site pages free·think·erDictionary.com –noun
a person who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independent of authority or tradition, esp. a person whose religious opinions differ from established belief. free·think·er n. One who has rejected authority and dogma, especially in religious thinking, in favor of rational inquiry and speculation. Freethinker n. One who speculates or forms opinions independently of the authority of others; esp., in the sphere or religion, one who forms opinions independently of the authority of revelation or of the church; an unbeliever;-- a term assumed by deists and skeptics in the eighteenth century. Atheist is an old-fashioned word: I'm a freethinker, child. --Addison. Syn: Infidel; skeptic; unbeliever.
| We are a small group centered in Bozeman, Montana, meeting once a month for conversation with like minded people. We all have compelling interest in the separation of church and state, inalienable rights, and equality under the constitution. If you are interested in such a group, we suggest you browse the web pages of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, http://www.ffrf.org , and contact our group at mailto: lazybow@yahoo.com. The following has been excerpted from a speech at the Freedom From Religion Foundation's 12th annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia, October 7, 1989 by Delos McKown. Delos has been Head of the Philosophy department at Auburn University (Alabama) since 1979. A former clergyperson, he has written extensively in philosophical and rationalist journals, and has been a Foundation member since 1982. I remember a day in the late '70s when three hulking youths, built on the football lineman model, entered my office. "We're from the Campus Crusade for Christ," one said. "How interesting!" I replied, showing keen enthusiasm but not giving them a chance to get started. "Why, just a couple of weeks ago there was a delegation here from the Brotherhood of Buddhist Bricklayers, and then last week some folks came by from the Cartel of Confucian Carpenters." By the time I got to the Junta of Hindu Hammersmiths, one began to grin, thus giving up the jig, and as I began to tell them about forthcoming visits from the Syndicate of Sikh Salmon Seiners, they wheeled and departed from my office, and I hadn't even gotten around to the Junta of Jewish Gymnasts or the Menage of Moslem Morticians. |
