Defending Democracy in Trying Times

AMHERST, N.Y. (January 21, 2005)—The Center for Inquiry–Florida is hosting its third annual conference, “How Will Our Democracy Survive? Progress in a Regressive Society!” from February 11–13, 2005 at the Deauville Beach Resort in Miami Beach, Florida. To register, call 1-800-398-7571 or visit www.cfiflorida.org/events.

Topics for the conference include the history of scientific research, the challenge of pursuing “the good life” without lapsing into self-indulgence, the humanistic tradition of the United States, the role of politics in scientific research, and the threats to church-state separation and civil liberties in the “war on terror.”

Speakers will include Paul Kurtz, founder and Chair of the Center for Inquiry (CFI) and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo; Toni Van Pelt, executive director of CFI–Florida; Jeanette Madea, senior professor of chemistry at Broward University in Ft. Lauderdale; Susan Haack, Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law at the University of Miami; and David Koepsell, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism.

Recent events in the United States and around the world have left many secularists worried about the future of secular democracy: The rise of militant Islam presages a long and messy series of conflicts around the world, while the re-election of President Bush has emboldened the Religious Right to promote their agenda in the United States. Meanwhile, cutting-edge scientific research (and existing scientific data) is being neglected or ignored by policy makers. Conference speakers will discuss the importance of maintaining one’s integrity (personal, scientific, and patriotic) by asking tough questions in a political and social climate that seems to increasingly discourage such behavior.

CFI spokespeople explain that despite (or perhaps because of) the perceived friction between religious and non-religious Americans, it is important for people from all backgrounds to meet and discuss common concerns that affect the whole country.

“Though we must respect people and their right to hold their beliefs, it is wrong and dangerous to assume that we must necessarily respect the beliefs themselves,” says Norm R. Allen Jr., executive director of African Americans for Humanism.

The Center for Inquiry–Florida is a branch of the Center for Inquiry International. CFI–Florida serves the southeastern region of the United States by hosting conferences, seminars, family-oriented programs, and events and activities of value to secular humanists and skeptics within surrounding communities. CFI–Florida also offers secular celebrations such as marriages, memorials and namings. Based in Tampa, the CFI–Florida has a Web site at http://www.cfiflorida.org. For more information, contact Toni Van Pelt at (813) 849-7571.

The Center for Inquiry is a transnational, 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that houses the Council for Secular Humanism, the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), and the Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH). Headquartered in Amherst, New York, the Center for Inquiry maintains branches in North America and relationships with other Centers throughout the world. The Web site can be found at www.centerforinquiry.net.

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