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About CFI - On Campus

Our Mission
Our History
Our Sponsor
How you can help
FAQ


 Our Mission
The Center for Inquiry - 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. CFI - On Campus consolidates international resources toward this end.

 Our History
 
In 1996, the Council for Secular Humanism, North America’s leading organization for ethical, non-religious people, brought seven college students to its headquarters at the Center for Inquiry-International in Amherst, New York. These seven students wanted to establish a network of non-believers and critical rationalists on university and college campuses across North America. They were concerned by the rising tide of religious-political extremism and anti-scientific outlooks among members of their generation, as well as the lack of a strong and supportive community for young freethinkers. Some came from families or communities that were openly hostile towards religious unbelievers.

The students agreed that there were dangers inherent in the present religious assaults on academic freedom, civil liberties and scientific literacy in the United States. They outlined their concerns in a Declaration of Necessity, which they then distributed via the Internet. The results were astounding. Within a year, seven students' dream had become a successful reality: forty campus groups were soon established or affiliated with what was then known as the Campus Freethought Alliance. The founding students set a goal of adding one hundred new student groups to CFA during their second year.

Since then, the movement has continued to grow, and has received strong support from the Council for Secular Humanism and other programs of the Center for Inquiry. In 2004, CFA changed its name to the Center for Inquiry - On Campus to better reflect its commitment to the ideals put forth by the Center for Inquiry. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus now has two full-time coordinators at its international headquarters at the Center for Inquiry. In addition, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus is run by a ten-member Executive Council of student volunteers, who are supported by scores of student volunteers involved in various the Center for Inquiry - On Campus programs, campaigns and development activities.
 
Our Sponsor
 
The Center for Inquiry is the home of Skeptical Inquirer, Free Inquiry, and Philo among numerous other publications. It is an anchor point of scores of local and regional skeptic and humanist groups across the United States and throughout the world. From CFI, scientists, philosophers, media professionals and members of the public obtain objective information about fringe science, paranormal, supernatural and religious claims.

With branches in Hollywood, New York City, Toronto, and Tampa, and in France, Germany, Russia, and Peru, the Center for Inquiry is headquartered in fast-growing Amherst, New York, adjacent to the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Center for Inquiry: a resource for the local and academic communities and a hub for critical rationalism worldwide.

 How you can help

Since 1996, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus (formerly CFA) has promoted and worked to enhance freethought, skepticism, secularism, humanism, philosophical naturalism, rationalism, and atheism on campuses across North America and around the world.

The Center For Inquiry - On Campus is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts to the Center for Inquiry - On Campus are tax-deductible under federal income tax law. Click here if you're interested in making a donation.

 FAQ  [top]

1. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus ?
2. What is freethought?
3. Are you a religious organization? Are you a cult?
4. Are you an atheist organization?
5. Are you anti-Christian or anti-religious?
6. What about spirituality?
7. Who can join the Center for Inquiry - On Campus ?
8. What if I want to join but I'm still in high school?
9. Are you a partisan organization?
10. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus's overall stance on political issues?
11. Does the Center for Inquiry - On Campus ally itself with other organizations?
12. Can my group join as is, or must I start a separate Center for Inquiry - On Campus club?
13. Does membership cost anything?
14. How is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus funded?
15. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus 's administrative Structure?
16. How much control does the Center for Inquiry - On Campus exercise over its member groups?
17. If I don't have a group already, how can I start one?
18. How can my group or I play a greater role in the Center for Inquiry - On Campus ?
19. Are there other, similar groups or thinkers in my area?


1. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is an umbrella organization uniting student freethinkers, skeptics, secularists and humanists and their groups on campuses across North America and around the world. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is dedicated to building student freethought communities and promoting humanism, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry. We defend civil liberties, church-state separation and religious freedom from the Religious Right and other opposing forces. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus's chief aims are to promote and defend reason, science and freedom of inquiry in education.

2. What is freethought?
"Freethought" is the name of an American intellectual and cultural movement that can be traced back to the writings of the founders of our nation, the philosophers of the French and German Enlightenment, and the secular populists of the 19th century. A freethinker is a religious unbeliever who forms his or her judgments about religion using reason rather than relying on tradition, authority, faith, or established belief. Members of the freethought movement strive to free the mind of ignorant presuppositions and superstitions and are generally secular and humanist in outlook.

3. Are you a religious organization? Are you a cult?
No. The campus freethought movement is a nonreligious student movement dedicated to promoting reason, not religion; science, not pseudoscience; the poetry of science, not faith. Freethinkers emphasize reason and scientific inquiry, individual freedom and responsibility, human values and compassion, and the need for tolerance and cooperation.

4. Are you an atheist organization?
No. Most (but not all) of our members doubt or disbelieve God's existence. However, doubt of religious dogma is only a part of what defines the Center for Inquiry - On Campus. Aside from skepticism of religious dogma, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus promotes religious liberty, the ethical ideals of secular humanism, and science education.

5. Are you anti-Christian or anti-religious? 
No. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus believes in academic freedom, freedom of conscience and freedom of inquiry, and does not resist presenting rational and scientific critiques of religious, paranormal, and pseudo-scientific claims. There are no "sacred-cows," including religion. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus opposes attempts to force beliefs on others. However, we promote and defend church-state separation and religious liberty: the right of every person to believe and worship as he or she pleases, or not to do so at all. As such, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus is not anti-Christian or anti-religious, but does, however, strongly oppose the politicization of personal religious beliefs.

