DOCSLIB.ORG

FI-AS-08.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
FI-AS-08.Pdf COVER CENTERS FOR INQUIRY •• www.centerforinquiry.net/about/centerswww.centerforinquiry.net/about/centers CFI/BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) Ormond Beach, Fla. 32175 DOMESTIC Ex. Dir.: Alejandro Borgo Tel.: (386) 671-1921 Buenos Aires, Argentina email: [email protected] CFI/TRANSNATIONAL Founder and Chair: Paul Kurtz CFI/CAIRO (EGYPT) CFI Community/ Ex. Dir.: Barry Karr Chairs: Prof. Mona Abousenna Fort Lauderdale PO Box 703, Prof. Mourad Wahba President: Jeanette Madea Amherst, N.Y. 14226 44 Gol Gamal St., Agouza, Giza, Egypt Tel.: (954) 345-1181 Tel: (716) 636-4869 CFI/GERMANY (ROSSDORF) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Amardeo Sarma CFI Community/Harlem CFI/AUSTIN Kirchgasse 4, 64380 Rossdorf, Germany President: Sibanye Ex. Dir.: Jenni Acosta Rossdorf, Germany Email: [email protected] PO Box 202164, CFI/INDIA (HYDERABAD) CFI Community/Long Island Austin, Tex. 78720-2164 Ex. Dir.: Prof. Innaiah Narisetti President: Gerry Dantone Tel: (512) 919-4115 Hyderabad, India PO Box 119 Email: [email protected] CFI/ITALY Greenlawn, N.Y. 11740 CFI/CHICAGO Ex. Dir.: Hugo Estrella Tel.: (516) 640-5491 Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Adam Walker CFI/KENYA (NAIROBI) PO Box 7951, Ex. Dir.: George Ongere CFI Community/Miami Chicago, Ill. 60680-7951 President: Argelia Tejada Tel: (312) 226-0420 CFI/LONDON (U.K.) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Suresh Lalvani Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, CFI Community/Naples (Florida) CFI/INDIANA London WC1R 4RL, England Coordinator: Bernie Turner Ex. Dir.: Reba Boyd Wooden 801 Anchor Rode Ave. 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, CFI/LOW COUNTRIES Suite 206 Indianapolis, Ind. 46202 Ex. Dir.: Floris van den Berg, PhD Naples, Fla. 34103 Tel: (317) 423-0710 Bunnik, The Netherlands Tel.: (239) 261-6652 Email: [email protected] CFI/NEPAL (KATHMANDU) Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Gopi Upreti CFI/NEW YORK CITY CFI Community/Northeast Ohio Ex. Dir.: Derek C. Araujo Kathmandu, Nepal President: Brent Bowen 80 Broad St., 5th Floor, CFI/NEW ZEALAND (AUCKLAND) PO Box 2379 New York, N.Y. 10004 Ex. Dir.: Bill Cooke Akron, Ohio 44309 Tel.: (866) 254-8580 Tel: (212) 504-2945 CFI/NICE (FRANCE) Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Dr. Henri Broch Email: [email protected] CFI/MICHIGAN Universite of Nice, Faculte des Sciences CFI Community/Orange County Ex. Dir.: Jeff Seaver Nice, France President: David Richards 4773 Hollywood Blvd. 3777 44th Street SE CFI/NIGERIA (IBADAN) Grand Rapids, Mich. 49512 Ex. Dir.: Leo Igwe Hollywood, Calif. 90027 Tel: (616) 698-2342 Oyo State, Nigeria Tel.: (323) 666-9797 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] CFI/ONTARIO (TORONTO, CANADA) CFI/SAN FRANCISCO Ex. Dir.: Justin Trottier CFI Community/Pittsburgh Ex. Dir.: Michael Adkisson 216 Beverley Street, Toronto, President: Bill Kaszycki PO Box 14880 Ontario, M5T 1Z3, Canada Box 1748 San Francisco, Calif. 94114-0880 Monroeville, Pa. 15146 CFI/PERÚ (LIMA) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ex. Dir.: Manuel A. Paz y Miño CFI/TAMPA Lima, Peru CFI Community/Tallahassee Ex. Dir.: Nan Owens Presidents: Meredith Stangel CFI/POLAND (WARSAW) Email: [email protected] 5201 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 124, Ex. Dir.: Andrzej Dominiczak Tampa, Fla. 33609 Warsaw, Poland CFI Community/Tucson/ Tel: (813) 849-7571 Southern Arizona Email: [email protected] CFI/RUSSIA (MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY) Coordinator: Paul Taylor Ex. Dir.: Dr. Valerii A. Kuvakin 735 S. Placita Amena CFI/WASHINGTON, DC Moscow, Russia Green Valley, Ariz. 85614 (OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY) 621 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, CFI/SENEGAL (DAKAR) Tel.: (520) 648-7231 Washington, D.C. 20003 Ex. Dir.: Fadel Niang Email: [email protected] Tel: (202) 546-2330 Dakar-Fann, Senegal Email: [email protected] CFI/SPAIN (BILBOA) CFI/WEST Ex. Dir.: Luis Alfonso Gámez Ex. Dir.: James Underdown CFI/UGANDA (KAMPALA) 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Ex. Dir.: Deogratiasi Ssekitooleko Hollywood, Calif. 