The Center For Inquiry (CFI) West meets once a month and sponsors the most interesting and intellectually stimulating lectures in the southern California area. To purchase any of the following DVDs, select CFI LECTURES in the ‘Purchase and Order’ page
Ron Aronson: Living without God in America Today $12
Prof. Ronald Aronson picks up where the “New Atheists” (Harris, Dawkins, Dennett, and Hitchens) leave off, turning to face the need for a coherent and contemporary secluar philosophy that will answer life’s vital questions. Aronson argues that living without God means acknowledging that we are dependent and interconnected beings, rooted in nature, history and society.
Ross Blocher Swaddling Cloth out of Whole Cloth: Problems with the Nativity Story $12
Find out how the biblical story of Christ’s birth is internally inconsistent, incongruous with known history, borrowed from other legends, and why none of it is reliable. Including a look at the biblical text itself, the “prophecies” that are claimed to be fulfilled by New Testament authors, and pre-existing mythology that got wrapped up into the Christmas story we’ve all heard. Plus, a hilarious alternate telling of the story from the 2nd century that you won’t hear in Sunday School!
Nina BurleighBiblical Archaeology, the Limits of Science and the Borders of Belief: An Inside Look at the Proof-for-Faith Industry $12
Journalist and author Nina Burleigh discusses a scheme to modify actual archaeological objects or create entirely new ones to make them appear to verify biblical characters or stories, including the materiality of Christ and the existence of Solomon’s Temple.
Chris MooneyThe War on Science: What Have We Learned? $12
Science has never been more crucial to deciding the political issues facing the country, yet it has never gotten less respect in government. In governmental agencies, scientific findings have been reported in a politicized manner or even suppressed
entirely, while government scientists themselves have come under attack or been prevented from speaking openly.
John ShookThe God Theory is Dead: How Naturalism Has Driven Theology
over the Edge $12
Dr. John Shook, vice president and senior research fellow at the Center for Inquiry-Transnational in Amherst, N.Y., discusses three main types of theologies and examines the debates about the existence of nature; the problem of evil, and the essence of morality.
Vincent Bugliosi – Divinity of Doubt: An Agnostic’s Challenge $12
The popularity of religion is well-known, but in recent times, atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris have taken center stage in criticizing religious belief and promoting atheist views. Now along comes a strong, provocative defense of agnosticism by Vincent Bugliosi, the L.A. County District Attorney turned author perhaps best known for prosecuting mass murderer Charles Manson and writing a book about the trial called Helter Skelter. In his new book, Divinity of Doubt: The God Question, Bugliosi will argue that agnosticism is the best position to take on the existence of God.