Here in The Reality-Based Community, we are used to small, local, disconnected

Transcription

1 CENTER FOR INQUIRY Portland JULY January 2012 The mission of the Center for Inquiry is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. CFI has established centers throughout the world which provide a means of delivering educational programs and services on a local level and provide a venue for like-minded individuals to meet and share experiences. In aiming to foster a secular society, we do not seek to abridge the rights of believers. We vigorously object to government support of religion and the use of religious dogma to justify public policy; we do not oppose the free exercise of religion. The secular society we are building is a community of reason and compassion in which the dignity and fundamental rights of all individuals are respected. Three goals represent the focus of our activities: an end to the influence that religion and pseudoscience have on public policy, an end to the privileged position that religion and pseudoscience continue to enjoy in many societies, and an end to the stigma attached to being a nonbeliever. How is Center For Inquiry- Portland structured and governed? by Sylvia Benner Here in The Reality-Based Community, we are used to small, local, disconnected groups. While there are plenty of people who are on the same page with us when it comes to the issues, there just aren t that many of us who are members or participants in organized groups promoting science, reason, and secularism. At least not yet. So when people try to envision governance, it is natural to look for how the local group is governed internally, because when you have only a handful of people, you can get them together in a room to make decisions, right? Not so with CFI, and so I come to the next point that frequently causes confusion: How we are governed. First, CFI Portland is part of a larger organization. We are not an affiliate. We are not a chapter. We are the presence of Center for Inquiry in Portland, and we have other presences in Washington D.C., Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tallahassee, and other places in the United States and other countries. They are called branches. Some are run by staff, some by volunteers. CFI Portland is currently an allvolunteer-run branch. Being part of a large organization has a number of advantages: We have the backing of professional staff in Amherst, NY, who help us with legal questions, state filings, accounting, public relations, fundraising, and a lot of other things that are better done by professionals. We are registered as a 501(c) (3) organization under the umbrella of the national organization. We have resources at our disposal that we just would not have if we were nothing but a small local group. Most important, we are part of a larger movement that makes coordinated efforts to further our mission all over the United States: Through our Office of Public Policy, we have representation in Washington, we are a registered non-governmental organization with the United Nations, and we have collaborations with other large organizations so we can amplify each other s efforts. Cont d on page 2

2 CFI Structure, cont d from page 1 At the same time, this integration with an international organization comes with certain obligations. While we have considerable autonomy as a local group in practice, we are not technically independent and need to make sure that our efforts a) further the mission of Center for Inquiry, and b) do not violate any of the policies or interests of the organization at large. This is one of the tasks of the local leadership team. Every CFI branch is led by either an Executive Director, if it s a staffed branch, or a Coordinator, if it s a volunteer branch. CFI Portland has a Coordinator, currently yours truly. We also have an Advisory Board, a group of people who give input to the Coordinator. In Portland, the Advisory Board members do more than just advise. Together with the Coordinator, they make decisions based on discussion and consensus, in other words, they co-govern. In addition, CFI Portland decided soon after its founding that we wanted a working Board, in other words, everyone on the Advisory Board helps run things and spends time making our programs happen. The local branch has a strategic