Why can't atheists be called freethinkers? I mean we don't call animals that are not elephants non-elephants!

Question

Whats with all the different categories, humanist, secular humanist etc?

Answer 1

Anything that's not an elephant is technically a non-elephant if you think about it...

Answer 2

Atheist simply identifies what you do NOT believe in. But there are many philosophical directions that one can go in that are compatible with atheism and they can be contradictory.

For example, you can be a Marxist and support a communist economic system, or you can be an Objectivist who follow the philosophy of Ayn Rand and supports laissez-faire capitalism.

A modern humanist is a particular type of secular nontheistic philosophy that supports "human solutions to human problems" and often promotes altrustic ethics (although many like myself promote a balance of altrustic and rational self-interest views). Objectivism does not believe in "altruism" and upholds the virtue of rational self-interest. A secular humanist is one who follows the humanist philosophy and sees no need for rituals, ceremonies, or alternatives to church structures. A religious humanist follows the same philosophy but has a need for rituals, etc. A LaVeyan Satanist basically follows a simplified form of Objectivism, with a dash of Nietzsche, and has a need for rituals and ceremonies with dark imagery.

An atheist can be a freethinker but so can an agnostic or even a nondogmatic theist in rare cases. It is a much broader category.

freethinker - One who has rejected authority and dogma, especially in religious thinking, in favor of rational inquiry and speculation.

Answer 3

it's true that we don't call animals that are not elephants non-elephants, but because they are of a different composition, we call them by their specific species, just like non-christians are called whatever denomination they believe in (i.e. muslim, jew, etc.), however, if something is not an animal, in the context of animals, they would be called non-animals. Therefore, someone that doesn't believe in a God, in the context of religion, are called atheist, a meaning "not" and theist meaning a believer of God(s). It would also explain the meaning of monotheists and polytheists, who believe in only one God, and many Gods respectively. "Freethinkers" would not be in the context of whether or not you believe in a God, and most people who call other people atheists are usually emphasizing the religious aspect.

As for humanism, secular humanism refers to humanism without regard to religion, whereas simply humanism also entails a rejection of the supernatural.

Answer 4

1. Some atheists are just as restricted in thought as the religious, so you couldn't call them FREEthinkers.

2. Atheist simply means 'not theist' or 'not believing in god(s)' - its a more descriptive term than freethinker or non-believer. You can call all religious people 'theists' as well.

Answer 5

Atheism pertains to a very specific belief that there is no god. People can be many other things, as well. It's not the same as being simply "non-christian" or "non-Jew", as you have insinuated with your elephant example. It sounds like you feel that there is a negative connotation associated with atheism. Everyone does not feel this. Agnostic may be more appropriate for many people.

Answer 6

Because we're called atheists. Freethinkers would be the same thing just with a different word.

Plus I could care less what I'm called.

Answer 7

Because theists can still be freethinkers, that is why. Only one word describes someone who does not believe in God. Athiests are athiests. And if you think about it, animals may not be called "non-elephants," but they ARE all catergorized and labeled. Why would it be any different with atheists?

Answer 8

an atheist is someone who disbelieves in God or any supreme being. a "freethinker" is not classified under that term. there's always going to be categories, no matter what type of thing you are part of.

Answer 9

I agree, it’s just a label for people who don’t believe in god, which is rare enough in our society to deserve a label of it’s own. In a perfect world, it would be the religious that are rare and Atheists wouldn’t have or need a label because it would be the norm.

Answer 10

Atheists ARE freethinkers. Agnostics are freer. Let people say what they got to say. Most humans are dumber than the dumbest pig.
:)

Answer 11

I think atheist is a useful term. Not all atheists are freethinkers, humanists, etc. But we all have one thing in common, and it makes sense in my mind to define it negatively.