Buddhist Freethought

I do not recall where I found the following quote, but I quite like it, though the source is at first surprising.

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

Buddha

This quote could very easily be taken as a definition of freethinking. In my opinion of all the major religions Buddhism is the most rational, though that isn't really saying a great deal granted. Though it is difficult to argue that the various strands of buddhism have hewed to the above precept as closely as they might have over the millenia. Of course at the time of speaking the Buddha was trying to split people off from Hinduism so getting them to question authority was a bit of a prerequisite.