-placement-homeopathic-products-2022-09-30/. 
  91. ↑ #AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of Color Rock Social Justice by Sikivu Hutchinson, Huffington Post, January 26, 2016
  92. ↑ "Rochester Hills Country Club Cancels Richard Dawkins Appearance". Fox News. 2011-10-13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBU8nS9OFDY. 
  93. ↑ "Atheist Richard Dawkins snubbed by Detroit area country club". Detroit Free Press. 2011-10-12. http://www.freep.com/article/20111012/NEWS05/110120357/Atheist-Richard-Dawkins-snubbed-by-Detroit-area-country-club-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE. 
  94. ↑ "Rochester Hills Country Club Cancels Richard Dawkins Appearance". MyFoxDetroit.com. Fox Television Stations, Inc. http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/18450960/rochester-hills-country-club-cancels-richard-dawkins-appearance. 
  95. ↑ "Protest tonight against club's decision to cancel atheist's appearance". The Detroit News. 2011-10-12. http://detnews.com/article/20111012/METRO/110120427/Protest-tonight-against-club-s-decision-to-cancel-atheist-s-appearance#ixzz1ahkopLFb. 
  96. ↑ "Atheist Richard Dawkins Rejected by Detroit Country Club?". The Christian Post. 2011-10-13. http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-richard-dawkins-rejected-by-detroit-country-club-58082/. 
  97. ↑ "Dawkins Event Banned – CFI to Pursue Legal Remedies". Center For Inquiry. 2011-10-14. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/update_dawkins_event_banned/. 
  98. ↑ "Complaint and Demand for Jury". United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Center for Inquiry. April 27, 2012. http://centerforinquiry.net/uploads/center-for-inquriy-v-golf-course-services-complaint-04-27-2012-dawkins-wyndgate-lawsuit.pdf. 
  99. ↑ "Mich. club settles atheist discrimination suit". The Wall Street Journal. 2013-02-26. https://www.wsj.com/articles/APb1485ec9c39b451e9849280550298743. 
  100. ↑ "Council for Secular Humanism Inc v. McNeil". April 27, 2010. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1519849.html. 
  101. ↑ Postal, Leslie (April 20, 2011). "Bill asks voters to OK taxpayer funding of religious institutions". Orlando Sentinel. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2011/04/20/bill-asks-voters-to-ok-taxpayer-funding-of-religious-institutions/. 
  102. ↑ 102.0 102.1 Mazzei, Patricia (April 27, 2011). "Blaine amendment repeal passes Florida house". Tampa Bay Times. http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/blaine-amendment-repeal-passes-florida-house. 
  103. ↑ "Florida religious freedom Amendment 8". https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Religious_Freedom,_Amendment_8_(2012). 
  104. ↑ "CFI v Jones (2016)". Fl 2nd District Court. January 20, 2016. http://www.becketfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CFI-v-Jones-for-Web.compressed.pdf. 
  105. ↑ "Center for Inquiry will not appeal adverse decision in Florida lawsuit". CFI. February 8, 2016. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/center_for_inquiry_will_not_appeal_adverse_decision_in_florida_lawsuit/. 
  106. ↑ Bettis, Kara (February 23, 2016). "Atheists drop suit to block Christian prison ministry funding". New Boston Post. http://newbostonpost.com/2016/02/23/atheists-drop-suit-to-block-christian-prison-ministry-funding/. 
  107. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Tries to Silence Center for Inquiry at UN Human Rights Council – 6/23/14". June 23, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CakI_sn30xg. 
  108. ↑ "Penn Jillette Celebrates Blasphemy Day in 'Penn Says'". Center for Inquiry. 2009-09-29. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/penn_jillette_celebrates_blasphemy_day/. 
  109. ↑ Basu, Moni (September 30, 2009). "Taking aim at God on 'Blasphemy Day'". CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/30/first.blasphemy.day/. 
  110. ↑ 110.0 110.1 "CFI Announces Blasphemy Contest Winners". Center for Inquiry. 2009-11-16. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/blasphemy_contest_winners/. 
  111. ↑ Basu, Moni (2009-09-30). "Taking aim at God on 'Blasphemy Day'". CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/30/first.blasphemy.day/. 
  112. ↑ Grothe, D.J. (2009-10-19). "Quick Thoughts on the NPR 'Bitter Rift' Story". Center for Inquiry. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/quick_thoughts_on_npr_story/. 

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