plan, a roadmap that guides our activities with a view to the far future. Advisory Board members consider these larger local objectives, as well as the mission of the organization as a whole, when making recommendations and deciding on a course of action. From now on, every newsletter will include a box titled Leadership Team, where the current Coordinator and Advisory Board members are listed. So how does someone get on the Advisory Board? Technically, new members are appointed to the Advisory Board by the Coordinator based on suggestions and input from the current Advisory Board members. In practice, those people who take on leadership, responsibility, and management ask to be, or are invited onto, the Advisory Board. There is always a shortage of candidates, because Advisory Board members invest a lot of time and look for people who are doing the same. CFI Portland is actively seeking out people who invest time and who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the cause. Input from members and participants is important as well. You can reach the Leadership team by phone at or by at portland@centerforinquiry. net. We welcome feedback from members. And if you have a cool program you want to try, or if you want to work with us to either implement your own project for science, reason, and secularism, or maybe even try out a higher level position, we d love to hear from you. n Next month: How you can get involved Membership, Volunteering, and Leadership Local professor joins national CFI Speaker Board Dr. Peter Boghossian, full time faculty in the Philosophy Department at Portland State University, has joined the national CFI Speaker Board. The CFISB includes lawyers, scientists, professors, journalists, students, and others who are dedicated to advancing the aims of the Center for Inquiry and stimulating public discussion of the issues that concern non-theists, humanists, skeptics, and freethinkers. Other notable speakers are Michael Shermer, Margaret Downey, Sean Faircloth and Susan Jacoby ( centerforinquiry.net/speakers/). Boghossian is a philosopher and educator in the Philosophy Department at Portland State University in Portland, OR. He has a teaching pedigree spanning more than 20 years in a wide variety of contexts, including prisons, universities, and corporations. His research and teaching areas are critical thinking and moral reasoning, science and pseudoscience, anti-apologetics, new atheism, applied epistemology, practical strategies to combat faith, pedagogy, and the Socratic method. His primary interest is in developing and im- plementing practical strategies to change the public perception of faith and reason. He has given many lectures around Oregon, the most notable being, Jesus, the Easter Bunny, and Other Delusions Just say no! which was considered so controversial that some events were canceled due to complaints. CFI Portland helped to reschedule lectures by lending our support for his presentations in Salem and Eugene. CFI Portland is looking forward to closely cooperating with Professor Boghossian. Secular Summer Picnic Saturday, July 14th 11am - 4pm, Laurelhurst Park CFI-Portland & Humanists of Greater Portland invite anyone and everyone who shares CFI's mission to foster a secular society based on humanist values, to our first secular summer picnic. Invite your friends. It is at Picnic Site A which is in the SW corner of park. This is a potluck. Bring something to drink, and a dish to share. Paper plates, napkins and cutlery will be provided. Please use the comments option at to let everyone know what you are bringing so that we have a good variety of dishes. We have a permit for alcohol: beer and wine only. If you are musically inclined, it would also be great if you bring your instrument. Amenities include basketball court, dog off-leash area, historical site, horseshoe pit, paths, picnic tables, playground, soccer field, tennis court, and volleyball court. 4th Annual FREETHINKER'S CAMPOUT August 3-5 Jesse Honeyman Memorial State Park Florence, OR CFI has reserved several adjacent spots and they are nearly all booked. If you'd like to join us for the campout, officially reserve your site by purchasing it at bit.ly/cfiftc2012 (or if you'd like to pay by check, contact Kurt at kujo78@gmail.com). The spots are first come first serve, so don't delay.

