Center for Inquiry

Imagine a life guided by reason, compassion, and ethics—not dogma. The Council for Secular Humanism empowers individuals to find meaning and purpose without religious beliefs, championing a lifestance rooted in science, humanist values, and naturalistic philosophy. As North America’s leading organization for nonreligious people, CSH: ➡️ Defend the rights and voices of secular humanists. ➡️ Build vibrant, supportive secular communities across the country. ➡️ Advocate for human-based perspectives on social and ethical issues—like freedom of choice and self-determination—where religious authority often obstructs personal freedoms. From publishing thought-provoking content to organizing national conferences, the Council for Secular Humanism is dedicated to creating a more inclusive, tolerant, and rational society. Are you ready to stand for a world where reason and human values come first? Learn more and join the cause: https://ow.ly/KmAG50U0Eci #SecularHumanism #HumanistValues #ReasonAndEthics #NonReligious #HumanRights #ThinkFreely #HumanistCommunity #FreedomFromReligion #SecularValues #ReasonOverDogma #HumanistEthics

West Coast friends—don’t miss this chance to see our Director of Education, Bertha Vazquez, live and in person 🎉 Fresh off her inspiring talk at CSICon she’s headed to speak with the Atheist Community of San Jose on November 10. Details here 👉 https://ow.ly/UieU50TZU2L And if you’re near Santa Cruz, join us for her presentation on November 16 with the Santa Cruz County Skeptics: https://ow.ly/8EHz50TZU2M Come out and connect with your local skeptic community! #ScienceEducation #SkepticCommunity #ScienceAdvocacy #CriticalThinking #ScienceEvents

In Texas, nonreligious couples seeking a marriage ceremony that reflects their beliefs are still denied equal recognition. We stand up against this discriminatory law that limits marriage officiants to those affiliated with organized religion. Our Secular Celebrants, trained to perform weddings without religious undertones, have the right to solemnize marriages too. With past victories in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Oregon, we're challenging Texas’s restrictive laws. This is a fight for equality — where belief or nonbelief shouldn’t dictate one’s right to celebrate marriage on their terms. From our general counsel Richard Conn: "Human rights are universal and should not be predicated on one’s religious belief or nonbelief. Requiring religious affiliation in order to celebrate a marriage in Texas–and imposing criminal penalties on those who would choose otherwise–turns nonbelievers into second class citizens. We believe this statutory requirement is unconstitutional and must be changed." Read more about our new lawsuit and how we're defending the rights of all Texans to marry as they choose: https://ow.ly/5Iy850TYC8z #EqualMarriageRights #SecularCelebrants #StandForEquality

Progress and conservation, which appear to oppose each other, are in fact necessary to explore the multitude of things in their unity. One without the other is meaningless and insufficient to describe nature in its entirety. The synthesis between the two may be impossible, and perhaps it should remain so, but it must exist as an ideal or rather as a quest. There are no progressives on one side and conservatives on the other because we all embody a bit of both. What distinguishes between two schools of thought (for example, idealism and realism) or two metaphysical approaches to the world is the subtle connection between several complementary aspects of the same reality, which forms a profound worldview. The way we employ this complementarity may truly define a school of thought, rather than the predominant direction of the thought itself. In other words, our manner of nuanced thinking defines our thought. Explore how progress and preservation shape scientific understanding in the latest Skeptical Inquirer: https://ow.ly/32Pf50TYC2T #ScientificProgress #ProgressAndPreservation #SkepticalInquirer #PhilosophyOfScience

Skeptical Inquirer's Ben Radford joined KRQE for the inaugural episode of their new digital series #NewMexicoStrange. Alongside paranormal expert Cody Polston, he broke down the history and legends surrounding three of the most prominent ghost stories in Albuquerque's Old Town. Watch this spooky treat with the lights on: https://ow.ly/hvVG50TYc5G #GhostStories #AlbuquerqueGhosts #SkepticalInquirer #CriticalThinking

Just hours away 🌺💀 Join us online at 7PM ET for International Secular Day of the Dead as we celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost in a unique, non-religious remembrance. Embrace stories, memories, and the beauty of honoring loved ones in a way that resonates with our secular values. Don't miss this chance to connect, reflect, and celebrate together: https://ow.ly/PgmH50TYaZ9 #SecularDayOfTheDead #DayOfTheDead #DiaDeLosMuertos #SecularValues #InMemoriam

Estate planning is more than just numbers; it’s about securing the future for your loved ones and the causes you're passionate about. Did you know 64% of Americans recognize the importance of having a will, yet 68% don’t have one? Don’t be part of that statistic. This week, take a step towards safeguarding your legacy and consider supporting the Center for Inquiry in your estate plans. Your contribution can propel our mission forward for years to come. Learn how to make a difference with FreeWill: https://ow.ly/7KX250TXtFb #EstatePlanningAwarenessWeek #PlanYourLegacy #ScienceForAll #SecularValues

Spooky seeing CSI's chief investigator Kenny Biddle in the Daily Mail. He explained the science (or rather pseudoscience) of ghost hunting and shed light on some of the real reasons people believe in ghosts. Check it out: https://ow.ly/wCUo50TY9Uh And don't miss Kenny's Friday livestream tonight at 8pm ET: https://ow.ly/8kO850TYagq #SkepticalInquirer #CommitteeForSkepticalInquiry #ParanormalInvestigation #GhostHunting #ParanormalActivity

Why do so many people believe they've seen ghosts? 👻 In a recent article by the Greek Reporter, Skeptical Inquirer editor Stephen Hupp sheds light on pareidolia—the brain's tendency to spot familiar patterns, like faces, where none exist. Ever looked at a cloud and seen a face? Similarly, shadows in a dark room can appear ghostly, tricking us into seeing what isn’t really there. Read more about how our minds play these ghostly tricks: https://ow.ly/O4Rz50TY7xO #SkepticalInquirer #Pareidolia #SeeingIsntBelieving #CriticalThinking

Christopher Hitchens believed in the power of balancing admiration and criticism—a skill he called ‘keeping two sets of books.’ He saw value in challenging groupthink, resisting tribalism, and defending free speech across the board. Today, as polarizing ideologies push for a ‘buy one, buy all’ approach to belief systems, Hitchens' views remain profoundly relevant. Discover his unapologetic stance on free expression, antiauthoritarianism, and the complexities of intellectual independence in Skeptical Inquirer: https://ow.ly/n6VZ50TXneV #FreeSpeech #CriticalThinking #Authoritarianism #ThoughtLeadership #ChristopherHitchens