Why are atheists close minded?

Question

I just want to know how atheists can call a Christian close minded when we have total faith in someone we have never seen. hmmm...it seems to me we are not the ones that are close minded. Thoughts?

I apologize, I did not mean ALL atheists, I forgot I have to specify EVERYTHING.
Many atheist pride themselves on such things as logic and reason, and they don't realise that many have come to Christianity through research of the FACTS. Not all Christians have "blind faith", in fact the Bible tells you to study and to be knowledgable.

Answer 1

it is a form of pride. By claiming to be an Atheist, one is stating that the case is closed; based on the evidence, God cannot possibly exist. However, to KNOW this, one would have to be outside the universe, observing it and seeing that no God was watching things. Atheists often tell me that there is no evidence for the existence of God, but when I try to present evidence to them, they will not look at it objectively - applying the laws of evidence. Why? Because having decided by FAITH that God does NOT exist, they therefore have come to the foregone conclusion that NO evidence for the existence of God could possibly exist. Believing that the entire universe exists, and this planet with all its different regions, plants and animals and that everyone is wrong about the Bible and God's miracles takes a LOT more faith than accepting the plain facts of His existence.

Answer 2

there is a difference between open-mindedness and blind faith. Blind faith requires no rumination or consideration, just acceptance of unfounded concepts. An atheist such as I am has studied and researched and ruminatied a very long time before coming to a decision. Unless provable fact is introduced, or logic which cannot be argued is introduced, there is no reason to reconsider.

Answer 3

I don't think all atheists call us close minded - I think they just choose to not believe in something they can't see, which is such a loss to them. We do have a tendency to judge others though based on what we believe to be right and true in the world. It's the same with saying just because you are a good person - that does not mean you will be in heaven someday - you have to accept Christ to do that.

Answer 4

Having faith in something you haven't seen has NOTHING to do with open-mindedness. I might grant you Christians a great imagination. But you're open-minded if find it easy to stand in somebody else's shoes. And I think we unbelievers find it easier to see the world your way than you find it to see it our way.

EDIT: Facts cannot lead you to Christianity. Christianity is not based on facts. No religion is, as a matter of fact. If you're a Christian, it's because you have decided to accept God's existence. And this is not a fact.

Anyway, I think by facts you may mean such things as alleged miracles, or far-fetched pieces of alleged evidence. But those 'facts' are actually interpreted by believers as implying there is a god. Again, this is not about objective facts. It's about your personal wish, desire or need to believe in a God. And it's about your turning a blind eye to the 'fact' that there is no definite scientific proof of either God's existence or of his inexistence.

Answer 5

Some great responses!

In the US, a predominantly christian country, most atheists are recovering christians. The confusion, oppression, & dissappointment, they felt as young people drove them to what sounds on the surface like a dry, intellectual position; but they got there by the fuel of what they came to view as falsehood & fraud forced upon them as by well-meaning parents.

When people have life experiences involving strong feelings, we often form strong opinions, lasting memories and even a lifetime of behaviors based on those experiences. This is a widely-found human quality, not limited to atheists or any other group.

As far as opinions go; as soon as anyone develops an opinion & labels it "mine" (no matter what the "mine" is) then a gulf opens up between anyone who doesn't share "my" opinion & me. By focusing on the object of their opinions, and then on what's wrong with the other's opinions, and finally what's wrong with each other (which I think, is where your question starts) rarely do the two sides of any debate gain much understanding of their shared experience or of their common humanity.

Peace to all,

;-)

Answer 6

Not so much just them.
Everyone to a certain degree is close minded. It does not always have to do with beliefs, but day to day activities.
We are creatures of habit and have formed lifelong patterns that are not changed with a whim.
I have many friends who are Atheists and we get along quite well. Even the discussion about religion is quite extensive. They see my life and family, and ask how we are so close.
I am not implying they are any less, they seem to see the difference in our families but accept it.
I accept their life but I do not try to convert them.
We are not closed to each other, we are acceptable as we are.

Answer 7

Haha, good point. Although they see organized religion as a threat to themselves because pride has gotten the better of them...Case in put, why do "I" need some organized religion to tell "me" what to do? Why do "I" need to be brainwashed by people who probably know less than "I" do.

I don't mind questioning faith, in fact its a great misconception not to. Thats what they dont get.

Answer 8

Some atheists are close-minded and some christians are close-minded.

But there are also open-minded ones (of both denominations) too.

The truly open-minded person realizes that in the end, the ultimate belief of either is the same with different focuses and emphasi.

Answer 9

Why are you so closed minded to think that atheists are closed minded? They investigated God, and Religion, and decided they could get nothing whatever from the experience except blindly following what some "preacher" told them to do. Why do you continually give the credit to God for something, when its obvious that YOU worked so hard to get it? God didn't provide it, YOU did. I guess it is helpful to have someone else to blame when you screw up, though, that way, you don't have to be responsible for your actions!

Answer 10

As a satanist, I can say that athiests are quite more open minded and tolerant of others than most christians I have met. Wouldn't it be a great country if we could all shut up and keep a lid on our religions? Let's not forget that christians, witnesses, mormons, etc, travel the globe trying to cram their ideas, beliefs, way of life, and morals dow everyone's throats. Keep in mind that satanists and athiests, wiccans, etc, keep thier thoughts to themselves unless asked.