3 How Christianity Failed Science By Alan Litchfield In an essay titled Christianity Was Not Responsible for Modern Science, Richard Carrier loosely defines delusion as an easily falsifiable belief held disproportionately to the evidence. Carrier s essay, which appeared in the 2010 book, The Christian Delusion, Why Faith Fails, easily discredits the fantasy that Christianity begat science. I recently discovered this academic smack-down by Carrier, and don t know how I missed it two years ago. I m pleased to have stumbled upon it, now. Carrier earned a PhD from Columbia University in ancient history, specializing in the intellectual history of Greece and Rome, particularly ancient philosophy, religion, and science, with emphasis on the origins of Christianity and the use and progress of science under the Roman empire. He is author of Sense and Goodness without God, Not the Impossible Faith, and Why I Am Not a Christian. In his essay, Carrier mentions the chronically fallacious Christian apologist Dinesh D'Souza. D Souza perpetrates the myth, among many other mental vacuities, that of all ancient religions, only Christianity was from the beginning based on reason. Carrier patiently reminds the inept D Souza that, Yet surely even an attentive high-school student knows the pagan Greeks invented reason, in the very sense he means, developing the formal sciences of logic, philosophy, mathematics, and rhetoric. And any attentive reader of the Bible knows Christianity was from the beginning based on scripture, inspiration, and revelation, not reason. Carrier also answers D Souza s claim that the presumed rationality of the universe is impossible to prove, and therefore requires theological justification. But this is simply illogical at a very basic level: But that the universe is rational is observed. So it doesn t have to be proved. Such a belief requires no faith or theology because it rests entirely on evidence. D Souza was just one of a few error-prone apologists Carrier mentions. On a few occasions I had to resist saying the word duh after Carrier corrected these uninformed (misinformed? lazy?) individuals. Carrier refutes their logical and historical errors with all-too-abundant evidence and ease. He counters the flawed devaluation of pagan contributions to reason and science by citing paragraph after paragraph of contributor and accomplishment. He EVERYTHING IN MODERATION also notes the over-inflated view of the Christian contribution to science, citing this observation: Christianity fully dominated the whole of the Western world from the fifth to the fifteenth century, and yet in all those thousand years there was no Scientific Revolution. A cause that fails to have its predicted effect despite being continually in action for a thousand years is usually considered refuted, not confirmed. Carrier soundly destroys the notion that Christianity begat science, and includes robust historical facts and more than five pages of bibliography. How any Christian apologist can earn a living today is a testament to human credulity. Correcting their errors is like following horses in a parade. Carrier illustrates how to do academics properly. I ll take my solace there. n by Luke Mahan NOAH S ARK ENCOUNTERS YET ANOTHER OBSTACLE

4 DARKTOLIGHT Auditions Yield Talent Volunteers & Press Liasion Needed The first open audition for DARKTOLIGHT 2012 was held on Sunday, June 23rd, and drew talented musical actors from within and outside the local Humanist community. From the auditions DTL has picked up four talented individuals for the eventual cast of twelve. Composer/Writer Fred Strong and Resident Director Michelle Seaton were assisted by accompanist Jackie Burnett in the audition process. Earlier in the month veteran Humanist vocalist Lenora Warren agreed to be in the cast which means that DTL is almost half way to full casting. The DTL casting crew will continue the search for the remaining members through personal contacts, press releases and other means until a talented and musically balanced ensemble is achieved. Individual and small group rehearsal will begin soon and grow to full rehearsals beginning in October. If you know of a singer or musical actor please send them to DTL s website, darktolight.org, where they can sign up on the AUDITION page. In particular, we are looking for two female and five male singer/actors of varying voice ranges. Age and race is unimportant. DTL has an immediate need for a Press Liaison who will be responsible for dispatching information and publicity items to the local press outlets. We also are in great need of volunteers to help with set design, set building, art work, graphic design and other technical stage functions. If you are interested in these volunteer positions please go to the DTL website, darktolight.org, and navigate to the VOLUNTEER page. The