--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool…" description: "\"Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool of knowledge. Faith is the opposite of reason because reason imposes very strict limits on what can be true, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dan-barker-10701_atheism_freethinkers-reject-faith-as-a-valid-too_480816.jpg" --- # Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool of knowledge… ![“Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool of knowledge. Faith is the opposite of reason because reason imposes very strict limits on what can be true, and faith has no limits at all. A Great Escape into faith is no retreat to safety. It is nothing less than surrender.” quote by Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dan-barker-10701_atheism_freethinkers-reject-faith-as-a-valid-too_480816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dan-barker-10701_atheism_freethinkers-reject-faith-as-a-valid-too_480816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dan-barker-10701_atheism_freethinkers-reject-faith-as-a-valid-too_480816.jpg) > “Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool of knowledge. Faith is the opposite of reason because reason imposes very strict limits on what can be true, and faith has no limits at all. A Great Escape into faith is no retreat to safety. It is nothing less than surrender.” [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement argues that faith lacks the constraints of reason, making it an uncontrolled surrender rather than a safe refuge. **In simple terms:** Faith is unrestricted and thus a surrender. Key Takeaway Question the limits of faith versus reason. Themes faith reason skepticism Mood critical analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - religious debate - personal belief - academic study Key Concepts epistemology logic Questions to Reflect On - Can reason be truly unrestricted? - What are the risks of unbounded faith? A Different Perspective Reason can also be limited by its own assumptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Freethinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freethinker/) [Great escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-escape/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [In the name of Allah the merciful and the compassionate! Say : O ye that reject Faith!I worship not that which ye worship, Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/in-the-name-of-allah-the-merciful-and-the-compassionate-say-o-ye-that/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [“Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-do-ye-remember-me-i-will-remember-you-be-grateful-to-me-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To come to faith on the basis of experience alone is unwise, though not so foolish as to reject faith altogether because of lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/to-come-to-faith-on-the-basis-of-experience-alone-is-unwise-though/) [Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/) > [Faith is not the opposite of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/faith-is-not-the-opposite-of-reason/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The desire for a strong faith is not the proof of a strong faith, rather the opposite. If one has it one may permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-desire-for-a-strong-faith-is-not-the-proof-of-a-strong-faith/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Faith is not the opposite of reason. Faith rests squarely upon reason, but with the added component of revelation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/faith-is-not-the-opposite-of-reason-faith-rests-squarely-upon-reason/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [“Mr. Merrill was most appealing because he reassured us that doubt was the essence of faith, and not faith’s opposite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/mr-merrill-was-most-appealing-because-he-reassured-us-that-doubt-was/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [So let's set the record straight. Faith is not the opposite of reason. The opposite of faith is unbelief. And reason is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/so-let-s-set-the-record-straight-faith-is-not-the-opposite-of-reason/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [And the attitude of faith is the very opposite of clinging to belief, of holding on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/and-the-attitude-of-faith-is-the-very-opposite-of-clinging-to-belief/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Faith: The opposite of dogmatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/faith-the-opposite-of-dogmatism/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-bible-recognizes-no-faith-that-does-not-lead-to-obedience-nor/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Although he knew all the best — or, at least, the least boring — stories in the Bible, Mr. Merrill was most appealing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/although-he-knew-all-the-best-or-at-least-the-least-boring-stories-in/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Without power, knowledge is useless. without knowledge, faith is tyranny. Without understanding, humanity is blind, and without all four, it is doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/without-power-knowledge-is-useless-without-knowledge-faith-is-tyranny/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [Faith is indeed intellectual; it involves an apprehension of certain things as facts; and vain is the modern effort to divorce faith from knowledge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-is-indeed-intellectual-it-involves-an-apprehension-of-certain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Doubt is the first step towards knowledge, not faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/doubt-is-the-first-step-towards-knowledge-not-faith/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) ## More by Dan Barker > [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Some theists, observing that all 'effects' need a cause, assert that God is a cause but not an effect. But no one has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/some-theists-observing-that-all-effects-need-a-cause-assert-that-god/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I threw out all the bath water, and there was no baby there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-threw-out-all-the-bath-water-and-there-was-no-baby-there/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [You keep accusing me of blasphemy all of the time, but I cannot be convicted of a victimless crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/you-keep-accusing-me-of-blasphemy-all-of-the-time-but-i-cannot-be/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [“Faith is a cop-out. It is intellectual bankruptcy. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/faith-is-a-cop-out-it-is-intellectual-bankruptcy-if-the-only-way-you/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [It turns out that the word atheism means much less than I had thought. It is merely the lack of theism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/it-turns-out-that-the-word-atheism-means-much-less-than-i-had-thought/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I took about a year to fully adjust. Like there's a death at the family or a divorce, you don't just snap your fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-took-about-a-year-to-fully-adjust-like-there-s-a-death-at-the/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Freethought is respectable. Freethought is crucial. Freethought needs to be publicized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/freethought-is-respectable-freethought-is-crucial-freethought-needs/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Truth does not demand belief...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/truth-does-not-demand-belief/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-have-something-to-say-to-the-religionist-who-feels-atheists-never/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [There are many gods which Christians reject. I just believe in one less god then they do. The reasons that you might give for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/there-are-many-gods-which-christians-reject-i-just-believe-in-one/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Not thinking critically, I assumed that the successful prayers were proof that God answers prayer while the failures were proof that there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/not-thinking-critically-i-assumed-that-the-successful-prayers-were/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Faith is not the result of fuzy thinking. It is the cause of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/faith-is-not-the-result-of-fuzy-thinking-it-is-the-cause-of-it/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [For my money, I'll bet on reason and humanistic kindness. Even if I am wrong I will have enjoyed my life, the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/for-my-money-i-ll-bet-on-reason-and-humanistic-kindness-even-if-i-am/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I have an Easter challenge for Christians. My challenge is simply this: tell me what happened on Easter. I am not asking for proof.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-have-an-easter-challenge-for-christians-my-challenge-is-simply-this/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) [Explore all 64 Dan Barker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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