Is it impossible to be religious (Christian or otherwise) and be a "freethinker"?

Question

I just saw that in an answer. I consider myself to be both, although you're free to disagree. Opinions?

Or to be religious and "open minded"...

Greg T: I wish you would have read the details dear, then you would have seen that I'm on "your side." But thanks for the Christian love.

James! Where did you come! It's been ages since I've seen you 'round these parts!

...I didn't know it was a chosen title. I thought y'all wanted to be called "brights." Are you going to monopolize all the cool words now?

Unfit: what standards are you going by? I wouldn't necessarily say the Bible is "literally true and infallible."

Unfit: what standards are you going by? I wouldn't necessarily say the Bible is "literally true and infallible."

((((Gorgeous))))

Answer 1

Yes, of course it is. But most religious people do not think, they follow. I admire those that do ponder and come to their own conclusions, even within the framework of religion.

Answer 2

I think the person who wrote that little blurb was a tad confused, (or very stoned.)

Freethinking is a term chosen as an identifying name for atheists.... it's darn near a definition. Can you believe in god and know that gods don't exist all in the same thought? I didn't think so. That's today's version of the meaning of the word "freethinker" and it has been so for more than the last century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethinkers

You all are saying "open mindedness" and equating that with freethinking... It isn't quite the same thing. Open mindedness says that there are possibilities and that the thinking person is willing to accept those possibilities if the evidence supports it.... Have any of you done that in the case of God's being or not being? No...!

Freethinking is not compatible to with god based religiosity. You are using the original concept of the words meaning quite incorrectly and very, very, very loosely.

You give yourselves credit for something that you are unable to be or that you are unwilling to be. This isn't like dealing with god.... where you open his mouth and stuff in what ever you want to hear. Words have specific meaning. Think about that ...freely !

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Truth_GIF.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
.

Answer 3

I think it is possible, but I could not achieve it. I was born into Christianity, turned atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Taoist, and now back to agnostic, retaining some Christian beliefs and incorporating other religious beliefs and philosophies. Within each religion, I could not reconcile my beliefs to fit into the label. Ultimately, I chose to call myself "spiritual but not religious." The problem remains that I am deeply religious, just not to one religion. All religions provide some kind of guide to live life in a moral and righteous manner, in accordance with the rules/limits of that particular religion. I find good in all religions.

Anyways, the problem I had is that if you are religious and have "faith" in your religion, how can you be a freethinker? That is, if you are a freethinker, you must be willing to accept the possibility that your chosen religion is not 100% correct, which would be contradictory to your "faith."

But to answer your question, I believe it is possible to be a freethinker, and freely chose to be a Christian. Yes, absolutely. I'm just saying that personally, I could not find the religious label that would accept the beliefs that I hold.

Answer 4

That was one of the best pleas I've read in a long time and I sympathise with how you feel, even if I'm not gay. However I think it is a mistake to automatically associate hate with being put to death. Would you not put down your old crippled dog and still love him? Even the ArchDevil, Hitler, had them put to death. I would not advocate that and do not agree with the bible's statements on the subject. What I personally dislike is that, considering that there are well over 2 billion people on this planet that are religious and not in favour of 'gays', why you insist in affronting them with what they view as sin, and are always pressing for more tolerance, to the extent of having marriages and so on. So it can be no suprise to you that they react against it, even strongly. Wisdom would say stay in the closet and keep to yourselves. When things get rough, as they are going to over the next few years and beyond, it is well known that populations turn on minorities they dislike to give vent to their fear and anger. As Christ said, Let he who is without sin throw the first stone. I do not throw stones, but others will. Don't be a target seems commonsense and perhaps even wise.

Answer 5

Some religious people see freethinkers as rebellious, and even "of the devil," even people who have religions that mention free will. Christians say that their god created free will, yet their superfluous and ridiculous dogma, along with their strict, uptight, world-hating behaviors, shows the complete opposite. No offense. Just callin' 'em like I see 'em--I was raised Fundamental Baptist, so I am well acquainted
with their actions, beliefs, and attitudes.