DONATIONS and BUY TICKETS pages of the DTL website are now in full function mode for all those that have $$$ burning holes in their pockets! Change your pants and keep checking the DTL website. n CFI Challenges Indiana s Religious Privilege in Solemnizing Marriages The Center for Inquiry filed a complaint in the United States District Court challenging an Indiana law that privileges religious institutions in the solemnizing of marriages. Indiana code specifies that marriages in Indiana may be solemnized only by a small number of secular elected officials and a large number of clergy or other persons associated with religious organizations. CFI believes the law is unconstitutional on the grounds that it allows all manner of religious leaders to celebrate marriages, and allows persons of faith to be married by religious leaders of their choice, while denying these opportunities to persons who desire a nonreligious celebration by a Secular Celebrant. This represents a preference for religion over non-religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and denies rights secured by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. I have had many couples contact me over the years who are not religious and are seeking someone to solemnize their marriage who represents their life stance, said Reba Boyd Wooden, Co-Director of the Secular Celebrant program for Center for Inquiry and Executive Director of Center for Inquiry-Indiana. Some are religious but simply do not want a religious wedding. Some have family of different religions, and want a secular wedding to avoid conflicts. Indiana couples should have this option. CFI established a program to train Secular Celebrants in December Currently there are 23 Secular Celebrants who have been trained and certified by CFI. However, since CFI is not a religious organization, these Secular Celebrants cannot solemnize marriages in Indiana or any place in the United States under this certification alone. Kenneth J. Falk, Legal Director of ACLU of Indiana is the lead attorney and Steven Fox, Legal Director for Center for Inquiry, Inc. is the co-counsel on the case. Plaintiffs in the case are Center for Inquiry, Inc., Reba Boyd Wooden, John Kiel, and Michelle Landrum. For more information about the Center for Inquiry Secular Celebrant program go to: The official complaint is available here: docs/doc025.pdf Leadership Team CFI Portland Sylvia Benner Coordinator Renee Barnett Education Kurt Johansen Treasurer Jay Klein Development Ryan Marquez Campus Outreach Jon Peters Member at Large Barry Ruffin Minority Outreach Dani Tofte Communications Brock Wilson Community Programs Phone: portland@centerforinquiry.net Newsletter layout by Wes Mahan

5 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society accepts donations from atheists turned down by American Cancer Society by Erin Mueller Charitable giving is one of the areas in which the nonreligious community often appears to fall short. We don't have the built-in outlet for regular giving that the churchgoing community has, and when we do give, it's not as visible. We aren't publicly giving as atheists or freethinkers, so our contributions are often going unnoticed with regard to our beliefs. Making it even harder are organizations who stand in the way of non-theist fundraising projects for fear of associating themselves with atheist societies. The Foundation Beyond Belief and Todd Stiefel are trying to change that, and we have the opportunity to be part of it! You may recall hearing about the American Cancer Society (ACS) rejecting atheist money as the story made the rounds on the Internet last fall. If you missed it, here's what happened. Last summer, Todd Stiefel (president and founder of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation) approached the Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) with a great idea. He wanted to start an international fundraising team for ACS's Relay for Life. He envisioned gathering atheist, agnostic, and freethinking societies from around the world together under the umbrella of an FBB international team. Even better, Todd's foundation offered to match all donations made through the FBB team, dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000 (for a total donation of up to half a million dollars). It should have been pretty straightforward, signing up local teams under a National Team on the Relay for Life's website. At first the ACS sounded excited Center for Inquiry is bringing legal action against a Michigan country club for religious discrimination and breach of contract after it cancelled an event because of the attendees lack of religious beliefs. CFI is suing the Wyndgate Country Club in Rochester Hills, Mich., and its owner, for violation of the Civil Rights Act and for breaking its contract with CFI s Michigan branch. The