Who has the more rigid mindset, the Spiritualist or the Scientist?

Question

After posting numerous questions in both communities I find it surprising, given the fact that science declares we should have an open mind that.....they are more closed to finding the Truth. They just dismiss thousands of years worth of beliefs for one that changes constantly with each new theory. The Ultimate Truth may never be found, but don't you think we should search? Peace and Love.

I'm sorry most of you don't have an email return. I love discussions and saying thank you for some healthy debate. Don't judge me by what you see. That is the answer I'm looking for. Thank you to those who found time to honestly reply. The message you gave was heard. Peace and Love.

Answer 1

spiritualists....they tend to ignore the vast majority of reality science all though slow in process will revise even the most fundamental theories and understandings if found to be flawed. Science is flexible which is why it works so well, most religion is concrete and therefore becomes brittle.

Answer 2

The thing I think we should remember about beliefs that were around for thousands of years, is that doesn't make them any more or less true. People are strongly tied down to habbits and traditions. Progress can only be made when the good of old is kept and the bad is discarded, no matter how used to it we have become.
Scientist are generally open to new ideas, but for the idea to be properly considered, there must be a good reason, an indication that it might be correct. The fact it has been around for a long time, or that many people belive it's true is not a good enough reason.

Answer 3

The Spiritualist, who has no logical basis for their beliefs but still rigidly holds on to them, sometimes in the face of scientific evidence, has the more rigid mindset.

The scientist is always testing theories, and promoting or demoting ones based on their neutral plausibility.

The scientist is all about searching for truth. Some spiritualists are all about closing their eyes, ears and heart to some truths - like all people are created by God, and should be treated equally.

However, I don't think this is an answer that you will listen to, based on your question. This proves my point.

Answer 4

Scientists only deal with scientific truth--by definition things that can be tested to see if they are true or false. Here skepicism is key to figuring out what is true and what is false.

Spiritualists, far as I can tell, are closed to that kind of skepticism because their claims won't stand up to skeptical sctutiny. A person can believe what they want--that's their business. But if they expect that others should also believe what they believe they have to be able to back it up with some sort of evidence.

A skeptic (at least one who is open to new evidence) has a much less rigid mindset than the spiritualist who refuses to consider any argument or evidence that counters what they wish to believe.

Answer 5

Spiritualist/Scientist here. Interesting question. That's like asking who is more open-minded, the fanatic or the militant. My problem with religious types is that they look past what can be proven and stick to their belief no matter what is available to them. You say truth in such a way as to suggest that we are missing something. Okay, then show us what we apparently have been missing all this time. Something that is not abstract and can be tested. I am like many scientists who want to believe that there is a god as we are to believe, instead of blind faith. Science is not ignorance. Religion is a curse. My concept of a Higher Power is that it is part of the universe and who am I to understand it right now. If science proves me incorrect, thats fine, if it cannot prove it, then I'll continue to believe in it as I have. But I'm not going to shut my mind off to the possibilities in nature. Science is exciting and attractive to me, and in my humble way, I cannot say that there is a Higher Power or not, but my practcal conscience may have a lot to do with it. You need to explore the world around you and open your mind, then you won't be so afraid of the truth.

Answer 6

A true scientist will consider all compelling evidence, and toss or modify any theory once it has been falsified. Having said that, many so-called "scientists" treat their current belief sets as if they were holy writ, that is, tantamount to religions.

"Spiritualists" assume that there is such a thing as a "spirit" with which to begin, and will not abandon that assumption. Thus, "spiritualists" are less flexible than the few true scientists.

As for "open-mindedness", well, the saying is that if your mind is too open, yoiur brains will fall out.

Answer 7

You seem to answer your own question. The spiritualists cannot easily give up "thousands of years worth of beliefs." Sounds pretty rigid to me. A scientist will change mindset easily depending on new "evidence."
"Don't you think we should search?" Yes. We should. Rigidly maintaining milennia of tradition is not exactly searching for truth in my opinion.
Peace to you as well.

Answer 8

Is there any proof for those "beliefs" ? Can you prove that God exists ? Can you prove that there is heaven or hell ? Scientific theories always change for the better. They are also applied to improve our lives, its Man's fault that he misuses them.

Which is better ?

A set of "beliefs" with no proof

or a body of theories which although changing is true ?

Remember "The only thing constant is change, Constancy alone is Strange"

Answer 9

I don't think that you can make broad generalization's about that sort of thing. I know some Spiritual people who won't listen to indisputable scientific evidence. I also know scientists who want nothing to do with religion. But, most people are willing to accept facets from both science and spirituality.