Café Inquiry (ONLINE) – Fear of a Round Planet

 This event is held online. (Click the button to join the Zoom meeting.)

Join us ONLINE for a Special Guest Presentation by Glenn Branch!

When Charles K. Johnson, the president of the International Flat Earth Research Society, died in 2001, he seemed at the time to be the last apostle of his unusual creed. Twenty-four years on, however, the flat earth is alive and well, especially, but not exclusively, on the internet. In his talk, Glenn Branch of the National Center for Science Education will sketch the history of the flat-earth movement, from its source in the ancient Near East through its coalescence in Victorian Britain to its modern rebirth on the Internet, and discuss current scholarly research on the prevalence, causes, and consequences of modern flat-earthery.

Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of the National Center for Science Education, a nonprofit organization that defends the integrity of American science education against ideological interference. He is the author of numerous articles on evolution education and climate education, and the co-editor, with Eugenie C. Scott, of Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design is Wrong for Our Schools (2006). He received the Evolution Education Award for 2020 from the National Association of Biology Teachers. He studies the flat-earth movement avocationally.

Café Inquiry starts with a short introduction of the day’s topic, followed by casual discussion.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations appreciated, but not expected.

Attendees are able to future propose topics which would align with Michigan Humanist’s purpose: from atheism, agnosticism, humanism, secularism, and freethinking to broader subjects in science and humanities, such as religion, philosophy, social issues, politics, evolution, morality, ethics, and psychology.

Café Inquiry (Grand Rapids) meets each month IN PERSON on the second Sunday and ONLINE on the fourth Sunday.

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Michigan Humanists values the participation of all guests — requests for reasonable accommodation may be made by contacting the event host at least three days prior to the event.

Michigan Humanists expects all guests to engage in respectful discussion. Critiques on views and claims based on merit are allowed, but not attacks on individuals who hold other perspectives.

Any person engaging in disruptive behavior or harassment will be asked to leave, and may be banned from future events pending the severity of the action. Please speak to the event host or contact info@michiganhumanists.org if you feel these expectations are being violated.