90027 Tel: (323) 666-9797 Email: [email protected] CENTER FOR INQUIRY COMMUNITIES INTERNATIONAL www.centerforinquiry.net/about/ communities CFI/BEIJING (CHINA) Ex. Dir.: Ren Fujun CFI Community/ China Research Institute Daytona Beach for Science Population Coordinator: Bob Stevenson Beijing, China PO Box 1824 free inquiry http://www.secularhumanism.org 2 Editorial Features 4 From the Editors ISLAMOFASCISM: Restoring Universal FICTION OR THREAT? Human Point/Counterpoint Rights at the United Nations 23 Introduction Tom Flynn 6 Editorial 24 Islamofacism Is a August/September 2008 Vol. 28, No. 5 Op-Ed Gross Misnomer ISSN 0272-0701 Laurence W. Britt 14 The Vatican’s 25 Islamofacism Is an Long Game Apt Descriptor Tom Flynn Ibn Warraq 16 Why Is Polygamy 29 The New Pariahs: Illegal? Atheists in the Wendy Kaminer U.S. Military Michael Dorian 18 Israel at Sixty: 31 Where Can God Act? Jewishness and A Look at Quantum Secularism Theology Christopher Hitchens Victor J. Stenger 19 Benedict’s 37 Why Is There a Subversive Universe at All, Journey Rather Shadia B. Drury Than Just Nothing? Part 2 22 The Real Problem in Adolf Grünbaum Embryo Research 42 A Short History Poem of Secularism Graeme Smith By David Park Musella 45 Secular Humanism 41 To Friedrich August Comes to Romania Kekulé von Remus Cernea 47 Secularism Departments 11 Leading Questions Fundamentalist Atheists An Interview with Chris Hedges 12 Letters 49 Church-State Update Edd Doerr and Tom Flynn Reviews 50 Living Without 57 A Secular Age Religion By Charles Taylor I Want (Not) to Believe Austin Dacey Katrina Voss 59 The Secular Conscience: 52 The Good Life Why Belief Belongs in Refirement in Our Time Public Life Roy P. Fairfield By Austin Dacey 53 Humanism Tom Flynn and Culture A Humanist in 61 Expelled: God’s Country No Intelligence Allowed Jason Gersh Directed by Nathan Frankowski 56 Humanism at Large Edd Doerr Miracles Ralph Estling FI Editorial Staff Editor in Chief FROM THE EDITORS Paul Kurtz Editor Thomas W. Flynn Associate Editors Norm R. Allen Jr., Nathan Bupp, Austin Dacey, D.J. Grothe, R. Joseph Hoffmann, David Koepsell, John R. Shook Managing Editor Restoring Universal Human Andrea Szalanski Columnists Arthur Caplan, Richard Dawkins, Shadia B. Drury, Rights at Nat Hentoff, Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Tibor R. Machan, Peter Singer Senior Editors the United Nations Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, Martin Gardner, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin Contributing Editors Jo Ann Boydston, Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Antony Flew, Levi Fragell, Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Thelma Lavine, Lee Nisbet, J.J.C. Smart, his year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Svetozar Stojanovic,´ Thomas Szasz Declaration of Human Rights, that monumental and hopeful Ethics Editor document that extends equal dignity to every member of Elliot D. Cohen T the human family and relies on the rule of right as the only final Literary Editor David Park Musella recourse against violence and war. Since its inception, the United Assistant Editors Nations has kept at its heart an organ dedicated to protecting Donna Budniewski, Julia Lavarnway