# Greetings and Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Introduce Yourself\ **Created:** [March 23, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198 "2023-03-23T15:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vitolear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vitolear](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/vitolear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/1 "2023-03-23T15:02:21Z")
Greetings to all. I was moved to join because of the depressing and deflating effect that religion has on American society, schools, and politics. I now have resources to help counter that. Rather than preaching to the choir, my inclination is to support “recruitment” (for lack of a better term) of impressionable minds (ages 17-23 or so). Let them know that atheism/agnosticism is valid, moral, and growing more acceptable and prevalent. Can folks recommend the best programs/funds for such an effort? Thanks. Vito ---
**Author:** ![citizenschallengev4](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/citizenschallengev4/32/28718_2.png) [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/2 "2023-03-23T15:27:58Z")
> [@vitolear](#): > > Can folks recommend the best programs/funds for such an effort? Vito, Funding is getting more and more difficult to arrange. Good intentions are great, but what’s your plan? I don’t understand why folks dismiss ‘singing to the choir’ - why not figure out how to get the choir, better informed and more willing to engage in your effort, wouldn’t that help multiply its potential? What about getting the choir to review and help improve your rough drafts? For instance, “recruitment” - who wants to be recruited these days? Are you starting a militia? What do you want to recruit people for? What’s the plan? Please share. ---
**Author:** ![lausten](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/lausten/32/23705_2.png) [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/3 "2023-03-23T16:25:04Z")
I’m a little busy right now, but check into this > **[A National Network for Nonreligious Students](https://secularstudents.org/)** > > The Secular Student Alliance empowers secular students to proudly express their identity, build welcoming communities, promote secular values, and set a course for lifelong activism. Donate Today Join Our Newsletter 237 student organizations 6,468... Bart Campolo did this in CA, and there was a famous one at Harvard, I’ll look up the guy who wrote a book about it later ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/4 "2023-03-23T17:17:03Z")
Welcome Vito. You can begin by supporting CFI. That would be an excellent investment. ## OUR MISSION * * * The Center for Inquiry strives to foster a secular society based on reason, science, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. [LEARN MORE](https://centerforinquiry.org/about/) And further discussion of your favorite interests would also be welcomed. ---
**Author:** ![vitolear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vitolear](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/vitolear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/5 "2023-03-23T18:26:29Z")
> [@citizenschallengev4](#): > > What’s the plan? Sorry I was not clear. I want to give funds, not solicit them. No militias! I just want it to count. I love the articles on CFI, FFRF, etc. (and plan to support them) but it seems that would have limited effect because folks looking at these sites are already on board? ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/6 "2023-03-23T21:05:44Z")
> [@vitolear](#): > > Sorry I was not clear. I want to give funds, not solicit them. No militias! I just want it to count. I love the articles on CFI, FFRF, etc. (and plan to support them) but it seems that would have limited effect because folks looking at these sites are already on board? Most members are humanitarians, but CFI is a not-for-profit organization that depends on financial support from its members in order to fund high-quality debates and lectures by respected (paid) lecturers. And the better quality of presentation, the greater the attendance. > **[Center for Inquiry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Inquiry#)** > > The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a U.S. nonprofit organization that works to mitigate belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal and to fight the influence of religion in government. > The Center for Inquiry was established in 1991 by atheist philosopher and author Paul Kurtz. It brought together two organizations: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (founded by Kurtz in 1976) and the Council for Secular Humanism (founded by Kurtz in 1980). The Center for I... ---
**Author:** ![lausten](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/lausten/32/23705_2.png) [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/7 "2023-03-23T23:34:02Z")
> [@vitolear](#): > > because folks looking at these sites are already on board? I started watching an internet atheist show (when I was still a believer) because I wanted to figure out how to argue against them. I realized they were right after a year or so. I don’t know what the numbers are, but CFI reaches out in many ways to find new members ---
**Author:** ![arikel88](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/arikel88/32/28116_2.png) [@arikel88](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/arikel88)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 12:49am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/9 "2023-03-31T00:49:52Z")
Hello and welcome. Know your promblems will be heard and good debate is pleasant to all. ---
**Author:** ![write4u](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.centerforinquiry.org/write4u/32/23410_2.png) [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/greetings-and-question/10198/10 "2023-03-31T03:02:44Z")
> [@arikel88](#): > > Hello and welcome. Know your problems will be heard and good debate is pleasant to all. Welcome vitolear, looking forward to your posts. and welcome back arikel88. You are right, all people of goodwill are welcome to CFI.