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Freethinking sounds liberating and sophisticated. It is the practice of thinking independently of “authority or tradition.” Dictionary.com defines a “freethinker” as “a person who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independent of authority or tradition, especially a person whose religious opinions differ from established belief.”
By definition, a freethinker should make up one’s own mind independently of “authority and tradition” by utilizing reason. I believe that freethinking, however, has sadly become a cultural ideology that keeps people from a rational consideration of discovering genuine freedom in Christian faith.
There are variations in the nuancing of freethinking even among liberal thinkers. Some stress the concept of individualism whereby each person has the right to pursue their own flourishing, independent of collective and societal impositions. Nevertheless the principle of freethinking continues to stress thinking that will consider almost anything except theism. This authoritative presupposition restricts freethinking and in cultural thought the presupposition has become a non-negotiable. Thus freethinking is not truly unfettered.
Christopher Hitchens was a prime example of a “cultural freethinker” who promoted freethinking as the opposition to faith. In The Portable Atheist, he introduced the anthology by noting that, “It is often unconsciously assumed that religious faith is somehow conservative and that atheism or ‘freethinking’ are a part of the liberal tradition.”[1] His choice of essays for nonbelievers fueled this cultural divide by encouraging people to read literature that was strictly skewed toward skepticism. As Hitchens said, “It is in the hope of strengthening and arming the resistance to the faith-based, and to faith itself, that this anthology of combat with humanity’s oldest enemy is respectfully offered.”[2] In other words, freethinking is still worth nurturing because the “faith-based” continue to require “resistance.”
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
By definition, a freethinker should make up one’s own mind independently of “authority and tradition” by utilizing reason. I believe that freethinking, however, has sadly become a cultural ideology that keeps people from a rational consideration of discovering genuine freedom in Christian faith.
There are variations in the nuancing of freethinking even among liberal thinkers. Some stress the concept of individualism whereby each person has the right to pursue their own flourishing, independent of collective and societal impositions. Nevertheless the principle of freethinking continues to stress thinking that will consider almost anything except theism. This authoritative presupposition restricts freethinking and in cultural thought the presupposition has become a non-negotiable. Thus freethinking is not truly unfettered.
Christopher Hitchens was a prime example of a “cultural freethinker” who promoted freethinking as the opposition to faith. In The Portable Atheist, he introduced the anthology by noting that, “It is often unconsciously assumed that religious faith is somehow conservative and that atheism or ‘freethinking’ are a part of the liberal tradition.”[1] His choice of essays for nonbelievers fueled this cultural divide by encouraging people to read literature that was strictly skewed toward skepticism. As Hitchens said, “It is in the hope of strengthening and arming the resistance to the faith-based, and to faith itself, that this anthology of combat with humanity’s oldest enemy is respectfully offered.”[2] In other words, freethinking is still worth nurturing because the “faith-based” continue to require “resistance.”
Continued below.
'Freethinking' vs. faith: Which one brings true freedom?
The principle of freethinking continues to stress thinking that will consider almost anything except theism
www.christianpost.com
