You keep talking about someone who is exercising faith. Lowder isn't. Why shouldn't a person who arives at his belief (whatever it is) through the appropriate exercise of critical thinking and logic be considered a freethinker?
On Oct 28, 5:10 pm, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi y'all - yes I've read it. In the first paragraph he poses the > question "Can a theist be a freethinker?" He answers "Yes," but I > answer "No" for my given reasons. Reading Swinburne doesn't change a > person's faith. In the second paragraph he lists the CFA definition of > freethought which I agree with. As stated, I agree with him that not > all atheists are freethinkers. Where's the conflict? > > On Oct 28, 4:50 pm, Aaron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Clog, are you sure you read the same essay? I don't see a connection > > between what you wrote and anything Lowder proposed. Why shouldn't > > the the theist described in the essay be considered a freethinker? > > > On Oct 28, 4:07 pm, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi y'all - sorry, my replies tend to be as brief as I can make them, > > > and I thought I'd been clear. > > > I disagree with the premise that a theist, (truly religious) can be a > > > Freethinker in the definition given, which I agree with. The true > > > believer's life is based on Faith without evidence. Faith requires no > > > thought - merely parrot fashion repetition ad infinitum. If one is > > > going to base a substantial part of one's life on Faith, then I submit > > > that Freethinking is omitted as not only redundant, but positively > > > discouraged by Faith. > > > > On Oct 28, 3:21 pm, Aaron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > I thought he gave a good example of how a theist could be a > > > > freethinker. Surely it deserves more in the way of a rebuttal than "I > > > > disagree." Why do you disagree? > > > > > On Oct 28, 10:55 am, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Hi y'all - I think Crotchbow is appealing. I don't agree with the > > > > > article posted by Aaron. The CFA definition is fine with me. Of > > > > > course, if we accept a theist as being a true believer and not just > > > > > someone who attends church for social reasons etc. then they are not > > > > > practicing freethought as their faith is illogical (Mr. Spock episode > > > > > 284 11/2/84.) I do agree with the article in respect to all atheists > > > > > not being freethinkers - some are just too lazy to think. > > > > > Nevertheless, I feel that Freethinker is a good umbrella term, and as > > > > > pointed out, is unrestrictive versus confining. > > > > > > On Oct 27, 3:37 pm, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > I think Crotchblow has a point. In the early days we went through > > > > > > this. But before I go any further, I would like to ask Aaron what > > > > > > prompted you to post that link? Are you considering that it would > > > > > > be > > > > > > an idea to consider changing the name of MFA? It is the name. It > > > > > > is > > > > > > inclusive. It is inviting (I think). Why should MFA change the > > > > > > name > > > > > > just to bow down to certain groups who feel it is offensive. I am > > > > > > getting to far along in thought so I'll just wait till I hear your > > > > > > response to those previous questions. > > > > > > > :-) > > > > > > > stemcell > > > > > > > On Oct 27, 1:47 pm, CrossBow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > This is about ownership of a definition as an organization. WE > > > > > > > can > > > > > > > either show ownership and give this word a bent in respect to the > > > > > > > organizations mission, or we can leave it as an open-ended > > > > > > > question, > > > > > > > thereby allowing any existing and future members to give it thier > > > > > > > own > > > > > > > personal meaning without holding them captive to it. > > > > > > > > Well and so, if you have a concrete mission you should have a > > > > > > > concrete > > > > > > > bent to brand the whole to be easily identified...Replace the > > > > > > > organizational name with any other representation wording and > > > > > > > what do > > > > > > > you get? Memphis Freethough Alliance...Memphis Secular Alliance? > > > > > > > Memphis Skeptic Alliance? Who is your target member? > > > > > > > > FREE - unrestricted vs. captive? > > > > > > > THINKING - not something encouraged by any diety or theism I know > > > > > > > of.... > > > > > > > > It works for my framework and perceptions limited though they are. > > > > > > > > On Oct 27, 12:50 pm, Aaron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > It was probably a mistake for me to post the first paragraph of > > > > > > > > Lowder's essay or to offer a summary. It's too easy (and > > > > > > > > perfectly > > > > > > > > natural) for people to respond to my blurb rather than to the > > > > > > > > essay > > > > > > > > itself. I'm always happy to hear what my fellow freethinkers > > > > > > > > think, > > > > > > > > but I am especially interested in your review of the specific > > > > > > > > ideas > > > > > > > > expressed in the essay and how they might impact MFA. > > > > > > > > >http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/features/2000/lowder1.html > > > > > > > > > Aaron- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. 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