there seems to be very few (if any) open minded Christians ... WHY?

Question

there seems to be very few (if any) open minded Christians

Answer 1

There are millions of 'open-minded' Christians. The word 'open-minded' means that they don't want to crucify you when they don't agree with you. Live and let live.
These damn 'fundamentalist/fanatic Christians' are giving all of us a bad name, very much like what is happening in other religions. Pity.

Answer 2

Mostly fear. "Christianity" was established by the Emporer Constantine and the Catholic Church three centuries after Jesus ascended. Before that, there was no Easter or Christmas, etc...... No particular doctrine was constant. A group of 48 men got together and decided what was going to be the Bible and what "Christianity" meant. Of course that meant they were also deciding where their power was derived from. So, Christians are taught not to question the church or listen to outside sources. To do so is a threat, and people automatically "close up" when they feel threatened. Most Christians don't know true history. I am a Christian and a Historian and yet I still believe in Jesus as more than just a mere human! It is easy for me to be open minded because the truth of the world doesn't affect how I view Jesus, despite His own personal humanity, as some refuse to acknowledge. To do so would invalidate 2,000 years of power structure and undermine the history of the world and our civilization as we know it!

Answer 3

You are entitled to your opinion, which is probably based on experience, but an opinion nonetheless. Some of the most vocal Christians are the fundamentalists who are almost fanatical, so of course they are the ones who usually make headlines.

I did read about a Christian teenager who joined his high-school Gay/Lesbian/Transgender group. He explained that although he was not gay, he believed that homosexuals are often misunderstood and prejudged by people, and Christians are also misunderstood and prejudged, so he wanted to show that Christianity is based on love and not hate, etc. It was an interesting article.

What do you mean by open-minded? Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out and the wind blows through your ears :) Jesus hung out with anyone--rich or poor, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers--and loved them all.

"How would a thoughtful person go about a religious quest? Why should one investigate Christianity?

1) Christianity is testable. You can investigate evidence for and against it. “If Jesus didn’t rise on the third day, then your faith is useless.”
2) Salvation is FREE (unique among world religions) and egalitarian—everyone has equal access. God comes down, people don’t have to climb a ladder.
3) Christianity paints a picture of the world that fits. Suffering is not an illusion, Christianity recognizes that evil exists and Christians are to bear burdens with people. God allows free will and we choose right and wrong actions.
4) You get to live a non-compartmentalized and holistic life. We can be rational and religious, worshipping with our minds and our hearts.
5) In Christianity, you get Jesus at the center. The universal religious figure that so many claim as a prophet is also Lord and Savior.

Christianity is not about blind faith—it never has been. You can go into it with eyes wide open."

Answer 4

It mostly depends on what you call open minded. Many who claim to be Christians will close off to the rest of the world because that is what they are being taught in church. Some are being taught that they are under attack (which they are) and they draw inward. They close the doors to "outsiders", those that are not like them.

I am a hardcore biker, long hair, leather the works, I also claim faith in Jesus and follow his teachings. I try to model my life after his example (not easy) I fall a lot. But I don't give up. I believe in putting others before myself, (that's hard), treating others the I would like to be treated, (screw this up a lot). Having Compassion for others, concerned passion, concerned love. Not always easy. But that is the example of Christ. I screw it up, yes all the time, my selfishness comes through and I mess up. I just have to keep going back and studying the Word and look to the example.

For me it is not about being perfect (can't do it, ain't going to try) but it is about the relationship, and the walk. So I go to places where Christians dare not go. I will hang out from time to time with 1%ers Hardcore Outlaw Bikers. That have come to accept me. They have checked me out so to speak and I guess they think that I am real to what I believe. I have been welcomed into there world and they also know that there are things that I will not do. I don't push my beliefs on them, it would just piss them off. They also know I'm not going to do something against what I believe and that they respect. I have told some of them that in many ways we are the same. We enjoy many of the same things, Riding V-twin loud bikes, Don't spend much money for hair cuts and other things the biggest difference is I claim a faith. Over the years they have watched me and if I screw it up they let me know. They have that right, that is why it is important for me to live by my faith. I don't believe that my faith means I close off to people but open up. However I will not go against what my faith and beliefs are.

Am I closed minded, in some respects Yes, in others no not really. All that goes back to the model. Judge it for yourself, I'm not asking you to believe what I believe, just letting you know that I do believe.

Answer 5

Well, I for one believe in God, but I also respect other's beliefs. Sometimes non believers say things that they really have no place to, but I still keep an open mind of what they are saying.

Some people are just trying to do good things...for others....even if you don't think it's that good.

Answer 6

Bingo.....you have just found an open minded Christian! Then again it all depends on what you mean by "open minded". Do I respect other religions and beliefs....Yes. Do I necessarily agree with them....No. Am I willing to water down my own beliefs to suite others.....No. Am I judgemental to others of different faiths......No. Do I accept their beliefs if they contradict what I know is the truth....No. There is only ONE truth and that truth is absolute.....not relative (or what others claim it to be).

Answer 7

I listen to people, sure, no problem. I am more than willing to talk with people who aren't like me. Just because I don't agree, does that mean I am intolerant? If I try to have a discussion with a person who believes differently than I do, and we have a logical, progressive discussion, but they don't convince me that their way is correct, is that intolerant?

To be honest, there are people on both sides of the fence here who spoil the rest of us. People who are actually intolerant, people who stereotype, post unnecessary profanities and obscenity all over, and promote hate. So, the problem does not only lie with Christians.

Answer 8

When someone becomes open minded, they invite satan;'s lies. They are to follow only the word of God and not what the rest of this world is doing, which happens to be sinning. When a Christian turns their body over to Jesus through salvation by acceptance of Jesus as their savior, their minds as well as the rest of the body belongs to Jesus, and must obey Him and not satan along with the rest of the world.

Answer 9

Probably because once you find the Truth, you stop looking. The corrolary is that non-Christians are so open-minded because they haven't found the Truth and they are still looking.

Great question.

Answer 10

That's a very closed minded statement. AS with any religion people can't handle being re-programed it's called a mind****. That's why there's so many people that stay with one Church for a long time. And yes there was a Santa Claus.... sorta.