How can you expect...?

Question

anyone to be openminded about what you believe when you're not openminded about what anyone else believes?

Not that I'm saying to leave your religion or follow anyone else's. But I don't understand how you can expect someone else to follow your belief and take it as truth when you won't bother to even let them explain theirs, even if they have no wish to convert you. If you want open minds, display an open mind...or am I wrong?

Answer 1

Yes, yes, and yes. I agree.
I really wish folks would not take themselves so seriously. No matter how sure you are, it's healthy to admit the possibility of being wrong. It never hurts to see it from the other side.

Answer 2

Here's a good answer for that.

Open-mindedness is what a person has when one is open to answers. One is open to answers when one either lacks any answer, or an answer that is satisfactory. I either have no idea, or the idea I have doesn't strike me as 100% correct. Got me?

Okay then, a person wellset within their beliefs has no inclination to have an open mind, because they ARE 100% satisfied with their beliefs. They have the answer! Eureka, I know how the universe works!

Now then, I know how the universe works, and I really don't need to hear anyone else's take on the issue, right? There's no need to debate the obvious truth, right? Why should I hear from you on an issue that I already have completely worked out?

NOW then. Why should I expect YOU to have an open mind about MY truth, and not the other way around? Well because OBVIOUSLY my truth is 100% certain, and since your truth contradict my truth, it can't possibly be 100% certain. THEREFOR, because your belief IS flawed, you MUST be less than 100% satisfied with your belief and therefor are open to enlightenment.



See the double standard there? Yeah. Personally, I define open-mindedness as the willingness to hear another person out, not to immediately consider the fact that they are correct. That is the expectation I have. Now, if in hearing me out they're swayed by my convictions to the point of considing I AM correct, THAT is another story entirely. Such a consideration is, however, something that is -earned- not expected.

Answer 3

You are absolutely correct. To the point you are making me feel pretty rediculous. I just get so freakin angry stupid people reporting me all the time
I like to say I am open-minded I do after all believe in crazy things like evolution & big bang theories & so forth Crazy things have you ever seriously tried to just imagine these things occurring? I have a pretty good imagination but man this stuff.
Yet I can't just believe in god or anything supernatural or spiritual. So I have to say I am open minded to almost everything but god. Does that make me crazy or is everyone else just insane? No, the answer to the big question will probably never come in our life time or for a very long time if ever, so until then we are all just a little crazy

On a more sober note I do agree with the others as to what our own definition of so called openmindedness, makes it possible for anyone to be so if they wish to beleive they are. I prefer the term free thinker anyway to openminded

Answer 4

I am always open minded to people's thinking. However, I will say that when God tells me not to listen then I don't (rare - but has happened). This is because when a lying or deceiving spirit is speaking I will not have an open mind.

That said, I do like to hear different people's ideas and 'religions' if only to understand them better. I am fully persuaded on what I beleive but I never judge others on their beliefs unless they flatly contradict God then I explain wht I know and leave them to make their own minds up.

I have met many different people of different religions, muslim, judean, Jehovah's witness, catholic, mormon, etc. I say, we are all entiltled to our own belief. If what I share helps someone along the way and enables them to get a better answer for their life then that is good. If they don't want to hear then at least they have decided.

Hope that helps some.

Answer 5

As the blessed St Dawkins has said PBUH, just because two people hold passionate but opposing views on an issue does not mean that the truth lies somewhere inbetween, it is perfectly possible for one to be completely right and the other to be completely wrong.

Of course allow other people to state their views, but I'll not let the religious get a free pass in the world of competing ideas just because they claim special priviledges.

Answer 6

No, mutual tolerance in conversation is critical. I once had a contract to speak w/ 1k people in a month about their faith - as a church planter. My experience was most people were willing to listen because their own position was ill-defined or not in practice. To give equal time, then equal credibility should exist in terms of practice and understanding.

Answer 7

Why should one person's openmindedness be contingent upon another's? Isn't it possible for one person to be open even if the other is not?
That is not to say that I wouldn't listen to what you have to say, but if I know that what you're saying isn't true, I'm going to let you know it.

Answer 8

Well-said. That's why I can't stand fundies, and every religion and non-religion has them (atheism included).

Luckily, most religions have a majority of people who are not zealots, though the Christian fundies are vocal (and not Christian).