Those were some of the messages from the Parenting Beyond Belief seminar yesterday, conducted by Dale McGowan (thank you again Dale, it was great!). The event was well attended by parents wanting to get tips and information on parenting Freethinking kids in a (predominantly) religious culture. Some of the key messages included:

What follows is a synopsis of Newdow v. Roberts, a federal lawsuit (http://www.ffrf.org/legal/warrenComplaint.pdf) filed by physician and lawyer Michael Newdow against the Honorable John Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court et.

The PBB seminar is CONFIRMED and will be held on March 1st as planned. In previous notices a registration deadline of 6 February has been quoted. This deadline was to make sure we would have the minimum registrations to confirm Dale for the event. We have achieved that number. YOU CAN STILL REGISTER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME ON MARCH 1ST! All the details are below.

Parenting is among the toughest of jobs.  Living secularly in a religious world is among the most difficult social choices.  When these challenges are combined, and a parent wishes to raise children without religious influences, the difficulties are compounded. 

Don’t miss our fun, February Free Thought Free Kids event entitled “Extreme Electricity” presented by Science Matters of Colorado.  It will take place on Feb. 8th, 1-3 pm, at the GILL Foundation (315 E. Costilla).  Kids will learn the basic principles of electricity during an engaging, interactive presentation where they will see a pickle glow and make an electromagnetic project to take home.

February 6 is the registration deadline for the Parenting Beyond Belief seminar scheduled for March 1, 2009. 

(This is for informational purposes only, and is not an official FTCS event.)

Multidisciplinary scholar Betty Smocovitis, who holds joint appointments in history and zoology at the University of Florida, kicks off the Year of Darwin celebration with “Singing His Praises: Darwin and His Theory in Song and Musical Production,” a multimedia lecture featuring music and slides. In anticipation of February’s 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origins of the Species," Smocovitis will lecture on Darwin, his theory and its expression in popular culture in general and American culture in particular. She will explore a number of issues in the history of evolution pertaining to controversies surrounding Darwin and his theory, all in a lighthearted and engaging manner. Smocovitis comes to CC as a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar. Her research focuses on the history, philosophy and sociology of the 20th-century biological sciences, especially evolutionary biology, systematics, ecology and genetics, as well as the history of American botany. Sponsored by the Beta of Colorado chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, CC's departments of Philosophy, Biology, History, Sociology, and Music, the Office of the Dean and the Crown Faculty Center.

Location: South Theatre, Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Ave.
Ticket: Free

The American Humanist Association is running an ad about President Obama's secular upbringing

(Thanks to Pharyngula for bringing this to our attention!)

The Free Thought Free Kids group of Colorado Springs will be hosting a Science Matters party entitled "Extreme Electricity" on February 8, from 1-3 pm.  There will be an exciting (and safe) demonstration as well as hands-on projects for all ages.  We will be hosting this party at the GILL Foundation, 315 E. Costilla St., 80903.  

The Colorado Springs Skeptics Meetup is having their first monthly meeting for 2009. This month will include a special presentation by John R. on the "Art of Cold Reading." What is Cold Reading? It is the methods used by psychics and mentalists to convince total strangers that they know private details about them or their loved ones. Due to the meeting room capacity, this meeting is limited to 20 people. To sign-up please register here.

Location: Old Colorado City Library
Room: Old Colorado City Meeting Room

In honor of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs will have Susan Epperson as our guest speaker in February.

On May 5, 1925, John Scopes was charged with teaching ideas from Darwin's book on the Origin of Species. Under the Butler Act it was unlawful in any state-funded educational establishment in Tennessee, "to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from the lower order of animals." The trial was held in Dayton, Tennessee, and was world famous. That same year Arkansas adapted its own "anti-evolution" statute based upon the Tennessee law.

Freethinkers of Colorado Springs

Membership Meeting

7:00 to 9:00 PM  at 315 East Costilla in Colorado Springs

Electromagnetic Compatibility

by Gus Freyer

Happy New Year everyone!

It is time for another Drinking Skeptically.

Swing on by and join Drinking Skeptically for some good Irish pub food, drinks, and great conversations. We will be meeting at Jack Quinn's Irish Alehouse. Ask the front desk hostess to find out where are table is. Usually it is the one in the back.

There is dollar parking at the Plaza of the Rockies, which is one block south from the pub.

Everyone is welcome even if you do not drink.

Please RSVP here or at the Colorado Springs Skeptics Meetup on Meetup.com.

Jack Quinn's Irish Ale House

21 S Tejon St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719.385.0766