Critical thinking is certainly not synonymous with freethinking, but they are not diametrically opposed either, however, both A) critical thinking and theism and B) freethinking and theism ARE diametrically opposed.
You are suggesting everyone try harder to think critically, I could not agree more, and the easiest way to do that is to abandon faith in irrational theistic beliefs.
But then we've already had extensive discussions on that, and I can only say, joehardysr, think!
Freethinkers- Being criticizer for your comments isn't being persecuted as much as being taught and corrected. Most of the objections in this thread are self-contradictory or unsupported by any logical inference. Ex.- "anyone who wishes to be able to draw rational conclusions about reality must adhere to the principle of parsimony"
- now was this conclusion reach by the Principle of Parsimony?
That begs the questions. Freethinkers should organize their ignorance to build up to Truth.
There is no 'in particular' to it; that's a complete fabrication on your part. 'Freethinkers' equally reject all religions on the same grounds. Christianity happens to be one subset of that set and thus it qualifies; though, one notes that Christians do love playing that persecution card lying all the while about being singled out.
A freethinker is one who forms opinions on the basis of reason independently of authority. There is no reason a freethinker can't accept or reject any religion for their own reasons. Assuming that a freethinker rejects all religions is the opposite of freethinking. You are confusing freethinking with atheism, they aren't the same.
@sarabellumm 'freethinker' is largely a euphemism used by atheists to announce they're atheists without having to say their atheists because of a fear that the religious might choose to exact some judgment on them. I am not confusing anything with anything; rather, I understand why the term is used and what it means for most people who use the label.
It's impossible to believe in the supernatural and be a critical thinker though. Hypotheses about reality are always underdetermined by evidence(Any given evidence can be explained by an infinity of hypotheses), anyone who wishes to be able to draw rational conclusions about reality must adhere to the principle of parsimony. This approach implies naturalism, because it will always be impossible to tell supernatural hypotheses from each other. You can not conclude anything about their quality.
I always thought the label freethinker was redundant. You don't really find it in significant use anywhere but in the US, and it is essentially synonymous with atheist there and seems to be a tool people use to avoid persecution by Christians more than a word that has actual content of its own.
Critical thinking is certainly not synonymous with freethinking, but they are not diametrically opposed either, however, both A) critical thinking and theism and B) freethinking and theism ARE diametrically opposed.
You are suggesting everyone try harder to think critically, I could not agree more, and the easiest way to do that is to abandon faith in irrational theistic beliefs.
But then we've already had extensive discussions on that, and I can only say, joehardysr, think!
TheTexanCanadian 2 days ago
This is why those who do not acknowledge their world view are more bound to it's tenets than those who embrace their world views.
donotresussitate 4 weeks ago
Nice
StrehDawg 4 weeks ago
ladies and gentlemen: this is the prime example of someone, whose ancestors were the victims of colonization without explanation.
AntonTheSpot 1 month ago
I would ask, "are you a religious man?"
AntonTheSpot 1 month ago
Congratulations, you've defined a label and then criticized it given that definition.
owheydusoapsk 2 months ago
Freethinkers- Being criticizer for your comments isn't being persecuted as much as being taught and corrected. Most of the objections in this thread are self-contradictory or unsupported by any logical inference. Ex.- "anyone who wishes to be able to draw rational conclusions about reality must adhere to the principle of parsimony"
- now was this conclusion reach by the Principle of Parsimony?
That begs the questions. Freethinkers should organize their ignorance to build up to Truth.
imermiguel 2 months ago
Summary:
"Freethinkers say a bunch of stuff they don't really say."
DarkEmergence 2 months ago
@DarkEmergence Spot on.
XheraPhine 2 months ago
Nice video, good points made.
jfrontier1 2 months ago
There is no 'in particular' to it; that's a complete fabrication on your part. 'Freethinkers' equally reject all religions on the same grounds. Christianity happens to be one subset of that set and thus it qualifies; though, one notes that Christians do love playing that persecution card lying all the while about being singled out.
integralmath 2 months ago
@integralmath
A freethinker is one who forms opinions on the basis of reason independently of authority. There is no reason a freethinker can't accept or reject any religion for their own reasons. Assuming that a freethinker rejects all religions is the opposite of freethinking. You are confusing freethinking with atheism, they aren't the same.
sarabellumm 2 months ago
@sarabellumm 'freethinker' is largely a euphemism used by atheists to announce they're atheists without having to say their atheists because of a fear that the religious might choose to exact some judgment on them. I am not confusing anything with anything; rather, I understand why the term is used and what it means for most people who use the label.
integralmath 2 months ago
first.
Mee551able 2 months ago
It's impossible to believe in the supernatural and be a critical thinker though. Hypotheses about reality are always underdetermined by evidence(Any given evidence can be explained by an infinity of hypotheses), anyone who wishes to be able to draw rational conclusions about reality must adhere to the principle of parsimony. This approach implies naturalism, because it will always be impossible to tell supernatural hypotheses from each other. You can not conclude anything about their quality.
Gnomefro 2 months ago
I always thought the label freethinker was redundant. You don't really find it in significant use anywhere but in the US, and it is essentially synonymous with atheist there and seems to be a tool people use to avoid persecution by Christians more than a word that has actual content of its own.
Gnomefro 2 months ago
I actually agree with you to some extent on this one Joe.
OpenAirAtheist 2 months ago
Are you an atheist joe?
time2learnnow 2 months ago