Wyndgate, denying use of its public accommodations entirely on the basis of religion, cancelled a scheduled CFI-Michigan event to be held October 12, 2011 that would have included an address from British scientist and noted atheist, Prof. Richard Dawkins. In breaking its contract, the Wyndgate justified its actions by stating that the owner does not wish to associate with certain individuals about it, but then Todd was suddenly stonewalled and his inquiries were met with silence. To make a long story short, the FBB team was rejected, and ACS gave a number of vague and contradictory explanations. It appeared to many people that the ACS rejected the offer out of fear of repercussions from associating with an atheist organization. You can read more about what happened, including the official response of ACS in this AlterNet article by Greta Christina from October 2011: tinyurl.com/7trzzde Thankfully, Todd and the FBB did not give up on the idea. Fast-forward to February of this year. The Foundation Beyond Belief announced the formation of an international fundraising team, this time for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light the Night walk. To sweeten the deal, Todd Stiefel has pledged to match donations up to $500,000! The FBB team has a goal of creating a minimum of 100 local teams worldwide and raising a million dollars for cancer research. Not only will we be raising funds for a great charity, but by teaming up with FBB, we will also be helping to highlight nontheist giving. So let's get together to rally behind something big that reflects our reasonbased values and the things we believe in: the healing power of scientific research, education, and compassionate patient services. For more information about our team, you can visit and Like our Facebook team page, com/cfiportlandltn, or contact our Team Captain, Erin Mueller at erin.c.mueller@ gmail.com. If you are ready to join the team and walk with us, visit our fundraising page at org/oswim/portlndl12/cfiportlandfbb. There, you can either click to join the team or make a tax-deductible donation to LLS through the CFI Portland team. Please join us in this unique opportunity to raise money for a great cause while we also raise awareness for the good things the freethought community can do when we work together! CFI Charges Michigan Country Club with Religious Discrimination: Country Club Owner Did Not Wish to Associate with Atheists and philosophies, referring to the philosophies of Prof. Dawkins and other nonbelievers. The cancellation notice specifically referenced Prof. Dawkins October 5, 2011 appearance on The O Reilly Factor, during which Prof. Dawkins atheism was central to the conversation. This was to be an opportunity for friends to gather, enjoy each other s company, and hear from one of their favorite authors, an internationally renowned professor; but the Wyndgate opted to breach its contract simply because atheists would be taking part, said Steven Fox, Legal Director for CFI. If this kind of discrimination was directed at any religious group there would rightfully be no end to the outrage. The fact that the victims are nonbelievers makes it just as wrong, just as unacceptable, and just as unconstitutional and we will not let it stand.

6 CFI July Events For more information about any of these events, late additions, or to RSVP, go to the CFI calendar at and click on that event Sunday, July 1, 7pm Party with VIPs and Volunteers Ringlers Pub, 1332 W. Burnside, Portland, OR Organizer: Sylvia Benner This is for everyone: VIP's, current volunteers, people interested in volunteering, and members who simply want to have a good time and meet some of the people who make things happen for reason, science, and secularism in Portland. Talk to Coordinators, Advisory Board members and organizers, contribute ideas and get your questions answered, and most of all, have a good time with others in the local skeptics community. Note: The number of RSVPs on any of our meetup pages does not reflect the total number of attendees. Most of those who've told us they'll attend have not RSVPed in any meetup or on facebook. We expect a crowd. Sunday, July 1, 10:30am Walk a Scale Model of the Solar System Secular Family Network Swan Island, Daimler Truck N. America, 4747 N. Channel Ave, PDX The Solar system is REALLY BIG. No picture has been made that accurately represents it. Therefore most people can't conceive how huge our solar system is, how large our sun is relative to the rest of the planets, or how sparse the space is between planets. This July, you will get your chance. Using everyday objects for the planets, we will be at Swan island setting up a 1: 6,336,000,000 scale model of our solar system... walking from the Sun all the way to Neptune. The event entails a round trip walk of ~1mile and will end around noon. Sunday, July 