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Freethought is a characteristic of individuals whose opinions are formed on the basis of an understanding and rejection of tradition, authority or established belief. This definition is especially applicable to thought based on rejection of religious dogma.Freethinkers tend to form opinions primarily using facts and reason. The term may describe viewpoints independent of established or dogmatic political, social or intellectual views. It most often also describes one who is skeptical about orthodox religious dogma. In Western society, it usually refers to one who questions or refuses to accept Christian dogma.
Many freethinkers believe that the weight of evidence for any claims of supernaturalism are insufficient. No freethinkers accept religious dogma as providing either an acceptable explanation for the origin of the universe or a realistic basis for how properly to live in it. The term derives its meaning from the freedom to question any and all assertions.
There are strong ties between freethought and atheism, deism, universismUniversism (prounounced "universe-ism") is a religious philosophy which aims to unite freethinkers, whether they use the term atheist, agnostic, deist, transcendentalist, pantheist, scientific materialist or other to describe their beliefs. Universism pos, hereticHeresy according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a "theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the ‘catholic’ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, skepticismSkepticism ( Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism can mean: Philosophical skepticism a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever ( scepticism), and both humanismHumanism is a neologism that defines a socio-political doctrine (" -ism") whose bounds exceed those of locally developed cultures, to include all of humanity and all issues common to human beings. Because doctrines of cultural distinction and exclusivity and secular humanismSecular humanism is a branch of humanism grounded in secularism, which attempts to avoid the dogmatic aspects of traditional religious cultures. Secular humanists may be atheists who reject all supernaturalism, or simply anti-dogmatists who see existing l, but none of these terms are synonymous with one another. Freethought may be defined differently by different people. For example, deists believe in the existence of a first causeFirst Cause is a phrase used alternately to refer to the Cosmological argument for the existence of God, or as an alternate noun for God itself among individuals uncomfortable with the historical and religious meanings associated with the term. Using "Fir through rational argument, rather than authority, tradition, or scripture. Atheist freethinkers however disagree logic or evidence leads to the possibility of a first cause. Some atheist freethinkers hold that freethought is best considered as a religion itself since it offers alternative analyses of and conclusions about religious questions which simply happen not to include supernaturalism. Universism is a movement which seeks to resolve these disagreements by uniting open-minded individuals around the rational process rather than the conclusion.
A related movement is that of the " Brights", a term coined in 2003 by Paul Geisert to refer to people who hold a naturalistic worldview, free of supernatural and mystical elements.
