If you try going to Luneta every Sunday night, chances are you’re going to see or even have the chance to participate with some debates that are commonly held on its grounds and with it you will be surprise to encounter someone who claim to be a freethinker.
The term freethinker and free thought is not a very common word heard from the Philippine grassroots since the word freethinker first appeared in 1713. In Rizal’s correspondence with Fr. Pablo Pastells for example, he didn’t use nor say that he was a freethinker yet Joseph McCabe included Dr. Jose Rizal in his list of past freethinkers.
Typically speaking, Philippine grassroots is connected with the problem of poverty. We seem to think that an impoverished person is more concern with basic needs – food, shelter, and clothing. He is more worry about redeeming himself from his economic failures and some quick relief to satisfy his hungry stomach than to buy book or spend his time and money doing research, reading in a library or surfing the Internet. Some even say that free thought are only for the privilege few.
But remember, a poor man still thinks. In every thinking man, the seed of free thought slumbers and every time he began to use reason within him or try practically and scientifically solve his problem, the seed of free thought starts to germinate in his mind.
Sadly this seed may not grow for it lacks the needed physical and mental nourishment. But that doesn’t mean a poor person cannot become a freethinker.
Baruch Spinoza was a poor man. He is just a lens grinder. But that doesn’t prevent him to write “Ethics”. Poverty didn’t prevent him to see the world in its fullness.
The common person can also think…So what’s the use of it? What is the practical use of free thought for the common man?
In the light of such question I always refer to the Greek philosopher Thales. Here’s a man who dare to think about the world without first thinking of the supernatural, the mystical and of course God. In the time of need, instead of praying or consulting an oracle, Thales studied the beneficial effect of renting an olive press earlier than the other patrons. Naturally, he earned more money because of it.
A common freethinker face his problems base on objective realities and free from religious superstitions and dogmas. Objective verifications is use to separate truth from church dogmas. In relation with the Philippine experience, a freethinker knows how to plan his family and is not influenced by church beliefs – disguised as “God given morality”.
Practical freethinkers’ greatest obstacle is poverty. The lack of resources stunts his growth; the lack of finances makes him indifferent. But the similarities from other destitute end there. Most Philippine urban poor for example have already surrendered their fate to divine hands. “Bahala Na” became a common expression of people living in the gutters. The poor folks are made to believe that they will inherit Earth and rich people will enter heaven like a camel entering the eye of a needle. But a practical freethinker sees poverty not as a virtue or a sacrifice to become favorable in the eyes of God. He looks at it as a social problem and if not properly addressed, it may even become the problem of future generations. A practical freethinker looks at his poor life neither as a curse nor a punishment. He sees his predicament cheerfully, which was according to Epicurus, an honorable state. He looks at poverty not as a punishment from neither past sins nor a test of faith. He looks at it as a result of indolence. Solutions from poverty are not divine blessing but results from careful planning and hard work. Thinking result tangible solutions so instead of being idle waiting for divine intervention, freethinkers will solve their problem…ala Jack Bauer…in real time.
So when free thought did entered the common Filipino? Did it start with Rizal? Did it started when Damian Sotto reprimanded the church in his radio program back in the sixties? Did it started at Plaza Miranda or when a small book store opened in a small place in Doroteo Jose St. in Sta. Cruz, Manila and started selling progressive books for the masses?
Did it begin with a group of debaters in Luneta or a group of rich folks in Makati or a group of yuppies from the Internet?
I don’t think it started that way. Every common Filipino is capable of free thought if he will only try.
Practical freethinking is not an advocacy and it is certainly not a call for any kind of revolution. Practical freethinking is a challenge. It is a challenge for the common man of any society to use an alternative in finding solutions. An alternative that focus on real life, not an after life - an alternative that uses objective, practical and scientific reasoning not prayers or mantras – an alternative that offers goal-oriented solutions not supernatural promises of salvations from holy ghosts, saints, amulets and holy books – an alternative which offers rationality not rationalizations from different scriptural interpretations.
It is a challenge for you and me to start thinking right.
The term freethinker and free thought is not a very common word heard from the Philippine grassroots since the word freethinker first appeared in 1713. In Rizal’s correspondence with Fr. Pablo Pastells for example, he didn’t use nor say that he was a freethinker yet Joseph McCabe included Dr. Jose Rizal in his list of past freethinkers.