1 & 15, 12:30pm Rogue Valley Freethinkers (Grants Pass) Union Drop-In Center, 225 NW Hillcrest Dr, Grants Pass, OR We will meet to discuss a topic of interest to freethinkers and humanists, presented by one of our members. The April 1 meeting will feature ex-mormon Courtney and continued discussion of controversial Mormon topics. Sunday, July 1 & 15, 3:00pm Rogue Valley Humanists (Ashland) Rogue Valley U U Center, 87 4th Street, Ashland, OR The Humanism Group studies current topics of interest to Humanists, often from a recent book or article. We meet every first and third Sunday under the balcony of the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Center Ashland from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. We usually have an optional short reading related to the discussion topic available in the UU Center library a week before each meeting. Monday, July 2, 6:30pm Save Our Selves (SOS) Secular Support Group in Rogue Valley 1505 NW Washington Blvd, Grants Pass, OR Our SOS Group offers secular alternative support to individuals struggling to overcome a personal addiction, such as alcoholism. This approach differs from typical 12-step programs. Wednesday, July 4, 11, 18 & 25, 11am Skeptics of Eugene Coffee Klatch Theo's Coffee House 199 W 8th Ave, Eugene, OR Casual conversation about whatever we feel like. Drop in or out as your schedule allows. Thursday, July 5, 12, 19, 26, 10am Preschool Playdate Beaverton, OR For preschool children aged 3 & 4 (and other ages). Please RSVP at CFI-SFN website. Thursday, July 5 & 19, 11am South Coast Skeptics Meetup Denny's, 98 E. 1st St, Coquille, OR Organizer: Greg Collver Pizza and skeptical discussion at Denny's! Saturday, July 7, 2pm Skeptics in the Pub Evergreen Pieway 3020 Evergreen Way, Washougal, WA Socializing with like-minded folks is fun. Plus, who knows what future projects may spin off from such meetings. Meet local skeptics, atheists, secular humanists, scientific naturalists and other friends of reason for conversation and friendship! We have met in the past on Haydn Island and in Vancouver near the mall, but since many seem to live on the east side, are going to try Washougal. We will continue to welcome people from anywhere. Please vote for your favorite location(s).

7 CFI July Events CONT'D More details and RSVP: Sunday, July 8, 11am Eastside Sunday Brunch Old Wives Tales, 1300 E Burnside St, Portland, OR Organizer: Sylvia Benner Please RSVP so we can reserve the correct number of seats. A chance to meet and get to know others in the community over good food in a relaxed atmosphere! The restaurant has a children's menu and a separate play room for the little ones. Vegetarian dishes available. Monday, July 9, 7pm Discussion: Echo Chamber Java Vivace 2287 NW Pettygrove St Portland Our society is increasingly divided, not only in what we believe, but in the information we take in. As our choices have expanded, and targeted media has become more sophisticated the chances that we're being opinions, news, and articles we already believe in. How does this affect modern discourse and debate? Does it need to be fixed? If so, how? Wednesday, July 11, 7pm Book Group Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, 67 Community Room, SW Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR For July 11th we will cover the last half of Christopher Hitchens book, "The Portable Atheist". Note that these chapters are quick to read compared to the first half of the book. If you can't finish all of them, read as much as you can and come to the meeting anyway. No one made any suggestions, but if you go to the CFI Calendar entry for this book group, you will find a detailed list of pages to read, for a more focused discussion. Saturday, July 14, 11am Secular Summer Picnic: CFI & HGP Laurelhurst Park, 3499 SE Oak St, Portland, OR (SW corner of park) Invite anyone and everyone who shares CFI's mission to foster a secular society based on humanist values, to our first secular summer picnic. Invite your friends. 11am - 4pm, Picnic Site A which is in the SW corner of park This is a potluck. Please use the comments option to let everyone know what you are bringing so that we have a good variety of dishes. We have a permit for alcohol: beer and wine only. Amenities Includes basketball court, dog off-leash area, historical site, horseshoe pit, paths, picnic tables, playground, soccer field, tennis court, and volleyball court. Saturday, July 21, 9:30am Salem Humanists Monthly Brunch McGrath's Fish House, 350 Chemeketa St NE, Salem Please RSVP via the CFI Salem Humanists Meetup site. Rides available if requested. Dedicated to the pursuit of Reason, Peace, Justice, and Democracy. Tuesday, July 24, 6:30pm Rogue Valley Freethinkers' Social (Grants Pass) Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co, 595 Northeast E Street, Grants Pass, OR Open agenda socializing and fun with freethinking friends. Tuesday, July 24, 7pm Skeptics of Eugene Book Discussion Manola's Thai Cuisine 652 E. Broadway, Eugene, OR Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 512 pages Kahneman, a psychologist, won the Nobel prize in Economics in His work is in behavioral psychology and, specifically, decision making. In this 2008 book he discusses how people make decisions. This is an entertaining as well as thought-provoking book. I think it will be a fun discussion. And, since the book was released in 2008, its available in hardcover, paperback, and audio-books, so it may be less expensive than a new release. Enjoy, and we'll see you there! 