Topic: "Athiests are called free-thinkers for a reason" (Read 1931 times)

Zagzagel · « **on:** October 05, 2005, 03:26:07 PM »

Quote

"Atheists are called "freethinkers" for a reason - they are free to think whatever they want."

I won't bother to say who made this statement, but I want to talk about it. Is that a TRUE statement?

Anthony Horvath · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2005, 06:27:31 PM »

Obviously its not. They appear not to be free to consider the supernatural, being bound only to consider naturalistic explanations.

Zagzagel · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2005, 06:53:16 PM »

It seems that christians are put in a box. But when "christians" attempt to get outside of that box, then they become everything not in the box.

To me, the athiests so far are comfortable in their OWN BOX...a box of their own creating...and yet they want us to fit in their box...of thier making. I posit that CHRISTIANS or more FREE thinking than the athiests who love to claim this.

Hee, hee. (can't wait to see how they try to expand on their BOX..err..free thinking

)

Zagzagel · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2005, 10:37:24 PM »

Okay. I actually didn't expect any response from those who claim to be "free thinkers". Case closed.

TheAtheistHeratic · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2005, 02:55:13 PM »

Silly christians thinking you have to be an atheist to be a free thinker, how funny. Check out http://www.campusfreethought.org to learn more.

Zagzagel · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:58:03 PM »

Your not paying attention, Anti. And therefore, there was no need for me to go to that link...besides..I have been on many differents forums already. What is it do you think that I am specifically challenging

Zagzagel · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2005, 10:36:29 PM »

Oh yeah..by the way, I have been on that site too..so what. Whats your point.

Ragnar · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2005, 05:04:30 AM »

I just saw a great interview with Kurt Vonnegut, famous author, freethinker, and humanist. He said Jesus was a great human being that said some things that people should listen to, it doesn't matter whether he was the son of god or not. You don't have to believe he was divine to get the message.

That's part of what it means to be a freethinker. A freethinker considers all possibilities.

TheAtheistHeratic · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2005, 03:19:56 PM »

How about that geegee? It is a website for freethinkers. The point I am trying to make though is that you don't need to be an atheis to be a freethinker.

And some of my favorite emoticans: :D :)

:di: :ba: :pirate: :M2HB: :mrt:

:navy :salute:

:smt116

:smt109

oh what the heck I like them all.

Copernicus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2005, 03:17:28 PM »

Quote from: geegee

Quote
"Atheists are called "freethinkers" for a reason - they are free to think whatever they want."

I won't bother to say who made this statement, but I want to talk about it. Is that a TRUE statement?

A freethinker is a person who bases conclusions on something other than socially-approved sources. Atheists are freethinkers in the sense that they disregard the Bible (or scripture in general) as a basis for belief in gods. In a larger sense, I think that we all consider ourselves to be "freethinkers", and we probably all are with respect to SOME issues. I would certainly call sntjohnny a freethinker, even though I find myself in agreement with very little of what he thinks. :) It is reasonable to question whether any "freethinker" is really free from prejudice.

Zagzagel · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2005, 04:26:00 PM »

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That's part of what it means to be a freethinker. A freethinker considers all possibilities.

This was Ragnar's comment. Ragnar, do you consider ALL possibilities? Would you consider some of Stats or Heretics or Anti's or snt.johnny's comments (or others on this site) as freethinkers? You have defined it as "considers all possibilities"?

Quote

It is reasonable to question whether any "freethinker" is really free from prejudice.

This was Cop's comment. Maybe you are getting the point? Maybe not?

The Sasquatch · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2005, 12:01:26 AM »

Ragnar said:
I just saw a great interview with Kurt Vonnegut, famous author, freethinker, and humanist. He said Jesus was a great human being that said some things that people should listen to, it doesn't matter whether he was the son of god or not. You don't have to believe he was divine to get the message. That's part of what it means to be a freethinker. A freethinker considers all possibilities.
I love reading Vonnegut, too. Every time somebody makes a dumb joke, I say

Ragnar · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2005, 12:23:36 AM »

I considered the possibility of the supernatural for most of my life. Since I found no evidence for it, I concluded that it is highly unlikely. Until such time as something supernatural actually happens, this will remain my position.

I'd also like to add that I never thought of myself as a freethinker, because I've found that some of them can be, well, flaky, quite frankly. I usually have more in common with freethinkers than Christians, but I consider myself first and foremost an Objectivist (see half a dozen other threads for more about this). Many freethinkers do believe in the supernatural. Some believe in the supernatural but do not believe in God. A freethinker is not necessarily an atheist. They could be a deist. They might even be theistic, although probably not Christian.

I think the point of being a freethinker is not that you are free to believe in any old thing, but as Johnny has said about himself (although I don't believe him

), you are free to believe in whatever the evidence leads you to. Meaning you don't follow dogma, but rely instead on your own senses and intelligence.

The Sasquatch · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2005, 12:45:33 AM »

I considered the possibility of the supernatural for most of my life. Since I found no evidence for it, I concluded that it is highly unlikely. Until such time as something supernatural actually happens, this will remain my position.
What type of evidence would you consider?

I usually have more in common with freethinkers than Christians
Christians can

Ragnar · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2005, 01:01:29 AM »

What type of evidence would you consider?

What have you got? :)

What reasons do you have for concluding that Christians are probably not freethinkers?

Most Christians follow dogma. Notice words such as "probably" and "most" and "usually" in what I say. There are exceptions.

Meaning you don't follow dogma, but rely instead on your own senses and intelligence.
Exactly. And when I say that a lot of atheists disregard supernatural for being supernatural, I am saying that they rely upon a non-religious dogma rather than actual thought.

I disagree. I think most atheists were raised with religion, and reject it only after a lifetime of personal reflection and deep thought. This is also why I get annoyed when people say that atheists don't know what Christians really believe. The fact is, most atheists were Christian, so we do know what Christians believe. You can base your reasons for belief on what I guess is logic, as Johnny just did in his new thread about evolution, although I think it is faulty logic, or you can base it on faith, but the fact is there is no evidence for the supernatural.

The Sasquatch · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2005, 02:13:12 PM »

What have you got? :)
I asked you first :D

Most Christians follow dogma. Notice words such as "probably" and "most" and "usually" in what I say. There are exceptions.
I noticed it. Thank you for saying that. All too often people like to say that all Christians think a particular way. It

TheAtheistHeratic · « **Reply #16 on:** October 17, 2005, 03:12:47 PM »

I don't believe any christian can be a freethinker because their limit is God and Jesus.

Zagzagel · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2005, 07:18:36 PM »

Quote

I don't believe any christian can be a freethinker because their limit is God and Jesus.

Anti, when you say "any", then I conclude that you mean "all". This shows your ignorance. Please note the enclosures of each group. The "athiests" have built a box for themselves...the "christians" do not want to be included in that box....thus FREEING themselves to think beyond. Coooooool, I think. :D

Ragnar · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2005, 01:16:44 PM »

What kind of evidence will you accept?

I've answered this in multiple places. If God were to sit down next to me on a park bench and say, "I'm God, I want to talk to you," I'd hear whoever it was out.

Until God does this, I will not believe in him.

Harry_is_always_right · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:31:56 PM »

I think this argument always just seems inherently ignorant as to the nature of god to a lot of theists. But i don't think it actually is that ridiculous, simply because an omnipotent god could do this if they willed it. Make clear their existence in an unmistakable way. And why would a none-decieving, omnibenevolent God want us to be at all unclear as to their existence?

Informed decisions are the best kind.

Author Topic: "Athiests are called free-thinkers for a reason" (Read 1931 times)