free-thought heroine

In November Jennifer Michael Hecht was awarded the "Free-thought Heroine" prize for 2009, recognizing in particular the brilliant contribution of Doubt: A History to the ongoing project of de-villifying atheists, humanists, naturalists and other free-thinkers. Bravo, Jennifer! Can't wait for the Bertrand Russell book.

The embed code is balking. But you can view her acceptance speech-- "Leaving Our Bodies to Art"-- here.

What I say assumes everyone in my audience is a co-irreligionist. I normally don't speak quite that way...

Works for me.