6. What about "spirituality"?
Properly defined, the term "spiritual" may accurately describe some members of the Center for Inquiry - On Campus. Freethinkers reject spiritual claims insofar as they deal with the supernatural. Spiritualists and "New Agers," who speak of spiritual forces or spiritual ways of knowing reality, reject reason in favor of tradition, speculation or mystical experience. Because of this, they wouldn't be considered freethinkers. If the word "spiritual" is used to refer to a strong sense of emotion, such as a deep appreciation of the arts or a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the universe (i.e.: the "poetry of science") it is compatible with freethought. Many famous freethinkers, atheists and humanists, such as Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins, talk emotionally about their respect and awe for the size and age of the universe, the beauty of science or the power of the arts, and use the word "spiritual" in this sense.

7. Who can join the Center for Inquiry - On Campus?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus welcomes all college and high school students and student organizations that support our mission. Some members are religious students who are interested in freethought and related issues.
Join now!

8. What if I want to join but I'm still in high school?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is primarily an organization for college and university students, but provides organizing resources for high school students. For more information, contact a Center for Inquiry - On Campus coordinator or use our join form.

9. Are you a partisan organization?
No. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is a non-profit educational organization that is not affiliated with any particular party or figure. There are classical liberals, fiscal conservatives, libertarians, Republicans, Democrats, social democrats, socialists and Marxists who support our aims - promoting and defending reason, science and freedom of inquiry in education.

10. What is CFI - On Campus's overall stance on political issues? 
As a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus is not permitted by IRS regulations to engage in certain types of political activity. While the Center for Inquiry - On Campus has taken positions on some politically-charged issues, not every member or affiliated campus group agrees with every position. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus recognizes and appreciates differences of political and social opinion among its members. Generally, the Center for Inquiry - On Campus values individual freedom and civil liberties, while striving to make reason and secular values, rather than religious faith, the foundation on which a political position is based. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus has taken positions on several related issues that have been attacked on religious-political grounds, such as supporting church-state separation and religious liberty; freedom of speech and conscience, and the defense of academic freedom.

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11. Does the Center for Inquiry - On Campus ally itself with other organizations?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus collaborates with many outside organizations that have overlapping interests and goals. Such organizations include Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the First Amendment Taskforce, The Secular Web, and the National Center for Science Education. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus continues to strive to bridge the gap between individuals and groups that support its mission.

12. Can my group join as it is now, or must I start a separate Center for Inquiry - On Campus affiliate group?
Your group can join as it is now. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is an umbrella organization uniting many student groups across the world. To become associated with the Center for Inquiry - On Campus, existing groups need only to affiliate. If there is no freethought-related group in your area, consider working with the staff and volunteers at the Center for Inquiry - On Campus to start one.
 
13. Does membership cost anything?
Membership is free. We ask only that members and groups effectively and efficiently use the resources that the Center for Inquiry - On Campus provides. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus encourages donations, and as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization, all donations are tax-deductible. Make a donation to support the Center for Inquiry - On Campus.

14. How is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus funded?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is a non-profit educational organization that receives funding through private donations and through sponsorship by the Center for Inquiry and its two major subdivisions: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), which encourages critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and the Council for Secular Humanism, North America’s largest organization for ethical, nonreligious people. The Center for Inquiry (CFI), the Council for Secular Humanism and CSICOP are also a non-profit educational organizations established in the public interest.

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15. What is the Center for Inquiry - On Campus's administrative structure?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is directed by staff at the Center for Inquiry-International, and through the direction of students who serve in appointed and elected positions. For details about getting involved with the Center for Inquiry - On Campus at a national and/or international level, contact a coordinator.

16. How much control does the Center for Inquiry - On Campus exercise over its member groups?
None. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus exercises no official control over the campus groups that affiliate with it. Each group directs its own activities and preserves its independence and autonomy. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus does provide occasional networking, promotional, programmatic and administrative direction, in cooperation with local group leaders and members.

17. If I don't have a group already, how can I start one?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is eager to help you start a Center for Inquiry - On Campus affiliate group on your campus. This usually involves advertising on the campus and gathering interested students, then approaching the college administration for official recognition of the group. The Center for Inquiry - On Campus provides manuals and other resources detailing the formation of new Center for Inquiry - On Campus affiliate groups and the maintenance of existent ones. For a copy of the manual and assistance getting started, contact the Center for Inquiry - On Campus International Headquarters or use our join form.

18. How can I get more involved?
There are many opportunities for groups or individuals to become more actively involved with the Center for Inquiry - On Campus. All members can contribute to the Center for Inquiry - On Campus's bimonthly email newsletter and organize or attend the Center for Inquiry - On Campus national or regional conferences. Additionally, members can get involved in activism, campaigns and outreach programs sponsored by the Center for Inquiry - On Campus. For further information, check out our e-newsletter, Campus Inquirer, or contact us.

19. Are there other, similar groups individuals in my area?
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus has groups and contacts on hundreds of high school and college campuses worldwide. In addition, since the Center for Inquiry - On Campus is sponsored by the Center for Inquiry, and is affiliated with the Council for Secular Humanism and CSICOP (both of which support networks of freethought, secular humanist, and skeptic societies throughout the world), there are bound to be many like-minded people in your area.  For information about individuals and groups in your area, see our affiliates page or contact us.

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