Definition of Freethinker

[Hogeye]

"Freethought is a philosophical doctrine that holds that beliefs should be formed on scientific facts and inquiry and not be comprised by authority, tradition or any other dogmatic belief system that restricts logical reasoning." (Wikipedia)

"freethinker - 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." (Webster)


On the Fayetteville Freethinker home page there is a definition of "freethinker":

A freethinker is someone who forms beliefs about religion and the supernatural through conscientious reflection and rational inquiry and not based upon authority or tradition. Freethinking is a method of arriving at conclusions, not a set of beliefs. Most freethinkers are agnostics, atheists, or deists.

This is an overly restrictive definition, incorrectly limiting freethinking to the subjects of religion and the supernatural. I suggest that we use the broader definition, more like the Wikipedia and Webster ones. Or simply drop "about religion and the supernatural" from the definition we have, perhaps adding it as an addendum like the "Most freethinkers are agnostics, atheists, or deists" part.

[Savonarola]

Or simply drop "about religion and the supernatural" from the definition we have, perhaps adding it as an addendum like the "Most freethinkers are agnostics, atheists, or deists" part.

An interesting overall proposal, Hogeye. I find myself not entirely sympathetic but not too opposed either. Here are my thoughts:

I agree that the concept of "freethinking" can apply to realms other than religion. However, I feel that our definition of "freethinker" is acceptable, as the term's connotation usually involves religious (dis)beliefs.

That said, depending on the specific rewording, I probably wouldn't be opposed to minorly altering our website's definition. I would, though, find it appropriate that a phrase similar to that from Webster ("especially in the sphere of religion") be included.

[Doug]

I agree that the concept of "freethinking" can apply to realms other than religion. However, I feel that our definition of "freethinker" is acceptable, as the term's connotation usually involves religious (dis)beliefs.

DOUG
Historically, the term has been understood as applying to the realm of religion.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

I don't see how the Webster's definition differs from the one we're currently using.

[Hogeye]

Barbara, the current definition makes it sound like freethinkers are only concerned with "beliefs about religion and the supernatural." In fact, freethinkers are concerned with myths and dogma of all types. E.g. The guys on "Mythbusters" are freethinkers, but they rarely if ever examine religion or the supernatural. Freethinkers are often concerned with "bunk science" and blind devotion to tradition or any other authority over the mind. In the 19th century there was a close connection between anarchism and freethought, since religion and government both claim such authority.

In 1879, Moses Harman moved to Valley Falls from missouri. An abolitionist and freethinker, he began a freethought journal called the Valley Falls Liberal in August, 1880, and served as the secretary of the local Liberal League in Valley Falls during the early 1880s. At this time the freethought movement included a number of anarchists. The 1891 annual meeting of the Kansas Liberal League in Ottawa, which was denounced by the Topeka State Journal as a "Free Love" gathering, was attended by Voltairine de Cleyre, and its 1894 annual meeting in Topeka demanded that Grover Cleveland "take off your crown, vacate your throne, lay down your sceptre and take yourself away from the sight of human eyes forever." Harman and his paper, from the beginning, were also concerned about many other issues besides freethought. In a prospectus published in 1880, the Liberal, in addition to endorsing the platform of the National Liberal League, pledged to "champion the rights of the poor, laboring man as against monopolists of every class."

Harman changed the paper's name to the Kansas Liberal in 1881, and moved it to Lawrence for six months in 1882, during which time it served as the organ of the Kansas Liberal Union. Because of clashes with his associates there over prohibition (which he opposed) he resumed control of the paper and moved it back to Valley Falls. The paper now began carrying more advertising offering anarchist, sex radical, and freethought books and periodicals for sale. In 1882, Edwin Cox Walker, an iowa freethinker, began writing for the Kansas Liberal, and became assistant editor in 1883. While associated with GH Walser and Liberal University in Liberal, MO, Walker developed a plan for an anarchistic economic arrangement to free them from the "ranks of capital's dependents," which, however, never came to fruition. He also contributed to Liberty, an anarchist journal published in Boston. Walker had an even more libertarian reputation than Harman, having been described by the editor of the Atchison Globe, as "a fellow so intensely liberal that he opposes the law against indecent exposure."

In August, 1883, as Harman became more interested in sex, labor, and property issues, the Liberal evolved into Lucifer, the Light-Bearer, a title described by Benjamin Tucker as "Quite the best name we know of, after Liberty!" As time went on, Lucifer became increasingly anarchistic in outlook, describing itself in 1885 as a 'weekly Anarchist-Freethought Journal." In 1887, the editor of the anarchist Kansas City Sun, writing in Liberty, said that "Liberty attacks the State, the Truth Seeker attacks the Church, the Word attacks Madam Grundy, but Lucifer is not content, in its own way, without attacking all three." - A Look at Kansas Anarchist History

[Guest]

Fine, but I still don't see how it differs from Webster's.

[Hogeye]

There is a difference between only in the sphere of religion and especially in the field of religion. The current FF home page version implies only, whereas the Webster def clearly states especially.

I propose the following:

A freethinker is someone who forms beliefs through conscientious reflection and rational inquiry and not based upon authority or tradition. Freethinking is a method of arriving at conclusions, not a set of beliefs. Traditionally, freethought focused on religion and the supernatural; today it's also concerned with junk science, urban legends, and science education. Most freethinkers are agnostics, atheists, or deists.


Or maybe just the first two sentences of the above.