human rights. Art Director In 2006, under mounting criticism that it had become “too selec- Lisa A. Hutter tive and too political”—in the words of then-Secretary General Kofi Production Christopher Fix, Paul E. Loynes Sr. Annan—the U.N. Commission on Human Rights was replaced by the Cartoonist U.N. Human Rights Council. The creation of the U.N. Human Rights Don Addis Council (UNHRC) was met with renewed optimism that the U.N. would Cover Images again rise to the high ideals embodied in the Universal Declaration. (Left to right) Osama Bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Dick Cheney On Friday, March 28, 2008, a blow was struck at the very heart of the United Nations. Council for Secular Humanism Chair A new U.N. initiative would “stifle the Paul Kurtz Board of Directors speech Thomas Casten, Kendrick Frazier, David Henehan, Dan Kelleher, Lee Nisbet, Jonathan Kurtz, of the world’s citizens when seen as Richard Schroeder, Edward Tabash Emeritus: Jan Loeb Eisler, Joseph Levee necessary in order to protect particular Executive Director Ronald A. Lindsay beliefs and practices from criticism.” Director, Educational Programs (CFI) Austin Dacey Director, Campus and On that day, the Canadian delegation moved a resolution at the Community Programs (CFI) UNHRC to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom D.J. Grothe of Speech. Traditionally, this office has been charged with monitoring Director, African Americans for Humanism and protecting the freedom of expression, that uniquely important Norm R. Allen Jr. freedom that is a precondition for the protection of all others. Vice President of Planning and Development (CFI) However, according to an amendment advanced by a coalition Sherry Rook of Islamic governments and supported by China, Russia, and Cuba, Vice President Communications (CFI) Nathan Bupp the mandate of the Special Rapporteur would be changed. It would Assistant Communications Director (CFI) now include the responsibility “to report on instances in which the Henry Huber abuse of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of Director of Libraries (CFI) racial or religious discrimination.” Timothy Binga The real meaning of this language, put forward in the midst of public Fulfillment (CFI) Jackie Mohr, Darlene Banks controversy surrounding the release of publications and films critical of Staff radical Islam, was unmistakable: the United Nations was now to stifle the Pat Beauchamp, Lauren Becker, Cheryl Catania, speech of the world’s citizens when seen as necessary in order to protect Eric Chinchón, Thomas Donnelly, Roe Giambrone, Debbie Goddard, particular beliefs and practices from criticism. During the debate, some Leah Gordon, Sandra Kujawa, Sandy Lesniak, Corey Neil, Lisa Nolan, Paul Paulin, Anthony Santa Lucia, John Sullivan, Vance Vigrass went so far as to suggest that if member states did not limit freedom Executive Director Emeritus of expression, they could face violence in their streets at the hands of Jean Millholland Islamic extremists.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • PAUL KURTZ in MEMORIAM Paul Kurtz, Philosopher, Humanist Leader, and Founder of the Modern Skeptical Movement, Dies at Eighty-Six TOM FLYNN
