How can we believe but remain open minded?...belief suggests we have made the decision already doesn't it?

Answer 1

tis why i am agnostic honey

Answer 2

But just because you make your decision, does not mean you need to make the decision for everyone else, and just because you made that choice to follow God does not mean that you cannot look and see and find out the best parts of all religion. Leave your mind open and God may just pop in. Just because you belief in something does not mean it is concrete and all the points around it are. Leave your mind open, perhaps following God is the right way for you, but maybe you do not agree with some of the things that people say about God but you do about Buddha, or whatever, God only wants you to love, all the other rules and biblical stories are inspired by God, just like everything else in this great planet of ours, so open up and take it all in and do not push anything away, that could be God you are pushing away!

Answer 3

Belief is the weighing out of facts and opinions that we have gathered through our lives and it suggests our conclusion of those facts and oinions. What we believe and those things that are proven facts are two different things for example
Fact ; chickens lay eggs
yet nobody believes they lay blocks of cheese (ouch)
We believe there is life in the universe other than ours not because some one has proven it but because we feel it is impossible that we inhabit the only plannet that is real estate worthy. Therefore the opinions of our great society suggests that maybe there is. So we now have the option of believing it or not. By believing something you have the option to open your mind to another explaination if one comes up that is better so don't worry just keep an open mind and believe what you want, I believe in Peace, Love, and Rock and Roll

Answer 4

Believing that something is true doesn't necessarily imply closed-mindedness. For example, we know the 2 + 2 is 4, if you jump off a 10 story building, gravity will cause you to splat on the ground like a sack of kitty kibble, and because of advances in medical technology, we BELIEVE that diseases that were once terminal are now treatable...and many of them are. Why is believing in a supreme being any different? Just because you can't "see" God (or whoever your supreme being is) doesn't make him any less real, and you have the right to determine your own belief system--as does everyone else. In my opinion, one of the problems in today's society is that people are so open-minded that they "believe" in nothing. And that's sad.

Answer 5

Well, in strict sense the word, "belief", does not fully infer that our mind is completely made up.
People who are willing to say they BELIEVE a thing are not adamantly claiming they 'KNOW' it.

If one is willing to use the word believe in its proper sense they are inadvertently saying that deep down they are open to further discussion.

On the other hand, it is my KNOWLEDGE, for instance, that a person can actually KNOW that something is true; but this type of knowledge is not attainable through any [limited] earthly source, for everything here is limited, capable of error, and open to corruption and change or decay.

True Knowledge and conviction of something can only come through an Eternal source ... as that source Witnesses to our Eternal 'source' - to out spirits.
'Knowledge' gained through limited earthly [or tangible] means may not always prove in the finish to be reliable.

But when Eternity [the Holy Spirit of God, for instance] testifies or inspires of truth to Eternity [to our spirits], THEN WE MAY KNOW WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY, and there can be no mistaking that knowledge!

Although we should still discuss genuinely with others and we must retain a deep respect for their views, we will still know what the truth is, and being in such a privileged position, we owe it to the Eternal source who shared that knowledge with us to therefore, do the same and freely [not forcibly] Share it with others.

The KEY is: If they are earnestly seeking the truth and not just spouting off their opinions, when they hear the reality, they will feel the Spirit of God Also testify to them that what they have just heard or read is true.

Answer 6

If you believe merely because the evidence is convincing, then you can remain open minded, as long as you are willing to change positions WHEN new evidence is discovered (it will be).

But if you believe through faith, you can not be open minded about it, because the belief was not based on anything rational to begin with. Faith is synonymous with a closed mind.

Answer 7

Either (1) your belief is just your "best guess at the time" and you're open to new information changing your mind or (2) your mind is made up, you really believe, and you are not open-minded.

Answer 8

People remain open-minded but their decision hasn't changed. People say that to not hurt others that view their beliefs differently.
People on this site say it to get points and to join the so-called club or sect which is wrong.

Answer 9

a muslim is not open minded on issues he knows the definite answer to. because being like that leads you to eventually compromise on your beliefs and leaves you open to all sorts of folly.

however, not being open minded doesn't mean muslims are disrespectful or aggressive towards other people. on the contrary: because a muslim is so convinced of his faith and the truth of his religion, he can hear all kinds of nonsense from others without giving it a second thought. unless of course the other person is insulting his religion and obviously provoking.

example: i am in a meeting with a business partner. everyone takes a 10mn break in the course of the meeting. this partner is, say an atheist. he makes a comment about it during the break, something like 'awww i just can't understand all these people who think there's God.' as a muslim, this comment doesn't pis* me off. on the contrary it highly amuses me. i will not attack the guy in any way or call off our business deals as a result. however, if he says som' like 'you muslims are only deluding yourselves with your lies', then he's asked for trouble. i will answer him back, curse him 'til his ears bleed, and call off any business deal we may have, all of which without even blinking.

this is a good, real example. we are not open minded that we get insulted, but we are open enough to know when to react and when to ignore the whole thing and laugh it off.

Answer 10

Belief is really something which you think at one moment. You can never truly "keep an open mind" because this implies not thinking at all. Therefore, the nearest we can get is being completely willing to change our beliefs at any time.

Answer 11

Try not to live in such a dualistic world. There are shades of gray everywhere. Embrace the shadows.

I believe in aliens, have no proof, and might be wrong, and I would be OK in being wrong. My decision to believe doesn't mean I can't change my mind, or admit error.