The term "Free-thinker"

[BeHereNow]

I don't like it. I think it's a loaded term, meant to imply that religious people are not free thinkers. Beyond that, I think it's a misnomer. What the heck is a FREE thinker? In order to be a free thinker, you'd have to use no guides at all. Now I don't know about any of you, but my thinking is guided by all sorts of things.

For example, I never pondered upon Greek mythology until I read some of it. I was guided in my thinking. I never pondered calculus until I took a course on it.

For someone to be "free" thinking, they'd have to be free of guides or restrictions. This is pretty much impossible. Therefore, the term "free thinker" is nonsensical.

[Seasanctuary]

It's a stupid, assumptive term. I try not to associate myself with it. As I like to point out, EVERYONE is a freethinker...just ask them!

Interestingly, I believe the term originated to describe Christians who doubted the traditional Trinity doctrine.

...anyway, I'll stick with Atheist/Agnostic/skepticOfChristianity.

[Ramonda]

I don't like it. I think it's a loaded term, meant to imply that religious people are not free thinkers. Beyond that, I think it's a misnomer. What the heck is a FREE thinker? In order to be a free thinker, you'd have to use no guides at all. Now I don't know about any of you, but my thinking is guided by all sorts of things.

For example, I never pondered upon Greek mythology until I read some of it. I was guided in my thinking. I never pondered calculus until I took a course on it.

For someone to be "free" thinking, they'd have to be free of guides or restrictions. This is pretty much impossible. Therefore, the term "free thinker" is nonsensical.

I consider myself a freethinker. Since I am a theist that would contradict most of the usual definitions given of it. I see it similar to thinking out of the box, letting thoughts flow freely without limiting them to right or wrong but rather for examination. It covers all areas of life, not just religion so that would be my only objection. For some they equate it only with god and religion.

[EvoUK]

I can't think of any good term to be honest. Freethinker is defined as being roughly equivilent to atheist, whilst IMO anyone who applies critical analysis to things put before them is a freethinker.

I don't really like atheist either- it defines me using a negative, with regards to a concept that holds no meaning for me. Same with non-theist.

Bright has to be the worst one- but then again, pretty much everyone agrees with me on that. I never understood why so many of the most outspoken and intelligent atheists use the term, when it's so obviously a poor one. Dawkins and Pigliucci come to mind.

Personally, I can't think of a better word to use- despite me not liking the ones in use already. Me being an atheist is no more special to me than me being an afairiest etc...

[nutzo]

I have to be honest, I think that term holds as much to it as when I get called a heretic. In a way a free thinker is kind of a heresy anyway, and I think it is a good thing. the definition I got for heresy is basicly "an Idea or thought that differs from an Idea or thought that is held and accepted" this is the principal behind an "origional thinker. here's another question that this term poses, can the term "free thinker" be referred to as heretic?