    Jan Feb 13 2_SI new design masters 11/29/12 11:26 AM Page 5 [ PAUL KURTZ IN MEMORIAM Paul Kurtz, Philosopher, Humanist Leader, and Founder of the Modern Skeptical Movement, Dies at Eighty-Six TOM FLYNN Paul Kurtz, founder and longtime chair At NYU Kurtz studied philosophy of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, under Sidney Hook, who had himself the Council for Secular Humanism, and been a protégé of the pragmatist philoso- the Center for Inquiry, died at the age pher John Dewey. The philosophy of of eighty-six on October 20, 2012. He Dewey and Hook, arguably the greatest was one of the most influential figures American thinkers in the humanist tra- in the humanist and skeptical move- dition, would deeply in fluence Kurtz’s ments from the late 1960s through the thought and activism. Kurtz graduated first decade of the twenty-first century. from NYU in 1948 and earned his PhD Among his best-known creations are in philosophy at Columbia University in the skeptics’ magazine SKEPTICAL IN- 1952. QUIRER, the secular humanist magazine Free Inquiry, and the independent pub- Academic Career lisher Prometheus Books. Kurtz taught philosophy at Trinity Col- Jonathan Kurtz, Paul’s son, told SI that lege from 1952 to 1959. He joined the his father had a “‘joyous’ last day, joking, faculty at Union College from 1961 to laughing, etc. He then died suddenly to- 1965; during this period he was also a ward bedtime. There was no suffering.” A visiting lecturer at the New School for joint CFI/CSI/CSH statement marked Social Research.
    [Show full text]
  • CFI-Annual-Report-2018.Pdf
    Message from the President and CEO Last year was another banner year for the Center the interests of people who embrace reason, for Inquiry. We worked our secular magic in a science, and humanism—the principles of the vast variety of ways: from saving lives of secular Enlightenment. activists around the world who are threatened It is no secret that these powerful ideas like with violence and persecution to taking the no others have advanced humankind by nation’s largest drugstore chain, CVS, to court unlocking human potential, promoting goodness, for marketing homeopathic snake oil as if it’s real and exposing the true nature of reality. If you medicine. are looking for humanity’s true salvation, CFI stands up for reason and science in a way no look no further. other organization in the country does, because This past year we sought to export those ideas to we promote secular and humanist values as well places where they have yet to penetrate. as scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The Translations Project has taken the influential But you likely already know that if you are reading evolutionary biology and atheism books of this report, as it is designed with our supporters in Richard Dawkins and translated them into four mind. We want you not only to be informed about languages dominant in the Muslim world: Arabic, where your investment is going; we want you to Urdu, Indonesian, and Farsi. They are available for take pride in what we have achieved together. free download on a special website. It is just one When I meet people who are not familiar with CFI, of many such projects aimed at educating people they often ask what it is we do.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania RELIGION and GLOBAL POLITICS SERIES
    Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania RELIGION AND GLOBAL POLITICS SERIES Series Editor John L. Esposito University Professor and Director Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University Islamic Leviathan Islam and the Making of State Power Seyyed Vali Reza Nasr Rachid Ghannouchi A Democrat within Islamism Azzam S. Tamimi Balkan Idols Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslav States Vjekoslav Perica Islamic Political Identity in Turkey M. Hakan Yavuz Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania lavinia stan lucian turcescu 1 2007 3 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright # 2007 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Stan, Lavinia. Religion and politics in post-communist Romania / Lavinia Stan, Lucian Turcescu. p. cm.—(Religion and global politics series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-19-530853-2 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Living Without Religion the Ethics of Humanism
