FREE ESSAY ON FREE YOUR INNER THINKER

FREE YOUR INNER THINKER

Free Your Inner Thinker
Organized religions are laden with the debris of archaic, superstitious images.
Everywhere people go they are submerged in biblical ignorance, religious illiteracy and
historical stupidity (Edelen, "The 10 Commandments"). People are surrounded by cultic
codes and images at every turn. This must stop! One organization that is taking a stand
is called The Freedom From Religion Foundation. It is most commonly referred to as free
thought.
A freethinker is a person who forms opinions and beliefs on the basis of reason,
independent of tradition, authority, or established belief (Barker). Freethinkers love to
learn new ideas and are not satisfied with what is already known. Thus, all members must
be free from the conformity of a bible, creed, or messiah. They must be allowed to think
for themselves, rather than blindly follow tradition or "cosmic absolutes." 
Freethinkers believe the truth and choose not to follow the lies and superstitions that
are, inevitably, part of religion. Common mythological themes are saturated through out
the bible, from the creation and flood myth to virgin birth and hero resurrection
(Edelen, "The Sin"). Unlike conventional religions, Freethinkers' beliefs are based on
reality and reason. As defined in Nontract #11, "What is a Freethinker," "Reality is
limited to that which is directly perceivable though our natural senses or indirectly
ascertained through the proper use of reason" (Barker). 
For an idea or belief to be considered true it must be testable, falsifiable,
parsimonious, and logical. Every belief a freethinker has must have evidence or
experiments to confirm it; all attempts to disprove it must repeatedly fail, require
little to 
no assumptions, and be free from contradictions and character attacks (Barker).
Freethinkers use the thinking part of there brain to understand the universe. 
Many people who don't understand free thought think that freethinkers lack morals. The
morality of a freethinker can be summed up in one word, kindness. Morality is not a bunch
of dos and don'ts but, instead, is based on human needs (Barker). Freethinkers try to be
good and fair to everyone. They believe that all human beings should live in peace no
matter what their race, sex, religion, what they think, who they love, or where they come
from. They do their best to protect the earth and all its creatures. Religion promotes
dangerous and inadequate "morality" based on blind obedience, rather than a careful use
of reason to weigh the possible outcomes when faced with a moral dilemma (Barker). 
The most common philoshical question pondered is whether there is a meaning of life.
Freethinkers know that the meaning of life must originate in the mind. Since the universe
is mindless and the cosmos do not care, if you wish to have a purpose, YOU must care
(Barker). Not all freethinkers believe in a meaning of life, as with all beliefs,
individuals are free to accept or discard it. Where as many freethinker choose to believe
there is no divine plan, most freethinkers find meaning in life. They find meaning in
human compassion, social progress, the beauty of humanity, personal happiness, pleasure,
joy, love, and the advancement of knowledge (Barker). 
Unlike convention religions, free thought requires an explanation rather than a designer
to explain the complexity of life. One such explanation is Darwin's theory of evolution
along with natural selection. Freethinkers do not believe in a divine designer 
because the complexity of such a creature would be subject to the same scrutiny itself
(Barker). 
Freethinkers also believe that religion is not only useless but also harmful.
Historically, religion has always produced violence (Edelen "Religion"). From Moses to
the Crusades, Henry VIII, Salem, Hitler, Kosovo. Edelen writes, "it is the countries with
out religion that are the least violent" ("Religion"). He also stated in the same article
that, "America is the most 'religious' of all industrialized nations, and yet is the most
violent nation in the world." Many of the world's most gruesome leaders believed they
were performing god's work. Hitler himself wrote, "I am completely convinced that I am
acting as the agent of god. I am now a Catholic and will always remain so," in Mein Kampf
(qtd in Edelen, "Religion"). 
Freethinkers do not believe that all religious people are harmful or violent. Many
religious people are good people and perform many good deeds, but they would be good
anyway. Being a good person has nothing to do with your relationship with god but rather
personal feelings toward yourself, others, and the world in general. According to Barker,
people free from religion have made most modern social and moral progress.
Free thought is reasonable and allows you to do your own thinking. Ideas and beliefs are
indivually tested and, in turn, adopted or discarded. There should be no pride in
maintaining ancient superstitions. Leslie Weatherhead, Seniour Minister of City Temple of
London, wrote, "not for much longer will the world put up with the lies, distortions, and
superstitions about Jesus and the Bible" (qtd by Edelen, "The Sin"). 
Bibliography
Barker, Dan. Nontract #11 What is a Freethinker? Internet Infidels, 1993. 26 May 2000. 
Edelen, William. "Religion is the Cause if Violence (1999)." Internet Infidels. 1999. 26
May 2000. 
---. "The Sin of Silence (1999)." Internet Infidels, 1999. 26 May 2000. 
---. "The Ten Commandments (2000)." Internet Infidels, 2000. 26 May 2000. 
---. "Where was God? (1999)." Internet Infidels, 1999. 26 May 2000.