The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is an international organization with 19 offices nationwide and 27 more across the rest of the world. CFI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering a secular society based on science, reason and humanist values. I spoke with Melody Hensley, Executive Director of the CFI's Washington, DC branch to find out more about the Center, its mission and work.
The CFI's office is based in the trendy Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC. It is housed in a storefront on a tree-lined block of Pennsylvania Avenue, and flanked by quaint, locally-owned restaurants and shops.
The DC branch goes about its business quietly, focusing on the development of a home for like-minded individuals and the continued promotion of scientific naturalism, free inquiry, and community outreach. As one walks the along the humming street towards the Center's office, dominating the landscape is the iconic "Walter dome" of the United States Capitol (named for Thomas U. Walter, architect of the North and South extensions of the original building), and inescapable is the feeling that the office's proximity to this storied seat of power cannot be just a coincidence.
Melody Hensley, Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry, DC branch.
Ms. Hensley discovered her interest in secular humanism in her late teens. An atheist for a number of years at that point and inspired by civil rights activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she had a strong interest in women's issues, most notably reproductive rights and the religious oppression of women. Throughout her studies of the struggle for equality, Ms. Hensley noticed a trend.
"I saw that the people who were working against women's rights were the same people who were trying to break down the separation of Church and State."
In response to this worrying realization, Ms. Hensley became an active participant in the advancement of secular ideals and equality between the sexes. As the founder of the group DC Atheist Women and freethoughtforum.org, she made many contacts within the secular activist community and was invited to attend a HEADS meeting, an organized gathering of many of the leaders of non-theist organizations. From there, Ms. Hensley established connections at the CFI and started work at the DC branch as the events coordinator. After about 18 months, she assumed the role of Executive Director when the position opened.
The DC branch of the CFI is primarily concerned with community outreach activities and, whilst there is a Public Policy wing, Ms. Hensley's focus is on building the Center's reputation and rapport with the city's inhabitants. The Center does, in DC parlance, "work across the aisle", partnering with some faith-based organizations to promote mutual understanding on social issues.
"Yes, for sure," she says. "It makes sense when we have common goals, we couldn't be successful otherwise."
In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in secular and atheistic thinking with the publication of a series of controversial books by several high-profile and outspoken authors. Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, both of whose books topped best-seller lists, seem to be the figureheads of what is being termed the 'New Atheist' movement, although there are others whose criticism of religion is just as stinging. Sam Harris, author of 'Letter to a Christian Nation' and 'The End of Faith' and Daniel Dennett, author of 'Breaking the Spell' have both been tagged with the same 'New Atheist' moniker. Collectively, they wryly refer to themselves as the Four Horsemen of the Counter-Apocalypse.
What each of these writers and their books have in common is they have put a populist face on what has always been seen as something of a counter-culture. All four authors have put into plain but powerful prose what many people had been feeling. Unbelief is as valid a worldview as belief, and should garner an equal amount of respect. Ms. Hensley noted that she has seen an uptick in interest in the CFI's work since the publication of these books, particularly from young people.
"Definitely. We have a diverse community of supporters and all of them respond to different authors. Some might not connect with Professor Dawkins, but connect with Sam Harris, for example."
When asked which new authors showed the most promise in carrying on the work of Messrs. Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris and Dennett, Ms. Hensley nominated Austin Dacey, author of 'The Secular Conscience' and host of a forthcoming CFI-sponsored event featuring Christopher Hitchens.
The Center for Inquiry itself
The CFI is the largest secular organization in the world with a national and international presence far outstripping its peers. Its activities are broad-ranging and include education (CFI's Online Institute), research activities (the home office in Amherst, NY has four research Fellows on staff), and Camp Inquiry, a week-long residential camp whose goal is to teach children between the ages of 7 -16 the value of science and critical thinking.
In addition to the above the Center, in cooperation with the University of Buffalo, offers an accredited Masters of Education in Science and the Public.
The Center is also the parent organization of the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH) and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) which, respectively, produce the periodicals 'Free Inquiry' and 'Skeptical Inquirer' and undertake their own research and advocacy activities.
There is a strong online presence too, with the CFI's blogs, message boards and the Point of Inquiry podcast, which combines commentary, interviews and features related to all of the Center's core activities.
At the heart of the mission, though, is community engagement. Ms. Hensley says that the difference between the CFI and other organizations is that the Center gives its members a place to interact; regular meetings are scheduled for like-minded people to attend, discuss their thoughts and further the skeptic, secular and humanist agenda.
"Often you join an organization, they send you a package with a membership card and some information and that's it." she says. "Our point of difference is that we are trying to do more than that, we want our members to see the Center as a home, a place where they can go and share their ideas in an empowering environment."
To learn more about the organization and forthcoming events in DC, visit the Center for Inquiry website.
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