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I realize I already did a report on the CFI Leadership Conference on this blog - but I wrote one up for the On Campus newsletter for CFI as well… I wasn’t 100% happy with it, more like 74% happy with it, but… regardless, here it is:

Religious intolerance lost me my job this summer. After my camp received an anonymous e-mail from an outraged parent about my religious views, I was forced to resign. So as I enter into my final half of my studies I have become increasingly aware of the religious groups on my campus and in my community and the impact they can have. Between the Campus Crusades for Christ and the Interfaith Chapel it became painfully obvious to me that there is no alternative for those of us who were questioning the rationality, beliefs and thought flow of these groups. Then I heard of the Center for Inquiry’s Student Leadership Conference in Amherst, New York happening on June 15 – 17 and quickly reserved a spot.

There dozens of like-minded questioning students gathered from across North America. I went expecting to network with other campus leaders and learn how to create a successful group on my campus. I was not disappointed in the least bit. The resources and environment produced by the Center for Inquiry were ideal. We came together and our minds began to flourish and fill with ideas to take back to our secular campus groups.

There was virtually an automatic sense of friendship and trust with each person I met throughout the weekend, as we knew we already understood each other’s motives for being there. This was refreshing after coming from too many communities where we are rarely understood. Here was a group of people who understood the true meaning of a University: As a place where people are encouraged to question and to think rather than simply defend their predetermined sense of knowledge. There was a plethora of names from “atheist” to “brights” or “secular humanists” but the purpose of our groups were similar; to create a louder voice of activism for our cause of rationality and free thought. Hanging onto the idea that maybe one day religious intolerance won’t cost us our job.

The first day of the conference was spent getting to know people, relaxing after traveling and getting settled in. Saturday, was full with a smooth stream of engaging speakers directing us on how to generate and uphold functioning groups on campus. These talks were extremely useful covering topics from using the web for outreach, running meetings, and attracting media attention.

In the afternoon we heard from Barbara Forrest speaking on the Kitzmiller-Dover trial. She gave us a well presented run down of the events and was followed by a constitutional lawyer, Eddie Tabash who scared us all with frightening, yet true, words on the fundamental religious right in America. It was an eye opener for everyone on just how much work there really is to do, and how significant our goals are for free thought in all happenings of life.

Saturday night ended with some exceptionally entertaining deception by Jamy Ian Swiss – a world-renowned skeptic and illusionist. The skeptical frolics all ended on Sunday afternoon after hearing from one last speaker, Nica Lalli, and participated in a round table discussion where we all threw ideas back and forth.

It was hard to come home. On one hand, I have come back with a brain overflowing with ideas, ambition, and inspiration to implement into my own campus setting. On the other hand, I had left a serene setting with a group swarming with insurmountable intelligence and vigor. Being with these people really created a sense that we have already accomplished something great. We have established a meaningful and powerful secular group of leaders that will have overwhelming successes in the continued struggle for freedom of thought, life and reason.

Katie Kish
University of Guelph