Is it admirable to never change your mind?

Question

Are you impressed with those who claim that no matter what they learn or experience, they will continue to believe X?

X=God does(n't) exist, evolution is (un)true, etc...

Answer 1

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We should always be open to new evidence and better information and prepared to adjust our stances accordingly. A closed mind is a dead mind. Stubbornly clinging to an opinion just for the sake of appearing consistent is not a virtue, but neither is changing one's opinion with each new person spoken to. If I find out today that something I said yesterday was false, tomorrow I will alter my view to match my new understanding.

Answer 2

Only if you are correct.

Look at the facts, many believe in Darwins origin of the species, but science is proving it false, facts such as the Cambrian explosion would change Darwin's mind in a heart beat.

People tend to believe what they are taught or what they hear from society and leave it at that instead of actually learning the true facts of the matter.

I would say have an open mind until you are sure of the truth and then you can close it if you wish.

I would never believe some teacher (High school or college) that makes 20 to 40 grand less than I do an knows no more about it than you can read in a book.

Answer 3

In adults, these thigs are pretty fixed. I change my mind about whether George Bush is a less than desirable president or the worst president the country has ever had sometimes, but I don't change the fact that I'm a Christian and a DEMOCRAT. Yes. Really.

Edit: okay sorry to be so cranky. I don't know what came over me. As far as evolution, it's a scientific theory. We can't get so attached to scientific ideas that they prevent us from recognizing when a better idea comes along.

Answer 4

Even the Catholic Church (before there were 100s of protestant religions at every street corner) changed their minds when it was proven that the Earth REVOLVES AROUND the SUN.

I think it is stupid, idiotic, and very narrow/closed minded to think that your first belief is always right. To me that is a sign of a close minded fool. If a mother-to-be goes to an ultrasound and is told she will have a son, and she tells all her friends that she will have a son, but a daughter is born, will she still tell her friends that she had a son with a vagina, OR will she fess up and say the ultrasound was wrong and she had a daughter.

Answer 5

Not really. Progress will never be made if people have that attitude. You've got to leave some space open in your mind for other possibilities.

Of course, I do also understand that to some people X may be the closest to the truth at this point. I'm sure if Y comes along and proves X is completely false, most people would change their views.

Answer 6

well i think ppl must be open to new ideas and approaches to how the world actually works. That doesn't mean that you can't trash your old beliefs or blindly look away from new theories. Personally, I think god and evolution can coexist to some extent....which deserves an explanation longer than this answer can be....but I think the universe is extremely complex and even Einstein once said: "God does not play dice."

Answer 7

Life changes too much to be too stubborn to sway on any single topic. Take the knowledge and facts you have and apply it to your life. No one should ever shut out learning more. There's a difference between standing up for what you believe to be true and believing something to be true in spite of evidence to the contrary.

Answer 8

In my opinion it isn't impressive to believe in one thing whole heartedly no matter what. I think it's not intelligent on certain topics to believe something regardless of evidence to the opposite. People need to learn and think and question their beliefs or else they can become tools to those with higher agendas. So no I don't believe it's impressive at all to believe something with no uncertainty.

Answer 9

I don't know.

When I was younger, i was so sure I would never ever change my mind on certain issues. Black was black and white was white. And then i grew up.

And I learned that we need to listen, really listen, to all sides of the issue and maybe, be willing make sacrifices or change our minds.

But there are some things that are, and will always be wrong and right.

GREAT QUESTION!!

Answer 10

I don't know about admirable but I think its impossible to never change your mind. And no I'm not impressed with that.
I'm a christian and so obviously believe in God, but am still able to admit that even I question it at times and have wondered if I'm wrong. (Is this normal christian behavior?)