Secular Humanist Speakers Tour Florida Campuses

In association with its third annual conference “How Will Our Democracy Survive? Progress in a Regressive Society!” the Center for Inquiry - Florida will be sponsoring a lecture tour to Florida campuses. Speakers DJ Grothe and Austin Dacey will be appearing at the University of Miami, New College, the University of Central Florida and others.

Mr. Grothe, the director, describes CFI - On Campus as “a secular, pro-science alternative to groups like the Campus Crusade for Christ, or to paranormal clubs or groups of kids that are interested in psychics.” According to Grothe, “We're not just seeking to criticize the prevailing movements of irrationalism on campuses, but looking to advance the scientific outlook, which encompasses the whole goal of the university itself."

He will discuss "New Religious Threats to Academic Freedom," addressing movements by fundamentalist groups to target secular professors, as well as traditional debates over the goals of the university and how secular (or not) public universities really are.

Dr. Austin Dacey will lecture on "Can God Be Disproved?" exploring how evidence from science, philosophy, and common sense can be used to decide whether there is a God as understood by the Western religions. Dr. Dacey is director of research and education at the CFI, executive editor of Philo, an academic journal of philosophy, and director of the new Masters degree program in Science and the Public at SUNY Buffalo.

DJ Grothe Schedule:

• Mon. Feb. 14th 4:30 - 6 p.m., New College HCL 8, Sarasota, Faith in College
• Tues. Feb. 15th 1-2 p.m., WMNF 88.5, Tampa, “Radioactivity” with host Rob Lorei
• Tues. Feb. 15th 7 p.m., Pasco Hernando Performing Arts Center New Threats to Academic Freedom
• Thurs. Feb. 17th 2:30 p.m., University of Central Florida, Orlando

Austin Dacey Schedule:

• Mon. Feb. 14th 1p.m., Broward Community College, Building 47, Room 112 Can God Be Disproved?
• Tues. Feb. 15th 8 a.m., Florida International University, Miami. Darwin Made Me Do It: Evolution and Human Nature
• Tues. Feb. 15th 12:30 p.m., University of Miami, Learning Center 120, Faith and Reason: A Dialogue with Father Frank Corbishley

Center for Inquiry–Florida is a regional office of the Center for Inquiry–Transnational. CFI is an educational nonprofit organization that explores and advances critical thinking, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values through education, outreach, and social services. To learn more about who we are and the services we offer our surrounding communities, please visit cfiflorida.org or contact us at info@cfiflorida.org

CFI - On Campus is dedicated to promoting and defending reason, science and freedom of inquiry in education, and to the enhancement of freethought, skepticism, secularism, humanism, philosophical naturalism, rationalism, and atheism on college and high school campuses throughout North America and around the world. Information on CFI - On Campus can be found at campusfreethought.org