    Spring 1989 Vol. 9, No. 2 $4.00 41( Living Without Religion _The Ethics of Humanism Abortion in Can We Historical Achieve Perspective Immortality? Vern and Bonnie Bullough Cryonics and Other Technologies Carol Kahn Steven B. Harris TE Also: Ted Bundy, Pornography, and Capital Punishment Soviet Atheism and Psychoanalysis Under Perestroika, by Adolf Grü The Gospels as Literary Fiction, by Randel Helms Free Inceirf, SPRING 1989, VOL. 9, NO. 2 ISSN 0272-0701 Contents 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 10 ON THE BARRICADES 62 IN THE NAME OF GOD EDITORIALS 4 Eupraxophy, Ethics, and Secular Humanism, Paul Kurtz and Tim Madigan / Abortion in Historical Perspective, Vern and Bonnie Bullough / The Morality of Unbelief, Tom Flynn / Humanism and the Roots of Morality, Tim Madigan / More On Belief and Morality, Tom Franczyk HUMANIST ETHICS 14 Can We Achieve Immortality? Carol Kahn 19 Many Are Cold But Few Are Frozen: A Humanist Looks at Cryonics Steven B. Harris 25 Humanist Ethics: Eating the Forbidden Fruit Paul Kurtz 30 Scientific Knowledge, Moral Knowledge: Is There Any Need for Faith? Bernard Davis 37 The Inseparability of Logic and Ethics John Corcoran 41 A Theory of Cooperation Leon Felkins ARTICLES 46 Glossolalia Martin Gardner 49 The Study of the Gospels as Literary Fiction Randel Helms 52 Soviet Atheism and Psychoanalysis Under Perestroika Adolf Grünbaum 54 On Ted Bundy, Pornography, and Capital Punishment Vern Bullough, Paul Kurtz 58 An Atheist Handles Life Harry Daum BOOKS 56 Abortion and the Law Mary Beth Gehrman / Books in Brief Editor: Paul Kurtz Senior Editors: Vern Bullough, Gerald Larne Executive Editor: Tim Madigan Managing Editor: Mary Beth Gehrman Special Projects Editor: Valerie Marvin Contributing Editors: Robert S.
    [Show full text]
  • Review Essay: Religion and Politics 2008-2009: Sometimes You Get What You Pray For
    Scholarly Commons @ UNLV Boyd Law Scholarly Works Faculty Scholarship 2010 Review Essay: Religion and Politics 2008-2009: Sometimes You Get What You Pray For Leslie C. Griffin University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- William S. Boyd School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/facpub Part of the Law and Politics Commons, and the Religion Law Commons Recommended Citation Griffin, Leslie C., "Review Essay: Religion and Politics 2008-2009: Sometimes You Get What You Pray For" (2010). Scholarly Works. 803. https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/facpub/803 This Article is brought to you by the Scholarly Commons @ UNLV Boyd Law, an institutional repository administered by the Wiener-Rogers Law Library at the William S. Boyd School of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REVIEW ESSAY RELIGION AND POLITICS 2008-2009 THUMPIN' IT: THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE BIBLE IN TODAY'S PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. By Jacques Berlinerblau. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. Pp. x + 190. $11.84. ISBN: 0-664-23173-X. THE SECULAR CONSCIENCE: WHY BELIEF BELONGS IN PUBLIC LIFE. By Austin Dacey. Prometheus Book 2008. Pp. 269. $17.80. ISBN: 1-591- 02604-0. SOULED OUT: RECLAIMING FAITH AND POLITICS AFTER THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT. By E.J Dionne, Jr.. Princeton University Press 2008. Pp. 251. $14.95. ISBN: 0-691-13458-8. THE POLITICAL ORIGINS OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY By Anthony Gill. Cambridge University Press 2007. Pp. 263. Paper. $18.81. ISBN: 0-521- 61273-X. BLEACHED FAITH. THE TRAGIC COST WHEN RELIGION IS FORCED INTO THE PUBLIC SQUARE. By Steven Goldberg.
