2007-04-24 00:59:12 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the United States, at least, clearly not believing requires more open-mindedness. In a culture this overwhelmingly drenched in religion and the supernatural, atheism is a real intellectual and moral accomplishment.
2007-04-24 01:02:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 2⤋
Religion promotes close-mindedness, by its very nature. It uses emotional manipulation and childhood indoctrination to bind people to the group. It reinforces group-think, portraying those who are "saved" as good and those outside the group as evil, ignorant, or lost.
Being an atheist means not being under the structure of a religion. You have to go and figure out more things yourself.
That said, there are open-minded theists and close-minded atheists. However, from what I've seen, that is not the trend.
There are other institutions that also promote close-mindedness, such as nationalism. Blind nationalism can be just as divisive as religion. You see its effect many places in the world today, usually on both sides of a war. Still, I think it trails religion in its harmful effect on the world.
2007-04-24 01:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by nondescript 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
When God is not visible to the human eye, it takes open-mindedness to search Him out. I was raised in the North American culture and Christianity was promoted in my city, but I didn't believe - until I decided to make a serious attempt at finding out for myself.
For me, it doesn't take open-mindedness to say "I don't see God, therefore He doesn't exist".
2007-04-24 01:08:29 · answer #3 · answered by Laura S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
not believing god need more open-mindedness. atheist require a lot of reasoning and considering a lot of knowledge to draw conclusion.
2007-04-24 01:07:32 · answer #4 · answered by eddyg30 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Bet I can answer this without writing an essay (and boring the living tripe out of people by cut & pasting...).
Not believing requires an open mind.
Believing requires being told, often repeatedly, often under threat that something Is.
Not believing is something you can do without any outside interference.
2007-04-24 01:27:53 · answer #5 · answered by Orac 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Wow. I just read a responce that said to have an open mind without believe in God keeps things open for critisim. What an oxy- moran!
I am very greatfull that I don't have a critical open mind.
Let's take a look at open mindedness a minute.
I belong to a faith that the very foundation is where a virgin gave birth in a barn and she put her baby in a farm aminal food trough.
He fed 10,000 people on five loaves of bread and two fish after is cousin was murdered, then that night walked on water.
He turned water into the best top quality wine.
Then later preached against drunkeness.
He was murdered by society when He commited no crime and tore the very fabric of religion in half, then in full body came back to Life.
Thousands of wars were waged over thier faith in Him, and Millions died.
After His death millions were healed just over the mention of His name.
Laws were written and dissolved over Him 2000 years later.
Crimes are commited and prosicuted in His name.
Yet those that don't believe get to say that none of it ever happened. We believe in lies. Were are cannibles for taking communion.
We build houses for the homeless, feed the hungry, heal the sick and travel hundreds and thousands of miles to do it.
We pray for those that mock and hurt us. We provide anwsers for those that critisize and we don't give up.
We face each and every day knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are loved and protected even when things go wrong.
If we turn our backs and denounce Him we are shocked and remorceful when we find out that He waited for us to change our mind. When we find out that we have to start all over again we are joyful for it.
I would say that is pretty opened minded.
2007-04-24 01:22:26 · answer #6 · answered by Gwynn T 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
If you can believe in any God can you believe in all Gods, even the little wee tiny ones?
Is that not what being open minded about it would require?
I doubt if anybody could do that.
2007-04-24 01:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by U-98 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The concept of religion itself breeds a dependent relationship, and just a little taste of the ideas of redemption and eternal life could get someone looking for guidance and absolution hooked. I think to break the habit, and to take control of your own life, takes an extremely open mind...and it's completely liberating when you get there.
2007-04-24 01:42:58 · answer #8 · answered by Sookie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably "not" believing.
But I would have to submit that I know some "believers" who are really decent, non-Bible-thumping, open-minded people.
"Believing" does not automatically mandate a narrow mind.
On the other hand, I also admit to knowing a lot of pretty ultra-fundamentalist, narrow-minded "believers."
But I do think there are an infinite number of possibilities. Believing doesn't mean you lose your high brain functions.
2007-04-24 01:07:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would say not believing because not everything comes to one conclusion. You also have to accept that somethings you know may not be the final conclusion. It comes down to this sentance which which I tend to go by:
"You never explain an unknown with an even greater unknown".
2007-04-24 01:06:25 · answer #10 · answered by truckin_with_christ 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