I am a Witch now (for over 13 years), and I consider myself to be very freethinking and open-minded. In fact, my freethinking ways is why Christianity was not a good belief system for me. Witchcraft encourages and employs free thought and using your mind, and really isn't for people who aren't freethinking.

Answer 6

I am a Christian and in my faith path, I believe there is no other way to be than freethinking. I look at like this: I'm getting new information everyday. That new info can be pretty challenging and sometimes will re-mold some part of my faith. And that info can come from anywhere or anyone (Christian or not, believer or not).

The movement of the Living God, what some call the Holy Spirit, in my daily life defines my faith. The Bible is a support to this, but not a be all and end all. My church, likewise is a support, and NOT an end in itself.

And yes, it may be possible that someday certain information may come my way that completely redefines my faith path. And I welcome that because its the Spirit's movement!

And so, I'm lead back to my faith-life credo:
"assume nothing"

peace, respects, regards

Answer 7

Not impossible, but hard. It seems that our brains are constructed to want communities and spiritual experiences that are held together by a common culture and language. When we cut across those divisions and *gulp* see that others also seem as good and right as we do we then have to make a choice: allow for the differences and go on seeing things the way we know them to be from where we are or scrap all divisions as a bunch of hoo ha and let our thoughts run wild.

I choose the first for the most part - albeit with the intention of revising my own way of life to account for this experience of seeing other points of view as also containing truth.

Answer 8

Well here's a new concept....Being a Christian is open-minded. People think that once you're a Christian you're closed minded,ignorant to the things in the world. People have had it backwards for so long.
But, in reality being a Christian opens our mind to think freely. Since I have been a Christian I feel I have more wisdom and insight into what is going on around me, and the things that happen in this world than I ever have in the past.
I mean it says in the Bible, in 2 Corinthians 3:17, 'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.'(NIV)

Answer 9

Yes, I believe we can be both. Freethinker doesn't necessarily mean "without Religion". It usually means a person who doesn't hold to one particular school of thought without taking in other ideas and opinions. Extremely devout religious people wouldn't even dream of considering another side to the coin... while a lot of us who have a religion will at least consider it. I think with people changing religions shows that you can have a religion and be a freethinker... otherwise you wouldn't even consider changing religions to begin with.

Answer 10

Many atheists that gives their viewpoint or their opinions sound a lot like other atheists. They are no more freethinking or openminded than anyone else. Everyone learns and takes in thoughts from other people. We all get influenced by those around us. There are no original thoughts out there because everything everyone is now thinking has been thought before.

Being openminded means looking at all sides of an issue and coming to a conclusion based on the ability to really look at all the facts. You can come to a conclusion and still be openminded.
Anyone that calls someone closeminded just because they refuse to accept another persons conclusion can turn around and call that person closeminded, because hey, they arent accepting your conclusion either.

Just because you agree with other peoples positions doesnt mean that you didnt come to that conclusion based on your own thought processes, but we all got the info to base those conclusions off of someone or somewhere.

Answer 11

you can definitely be a freethinker and religious, because religious just means:
1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity
2: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances
3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful b: fervent, zealous

if your ultimate reality is atheistic and you are fervently devoted to that view of reality, it makes you very religious, but not, however, open minded, because you have closed off the possibility of there being a god.

if your ultimate reality is theistic and you are fervently devoted to that view of reality, it makes you very religious, but not, however, open minded, because you have closed off the possibility that there may be no god.

if your ultimate reality is either or neither, but you your fervent devotion is to the acknowledgement of your choice of perception based on the given moment( i.e. celebrating hanaka, halloween, sitting in lotus position and say your prayers facing the mecca, then voting green party) you might be thoroughly confused, but that goes with being open minded.

Most people are probably in that last category because few actually get into their religion deep enough to see how exclusive it is, that it condemns actions, foods, and even certain sects of people that they associate with on a daily basis at work and play. Those people who take their faith seriously might find it quite difficult to reconcile their rigid systems with all aspects of reality( society, diet, race, other religions.. ) because of scripture like

Jhn 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

if you take that literally, it means your mind is closed to a lot of other possibilities.