    [Show full text]
  • Opening Shots from the Center for Inquiry R ••••J3J1 \\\\\W
    News Opening Shots from the Center for Inquiry A milestone in the 19-year history of Center for Inquiry—shared by the the Committee for the Scientific Council for Democratic and Secular Investigation of Claims of the Humanism—features a library com­ Paranormal was the grand opening plex for 50,000 volumes, offices, and June 9, 1995, of the new Center for meeting/seminar rooms. Many notable Inquiry building near the State speakers offered congratulations to the University of New York at Buffalo organization for meeting this ambi­ campus in Amherst, New York. The tious goal. Author, entertainer, and media pioneer Steve Allen co-chaired the "Price of Before the Center for Inquiry's dramatic Reason" campaign and gave a special Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman scalloped windows, a capacity crowd performance to celebrate the opening. lectured on "Defending Reason in an hears 77me Science Editor Emeritus Leon He also delighted attendees with droll Irrational World." Jaroff extol the virtues of critical thinking. remarks after cutting the ribbon to open the new Center for Inquiry. Center for Inquiry-West Opens in Los Angeles July 7, 1995. marked yet another stage in the I expansion of CSICOP's outreach. Entertainer I Steve Allen joined CSICOP Chair Paul Kurtz, [ Executive Director Barry Karr, Senior Research Fellow Joe Nickell, and many others to dedicate CSICOP's new Los Angeles r ••••J3J1 \\\\\W branch office, the Center for Inquiry-West. CFI-West will serve as a regional office I for the states of California, Oregon. I Washington, and Nevada. Most important, it will offer new and more direct access to the nation's media centers in the Los Angeles area.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurrah for Freedom of Inquiry
    FI Feb-Mar 2006 Pages 1/3/06 11:34 AM Page 4 EDITORIAL FI Editorial Staff PAUL KURTZ Editor in Chief Paul Kurtz Editor Thomas W. Flynn Associate Editors Nathan Bupp, Austin Dacey, David Koepsell Managing Editor Deputy Editor Andrea Szalanski Norm R. Allen Jr. Columnists Vern Bullough, Arthur Caplan, Richard Dawkins, Shadia B. Drury, Sam Harris, Nat Hentoff, Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Tibor R. Machan, Peter Singer Ethics Editor Elliot D. Cohen Literary Editor Jennifer Michael Hecht Senior Editors Vern L. Bullough, Bill Cooke, Hurrah for Richard Dawkins, Martin Gardner, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Taslima Nasrin Freedom of Inquiry: Contributing Editors Jo Ann Boydston, Albert Ellis, Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Antony Flew, Levi Fragell, Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Thelma Lavine, Lee Nisbet, J.J.C. Smart, Vital Issues for Svetozar Stojanovi´c, Thomas Szasz Editorial Associate DJ Grothe Secular Humanists Editorial Assistant David Park Musella Art Director Lisa A. Hutter here is an ongoing debate among secular humanists as to Production what our priorities should be, and in particular, what Christopher Fix, Paul E. Loynes Sr. should be the primary focus of FREE INQUIRY. Two subjects Cartoonist Webmaster Don Addis Kevin Christopher have been among the most hotly debated. First is the burn- Contributing Illustrators T ing desire of many secular humanists that we engage in political Brad Marshall, Todd Julie activism. Many secularists, naturalists, and humanists believe that Cover Illustration Todd Julie the United States faces so many critical problems that we need to focus far more intensely on the political battles of today, especially Council for Secular Humanism the culture wars with the Religious Right.
