Thinking for ourselves, choosing what to believe or not believe, is both a basic right and an essential element of growing in wisdom. Rational thinking and reflective reasoning require continual practice that seeks to make sense of our world. . .while exposing and challenging all the nonsense we see and hear.
Freedom of thought is a good thing, especially when it leads to freedom of speech and liberating action. When we stand up and speak out with our freely chosen thoughts and beliefs, we can spread some good news that encourages others to do the same. Writing and teaching are the main avenues for expressing my personal practice of freethinking.
Since 2016, my “Highland Views” columns have been published every week in the Asheville Citizen-Times. (I once wrote to the Executive Editor of USA Today to ask about syndication and was told that wasn’t possible). In recent months I’ve been very pleased to hear from readers who access my columns in their local papers around the country. I’m grateful my views are being shared among a wider audience.
Newspapers that have published “Highland Views”:
Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Pensacola News Journal (FL)
Telegram and Gazette (Worcester, MA)
Daily Record (York, PA)
Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX)
Wilmington Star News (NC)
Holland Sentinel (MI)
El Paso Times (TX)
Abilene Reporter-News (TX)
Greenville News (SC)
Coloradoan (CO)
Post Crescent (WI)
Des Moines Register (IA)
The Hutchinson News (KS)
Sunday Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, LA)
The Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Times-Delta (Visalia, CA)
Gaston Gazette (Gastonia, NC)
Chambersburg Public Opinion (PA)
“A weekly column on interfaith issues and the relationship of nonbelievers to communities of faith and to nature from Asheville’s Chris Highland” (USA Today)
Thank you to the editors, publishers and readers who “dare to share” my weekly scribbles. I’m humbled–and energized!–by the response!
I suppose I should add that I’ve never been paid for my columns. This is one reason I collect many of them in my books. Whatever you freely decide, I appreciate your support.
Friendly Freethinker 
I read your article in the Hutchinson Ks newspaper. I agree with what you said about the churches, but am concerned with your conclusion. Going back to your spiritual decision-making, was there ever a time when you completely surrendered your heart to the Lord and acknowledged that Jesus is the only Savior? Or have you been ministering in your own human strength and by your own wisdom?
Saved at a Billy Graham Crusade. . .Filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. . .Witnessed on the streets with Campus Crusade. . .studied the Bible in a Christian College and seminary. . .devoted years to ministry “in the footsteps of Jesus”. . . Well, Sir, I guess you can stand in judgment of my authenticity using your own human strength and wisdom.
Really like your response to Don, Chris. You have been there, done that….and are on a different journey than him. It is presumptuous to tell anyone that my journey is the only way even if the grammar used was polite. One of the things I like about Humanism it the lack proselytizing to others, other than to say that you support Humanistic Values, do you?
Yes, that’s really the common ground, isn’t it, Marty. Finding similar values and working toward their fulfillment in the human community. Cheers.
The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, MS also carry’s your column. It’s surprising in a way, but I’m very happy they do. I enjoy it.
Bill Dickens
Good to hear, Bill. I’m pleased to know I have a reader like you in MS.
Chris this is an impressive list of distributions of your articles. I am very pleased that you are gaining this traction and support. Hang in there. I continue to work on my book but have to edit a book chapter on our Canadian Humanist Chaplaincy program first then back to the writing which can be easily distracted by other commitments. I relish and covet your ability to finish so many books and articles on a regular basis. Thought I would use some positive and sinful language in the same sentence, HA!
Appreciate the verbal applause, Marty. Your book will be an important contribution to the “next chapter” in human service.
Hi Chris:
Can you direct me to your excellent article for reprint called “ saying goodbye to the Jesus I want knew”
You will find it on this link, Thomas: https://chighland.com/articles/
Dear Chris, I just read your column in the Springfield Journal-Register dealing with the question of a “Humanist” writing about religion. I was struck by the Humanist Society’s definition of Humanism as “a …philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs…”. My wife and I discussed the column and decided that except for the “without theism” description, we are humanists. We, however, do believe in God. What we do not know about God FAR exceeds what we believe to be true. One of my favorite passages in the OT is from Micah, where we are counselled to “live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”. We do not feel the need to proselytize or to condemn others for not sharing our belief(s). WE DO NOT WANT THE USA TO BECOME A “CHRISTIAN” NATION(or any other brand of theocracy).
Since we are, apparently, not Humanists…what would you call us?
Michael, sorry I overlooked your comment. Generally speaking, as I understand it, Humanism is non-theistic, yet, in my view, anyone can practice a “humanistic” way of life. Since the concept of “God” is so open to interpretation (for me, Nature/Cosmos replaces a personal God), the aim is not to believe correctly but to live ethically, responsibly, guided by reason.
I call myself a freethinking humanist. You are free of course to call yourself whatever you wish.
Thanks for the comment and question.