Upcoming Events
November 8-14, 2009

This week's events are held in West, Southeast and Mid Michigan.
Visit the Online Calendar for details and maps. Download a Printable Calendar (pdf)

Dear Friend,

We are please to welcome D.J. Grothe to Michigan for several events. D.J. is the Vice President and Director for Outreach Programs at Center for Inquiry's national office, and host of nationally popular radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry. D.J. will be travelling throughout Michigan next week and we hope that you will take advantage of this chance to hear from and engage in discussion with one of our national directors.

D.J. will be present Darwin Made Me Do It: Secular vs. Religious Ethics in Grand Rapids and Birmingham. He will also be holding roundtable discussions on Campus Outreach at our student groups at Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University and Grand Rapids Community College. Details are below.

Be sure to join us tomorrow morning (Sunday) at Cafe Inquiry and tell us your favorite strategy for debating religious claims! Then come down to the office for the next Volunteer Work Day at the CFI office in Grand Rapids.

Note: Due to unforseen circumstances, the Heavy Mental show, as well as the Science, Magic & Skepticism Workshop, are being postponed until next year.

We hope to see you at this week's events!

Featured Event

Darwin Made Me Do It

November 11, 2009, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Women's City Club, 254 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI

November 12, 2009, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Baldwin District Library, 300 W. Merrill St., Birmingham, M

Presented by DJ Grothe, Vice President and Director for Outreach Programs, Center for Inquiry

Can people be good without being religious?
What does Darwin’s theory of evolution tell us about morality?

In this talk, DJ explores whether it is possible to develop ethical systems that replace possibly outmoded and even destructive religious beliefs about right and wrong, and whether there can be a “science of ethics.” Could it be that religion in general – not just “bad” religions – may actually be to blame for so many of the world’s problems? Can a secular ethic, based firmly in the sciences, offer solutions?

·  Cost: $6.00 general admission. Free for Friends of the Center
·  Contact: Jennifer Beahan, jbeahan@centerforinquiry.net, 616-698-2342
·  West Michigan After-Event Social: Vitale’s Restaurant, 834 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI
·  Southeast Michigan After-Event Social: Max and Erma's Restaurant, 250 E Merrill St, Birmingham, MI

Campus Outreach Roundtable Discussions

November 11, 2009, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Contact Kermit Sharp for details & meeting location: kls_nujolmull@yahoo.com, 616-635-1139.

November 13, 2009, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Contact Christian Orlic for details & meeting location: orlicchr@msu.edu, 517-575-7461.

November 13, 2009, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
Contact Kermit Sharp for details & meeting location: kls_nujolmull@yahoo.com, 616-635-1139.

Community members who are interested in campus and community outreach are invited to attend these roundtable discussions. Contact the student leaders listed above to RSVP and get location information.

About the Speaker

DJ Grothe is Vice President and Director for Outreach Programs at Center for Inquiry. He hosts the nationally popular radio show and podcast, Point of Inquiry, discussing fundamental questions with the world’s thought-leaders, exploring the implications of the scientific outlook for society’s most cherished convictions. An Associate Editor of Free Inquiry Magazine, DJ lectures and debates frequently on topics surrounding science and central beliefs at colleges and universities throughout the United States. As a “mind-reader” and magician, Grothe studies the processes of deception and self-deception. His award-winning performances focus on the powers of the mind, parapsychology, and the challenge that skeptics bring to paranormal claims.

West Michigan

Café Inquiry – Strategies for Disputing Religious Claims

November 8, 2009, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Schuler Books, 3165 Alpine Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI

Café Inquiry is a casual event starting with a short 10-15 minute introduction of the day's topic followed by open discussion. At 11:15 we'll break for coffee/brunch and a chance to socialize.

This week, attendees are asked to bring 'My Favorite Strategy for Disputing a Religious Claim.' Presenters will be given 5 minutes to present and will then be given 10 minutes of feedback.

Members are welcome to propose and schedule a topic which would be of interest toward establishing a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. Please contact Bob if you have a topic that you would like to discuss at an upcoming Café Inquiry.

Contact: Bob Collins, bobpsy@yahoo.com, 616-638-1957.

Volunteer Work Day

November 8, 2009, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
CFI Michigan Office, 3777 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI

CFI's next Volunteer Work Day will be this upcoming Sunday. Volunteers are encouraged to come for as long as they are available. If you plan to attend please email Jennifer Beahan (jbeahan@centerforinquiry.net) and let her know when you plan to be at the work day.

No prior experience is necessary and a variety of tasks are available. A volunteer orientation will be held from 1-2pm. We will be working on a variety of projects, including:  library organizing, general office tasks, document/form creation, membership updates, etc. If you have a laptop computer, please bring it with you.

Please fill out your volunteer profile prior to coming on Sunday (if you have not already done so): www.cfimichigan.org/rsvp/volunteer. All volunteers should complete a profile.

Contact: Jennifer Beahan, jbeahan@centerforinquiry.net, 616-706-2029

Mid Michigan

Monkey Business

November 12, 2009, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Michigan State University Union, Third Floor, Lake Ontario Room, E. Lansing, MI

Presented by Christian Orlic and Julia Smith, MSU

A number of research studies related to the great apes will be over viewed.

Christian Orlic is a first year graduate student in the department of Zoology and EEBB (Ecology, Evolutionary, Behavioral Biology) at Michigan State University and as well as a graduate student in History of Science and Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He has served on the CFI MSU board since Fall 2008.

·  Free parking is available in MSU Parking Ramp 6 after 6 pm.
·  Cost: Free for students and Friends of the Center. $6 general admission.
·  Contact: Christian Orlic, msu@centerforinquiry.net, 517-575-7461

About CFI Michigan

Mission Statement

The mission of Center for Inquiry | Michigan is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.

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