When a Theist says that Atheists are "close minded", what does that mean?

Question

For example,

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsN20opa.DbAqjxSZBpI8xLd7BR.?qid=20070220095206AAEUrG9

What does that mean, "close minded".

Answer 1

~~~JD,,, To your first question,,,,"Deluded Irony".

Answer 2

It means you are blinded by your own wisdom, instead of exploring the facts.., the possibility of facts that exist that have not been discovered.

A fact undiscovered does not become a non fact. Certain classes of blindness for example were not discovered until they were validated - BUT - the causes remained the same despite the fact someone discovered it.

In religious circles this logic applies, and the best atheists can come up with is throwing the Easter Bunny into the equation, or asking some dimwit question about God creating something he cant fix. Close Minded, Narrow Minded, Retarded, take your pick. I'll even invent and sell a new expression to you for $50 if you'd like

Answer 3

I think it means that, in order to become a theist, you have to open your mind to the possibility that a deity exists even though there is no evidence to support such a claim. Now, to me that seems deeply silly (aren't, then, people who don't believe in Santa Claus awfully close minded, too?); however, I was recently informed in an email that because I am an atheist I am a bigot, which I am still trying to figure out the logic of.

Answer 4

I assume it means that they think atheists are unwilling to consider the theistic point of view. I doubt few realize that most atheists start out as theists and have given it a LOT more thought than they're given credit for.

Dang... I hate ending sentences with prepositions...

Anyway, me for instance, I was a Christian (a Catholic, to be exact) before I came to the realization that gods do not exist. I spent years really and truly feeling that I had a relationship with God. I prayed, I thanked, I confessed, etc etc. I read the Bible through and through. I went to religious education classes (R.E. classes) every Monday for years and years.

I don't know how they can say I've never considered their "side"... unless they start throwing around accusations without knowing what the heck they're talking about!

Answer 5

Sir,

The questions and answers one sees in this forum all too often represent a triumph of flippancy over rigor. These flippant persons that post obnoxious, vitriolic items obviously have not formally studied the matters being asked for several years. Rather they enjoy mockery and proving that they really have no value to add to the answer and too much wasted time on their hands.

The scriptures speak of such persons:

2Ti 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

For these reasons "...God gave them up to dishonorable passions." (Rom 1:26)

The best solution I can recommend for you is to ignore their vapid questions or comments. It is very easy to scan past them and focus your eyes on the substantive and cogent items. If you spend enough time in this Forum the persons prone to ill manners become known quickly, enabling the ignoring of their wasted efforts even easier.

I am frequently embarrassed by other Christians' answers. I feel a sense of dismay over the obvious lack of deeper learning that is evident by many of the responses. Most seem to want to just fire off whatever pops into their heads, streams of consciousness, etc., with no evidence of reasoned arguments and synthesis of the issues. Some of the questions are often shallow or just asked for point building or something.

Unfortunately, many very good Christians have not spent enough time trying to learn and understand the theologies of the faith. Many also lack formal training in biblical hermeneutics, so they may misunderstand the full meanings of the texts they frequently quote.

I am not advocating that everyone get degrees in theology, only that they spend some time studying materials outside the scriptures so that their faith will be solidly grounded.

Just keep asking questions in an objective manner and you will sometimes get useful responses. As a formally trained theologian and a Ph.D. in engineering, I try to answer well formulated questions on both sides of the issues with reasoned theological, philsophical, and logical responses.

Answer 6

It's really very ironic. Most atheists are open to new ideas and at least consider different things. Most atheists have considered theism, given it a thorough examination and rejected it. Have the theists given serious consideration to atheism? I didn't think so. So who's closed minded?

Answer 7

Basically that you're stuck to your opinion and won't consider anything else. Not sure how it would be used in relation to the referenced question, as I couldn't find it.

I would say that theists are more likely to be "close minded" than atheists. I certainly would rethink my view if hard evidence was presented.

Answer 8

If you're referring to what I said, then close-minded means "un-open to other ideas". Meaning that that particular person has made their mind up about something and refuses to think that anything else is possible. That they would go to the grave thinking that. I wasn't referring to all atheists, just what the question asked. That is MY definition, not Webster's. If you have explored other ideas and think that what you believe is right, then I am not referring to you, you have obviously been open to it until then. I was referring to those who refuse to think that there could be anything else out there.

Answer 9

When someone says you're closed minded, it you can't see things from their point of view. But we are all closed minded in one way or another. We have to be in order to maintain our sanity and function in the world. Sometimes, we can think outside of the box, but we all have a box that we retreat to. Some boxes are just bigger than others.

Answer 10

Probably the same as when an atheist condemns a theist for the same thing. In other words, if you don't believe what I believe, then you're close minded.

Answer 11

Oh, about the same thing an atheist means when they say a thesist is close minded.

"You won't change your mind to follow what I believe in and I don't respect you enough to allow you the right to believe in what you do believe in. Therefor, I dub thee close minded."