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Published: Friday, 05 February 2010 15:05

Written by Skeptic Society

How the Hungarian Skeptic Society came to life
Skepticism after the political changes in Hungary in the early 1990s seemed to be nonexistent, whereas interest in such things as UFOs, faith healers, miraculous cures and other pseudosciences, superstitions and esoteric ideals was rapidly growing with the newly opened media market. These kinds of beliefs got incorporated into our everyday lives.

Although, a group of academics and science educators with much help from James "The Amaz!ng" Randi, tried to establish an organisation of Hungarian Skeptics overlooked by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Although, this organisation did not take any official form, it was the basis on which the Hungarian skeptical movement could start growing.

A great momentum was gained when in 1995, a Culture Centre in Székesfehérvár, about 70 kms from the capital Budapest, took on the task of organising a gathering for skeptics all over the country. This event has become the most important annual Conference of Hungarian Skeptics, still taking place in the same city, 20 years on.

It was this conferences that brought us, who had an activist approach to skepticism, together and in the second half of 2006, we began to self-organise critically-thinking individuals and small groups who frequently shared their ideas, usually publishing their work on the internet or other channels into a skeptical organisation. On December 15, 2006, with 19 participants, we agreed on the bylaws and the Hungarian Skeptic Society was born. This is the only officially existing skeptical organisation in Hungary to date.

In 2007 our organisation had the privilige to join the European Council of Skeptical Organisations (ECSO), to which Gábor Hraskó, our current president, was elected chairman in 2013.

About Skepticism
"Skepticism" is a term used to mean a theoretical concept and way of thinking that uses logic and scientific evidence as its tenet to understand the world around us, rather than aspiring to authority, customs or dogma which cloud rational thinking. The Hungarian Skeptic Society professes to a naturalist philosophy and world view, and that the scientific method is the best way to discover the world and understand its way of operating. The premise of naturalism is that there exists but one, purely physical world of which we are a part.

The Hungarian Skeptic Society's first and foremost goal is the propagation of rational thinking and the achievements of science, as well as the critique of irrational and pseudo-scientific concepts. Skepticism - as rational doubtfulness - is the cornerstone of the scientific method, and the demonstration of this takes precedence over everything else.

Among our other high-priority tasks is the presentation and explanation of the Theory of Evolution, which is perhaps the most important pillar of the naturalist world view.

Web pages run by the Hungarian Skeptic Society:

Web pages and collections run by members and friends of the Skeptic Society: