I am tired of having the same conversation on two links. I am going only to respons to the post from Aaron under Thinking freely about Freethought. Argue with me there.
stemcell On Oct 29, 2:17 pm, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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)-Hidequoted > > > > 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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