Quote said to me on Zoom: 'You are a freethinker'

Carmarthen, Wales, The University
of Wales, Trinity Saint David, photo

Quote said to me: 'You are a freethinker'

Preface

A good Christian friend of mine, that is a teacher and intellectual, stated to me: 'You are a freethinker'.

This was said to me in the context of contrasting my views with that of the politically correct in British Columbia and Canada.

I think I understood his point, although my thoughts when he stated 'freethinker' were the definition of one that rejects religious dogma for supposedly 'free' thinking apart from religion. 

A Definition

Neither my Cambridge nor Oxford philosophy dictionaries provide a definition for 'freethinker', but I found an accurate definition from a different Oxford source. 

THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY (1995) ‘Freethinker’, Della Thompson (ed.), Oxford, Clarendon Press. 

'freethinker' (539)

'a person who rejects dogma or authority, esp. in religious belief.' Listed as a noun. (539). 'freethinking' is listed as a noun and adjective. (539).

Intellectual considerations

I do not reject Christian dogma, I hold to Christian, biblical dogma within the Reformed tradition and present and review other dogma and philosophies from other worldviews. I do not reject authority. I attempt to reasonably submit to relevant authority, especially, governments (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2). I attempt to submit to my church leadership (1 Timothy 3, Titus). I attempt to submit to what is reasonable and true within academic disciplines, including academic disciplines for which I have expertise, and within academic disciplines where I do not have expertise. I attempt to submit to practical truth and common sense.

I do believe in reasoning out, by God's guidance, premises, leading to a proposition/conclusion within an argument, and whether or not an argument is sound, with all correct premises. If an argument is not sound, how true or false are particular premises? If just a proposition is provided, how true or false is it?

It appears my initial reasoning on the definition of 'freethinker' was correct. I am not stating that my learned friend was incorrect with his definition. His definition is broader. I am definitely not a 'freethinker' as is commonly defined, today.

In an unorthodox sense, as my intellectual conclusions and worldview will not agree with some politically correct thought, I am a freethinker, I suppose. I also would be a non-conformist, but not anti-establishment in regards to significant cultural, political and religious thought. 

A second person is accused of being my Dad

Sesame Street

A second person is accused of being my Dad

June 13, 2020

Paraphrased

On the phone:

Bobby Buff: Hey, I saw you and your Dad today walking into your building (my condominium complex, my add).

Me: No, that was Zombie.

Bobby Buff: The other man was slightly taller.

(Charles Nelson Chuckles and Zombie were visiting; Charles Nelson Chuckles mocks Bobby Buff with a muscle pose as his head goes red)

Me: (Thinking: I am obviously taller than my Dad)

(Thinking: Zombie is two years younger than me. At least Charles Nelson Chuckles is two years older than me)

Me: No, that was Zombie, what do I look twelve years old or something?

Saturday, February 09, 2019: Is that your Dad!? (Uncle Chuck) 

Recently, I had mentioned to the Strata President and his wife that my Dad might be moving into the condominium in a few months, for awhile...

The renovations (flooring, furniture, appliance) are completed, but my academic books and the annoying photocopy binders are a major task in themselves.

Uncle Chuck and I were in the garage taking out recycling and trash...

Paraphrased:

Strata President: (To me, looking at Chuckles) Is that your Dad!?

Me: No that is Chuckles, my friend Howard, you have met him before, he is helping me move.
Uncle Chuckles!

Strata President: Uncle Chucko?

Strata President Wife: You are Russ's Dad!?
---

The Rage: Chuck needs a dome!

Me: Well,'The Rage' told you, Mr. Hooper...

Quotes: We don't return evil with evil/There are different types of socialism

Quotes: We don't return evil with evil/There are different types of socialism

We don't return evil with evil

Thank you to Mr. Vern Haskell for sending me this link. I think Mr. Burgess Owens is an intellectual, with many reasonable and good insights. I agree with Mr. Owens (paraphrased) that the murder of George Floyd was morally wrong.

Quoting Mr. Owens in regards to the murder of George Floyd:

'There is no doubt about it, it was brutality, it was evil,  but what we don't do, is we don't return evil with evil. We have rule of law in this country.'

I can grant as Mr. Owens states that there exists in western colleges and universities, a very significant Marxist-Socialist ideology taught via professors. Radical Marxists and Socialists are seeking to overthrow western democracy, I reason. (Radical rightists as well, but with less of a voice in western institutions, it seems to me). 

However, I am a moderate conservative, theologically and politically. I am not a liberal or a socialist. My 'bread and butter' of support for my online websites is those that are moderate conservatives and moderate liberals. Intellectual, thinking types that are not radicals. I certainly understand that not all that identify as liberal or even identify as socialist are radical Marxist-Socialists that would support a revolution and overhaul of western democracy. Quite simply, I need to be fair and objective in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:25-32 King James Version (KJV) 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

There are different types of socialism

When I was a child and my parents were in the Amway business, one of the American, Diamond Direct Distributors and a considerable intellectual and conservative (that was a Christian missionary, last time we had contact), named Hank Gilewicz told me (paraphrased):'There are different types of socialism'. In other words, there are various, radical and moderate forms of socialism.  

I am a Provincial Conservative Party voter, but for example, our socialist NDP (New Democratic Party) Premier in British Columbia is a continual example of a moderate, rational, reasonable, leader, even when I disagree with his views. Again, I vote Conservative, but as a Christian scholar, I need to objectively evaluate political views and approaches accurately.

Many politicians, including social-democrats, and also some conservatives, attach themselves to politically correct positions for the sake of popularity and votes. I would reason that often, there are more of these liberal politicians, as opposed to the minority, with radical left-leaning political ideologies. (Our Prime Minister comes to mind as a liberal (Liberal Party) that embraces the politically correct)

I appreciate Mr. Owens' comments on the issues of 'Defund the Police' and White privilege'. In my mind, 'white privilege' is too presumptive of a term. There is significant diversity of privilege, prosperity and related between 'white people' in the west. 

Chuck, well-done with the Manson reference

The Fraser River: Recently

Facebook: June 11, 2020

Facebook: The postmillenial.com

Facebook: June 11, 2020. I apologize for the cited swearing, but it is relevant for context.
Please click for a larger view.

Sad but true. The linked article below has the most pageviews of any of my posts, from either Blogger website, since I began my online research and writing, website work in 2004.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014: Manson Marriage?

My statement