Traditionally a freethinker would be considered a rationalist who is an atheist or agnostic. However, I personally disagree with this definition. While I do believe most freethinkers consider themselves atheist or agnostic, I believe saying a freethinker can ONLY be atheist or agnostic is a contradiction to the term "freethinker". Someone who thinks freely cannot be limited in their thinking, and therefore must be free to believe in god on their own terms if they so choose. Personally, I do not have a belief in a supernatural being of any kind, however, I can appreciate there may be personal benefit, at least psychologically, of allowing yourself to be inspired by something larger than ourselves. Would be great to read your points of view on this topic!
2007-12-30 10:33:59 · 16 answers · asked by Nature is the ultimate force 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I like the way you freely think. :)
I guess I would fall into the category of Christian free-thinker. I am a non-fundamentalist, politically liberal Christian. You kinda have to be able to think outside of the "blind faith" box to acknowledge yourself as a Christian, but recognize fundamentalism for what it is -- a man made diversion of true Christianity, and a perversion of Jesus's message of all-inclusive love into a message of judgmentalism that serves a certain political agenda much more than it serves God.
A point of view I have is that I'm not a believer in God because I receive inspiration for my personal benefit. I'm a believer in God because it is my experience that God is reality and reality is God. So rather than believing from an inspirational standpoint, I believe in God because that is my experience of what is true.
2007-12-30 10:36:59 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
I believe in God but I do not go to church. I get really disappointed when I do go. I'm not disappointed with God, I get disappointed with people who go to church. Now, there are some great wonderful people who go to church and are really good people of faith. Then you have the control freaks and the ones who get all crazy and the ones who make up their own relegion and the ones who get fantical and totally lose it and really get off track of what God is saying. Then you have the people in church who gossip really bad about others in the Chruch. Then you have the people who not only micro-manage the church but also want to micro-manage your life also. Jesus did not come to save the sinless he came to save the sinners. I believe going to church is a great and wonderful thing to do and to be apart of. I'm still searching for a church to become a part of. But, you have to be careful some people are into religion for the money, some families start churches and dictate how things are run. Some churches you can't go to because of black/white issues. The one thing my dad always told me was to read your bible. Don't let someone tell you that the bible says something if you know it's not in there. Many people in relegion get sucked up in circumstances because they don't read their bible and just believe whatever someone tells them. Am I a free thinker or just a person looking for the right church.
2007-12-30 10:54:29 · answer #2 · answered by crash 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm polytheistic, and I do consider myself to be a freethinker... I don't shut myself up in my own religion- I'm open to other influences and ideas, and I often study things that are foreign to me (ie currently I'm studying the Tao Te Ching). Being a freethinker doesn't mean you can't have beliefs and opinions.
2007-12-30 10:50:45 · answer #3 · answered by xx. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You make a good case for the gift of free will.God put it on your shoulders to find the righteous narrow path leading to life ever lasting life, or going off on the wide road into distruction.Adam and Eve were free thinking, and they knew who the real God was, and they made their choice.They merely had to be repentant and Tell God what happened and be sorry, for help.The Bible says that man is not capabal of leading his own steps, and most of the free thinking in the Bible was not sucessful for the free willed persons who didnt act in harmony with God.
2007-12-30 10:52:16 · answer #4 · answered by oatesmokid 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are so many "free-thinkers" on this site that the words have lost their meaning.
By the way, I am not agnostic or atheist. I am a deist.
2007-12-30 10:40:32 · answer #5 · answered by harshmistressmoon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I Try to Think The Way JESUS Thinks.
I Guess I Would be a Free Thinker.
(I like to call it "Operating in Reality")
I Have REALITY not a religion.
I AM Free.
Thanky Jesus!
Lot of Good GOD Spiritual Stuff
(Answers to Questions)
in my Answers and Questions
(and maybe, if You Think So, some funny BS too!!!)
Go Ahead and Look! I Ain't Scared!
2007-12-30 10:43:57 · answer #6 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Mark Twain believed in God; he was definitely a free-thinker. Read some of his lesser-known works like the Letters from the Earth, the Diary of Adam & Eve, etc. He maid lots of attacks on the accurateness of the Bible, many of them with quite humerous comments.
2007-12-30 10:38:04 · answer #7 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
And just who decided that atheists and agnostics are free thinkers? No doubt it was atheists and agnostics.
This makes it seem as though everyone else is not and can not be a free thinker. Which is what they want it to seem like.
Btw, Just who decides what a free thinker is? Again, atheists and agnostics, no doubt.
Also ,btw, most atheists are also evolutionists who have stopped questioning that theory. Doesn't sound like free thinking to me.
2007-12-30 10:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Well - around here they call me a heretic....but I certainly like "free-thinker" better. LOL I question everything and don't go along with beliefs just because "its what we've always believed/been taught....(in terms of Christianity)
2007-12-30 10:39:34 · answer #9 · answered by lisawood2004 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I asked an identical question approximately an hour in the past. it style of feels that some atheists discover if proper to belittle and push aside somebody who has faith. in case you have faith you're "delusional." of direction, many Christians do an analogous factor. in case you lack faith, you're "denying God" and "going to Hell." If atheists/Christians incredibly desire to have an result on people who disagree with them, they are going to discover plenty greater achievement in the event that they proportion their critiques with expertise and appreciate. of direction, perchance a number of them seek for to in easy terms vent their anger and frustration. it is effective, yet they should not be so shocked whilst they merely get carry of anger in return. peace
2016-10-02 22:12:15 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