Do you think of a person who refuses to change as narrow minded? Could it be that they may be right, so why bother to change? Perhaps you should be more open minded and stop judging others and name calling. A judge who sits on the bench and after hearing the case, makes a decision is not narrow or even closed minded, they made a decision based on what they know, why be critical of that? Don't you do the same thing all the time. Your may order you salad as I do, without tomato. I don't like tomato and I am not going to eat tomato, does that make me closed minded?
2007-01-15 03:33:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Open-minded, to me, is someone that honestly, and wholeheartedly considers all options, without bias. And that most especially matters in the case where your deep-seated beliefs come under fire, and you have to acknowledge the possibility that you may in fact, be wrong.
People that are afraid to consider that possibility, are closed-minded.
2007-01-15 03:39:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Many questions...
Being open minded is to be open for inquiry not blind acceptance.
Once you have discovered an answer for yourself then you are no less open minded. You merely have a resolution to a question. However, it may not be an absolute answer which may require future inquiries if it is challenged.
For example...
A metal is removed from a hot fire. Your experience tells you it should be hot. Someone says it is not but it is actually cold.
Being an open minded person you'd put your hand near it to see if it is generating heat. You may touch it very briefly to see if it does in fact burn. Regardless of whether it is cold or hot, your open mindedness caused you to seek the answer.
Being narrow minded would be not checking the metal at all.
Being narrow minded could mean that they are right, but only they will know if they truly tested the evidence to support their claims.
Blind acceptance is not testing anything at all. These people can be dangerous.
2007-01-15 03:45:00 · answer #2 · answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My definition of an open minded individual is someone who looks at both sides of the story and tries to see both sides. Even if they have an opinion about something, they are willing to hear the other side and try to be understanding of it even if they don't agree completely. I don't necessarily think that someone who's not willing to change their mind is narrow minded. Some people have firm beliefs and opinions and good reasons for feeling like they do. Being open minded doesn't mean that you always agree with everyone. It just means that you are willing to listen and think about both sides.
2007-01-15 03:45:59 · answer #3 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you made an excellent point. For me being open minded means taking everything into consideration without judging. Maybe I don't agree but that doesn't mean I am right for what I believe. To me I am right but others may disagree, that's ok I don't get mad or try to prove anybody wrong. I used to do that but I learned many valuable lessons from being "close minded". I learned I am not always right.
2007-01-15 03:49:26 · answer #4 · answered by SuperSkinny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liberals like to claim they are "open minded" but take a look at how most libs blindly follow everything the democratic party spits out - without question! Liberals are by far the most sheep-like, closed minded, people I have ever had the displeasure of coming in contact with.
2007-01-15 03:40:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever tried a tomato? If you have, you are open minded. My four year old wont try anything, very closed minded. Meat noodles or starve.
I always read religious texts before I reject them. I also consider other sources on the subject as well.
2007-01-15 03:56:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An open-minded person may keep to his own principles or ideas but does not criticise others for having different views. If he has knowledge of other ideas etc., but still sticks to his own and isn't just ignorant and stubborn!. It's about accepting that others have the right to chose their own way of life, their own religion etc.
2007-01-15 03:46:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Open minded: "I have considered all options and I believe this to be the correct one"
Closed minded: "I believe this option to be the correct one, so there is no need for me to look at any others"
Open minded: "I have decided upon this option for now, but if someone gives me convincing evidence otherwise I will change my opinion"
Closed minded: "I have decided upon this option, and anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong"
2007-01-15 03:42:36 · answer #8 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Open-minded: Being willing to contemplate other ideas or ways of thinking and being willing to make changes to ones mind when presented with better or more factual data.
2007-01-15 03:43:22 · answer #9 · answered by Black Dragon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
open mindedness to me is when a person looks at every different possibility without being bias towards any particular side of an argument odr debate and therefore is able to obtain total knowledge and process it and totally understand and appreciate all points of view and then decide what to do with it when they are ready
2007-01-15 03:45:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