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{{cquote|...I have encountered numerous [[Atheism|atheists]] and other critics of [[Christianity]] who by all accounts have stopped thinking critically themselves. The common perception among them is that by being critical of ]]religion]] (particularly Christianity in the west), they are exercising [[critical thinking]]. However, critical thinking implies not only questioning authority and commonly held views, but your own views as well.

{{cquote|...I have encountered numerous [[Atheism|atheists]] and other critics of [[Christianity]] who by all accounts have stopped thinking critically themselves. The common perception among them is that by being critical of ]]religion]] (particularly Christianity in the west), they are exercising [[critical thinking]]. However, critical thinking implies not only questioning authority and commonly held views, but your own views as well.

[[Critical thinking]] has often been popularly described as “thinking about thinking.” Stephen Brookfield is an award winning expert on education and teaching critical thinking skills. Below is his definition of what critical thinking really is.

Critical thinking has often been popularly described as “thinking about thinking.” Stephen Brookfield is an award winning expert on education and teaching critical thinking skills. Below is his definition of what critical thinking really is.

:"Critical thinking describes the process we use to uncover and check our assumptions. First we need to find out what our assumptions are. We may know some of these already (these we call explicit assumptions) but others we are unaware of (implicit assumptions)…. Once we know what our assumptions are, we enter the second phase of critical thinking, that of research. We try to check out our assumptions to make sure they are accurate and valid… The third and final phase of critical thinking puts the first two stages into practice by applying our analysis to our decisions. Decisions based on critical thinking are more likely to be ones we feel confident about and to have the effects we want them to have.”

:"Critical thinking describes the process we use to uncover and check our assumptions. First we need to find out what our assumptions are. We may know some of these already (these we call explicit assumptions) but others we are unaware of (implicit assumptions)…. Once we know what our assumptions are, we enter the second phase of critical thinking, that of research. We try to check out our assumptions to make sure they are accurate and valid… The third and final phase of critical thinking puts the first two stages into practice by applying our analysis to our decisions. Decisions based on critical thinking are more likely to be ones we feel confident about and to have the effects we want them to have.”