Podcast For Inquiry – Centre for Inquiry Canada

A podcast for scientific, skeptical, secular, rational and humanistic inquiry.

You’ve got answers? We’ve got questions.

A podcast for scientific, skeptical, secular, rational and humanistic inquiry.

You’ve got answers? We’ve got questions.

Jamie Woodhouse on Sentientism

Jamie is a leading advocate for Sentientism (“evidence, reason, and compassion for all sentient beings”) as a worldview and as a global movement. Jamie and Leslie discuss what Sentientism is along with its philosophical, ethical, and practical implications. Learn more through the Sentientism Podcast and YouTube channel, the global Sentientism Facebook community, and on Twitter @JamieWoodhouse and @Sentientism.

Podcast for Inquiry is brought to you by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. Hosted by Leslie Rosenblood. Produced by Lee Shields, Zack Dumont, and Martin Zielinski. Graphic design by Nikolay Nikitushkin. Music by Anthony Lazaro. Send your thoughts and feedback to podcast@centreforinquiry.ca.

March 15, 2023

Bonus: Leslie Rosenblood debates God’s role in politics

In February 2015, Leslie Rosenblood participated in the second Chesterton debate, organized by the Archdiocese of Toronto, arguing against the motion that God should play a significant role in political affairs. Iain Benson, a Roman Catholic legal philosopher and consultant, took the opposing position. The moderator was Lorna Dueck. The debate was rebroadcast on Salt and Light TV and Podcast for Inquiry is proud to bring it to you as a special bonus episode.

March 8, 2023

Chris Shelton on Scientology and destructive cults

Chris Shelton was raised within the Church of Scientology, which he left a decade ago. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping those seeking to escape coercively controlling environments. Chris explains how all cults use the same playbook to recruit and keep members, techniques to which we are all susceptible. Chris shares how one can avoid falling for the traps they set, and how to recognize if you might already be in one. You can learn more about Scientology and cult recovery on Chris’ YouTube channel.

March 1, 2023

Allen Offenberger on the Fusion Research: What We’ve Achieved, What Remains to be Solved

In December 2022, fusion research achieved a major accomplishment: more energy resulted from a controlled fusion reaction than was put into it. Allan explains why this is more a symbolic milestone than a sign that commercial fusion is imminent. Allan describes the current state of the art in fusion research, and the many ways fusion differs from fission, the existing nuclear energy technology. Allan explains that fusion is moving from science to engineering, and the many technical hurdles that must be overcome before fusion, for all its promise, can make a significant practical difference in the world.

For more information, visit the Fusion Energy Council of Canada, ITER, or the Fusion Industry Association.

February 15, 2023

Leslie Rosenblood on Humanism in Children and Women’s Rights

CFIC was invited to give a presentation on Humanism in Children and Women’s Rights at the third International Humanism Conference for Social Justice in September 2022. Leslie spoke on Humanism in Children and Women’s rights. Today’s bonus episode is his speech at the conference.

February 8, 2023

What does history say about the accuracy of Bible stories? With Dr. Joshua Bowen

Dr. Joshua Bowen (@DJHammurabi1) is an Assyriology scholar and author of “The Atheist Guide to the Old Testament. Josh describes his journey from fundamentalist evangelical Christianity to atheism, and what motivated him to write two volumes (so far!) of the Atheist Guide. He and Leslie discuss the Old Testament book of Exodus, and its correspondence to what we know of the time from the fields of history and archaeology. You can learn much more about Josh’s work on his YouTube channel, Digital Hammurabi.

February 1, 2023