D.J. Grothe
Encyclopedia
Douglas James "D. J." Grothe (born June 25, 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri
) is an American
writer and public speaker who talks about issues at the nexus of science, critical thinking, secularism
, religion and the paranormal
. He is president of the James Randi Educational Foundation
. Until the end of 2009, he was Vice President and Director of Outreach Programs at the Center for Inquiry
, a "think tank that advances science, reason and secular values in public affairs and at the grassroots." He is contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer
magazine, and lectures throughout North America at colleges and universities. He edited On the Beauty of Science, about the worldview and life's work of Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman. He formerly hosted the nationally popular radio show and podcast Point of Inquiry
which features leading thinkers in the sciences, skepticism and humanism, and now hosts For Good Reason, a similar interview program. He is a former professional magician and "psychic entertainer." D.J. attended the Worldwide Church of God
in the St. Louis areas for a number of years, beginning as a teenager, and later attended Ambassador College
, which was sponsored by the church.
, while he was studying as a graduate student at Washington University. He was involved in a student freethought group there called WULF, the Washington University League of Freethinkers.
, replacing astronomer and Discover Magazine blogger Phil Plait. He assumed the post on January 1, 2010.
He hosted a short-lived radio show and podcast for the foundation called For Good Reason. His guests included James Randi
talking about the importance of the JREF and another episode of Randi coming out of the closet, also Daniel Loxton
on a book about evolution
for children, the social psychologist Carol Tavris
talking about dissonance theory, and Richard Dawkins
talking about Darwin Day
and creation and evolution in public education
.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer and public speaker who talks about issues at the nexus of science, critical thinking, secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
, religion and the paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
. He is president of the James Randi Educational Foundation
James Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled...
. Until the end of 2009, he was Vice President and Director of Outreach Programs at the Center for Inquiry
Center for Inquiry
The Center for Inquiry is a non-profit educational organization with headquarters in the United States whose primary mission is to encourage evidence-based inquiry into paranormal and fringe science claims, alternative medicine and mental health practices, religion, secular ethics, and society...
, a "think tank that advances science, reason and secular values in public affairs and at the grassroots." He is contributing editor of Skeptical Inquirer
Skeptical Inquirer
The Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
magazine, and lectures throughout North America at colleges and universities. He edited On the Beauty of Science, about the worldview and life's work of Nobel Laureate Herbert Hauptman. He formerly hosted the nationally popular radio show and podcast Point of Inquiry
Point of Inquiry
Point of Inquiry is the radio show and podcast of the Center for Inquiry, a think tank promoting science, reason and secular values. Started in 2005, Point of Inquiry has consistently ranked highly among similar podcasts. It has been celebrated for its guests, and for the quality of its interviews....
which features leading thinkers in the sciences, skepticism and humanism, and now hosts For Good Reason, a similar interview program. He is a former professional magician and "psychic entertainer." D.J. attended the Worldwide Church of God
Worldwide Church of God
Grace Communion International , formerly the Worldwide Church of God , is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, United States. Since April 3, 2009, it has used the new name Grace Communion International in the US...
in the St. Louis areas for a number of years, beginning as a teenager, and later attended Ambassador College
Ambassador College
Ambassador College was a four-year, liberal arts college run by the Worldwide Church of God. The college was established in 1947 in Pasadena, California by radio evangelist Herbert W. Armstrong, leader of what was then the Radio Church of God, later renamed the Worldwide Church of God...
, which was sponsored by the church.
The Center for Inquiry
Grothe first became involved in the Center for Inquiry, a rationalist think-tank in Buffalo, New York, through one of its affiliated organizations, the Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular Humanism
The Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
, while he was studying as a graduate student at Washington University. He was involved in a student freethought group there called WULF, the Washington University League of Freethinkers.
Magic
Grothe also lectures about the intersection of magic and skepticism, having been involved with both movements and enterprises for years: he formerly worked as a professional magician who did shows for corporations and other private clients.James Randi Educational Foundation and For Good Reason
On December 7, 2009, Grothe was appointed President of the James Randi Educational FoundationJames Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled...
, replacing astronomer and Discover Magazine blogger Phil Plait. He assumed the post on January 1, 2010.
He hosted a short-lived radio show and podcast for the foundation called For Good Reason. His guests included James Randi
James Randi
James Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
talking about the importance of the JREF and another episode of Randi coming out of the closet, also Daniel Loxton
Daniel Loxton
Daniel Loxton is a Canadian writer, illustrator, and skeptic. He is the Editor of Junior Skeptic magazine, a kids’ science section bound into the Skeptics Society's Skeptic magazine...
on a book about evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
for children, the social psychologist Carol Tavris
Carol Tavris
Carol Anne Tavris is an American social psychologist and author. She received a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Michigan, and has taught psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and the New School for Social Research...
talking about dissonance theory, and Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
talking about Darwin Day
Darwin Day
Darwin Day is a recently instituted celebration intended to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, 1809. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contribution to science and to promote science in general.-History:...
and creation and evolution in public education
Creation and evolution in public education
The status of creation and evolution in public education has been the subject of substantial debate in legal, political, and religious circles...
.
External links
- For Good Reason with D.J. Grothe
- Skeptic’s Million Dollar Challenge To Be More Open and Transparent Says JREF President, D.J. Grothe - Skeptiko with Alex Tsakiris (audio interview)
- A Conversation with D.J. Grothe: Nobody's Fool - by Jeanette Cooperman (magazine interview)
- Critical Thinker Explains Skepticism vs. Cynicism - By Peter M. Nardi (newspaper interview)
- James Randi Educational Foundation