CFI Student Leadership Conference 2009 wrap-up

June 30, 11:55 AMRochester Atheism ExaminerViktor Nagornyy

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CFI Student Leadership Conference 2009. Photo credit: Sarah Kaiser

Amherst, NY – Good times come to an end with a speed of light. Before you know it good-byes begin to fill the air and new friendships begin to turn into Facebook requests. After three days of reason and delightful, in-depth conversations about life, God, evolution, college, and gossip from the night before it was time to depart and return to the real world.

The conference was an astounding success of bringing like-minded students and CFI community leaders to network and share ideas. While providing insightful workshops and presentations to help educate students, for they are the soldiers of reason and future leaders that will actively fight against unreason around the world.

DJ Grothe called our struggle to promote reason a “cultural war”. Some people didn't agree with him and some did. But when you look at the world today and examine all the facts it becomes clear that he is right. One of the definitions of war is “a concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious.” Don't you think promotion of creationism and intelligent design in public schools is injurious to reason? Don't you think that religious ideologies in politics is injurious to reason? Absolutely! Cultural war is not an armed conflict, but a conflict of reason and faith.

One major announcement was the new mission statement for the Center for Inquiry. It is not finalized yet, but the major change in the wording was the replacement of the word "promote" by the word "foster". CFI aims not only to promote naturalistic worldview, free inquiry, and secular humanism, but to help it grow and nurture the humanity. It marks new direction for CFI.

There were many speakers at the conference, including John Shook, Massimo Pigliucci, Eddy Tabash, Joe Nickell, Ron Lindsay, and many more. The workshops covered many topics such as fundraising, marketing, membership, volunteering, and much more. Presentations by speakers covered topics such as reason, debating, investigating paranormal, and foundation of CFI.

Eddie Tabash gave an amazing presentation on debate tactics. This was followed by a mock debate between him and Most Irreverend Ron N. Atas (Ron Lindsay). Mr. Tabash chopped down his opponent's arguments with facts and evidence, like a machine gun chopping down advancing enemy troops. Reason knows no mercy.

Dr. Stephen Uhl donated printed and CD copies of his book  "Out of God's Closet." Thanks to a donor, students were able to get a free book by J. Stenesh "Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion." Also, students go some free stickers and even conference t-shirt.

While the overall conference was a huge success there was one aspect that was not addressed appropriately. The title of the conference was misleading, for leadership was not addressed at all. It is one of the most important aspects of the humanist/atheist movement that is never addressed appropriately. Leaders have no training in how to be leaders and train others on how to become leaders. Why do groups fade away into the past once their leader moves on? Why some groups are more active than others? Why groups don't attract more members? The simple answer is lack of leadership training. Ask any leader to name at least two styles of leadership, to name four MBTI categories, why emotional intelligence is important, why empowerment is so effective. Do you think they will be able to answer? How can someone build a house without a proper foundation? How can someone use a word in a sentence if they don't know the meaning of it? It was clear at the conference that everyone, without doubt, would be able to argue and debate any theist. The amount of knowledge and reason in each conversation was overwhelming. Throw a theist in one of those conversations and he or she would “OD” on reason. But why was the first row always empty and the back rows packed? Humans subconsciously and consciously are afraid to be in the front as they will be “picked on” more frequently. Being a leader means that you will “sit in the front row” no matter what! This is why drivers are all the way in the front, they drive everyone in a single direction increasing impact and force with which they break all the barriers.

An overall success. The conference helped create new friendships, which in the end is the most important thing you ever get out of any conference.

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