What is a freethinker?
Freethinkers are, quite simply, individuals who use logic and reason to critically question what they experience. They are the people that ask “why” when given a command and face the world with remnants of a child’s curiosity laced with an adult’s skepticism.
Freethought does not specifically exclude a spirituality or religious belief, although many freethinkers often live a secular lifestyle, as the unquestioning acceptance of dogmatic tradition is the antithesis of a freed mind.
Freethinking is also not a throwback to anarchy or an anti-establishment attitude. It is important, patriotic even, to question authority. Questioning does not mean “rebelling,” but rather ensuring that those that would ask or command provide rational reasoning for doing so, and holding them accountable for blatant abuses of power.
For more information about Freethinking and Freethought Movements:
- According to Wikipedia
- According to the Freedom from Religion Foundation
- “Is Freethinker Synonymous with Nontheist?“
- What is a Freethinker and why does it matter?