''The Freethinker'' was a British

secular humanist Secular humanism is a philosophy, belief system or life stance that embraces human reason, secular ethics, and philosophical naturalism while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality an ...

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

, founded by G.W. Foote in 1881. One of the world's oldest surviving

freethought Freethought (sometimes spelled free thought) is an epistemological viewpoint which holds that beliefs should not be formed on the basis of authority, tradition, revelation, or dogma, and that beliefs should instead be reached by other methods ...

publications, it moved online-only in 2014. It has always taken an unapologetically

atheist Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no ...

, anti-religious stance. In Issue 1 (May, 1881), Foote set out ''The Freethinker's'' purpose: Although closely linked with the

National Secular Society The National Secular Society (NSS) 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 it. It was ...

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; it has been published by G. W. Foote & Co. Ltd. since its inception. In 2006, the magazine's front-page masthead was changed from "Secular humanist monthly" to "The Voice of

Atheism Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no d ...

since 1881". Barry Duke was the editor from 1998 until January 2022. Emma Park succeeded him from January 2022.

History

Following the publication of anti-religious cartoons in the

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

1882 edition of ''The Freethinker'', Foote was prosecuted for

blasphemy Blasphemy is a speech crime and religious crime usually defined as an utterance that shows contempt, disrespects or insults a deity, an object considered sacred or something considered inviolable. Some religions regard blasphemy as a religiou ...

, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. On receiving his sentence from Mr Justice North (a devout Catholic), Foote said "with great deliberation" to the Judge "My Lord, I thank you; it is worthy of your creed". His description of this experience was published in 1886 as ''Prisoner for Blasphemy''. The April 2014 edition of ''The Freethinker'' contained an announcement that the May issue would be the last to appear in print; publication would continue online. ''The Freethinker'' kept its own website until all new content was moved to a section of the

Patheos Patheos is a non-denominational, non-partisan online media company providing information and commentary from various religious and nonreligious perspectives. Upon its launch in May 2009, the website was primarily geared toward learning about re ...

website, th
first article
appearing on 16 July 2021. ''The Freethinker'' bulletin of 22 January 2022 announced that Barry Duke was moving to the newly established OnlySky website. His successor, Emma Park, was announced on ''The Freethinker'' website on 27 January 2022. In June 2022 Barry Duke explained that although ''The Freethinker'' was due to move from the Patheos website to OnlySky, the board of G. W. Foote & Co. Ltd. decided to keep its own dedicated website and to terminate his editorship.

List of ''Freethinker'' editors

George William Foote George William Foote (11 January 1850 – 17 October 1915) was an English secularist, freethinker, republican, writer and journal editor. Early life George William Foote was born in Plymouth, the son of William Thomas Foot (a customs officer) ...

, May 1881 – October 1915 (

Edward Aveling Edward Bibbins Aveling (29 November 1849 – 2 August 1898) was an English comparative anatomist and popular spokesman for Darwinian evolution, atheism and socialism. He was also a playwright and actor. Aveling was the author of numer ...

edited the paper during Foote's imprisonment, 1883) * Chapman Cohen, October 1915 – June 1951 * Frank Ridley, June 1951 – April 1954 * A Committee consisting of F. A. Hornibrook, Bayard Simmons, G. H. Taylor May 1954 – August 1959. * Colin McCall replaced Simmons in 1957, his name appearing alongside Hornibrook and Taylor from December that year. He became sole editor from August 1959 until December 1965 *

David Tribe David Harold Tribe (1931 – 2017) was an Australian secularist, humanist, and author of numerous books, articles and pamphlets. He was born in Sydney, Australia, grew up in Brisbane, and lived in the United Kingdom from the 1950s into the 19 ...

, January 1966 – May 1966 * Kit Mouat, June 1966 – January 1967 *

David Collis David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

, January 1967 – October 1967 *

Karl Hyde Karl Hyde (born 10 May 1957) is an English musician and artist. He is a founding member of British electronic group Underworld. Hyde has also released a solo album, made albums with Brian Eno and Matthew Herbert, and contributed towards the sco ...

, November 1967 – August 1968 * David Reynolds, September 1968 – July 1970 * William McIlroy, August 1970 – December 1971 * Nigel Sinnott, January 1972 – September 1973 * Christopher Morey, October 1973 – December 1974 * William McIlroy, January 1975 – 1976 *

Jim Herrick Jim Herrick (born 1944) 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. He has written or edited several books on hum ...

, January 1977 – 1981 * William McIlroy, September 1981 – December 1992 * Peter Brearey, January 1993 – 1998 * Barry Duke, 1998 – January 2022 * Dr Emma Park, January 2022 –

Citations

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

''The Freethinker'' website

Google Books
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