The Freethinker (journal)
Encyclopedia
The Freethinker is a British secular humanist
magazine
, founded by G.W. Foote
in 1881. It is the world's oldest surviving freethought
publication.
It has always taken an unapologetically atheist
, anti-religious stance. In Issue 1 (May, 1881), Foote set out The Freethinker's purpose:
Although closely linked with the National Secular Society
for most of its history (NSS Presidents and General Secretaries have at various times also served as Freethinker editor), The Freethinker is strictly autonomous and is not, and never has been, published by the NSS.
In 2006, the magazine's front-page masthead was changed from "Secular humanist monthly" to "The Voice of Atheism
since 1881".
Barry Duke
is the current editor.
1882 edition of The Freethinker, Foote was prosecuted for blasphemy
, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Secular humanism
Secular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, founded by G.W. Foote
George William Foote
George William Foote was a British secularist and journal editor.He was born in Plymouth, England and brought up in the Anglican tradition...
in 1881. It is the world's oldest surviving freethought
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
publication.
It has always taken an unapologetically atheist
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, anti-religious stance. In Issue 1 (May, 1881), Foote set out The Freethinker's purpose:
Although closely linked with the National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
for most of its history (NSS Presidents and General Secretaries have at various times also served as Freethinker editor), The Freethinker is strictly autonomous and is not, and never has been, published by the NSS.
In 2006, the magazine's front-page masthead was changed from "Secular humanist monthly" to "The Voice of Atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
since 1881".
Barry Duke
Barry Duke
Barry Duke is a journalist, atheist, gay rights activist and currently the editor of The Freethinker.-Life and career:...
is the current editor.
History
Following the publication of anti-religious cartoons in the ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
1882 edition of The Freethinker, Foote was prosecuted for blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour.
List of Freethinker editors
Here is a list of editors of The Freethinker from 1881:- George William FooteGeorge William FooteGeorge William Foote was a British secularist and journal editor.He was born in Plymouth, England and brought up in the Anglican tradition...
, 1881–1915 (Edward AvelingEdward AvelingEdward Bibbins Aveling was a prominent English biology instructor and popular spokesman for Darwinian evolution and atheism. He later met and moved in with Eleanor Marx, the youngest daughter of Karl Marx and became a socialist activist...
edited the paper during Foote's imprisonment, 1883) - Chapman CohenChapman CohenChapman Cohen was a leading English atheist and secularist writer and lecturer.-Life:...
, 1915–1951 - Frank Ridley, 1951–1954
- A Committee consisting of F. A. Hornibrook, Bayard Simmons, G. H. Taylor 1954–1957?
- Colin McCall replaced Simmons in 1957 and became sole editor until December 1965
- David TribeDavid TribeDavid Harold Tribe is a leading secularist and humanist. He was born in Sydney, Australia, but he lived in the United Kingdom for a long time....
, January 1966 – July 1966 - Kit Mouat, August 1966 – January 1967
- David Collis, January – November 1967
- Karl Hyde, November 1967 – August 1968
- David Reynolds, September 1968 – July 1970
- William McIlroyWilliam McIlroyWilliam J. McIlroy is a British secularist and atheist activist, writer and editor.He was for many years editor of The Freethinker and General Secretary of the National Secular Society...
, 1970 – December 1971 - Nigel Sinnott, January 1972 – November 1973
- Christopher Morey, November 1973 – December 1974
- William McIlroyWilliam McIlroyWilliam J. McIlroy is a British secularist and atheist activist, writer and editor.He was for many years editor of The Freethinker and General Secretary of the National Secular Society...
, 1975–1976 - Jim HerrickJim HerrickJim Herrick is a British Humanist and secularist. He studied history and English literature at Trinity College, Cambridge University, and then worked as a school teacher for seven years...
, January 1977 – 1981 - William McIlroyWilliam McIlroyWilliam J. McIlroy is a British secularist and atheist activist, writer and editor.He was for many years editor of The Freethinker and General Secretary of the National Secular Society...
, 1981–1993 - Peter BreareyPeter BreareyPeter Leslie Brearey was a British secularist, socialist and journalist.He was born in Dewsbury. Although his family background was Methodist, Brearey rejected religion as a teenager. He was a member of the Young Communist League and subsequently the Communist Party of Great Britain...
, 1993–1998 - Barry DukeBarry DukeBarry Duke is a journalist, atheist, gay rights activist and currently the editor of The Freethinker.-Life and career:...
, 1998–Present
See also
- Skeptical InquirerSkeptical InquirerThe Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
- Skeptic (U.S. magazine)Skeptic (U.S. magazine)Skeptic is a quarterly science education and science advocacy magazine published internationally by The Skeptics Society, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs...
- The Skeptic (UK magazine)The Skeptic (UK magazine)The Skeptic is a British magazine and is billed as "the UK’s longest running and foremost sceptical magazine, which examines science, scepticism, secularism, critical thinking and claims of the paranormal."-History, format and structure:...
- SkepticismSkepticismSkepticism has many definitions, but generally refers to any questioning attitude towards knowledge, facts, or opinions/beliefs stated as facts, or doubt regarding claims that are taken for granted elsewhere...
- Scientific skepticismScientific skepticismScientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
- Critical thinkingCritical thinkingCritical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
- FreethoughtFreethoughtFreethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
- PseudosciencePseudosciencePseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
- The Skeptic's Dictionary
- Snopes.com
- The Straight Dope
- FactCheckFactCheckFactCheck.org is a non-partisan, nonprofit website that describes itself as a consumer advocate' for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics." It is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University...