2nd Annual Dark-to-Light Gala: Plan ahead and Save the Date: Sat., Dec. 15, 2012 You are invited to an elegant evening of dinner and dancing to celebrate human progress during the season when dark turns to light. Bring your family! Celebrate the holidays with people who know the reason for the season! We have reserved a private room at the Paragon Restaurant in the Pearl District of downtown Portland, tastefully decorated for the holidays, for our annual Dark-to- Light celebration. For more information, go to: tinyurl.com/6sl4tcq

8 CFI July Events CONT'D More details and RSVP: Wednesday, July 25, 7pm Beaverton Atheists Meetup Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe - Beaverton Town Sq., SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton Organizer: Alan Litchfield Engaging, relaxing and interesting conversation at our monthly meeting. Thursday, July 26, 6:30pm SHEP Movie Night Location TBA in East Portand Based on renowned sci-fi author Jerome Bixby's final 1998 manuscript, Man From Earth is the long-awaited film adaptation in which Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) attempts to convince his fellow faculty members that he is 14,000 years old. "This is one of the best movies of all time... very well thought out story, dialogue and acting very good as well". ~b2dnz "It will make you think about religion, science, society, and human nature". ~ Tommy M. Thursday, July 26, 7pm Salem Humanists Book Discussion Location (at a private home) and other details ed to all who RSVP If you're a non-fiction book enthusiast and are short on people to share your books with, then come join us! If you are craving intellectual conversations on topics such as religion, atheism, science, reason, politics, history, etc. then this is the place for you! Friday, July 27, 3:00pm Parent and Baby/ Toddler Meetup Location and other details available upon RSVP at the CFI-SFN website Saturday, July 28, 7pm Skeptics of Eugene Game Night Growers Market, 454 Willamette, Eugene, OR We'll play board games, munch snacks and socialize. If you have a game you'd like to share, please bring it. We'll decide at the beginning of the evening which game(s) we'll play. I have 3 card tables; each can seat up to 6 people. Friday, July 27, 7pm Skeptics of Eugene Monthly Meetup Seavey Loop Rd, Eugene, OR Host: Lowell Thomas This is Open Topic so everyone is welcome to bring up a specific subject of interest, and if there are copies of news items or articles you can share, please do. We are all interested in learning about our world with open minds and healthy skepticism. Want to promote science, reason, and secular values in the Pacific Northwest? Support CFI-Portland, keep informed about our activities, participate in our programs, and become a member! "Wow, I am blown away. I never thought an entire movie revolving around a single conversation could have me so engrossed. No stunts, no special effects, no action, under a dozen actors/ actresses sitting in a living room... and yet I'm sitting slack jawed watching the story unfold." ~ Junshein Lau ONE-TIME DONATION: Click the blue button to join or renew your membership with a single donation to CFI. Basic member benefits Discounts on conferences Regular membership is $60. Reduced include: and other special events rates for students and unemployed. CFI Membership card, Reduced tuition for CFI good at any CFI worldwide Institute online courses MONTHLY DONATION: Click the green Free entry into all CFI- 15% off Prometheus button to make an automatically renewing Portland regular events Books purchased through monthly donation. Sustain your membership the CFI-Portland Preferred seating at major while sustaining CFI! We'll keep your CFI CFI-Portland events More benefits are available membership active as long as your regular with other options. See CFI donations continue, but if your budget chang- Two Guest Passes membership levels and es, you may change or suspend your pay- CFI Window Decal benefits here. ment at any time. Starting at $5 per month. For more information, click on the above buttons, call CFI-Portland at or portland@centerforinquiry,.net