    [Show full text]
  • How Morality Evolved Doug Mann
    HANNAH WALLACE: CRISIS IN TURKISH EDUCATION CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY February/March 2019 Vol. 39 No. 2 HOW MORALITY EVOLVED DOUG MANN LINDA KAY KLEIN Dissects the Christian Purity Movement F/M 17 $5.95 CDN $5.95 US $5.95 Tom Flynn | Faisal Saeed Al Mutar 03 Robert M. Price | S. T. Joshi Poetry by Max Jacob Published by the Center for Inquiry in association 0 74470 74957 8 with the Council for Secular Humanism For many, mere atheism (the absence of belief in gods and the supernatural) or agnosticism (the view that such questions cannot be answered) aren’t enough. It’s liberating to recognize that supernatural beings are human creations … that there’s no such thing as “spirit” or “transcendence”… that people are undesigned, unintended, and responsible for themselves. But what’s next? Atheism and agnosticism are silent on larger questions of values and meaning. If Meaning in life is not ordained from on high, what small-m meanings can we work out among ourselves? If eternal life is an illusion, how can we make the most of our only lives? As social beings sharing a godless world, how should we coexist? For the questions that remain unanswered after we’ve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Secular. “Pertaining to the world or things not spiritual or sacred.” Humanism. “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people … the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than … religion.” — Webster’s Dictionary Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious life stance incorporating: A naturalistic philosophy A cosmic outlook rooted in science, and A consequentialist ethical system in which acts are judged not by their conformance to preselected norms but by their consequences for men and women in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Skepticism 2.0
    Skepticism 2.0 D.J. GROTHE hen Carl Sagan, James Randi, Paul Kurtz, Martin from CSICOP’s own magazine subscriber lists. Groups were Gardner, Ray Hyman, and others came together formed in the Washington, DC, and Los Angeles regions and W in the mid-1970s to form the Committee for the in a number of other cities around the U.S. and abroad. A Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Para normal (CSICOP, movement, not merely a magazine, was beginning to form. now CSI), did they plan on starting a worldwide grassroots In recent years, new developments in technology and soci- critical-thinking movement? Did they craft a plan to deputize ety have allowed this skeptical movement to reach out in new everyday people to speak out in their communities about the directions, sometimes departing from tested ways of advancing prevailing nonsensical ideas of the day? Did they envision the skeptical outlook that have worked in the past. This is the young people meeting up regularly to be skeptical together, as next generation of skepticism. This is Skepticism 2.0. in the growing Skeptics in the Pub events in cities across North America and around the world? New Media for New Audiences Often citing inspiration from the founders of CSI, an “aver- age Joe” skeptical citizen, possibly without special training or background in skepticism and with the help of only a computer connected to the Internet, can reach out to an audience that the skeptical magazines and organizations never would have reached I doubt it. These men had the laudable ambition to orga- nize leading think ers and social critics to respond authorita- tively to growing trends of credulity in society: increased belief in the power of psychics, the phenomenon of Uri Geller, UFO beliefs, ancient astronaut theories, popular belief in ghost hauntings and channeling, faith healers and religious charla- tans, and the like.
    [Show full text]
  • Blasphemy As Violence: Trying to Understand the Kind of Injury That Can Be Inflicted by Acts and Artefacts That Are Construed As Blasphemy
    Journal of Religion in Europe Journal of Religion in Europe 6 (2013) 35–63 brill.com/jre Blasphemy As Violence: Trying to Understand the Kind of Injury That Can Be Inflicted by Acts and Artefacts That Are Construed As Blasphemy Christoph Baumgartner Faculty of Humanities, Utrecht University [email protected] Abstract This article suggests an understanding of blasphemy as violence that enables us to identify various kinds of injury that can be inflicted by blasphemous acts and artefacts. Understanding blasphemy as violence can take three forms: physical violence, indirect intersubjective violence, and psychological violence. The condi- tions that allow for an understanding of blasphemy as physical violence depend on very specific religious assumptions. This is different in the case of indirect intersubjective violence that can take effect in social circumstances where certain forms of blasphemy reinforce existing negative stereotypes of believers. The analy- sis of blasphemy as psychological violence reveals that interpretations according to which believers who take offense to blasphemy are ‘backward’ and ‘unenlight- ened’ do not suffice to explain the conditions of the insult that is felt by some believers. The article shows that these conditions can be explained by means of Harry Frankfurt’s philosophical theory of caring. Keywords anti-religious racism; blasphemy; caring; offense; violence 1. Introduction In recent years, acts and artefacts that were perceived as blasphemous by numerous believers received much attention in public debate as well as in scholarly literature. This concerns the various aspects and interests which motivated public statements and demonstrations for or against such acts © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2013 DOI 10.1163/18748929-00601007 36 C.
