Free Inquiry

Infobox Magazine
title = Free Inquiry
editor = Paul Kurtz
editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
frequency = Quarterly
category = Secularism
circulation = 35,000 [Citation
publication-date = 2002-09-18
title = The bull fighter
periodical = City Newspaper
publication-place = Rochester, NY
url = http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/archives/2002/9/The+bull+fighter
accessdate = 2008-04-16] (within the U.S.)
publisher = Council for Secular Humanism
firstdate = 1980
country = USA
language = English
website = [http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=fi&page=index www.secularhumanism.org/fi]
issn = 0272-0701

"Free Inquiry" is a bi-monthly journal of secular humanist opinion and commentary published by the Council for Secular Humanism, which is part of the Center for Inquiry. Philosopher Paul Kurtz is the editor-in-chief and Tom Flynn the editor. Feature articles cover a wide range of topics from a freethinking perspective. Common themes are separation of church and state, science and religion, dissemination of freethought, and applied philosophy. Regular contributors include well-known scholars in the field of science and philosophy.

Controversy

In 2006, the magazine's published a story about the four cartoons that originally appeared in the Danish newspaper "Jyllands-Posten", which sparked violent worldwide Muslim protests. Kurtz, editor-in-chief of Free Inquiry said, "What is at stake is the precious right of freedom of expression". In 2006, Borders Group refused to carry the April-May issue of Free Inquiry in their Borders and Waldenbooks stores because of the cartoons. The reason given by Borders for their decision was not sensitivity to religion but fear of violence. [ [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/03/29/national/a163611S00.DTL Borders, Waldenbooks Won't Carry Magazine, Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press Writer, March 29, 2006] ]

The story made national and international news and the implications of this self censorship was widely discussed by CBS News, the Washington Post [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/29/AR2006032902219.html Two Chains Reject Magazine With Muhammad Cartoons, Associated Press, March 30, 2006] ] and the New York Times. [ [http://nytimesfaux.com/Borders_Blasts_Back_030331.htm Borders Blasts Back On Controversial Cartoons, AP, March 31, 2006] ] The "blogosphere" widely condemned the decision of Borders to ban the magazine [ cite web
url = http://www.slate.com/id/2139129/
title = Calling 911 on 9/11
accessdate = 2007-12-14
last = Weiss
first = Michael
date = 2006-03-31
publisher = Slate.com] and columnist Christopher Hitchens lamented the action in an article. [cite web
url = http://slate.com/id/2169020/
title = Look Forward to Anger
accessdate = 2007-12-14
last = Hitchens
first = Christopher
authorlink = Christopher Hitchens
date = 2007-06-25
publisher = Slate.com
quote = It's impossible to satisfy "Rage Boy" and his ilk. It's stupid to try.] News of the affair spread as widely as The Times of India. [cite web
url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1470320.cms
title = Magazine with Prophet toons shunned
accessdate = 2007-12-14
date = 2006-03-30
work = The Times of India]

Columnists

Regular columnists include:

References

External links

* [http://www.secularhumanism.org/fi/ "Free Inquiry" website]
* [http://dogmafreeamerica.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=227835# Dogma Free America podcast interview with Tom Flynn, editor of Free Inquiry]