Why do Atheists and Agnostics consider themselves "free thinkers"?

Question

I know its probably been asked before. I'm just curious. Usually a free thinker is a person who is open to all possibilities- including God. So if someone says they dont believe, they are a free thinker- how indeed, can that be? Because they aren't open to things they can't really see. But I guess thats where the faith part comes in. But it seems atheists put more faith in the world and themselves, which is a scary thought.

Id like to also add that many people I have met who are Atheists or Agnostics are more closed minded in general. As a Christian, I listen to many beliefs. And I dont condescend.

Answer 1

A scary thought indeed, yes.

The truth is, prejudiced people of any sort do not consider themselves prejudiced because, of course, they are automatically right.

I am a Christian, and I admit it freely. But I came to a point in my life (in about the 80's) when it occured to me to wonder, "What if what I've always believed isn't right? What if it's all made up? What if I'm wrong?"

So I looked closer. I looked at evidence (like all that evidence that atheists keep saying isn't there about Christianity, and all the evidence that atheists keep saying but not proving is there for evolution). I looked at historical evidence. I looked at scientific evidence. I looked at Mathmatical evidence. It was overwhelmingly for the Christians.

That seemed a bit one-sided, so I looked again. And it kept coming back to the same conclusion. But I also realized that without giving God Himself a fair chance, and trying to honestly get to know Him, why should He ever communicate with such a searcher?

Interesting.

And you're quite right about atheists putting more faith in "the world" and in themselves than in reality.

Barjesse37

Answer 2

One of the reasons I became agnostic was the perception that there were some ideas I simply could not consider because they violated my understanding of the world as a believer. I could not see the limitations faith put on me. It took a long time to take those blinders off and see what I was missing of the big picture..

Certainly there are agnostics, atheists and believers who are very closed-minded. But there are others who can tolerate more than one explanation of the world. This doesn't mean they can't have an opinion of their own, they are just willing to understand how other people think. That's what "free thinking" means to me.

Answer 3

all wrong. an agnostic is someone who says: ok THERE IS NO WAY possible to prove there is a god AND U CANT PROVE there aint. they live without god, but they dont take a stance against the existense. but to answer ur question, yes those of us who do call ourselves "free thinkers" really are free thinkers(think outside of the box, openminded, THINK FREELY NOT BASED ON OTHER PEOPLES THOUGHTS) or dumba$$es who think they are smart and their beliefs are right. (and arent free thinkers but believe what the rest of the atheists/agnostics etc are saying)

Answer 4

In my opinion free thinker means someone who thinks for themselves. I form my opinions by observing the world and finding out what others think, then making my own decisions. I don't base my life on a single book or upon what a pastor tells me. I don't believe something just because someone else tells me it is a good idea. I try to consider all points of view before I make up my mind.
To me, that is free thinking.

Answer 5

okay, first of all you don't know what an Agnostic is and I find it offensive that you pretend to do!

An agnostic is someone who doesn't pretend to believe that there is or isn't a God. They just simply claim that they don't know and move on with their lives.

They don't really believe in a god, but they allow the possibility that there might be one.

'but it seems atheists put more faith in the world and themselves, which is a scary thought'. Right, because believing in yourself, is SO scary, and wrong, you forgot wrong.

So, before you ask a question attacking people you better be damn sure you know all the facts.

Answer 6

My definition of a free-thinker is a little different than yours. To me, a free-thinker think for them self, and doesn't just follow whatever this person or that person tells them. a free-thinker doesn't believe something just because it is the most popular belief, but because it is what they feel.

Answer 7

Agnostics a free thinkers. There maybe a God, but I see no proof.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

based on how you phrase your question, it seems to me that it would be rather snooty for someone that has decided that there is no creation of life, and that he must disavow CHRIST (mind you, it is christians they dislike because fundamentalist christians do try to shove their beliefs down everyone's throats), only because he believes in scientific randomness and evolution and not the bible, is not a free thinker, but a closed minded thinker.

it's okay with me if atheists and agnostics (who just do not know how to believe, or what they believe when it comes to religion) wish to think they are intellectually superior to christians. they say that christians (mind you, not jews, not muslims, not hindus, but christians) follow g-d without proof that there is g-d. well, that is their belief, it's okay with me. it's a free country.

atheists deny g-d because they feel that science explains everything, but it doesn't: there are many, many mysteries created whenever we learn something new about universe (notice i don't call it "the" universe).

g-d doesn't have to conform to any sect's partcular set of beliefs, and g-d does not have to be the one that is put forth in the bible, but fundamental christians differ with me. that's okay.

yet, i agree with you that if one submits that he is a free thinker and fair, that he should not disdain christians. there is room for christians too. also, nobody should have arrogance in their religious beliefs: just because someone believes that the bible shows g-d revealed in christ doesn't mean that this person is 100% correct. nor are atheists, agnostics, hindus, pagans, jews, etc., 100% correct. someone with a free mind should be willing to calmly explain why he feels the way he does, with no arrogance, with no superiority.

i don't agree that atheists put their faith in the world, i think that they put faith (or belief) in randomness. neither do i think they are scarry. but i do agree that one that claims himself a free thinker should be able to look at religion from all sides, and argue his point--against it.

what is the world, anyways? the world is a magical place, filled with the wonder of life. but life abounds all over space too: stars are born and stars die, and in between, sometimes, solar systems revolve around them, and just maybe, planets totally different from earth exist with life abounding on them too. why is that? well, we just don't know. but it sure is wondrous to me, and actually, that makes me feel humble.

what does scare me are the hateful sects of islamics (i do not hate islamics) that hate one another and cause one another terrible pain and harm. and it scares me too that because those maddened "religious" (no, they are not religious, they are political, they want power) members of one sect will kill a member of another sect, but mostly, they will kill us, because we are in their sickened and hating minds "the infidel."

Answer 10

a free thinker is still a free thinker if he has rejected some of the more unlikely possibilities, like invisible pink unicorns or bipolar sky daddies.