    [Show full text]
  • Dreamworks 2001 PRO-SCRIS Revistă Românească De Critică
    Oamenii veseli (Shrek), (c) DreamWorks 2001 PRO-SCRIS Revistã româneascã de criticã, teorie ºi istorie literarã science fiction An 3 nr. 1-2 (11-12) martie-iunie 2002 Arhiva on-line numãr curent din perioada 04.03 - 10.06.2002 PRO-DUS Cãtãlin Ionescu - Un altfel de editorial PRO-TEZE Cãtãlin Ionescu - Principiile teoretice PRO-TEST Györfi-Deák György - Pre-Text PRO-DOMO Györfi-Deák György - Pre-Scris (cuvânt înainte) (elõszó) (prologue) PRO-EMINENÞE Györfi-Deák György - Conu Iancu faþã cu ºtiinþificþiunea Mircea Opriþã - Tendinþe actuale (Lucian Ionicã) Lucian Ionicã - Antologii ºi culegeri SF Lucian Ionicã - Ce-i de fãcut ? (Literaturã ºi paraliteraturã SF) Lucian Ionicã - Chestionar SF (1985) Lucian Ionicã - Rezultatele chestionarului din Almanahul Anticipaþia 1986 Lucian Ionicã - Elemente SF în literatura generalã (I, II, III) Lucian Ionicã - Explicaþii necesare Lucian Ionicã - Fantezie ºi naivitate în literatura de anticipaþie Lucian Ionicã - Însemnãri despre ideea SF Lucian Ionicã - Justificãri ºi argumente Lucian Ionicã - Natura literaturii SF - contribuþii ºi poziþii teoretice româneºti Lucian Ionicã - Privire ipoteticã asupra devenirii literaturii SF. Lucian Ionicã - Schiþa unei posibile structuri Lucian Ionicã - Tinerii ºi literatura SF Stanislaw Lem - O convorbire la sfârºit de mileniu Radu Bãrbulescu de vorbã cu Gheorghe Sãsãrman Cãtãlin Ionescu de vorbã cu Radu Pavel Gheo PRO-GRESII Cornel Robu - Istoria contrafactualã în floare Liviu Radu - Fantasy ºi science fiction PRO-POZIÞII Ovidiu Bufnilã - Asupra misiunii Ovidiu Bufnilã - Magicienii secretului Ovidiu Bufnilã - Economia rãzboiului ºi rãzboaiele economice Ovidiu Bufnilã - Imaginea celuilalt ºi deconstrucþia autoritãþii Voicu Bugariu - Fragmente critice (VI) : Ars combinatoria Györfi-Deák György - Crucificarea lui Moreaugarin Györfi-Deák György - Un "copil teribil" printre femei Cãtãlin Ionescu - Rollerball 2002 PRO-FILE Remus Cernea - Societatea culturalã NOESIS PRO-TON Ovidiu Bufnilã - Câmpuri magnetice Radu Pavel Gheo - La o bere..
    [Show full text]
  • “The Amazing” Randi
    Page 1 Phactum April 2013 Phactum “Mind, like para- Phactum chute, only function The Newsletter and Propaganda Organ of the when open. “ Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking ~ Charlie Chan April 2013 editor: Ray Haupt email: [email protected] Webmaster: Wes Powers http://phact.org/ Come to the Philadelphia Science Festival with PhACT Our April Meeting will be at the Franklin Institute and our special guest will be James “The Amazing” Randi Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM This event is Free and Open to the Public but you must register at: http://www.philasciencefestival.org/event/79-science-pseudoscience-and-nonsense-a-clarification-by-james-randi More information on Pages 2 and 3 "Do not expect to arrive at certainty in every subject which you pursue. There are a hundred things wherein we mortals. must be content with probability, where our best light and reasoning will reach no farther." ~Isaac Watts~(1674-1748), English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. Page 2 Phactum April 2013 2013 Philadelphia Science Festival April 18 – April 28 PhACT’s contribution to the 2013 Philadelphia Science Festival will be, in partnership with the Franklin Institute, to host James “The Amazing” Randi who will present a program of science and magic to mystify, amuse, and to educate. At the Franklin Institute Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Free and open to the Public. Seating is limited. James "the Amazing" Randi has an international reputation as a magician and escape artist, but today he is best known as the world’s most tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims.
    [Show full text]