Typically speaking, Philippine grassroots is connected with the problem of poverty. We seem to think that an impoverished person is more concern with basic needs – food, shelter, and clothing. He is more worry about redeeming himself from his economic failures and some quick relief to satisfy his hungry stomach than to buy book or spend his time and money doing research, reading in a library or surfing the Internet. Some even say that free thought are only for the privilege few.
But remember, a poor man still thinks. In every thinking man, the seed of free thought slumbers and every time he began to use reason within him or try practically and scientifically solve his problem, the seed of free thought starts to germinate in his mind.
Sadly this seed may not grow for it lacks the needed physical and mental nourishment. But that doesn’t mean a poor person cannot become a freethinker.
Baruch Spinoza was a poor man. He is just a lens grinder. But that doesn’t prevent him to write “Ethics”. Poverty didn’t prevent him to see the world in its fullness.
The common person can also think…So what’s the use of it? What is the practical use of free thought for the common man?
In the light of such question I always refer to the Greek philosopher Thales. Here’s a man who dare to think about the world without first thinking of the supernatural, the mystical and of course God. In the time of need, instead of praying or consulting an oracle, Thales studied the beneficial effect of renting an olive press earlier than the other patrons. Naturally, he earned more money because of it.
A common freethinker face his problems base on objective realities and free from religious superstitions and dogmas. Objective verifications is use to separate truth from church dogmas. In relation with the Philippine experience, a freethinker knows how to plan his family and is not influenced by church beliefs – disguised as “God given morality”.
Practical freethinkers’ greatest obstacle is poverty. The lack of resources stunts his growth; the lack of finances makes him indifferent. But the similarities from other destitute end there. Most Philippine urban poor for example have already surrendered their fate to divine hands. “Bahala Na” became a common expression of people living in the gutters. The poor folks are made to believe that they will inherit Earth and rich people will enter heaven like a camel entering the eye of a needle. But a practical freethinker sees poverty not as a virtue or a sacrifice to become favorable in the eyes of God. He looks at it as a social problem and if not properly addressed, it may even become the problem of future generations. A practical freethinker looks at his poor life neither as a curse nor a punishment. He sees his predicament cheerfully, which was according to Epicurus, an honorable state. He looks at poverty not as a punishment from neither past sins nor a test of faith. He looks at it as a result of indolence. Solutions from poverty are not divine blessing but results from careful planning and hard work. Thinking result tangible solutions so instead of being idle waiting for divine intervention, freethinkers will solve their problem…ala Jack Bauer…in real time.
So when free thought did entered the common Filipino? Did it start with Rizal? Did it started when Damian Sotto reprimanded the church in his radio program back in the sixties? Did it started at Plaza Miranda or when a small book store opened in a small place in Doroteo Jose St. in Sta. Cruz, Manila and started selling progressive books for the masses?
Did it begin with a group of debaters in Luneta or a group of rich folks in Makati or a group of yuppies from the Internet?
I don’t think it started that way. Every common Filipino is capable of free thought if he will only try.
Practical freethinking is not an advocacy and it is certainly not a call for any kind of revolution. Practical freethinking is a challenge. It is a challenge for the common man of any society to use an alternative in finding solutions. An alternative that focus on real life, not an after life - an alternative that uses objective, practical and scientific reasoning not prayers or mantras – an alternative that offers goal-oriented solutions not supernatural promises of salvations from holy ghosts, saints, amulets and holy books – an alternative which offers rationality not rationalizations from different scriptural interpretations.
It is a challenge for you and me to start thinking right.
2 comments:
"Practical free thinking is not an advocacy" And what the heck are those homilies (sermons) and / or preaching for? "challenge...to use alternative in finding solutions"? That's lip service and empty rhetoric. "Alternative that focus on real life"? Come on! Isn't it that you're stating the obvious? Fact is believers are very much focussed on real life more than the secularists and atheists. "alternative that uses objective, practical and scientific reasoning"? You must be deluding yourself. That's a debatable assumption. Scientific reasoning and objectivity do no teach us to Live lives to the fullest. "Alternative that offers goal oriented solutions"? Been there, done that. Don't state the obvious please. "Alternative which offers rationality"? Really? That's the most incredible assertions you offered thus far? But albeit devoid of probative value. "A challenge for you and me to start thinking right"? No harm done. That's just your own opinion anyway. It should not be dignified with a comment.
Hi carlyle,
I'm am an advocate...but practical freethinking per se is not an advocacy. You still don't get it do you?
My blog is an agent of advocacy, but "freethinking" is not an advocacy to use your head. It's really not a matter if you become one or not, the issue here is if you use your head.
Have a nice day.
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