Clog. said >>>Do I take that to mean that some people that we mutually know can think freely about sport or politics but not about religion? If we assume, and Aaron and I both do, that Freethought is a process, then you propose that we have the abiltiy to turn on and off this process.>>>
Yes/No to your first question. It is vague. If you mean by "religion" all religions generally for one then sometimes yes. If you mean by "religion" specifically their brand of religion and their god then no. They have ended the "process" of thinking freely. As for the ability to turn it off or not I believe it is the attention you pay to the subject. Either it is conscious or not...the issue. Other times one might consider it and just avoid the conclusions (avoidance of "pain like CB said). But does that mean one is not using freethought? Maybe it is the use of freethought up to and until one makes a closed minded decision/conclusion. Is it freethought for conclude that there is no possibility of A god(s)? On that point I would say no. Reason being that one has already reached that conclusion. Just like the reverse. I do not see how it is possible...in that issue. But there are more issues in life besides god(s). Your second question...I have to go with yes. How we do that is another matter. Since you said that you "assume...freethought is a process" I will ask what Taylor pointed out to me. If someone started out as a YEC then was in transition to arriving at non belief in HIS god, would that be considered "freethought"? If not, then why? CB said >>> though I would guess that some people overall are less likely to think logically of anything and hide their heads in the sand.... <<<< She is more clear than I. THis is human...I think. On Oct 29, 1:39 pm, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi y'all - I'm interested in your claim that we can be "freethinkers > in some areas of life." Do I take that to mean that some people that > we mutually know can think freely about sport or politics but not > about religion? If we assume, and Aaron and I both do, that > Freethought is a process, then you propose that we have the abiltiy to > turn on and off this process. That means we have partial or part time > freethinkers. Personally, I can't go along with that. I've talked to > many christians who seem like freethinkers until we get onto the > subject of religion. I don't think they are turning off their > freethought process, I think they just haven't got it, and my > assumption that they are freethinkers when discussing politics etc. is > erroneous. > > On Oct 29, 12:04 pm, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > I agree with the point made about coming to a conclusion based on > > evidence (and/or lack of such). In some sense we are all closed > > minded...on certain topics. However, "Freethought" in Memphis > > Freethought Alliance (MFA) is not just about "Freethought" on god(s). > > For instance, there are things like certain evolutionary processes and > > adaptations, quantum mechanics, neurosciences, etc. where freethought > > is a good thing. It is a process...free to think in various areas. > > MFA is not just composed of atheist who are certain there is no > > god...or however you want to define that term. I deny the holy > > spirit. How's that for closed minded? It is not a bad thing. Sagan > > said that one should not be so open minded that your brains fall out. > > Good advice. But that implies that there are areas in which haveing a > > closed mind on certain things is a good thing. We are all > > freethinkers in some areas of life...no matter who you are. Just some > > of us go one god further. :-) > > > stemcell > > > On Oct 29, 10:02 am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > Though I call myself a freethinker I may no longer actually be a > > > freethinker. I have been so completely atheist for so long that if I > > > were presented > > > with conclusive evidence of the existence of a god I would not likely > > > accept it. > > > I would find it to be more likely that someone had dropped LSD in my > > > beer > > > or that I had developed a severe brain chemical imbalance or something. > > > That > > > would be far more likely than proof of a supernatural god. I think > > > Aaron is > > > a freethinker because he seems open to new evidence. I think I have > > > become > > > about as closed minded as the xians. I clearly was a freethinker and I > > > did > > > arrive at my conclusions as a freethinker but now that they are > > > conclusions I > > > don't know that I can truly call myself a freethinker. What do you all > > > think? > > > > J. > > > **************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's > > > Hot > > > 5 Travel Deals! > > > (http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav00000001)-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. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
