Freethought Society

 U of I

Mission Statement

We endeavor to further the acceptance and application of science and reason in all areas of human experience, and to create a campus community for all freethinkers alike. To defend individual freedoms for all people, regardless of ethnicity, physical ability, gender identity, sexuality, and/or worldview. To promote inquiry and thought unrestrained by dogma, revelation, authoritarianism, or tradition.

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"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand and hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change. . . institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." 

~Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816

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• What is Humanism? *

Humanism is an ethical philosophy that some Freethinkers have adopted that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all humanity. It is focuses on rationality, autonomy, compassion, and embraces the scientific method as the way to learn and adapt to our surroundings. Humanists understand that in order to achieve a positive goal it is necessary to actively work toward it instead of passively wishing for a change to happen.  There are some forms of Humanism that work toward a humane future while maintaining their religious and cultural heritage. Humanism

• What is an Atheism? *

Atheism is characterized by an absence of belief in the existence of gods. This absence of belief generally comes about either through deliberate choice, or from an inherent inability to believe religious teachings which seem literally incredible. It is not a lack of belief born out of simple ignorance of religious teachings. Some atheists go beyond a mere absence of belief in gods: they actively believe that particular gods, or all gods, do not exist. Just lacking belief in gods is often referred to as the "weak atheist" position; whereas believing that gods do not or cannot exist is known as "strong atheism".  Atheist

• What is an Agnostism? *

The term 'agnosticism' was coined by Professor T. H. Huxley at a meeting of the Metaphysical Society. He defined an agnostic as someone who disclaimed both "strong" atheism and theism, and who believed that the question of whether a higher power existed was unsolved and insoluble. Another way of putting it is that an agnostic is someone who believes that we do not know for sure whether a god exists or not. Some agnostics believe that we can never know. Agnostic

• What's with the Pansy?

The pansy is the long-established and enduring symbol of freethought; its usage inaugurated in the literature of the American Secular Union in the late 1800s. The reasoning behind the pansy being the symbol of freethought lies in both the flower's name and appearance. The pansy derives its name from the French word pensée, which means "thought"; it was so named because the flower resembles a human face. Pansy- Symbolism
  

  * These are only loose descriptions since each person who has reached any of these conclusions is an individual and defines the terms for themselves. Furthermore there are other terms that people may use in addition to or in exchange of these.