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by Center for Inquiry
The audio edition of Free Inquiry magazine, the Journal for Secular Humanist Ideas.
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- 1 weeks ago5 min
Placating the Gods: The Core of Religion
Ronald A. Lindsay argues that modern religions, particularly the Abrahamic faiths, retain the ancient practice of trying to placate deities through sacrifice and petitionary prayer, differing more in form than in substance from ancient Greek religion. He contends that petitionary prayer is logically incompatible with the concept of an all-knowing, benevolent God and concludes that religion reflects humanity's early attempts to explain and influence an uncertain world rather than a rational understanding of reality. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/placating-the-gods-the-core-of-religion/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- 3 weeks ago4 min
Just What We Need: More Partisanship in Government, More Money in Politics
Ronald A. Lindsay argues that two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions significantly expand presidential power and the influence of money in politics, threatening the independence of federal regulatory agencies and further empowering wealthy political interests. He contends that allowing presidents to fire agency leaders at will and removing campaign spending limits for political parties will make government more partisan, less stable, and increasingly dominated by billionaires at the expense of democratic accountability. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/just-what-we-need-more-partisanship-in-government-more-money-in-politics/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 24, 20264 min
Michelle Obama's Manhood, Washington's Prayer at Valley Forge, and the Gospels
Ronald A. Lindsay explores how myths, legends, and misinformation become attached to prominent figures, comparing modern conspiracy theories about public figures and historical myths about George Washington to the legendary development of the Gospel narratives about Jesus. He argues that beliefs are often shaped more by emotion, ideology, and storytelling than by historical evidence or factual accuracy. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/michelle-obamas-manhood-washingtons-prayer-at-valley-forge-and-the-gospels/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 17, 20264 min
Why Listen to the Pope, Speaking as the Pope, on AI?
Ronald A. Lindsay critiques the widespread attention given to Pope Leo XIV's recent AI encyclical, arguing that the Catholic Church's theological claims and supernatural beliefs undermine its credibility as an authority on emerging technologies. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/exclusive/why-listen-to-the-pope-speaking-as-the-pope-on-ai/ About the Author: Ronald A. Lindsay is the former president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, recent interim general counsel for CFI, and editor of Free Inquiry magazine. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 10, 202612 min
Secular Approaches to Moral Education: Building Character without Commandments
Steve Grumette argues that effective moral education should be grounded in empathy, critical thinking, and evidence-based understanding of human moral development rather than religious authority, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to reason through ethical challenges together. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/secular-approaches-to-moral-education-building-character-without-commandments/ About the Author: Steve Grumette is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker (The Magic Machines, Best Live Action Short) and pioneer of live computer imagery in Hollywood, with credits including WarGames. A UCLA-trained engineer and physicist, he writes on philosophy and criminal justice ethics. He is the founder and artistic director of the Ojai Film Festival and lives in Oak View, California. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 8, 202614 min
Can Humanism Help End Witch Hunts in Africa?
Leo Igwe examines how humanist activists in Africa are combating witch hunts by challenging superstition, promoting critical thinking, and helping victims seek legal protection against accusations that often lead to violence, abuse, and death. Drawing on real cases from Nigeria, he argues that reason, science, and human rights advocacy offer the most effective path toward ending witchcraft-related persecution across the continent. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/can-humanism-help-end-witch-hunts-in-africa/ About the Author: Leo Igwe, founder of the Nigerian Humanist Movement and founding director of the Center for Inquiry Nigeria, recently completed a doctorate degree in religious studies at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. He is the chair of the Humanist Association of Nigeria and recipient of the IHEU 2017 Distinguished Service to Humanism Award. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 5, 202618 min
How Rock and Sex Affected the Increase in Nones
Mark Kolsen argues that rock 'n' roll and the sexual revolution played a significant role in the rise of religious "Nones" in the United States by encouraging more permissive attitudes toward sex and weakening traditional religious participation. He traces how early rock music emerged from Pentecostal church culture, how conservative religious backlash against rock and sexuality politicized religion, and how younger Americans increasingly distanced themselves from organized faith as the religious Right aligned itself with conservative politics. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/how-rock-and-sex-effected-the-increase-in-nones/ About the Author: Mark Kolsen lives in Chicago. A fan of the Four Horsemen and the late Victor Stenger, he strives to understand all facets of scientific cosmology and evolutionary biology. Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
- Jun 3, 202626 min
Medieval Christendom? Are They Serious?
This is a modified version of an article that originally appeared in The Free Press under the title "The Golden Age of Humanity? We're Living in It." Free Inquiry is republishing it with the gracious permission of The Free Press and the authors. Copyright is retained by The Free Press. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://secularhumanism.org/2026/05/medieval-christendom-are-they-serious/ About the Author: Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
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