July 11, 2010, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
CFI Michigan Office, 3777 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, View Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3777+44th+St+SE,+Kentwood,+MI+49512

Description

Join us for the next CFI Michigan Advisory Board Meeting. Get involved, hear about new program developments and give your input. We will have lunch time to talk from 1 to 1:30. The board meeting will be 1:30 to 3:30PM. CFI Members and the Public are welcome to attend. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we know how many non-board members to expect.

Cost: NA

Contact: Jennifer Beahan, michigan@centerforinquiry.net, (616) 698-2342

http://www.cfimichigan.org/events/event/brd-mtg-may9/

July 18, 2010, 10:00am–5:00pm
Camp Kidwell, 39000 1st Avenue, Bloomingdale, MI, View Map

Description

What is Camp Quest ? Camp Quest is the first residential summer camp in the history of the United States for the children of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists, Humanists, Brights, or whatever other terms might be applied to those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural world view.

Hey kids and parents! It’s time to start planning for Camp Quest 2010!

Camp Quest’s purpose is to provide children of irreligious parents with a residential summer camp, dedicated to improving the human condition through rational inquiry, critical and creative thinking, scientific method, self-respect, ethics, competency, democracy, free speech, and the separation of religion and government guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

For details visit the Camp Quest SITE!

Cost: $500 per camper, $475 for siblings of camper paying full fee ($450 if enrolled before May 1, 2010 – $425 for siblings).

Contact: Camp Quest Inc., campquest-mi@comcast.net

http://www.cfimichigan.org/events/event/campquest-2010/

June 18, 2010, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Copper Canyon Brewery, 27522 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI, View Map

Description

This is a great opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, we have fun while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality.

Don’t drink? Don’t let that stop you from joining us! Some of the world’s most famous skeptics are teetotallers, and we are happy to have you!

Additional Details

To find the group, look for table signs bearing the Center For Inquiry logo.

Cost: Individuals are responsible for purchasing their own food/beverages

Contact: Melissa LaFavers , mdlafavers@gmail.com, (248) 615-6078

http://www.cfimichigan.org/events/event/se-sitp-061810/

June 13, 2010, 1:00pm–3:00pm
CFI Michigan Office, 3777 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, View Map

Description

Join us for the next CFI Michigan Advisory Board Meeting. Get involved, hear about new program developments and give your input. We will have lunch time to talk from 1 to 1:30. The board meeting will be 1:30 to 3:30PM. CFI Members and the Public are welcome to attend. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we know how many non-board members to expect.

Cost: NA

Contact: Jennifer Beahan, michigan@centerforinquiry.net, (616) 698-2342

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 will break for coffee/brunch and a chance to socialize.

Please join us for a a discussion of Science and Religion from Einstein’s Perspective, presented by Barry Tikkanen

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 Collins if you have a topic that you would like to discuss at an upcoming Café Inquiry.

Cost: Free

Contact: Bob Collins, bcollins@centerforinquiry.net, 616-638-1957

http://www.cfimichigan.org/events/event/w-ci-053010/

Skeptics In The Pub (Grand Rapids)

May 28, 2010, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Founder’s Brewery, 235 Grandville Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI, View Map

Description

This is a great opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, we have fun while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality.

Don’t drink? Don’t let that stop you from joining us! Some of the world’s most famous skeptics are teetotallers, and we are happy to have you!

Additional Details

To find the group, look for table signs bearing the Center For Inquiry logo.

Cost: Individuals are responsible for purchasing their own food/beverages

Contact: Jennifer Beahan, michigan@centerforinquiry.net, 616-698-2342

http://www.cfimichigan.org/events/event/w-sitp-052810/

May 26, 2010, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Corner Brewery, 720 Norris Street , Ypsilanti, MI, View Map

Description

This is a great opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, we have fun while promoting skepticism, science, and rationality.

Don’t drink? Don’t let that stop you from joining us! Some of the world’s most famous skeptics are teetotallers, and we are happy to have you!

Additional Details

To find the group, look for table signs bearing the Center For Inquiry logo.

Cost: Individuals are responsible for purchasing their own food/beverages

Contact: Michelle Bell, merriemelodyxx@gmail.com, (734) 780-4759 (If she is unable to answer, please leave a message)

May 26, 2010, 7:00pm–8:30pm
Women’s City Club, 254 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI, View Map

Presented by Luke Galen, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Grand Valley State University

Description

Forty years ago Ernest Becker theorized in his “Denial of Death” that our culture and our cherished worldviews serve the purpose of maintaining our self-esteem and sense of meaning in the face of inevitable death and insignificance. More recently a body of work in the social sciences called “Terror Management Theory” has lent empirical evidence to these provocative ideas. The unconscious anxiety about our own mortality has been linked to group conflict, aggression against those who challenge our worldview, denial of our animal nature including the theory of evolution, and the unreasonable belief that the world is predictable and just.

The implications of these results are relevant to politics, inter-religious conflicts, nationalism, fundamentalism, and many other forms of vehement worldview defense. Join us to find out more about this intriguing topic.

About the Speaker

Luke Galen is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Grand Valley State University. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Wayne State University. His main area of research and teaching focuses on the psychology of religion. He has three current areas of research. The first involves the social cognition of religious fundamentalism. He is also currently studying religion and the Just World Belief. Finally, he studies non religious groups and the process of apostasy. He teaches classes on: the Psychology of Religion, Controversial Issues in Psychology, and Human Sexuality. He is faculty advisor to the GVSU Center for Inquiry campus group and is a member of the Reasonable Doubts podcast and radio show.

Additional Details

Meetings are open to the Public

After the meeting, join us at Vitale’s Restaurant, 834 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI to socialize. View Map

Learn about Parking, Accessibility, Child Care and more.

Cost: $6.00 general admission. Free for Friends of the Center.

Contact: Jennifer Beahan, michigan@centerforinquiry.net, 616-698-2342