2001: A Humanist Odyssey<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Prof. Paul Kurtz makes a partial listing of activities of the Center for Inquiry, the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH), all headquartered in Buffalo, New York.

The Center for Inquiry is committed to the application of reason, science and free inquiry to all areas of human interest. CSICOP deals with paranormal and CSH with religious claims.

l Free Inquiry magazine, edited by Tom Flynn, had the highest circulation growth in its history Ð its most recent winter issue is up 18% to approximately 37,000 circulation. The Skeptical Inquirer, edited by Ken Frazier, has approximately 50,000, for a total of 100,000 readership.

l The new headquarters of the Center for Inquiry-West on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles was officially opened on December 15th.

l The Campus Freethought Alliance held an annual convention in Amherst, N.Y. in June; and continues to add significant new campuses to its roster.

l The Center for Inquiry sponsored (in cooperation with CSICOP and CSH in November) its first conference on Science and Religion: Are They Compatible? Some 500 people attended this lively conference (in spite of apprehension of air travel). There were over 50 speakers. l CSICOP participated in two international conferences: The European Council of Skeptical Organizations in Prague in September, and it cosponsored with the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow a special conference on Science, Antiscience and the Paranormal in October. The key organizer was Professor Valeri’ Kuvakin, head of the Center for Inquiry, Moscow State University. (See report in this magazine).

l CSH hosted a meeting at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst (in November) of dissident Muslims, including people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran. They formed a new organization called Freedom from Religious Oppression. In attendance was Ibn Warraq, the well- known Muslim critic. Armen Saginian organized New Horizons, designed to provide a secular alternative for Iranians.

l CSH mounted a campaign to reply to the attacks upon it by the Religious Right. In particular it has responded to Tim LaHaye and David Noble’s attack as outlined in the book Mind Siege.

l Two television series are underway: The Discovery Channel produced and aired 10 five-minute shorts, The Skeptical Inquirer Presents, and they are producing another ten one hour specials. The Humanist Perspective, moderated by Joe Beck, continues to produce half-hour shows, which are viewed in up to 29 stations nationwide. The year 2001 was the year of greatest growth for the Center for Inquiry, CSH, CSICOP, and affiliated organizations. We look forward in 2002 to a whole series of exciting new programs and conferences!