I keep seeing a running theme from Christians.....?

Question

...that Atheists are close minded. Okay, I can understand where you might find this to be so (although I would have to argue the fact.)
I wonder...is not beleif in Christianity a close minded thing as well? I mean, if I am close minded for not being open to the possibility of your God's existence, then are you not close minded for denying the existence of a thousand other Gods?? I realize that your Book says there are no other gods, etc etc. But put the book aside and answer honestly - is not the following of a religion that states it is the only true religion just as close minded as refusing to beleive in any religion at all??? Are we equally close-minded? Maybe if you understood why you deny the existence of all other Gods, you might start to understand why we deny the existence of your God?

This is a rant? I thought I asked a valid question.....dick...
Ortho Ted - answer to your question of how to explain two thousand years of Christianity - Please explain 4000 years of Egyptian polytheism... So, they were correct too?
randy, I said to put away your book and answer the question. thanks for missing the point there...

Answer 1

You have a very valid point. It amazes me to no end how atheists can be considered close minded when all the ones I know are very well versed in most religions merely choosing to think for themselves. As you say, how close-minded is it to FOLLOW only one certain idea or concept and not even want to learn about any others. It's the ultimate in close-mindedness....

Answer 2

Yes lets put aside the Bible and talk plain facts. Who woke you up this morning? How did you know you were breathing? How many times just today did your eye take in a sight and store it in your mind? Why do you sleep? Even the doctors can't figure that one out? How deep is the deepest ocean? They tried measuring but no luck in finding out the true answer. I am not so grand to know that I didn't make this place called Earth nor does my existance sustance its existance. But something or someone greater than me does. I didn't need the bible to know that God existed. I looked in the heavens and saw perfect placement of the stars. I saw the sun come up and go down every morning and evening. I learned that there are other planets perfectly aligned and that ours is perfectly orbiting around the sun to not be too cold nor too hot. Then I read that book you keep talking about. I saw in Psalms that "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the earth shows His hand work. Just like a master craftsman creates a piece of art so did God when He created the world. You can take it or leave it. It doesn't change the fact that someone or something greater than me created me.

Answer 3

It is also a running theme that when an atheist asks a "serious" question, they always include the disclaimer that the Bible is not a source, not true or that they don't want to hear any scriptures to support an answer.

If you want someone to agree with everything that you say, why not go into a chat room with atheists on Yahoo messenger?

Christians are not closed minded if we have truth in God's word. That is our proof and truth. So, putting the Book aside is not going to make good people turn bad just to please you. We opened our minds and hearts to God's grace. You can refuse that goodness and grace, if you choose. Lucky for you, God will still love you and so will we.

When you finally soften your heart and accept God and His son, Jesus Christ, you will feel an unbelievable rush of positive energy run through you. You'll never feel that by bad-mouthing anyone, or mocking others, or arguing with mature people about things that you hate.

Peace to you always

Answer 4

If you are basing your idea of being open or closed mind on reasoning, then take a look at yourself to answer that. I grew up with a Christian education. Once we got to the age that we could argue through problems ourselves, we were never told how to believe. We were presented with differing views of the world, and how they contradict the Bible. Public schools currently do not present intelligent design as a in schools. Aristotelian philosophy says that in the free market place of ideas, only the truth can win out. So why would they not show all sides?
Christianity is not a blind leap of faith, as many believe, but neither is it clear cut. By examining the facts, and the universe around you, it is nearly impossible to come to the conclusion that it is here by chance. This is the Kalam cosmological argument, and I will gladly discuss this with anyone. Many renown scientists and philosophers have come to this conclusion. I suggest reading the books I listed as my sources if you are truly interested in a further understanding. I would say that anyone is close minded who does not seek the truth unbiased, or half heatedly.

Answer 5

Actually, Christians do admit the existence of other spirits, even some that are worshipped as gods and goddesses. It is in Scripture, too! (for the Bible scholars out there). We simply recognize One Spirit as supreme among all others, and that is the only one that counts for us as God.

In a way, you are right, though. To hold to one belief as true is to be a little close-minded. For example, between 1980-88, we only had one man as President of the US: Ronald Reagan. To cling to that historical fact in the face of alternative arguements is to be somewhat close-minded. Something known as true automatically eliminates alternative suppositions. Is this close-mindedness?

I'm not sure if Thor actually exists or not. I don't know about Hecate either. We are not acquainted. My life has been touched by Someone Real, though, and no amount of argueing will convince me otherwise. For me, there is no one better than Jesus Christ.

When we call an athiest "close minded", however, it is because the athiest dismisses as untrue, the existence of a Person they have personally never met. Not only that, the atheist dismisses the existence of ANYTHING that cannot be proven in the same manner as Ivory Soap. To dismiss completely, with a total lack of evidence (that they will accept, there is plenty of testimonial out there!) seems to me close-minded to the point of being obtuse. If you don't WANT to see something, chances are you aren't going to see it.

Answer 6

I can see your point, but as someone who can see both sides, I'll answer this way:

I think some Christians say that Atheists are close minded because it is hard for them to understand how something they 'know' in their heart and mind is so hard for someone else to understand. They assume that it's a refusal to see, not a faith just as strong as theirs.

But, that aside, a logical argument might be that Christians (and anyone else who believes in God(s)) feel that Atheists are close-minded because they do not see the existance of something larger than all of us. That is, God is invisible and silent, and people of any religion usually feel that those who do not believe do so because they refuse to have 'blind faith' in an entity they can not see, hear, etc.

So, it's not just about the religion itself, but the assumption of the reason for not believing in a God that creates the impression of being close-minded.

Really anyone can be close minded, and most people are, at least about some things.

Answer 7

I'll answer this question with a question of my own....

Why did the Apostle Paul undo paganism (although, not overnight) and preached the Word of God to the Athenians and others following the Resurrection of Christ?

Now, the Greek Orthodox leadership is reversing Christianity by promoting Hellenistic teachings. This is coming from Satan, not God.

No one said athiests were closed minded, but what else could explain two thousand years of Christianity in this world?

Answer 8

I think that if your get down to the core of Christianity and atheism are, you'd find that the Christian belief is much more closed minded. You have a book telling you what to believe and that it's irrefutable. Atheists have no such book. If you want to judge the population based on who answers posts on this board, go ahead but it's not a representative sample.

Answer 9

Let's face it, many many of the peopel who call themselves Christians are so in name only. They don't treat others with respect, they judge others constantly and belive they are the only ones who can possibly be correct in their beliefs. Moreover, they don't give a rat's bum about the poor or the sick or the imprisoned (in fact a lot of "Christians" I know seem to get off on the idea of putting people to death). Many will always cast the first stone, and focus on and feel threatened issues being important that aren't even talked about in the bible (i.e. gay rights).

I'd say 90 percent of the "christians" I know hide behind that label because they have no other identity.

The other 10 percent, my hats are off to you for believing, speaking, and living truthfully, and realizing that others thoughts on spirit and salvation have merit as well.

Answer 10

I totally agree that christians tend to be a closed minded group.They act as if not accepting their god is completely outlandish. But isn't the Bible full of people and practices that are unaccepteble in the eyes of God. I am a beliver in God but slightly more progressive and liberal than those who believe that theirs is the only way.