Does Being Religious Close The Mind To The World Around You?

Question

It's been a long standing moan of Atheists and Agnosts that one of the things they hate about religion is the closed mindset of it's followers.

I posted a question yesterday to see how religious followers would respond. As you can see from the answers, there is a total stone walling against any ideas covering the possibility of other gods, and indeed there was a particularly low response.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgqcePU3I_tKiYvMqvVMG1kgBgx.?qid=20070723080252AA4YneF

In light of that, I'd like to ask:

Does being religious close your mind to the outside world and limit your comprehension of understanding in any way?

As per usual, this is not a dig, it's meant to be thought provoking.

Answer 1

I am a practising Christian and I'm also a Historian, so in reality as a historian I need proof before I recognise the authenticity of something. However as a Christian my belief in God is true, but I see the Bible as a series of metaphors that are intertwined with actual events. For example the healing of disease by Jesus can be interpreted as as the healing of the soul rather than the healing of the body.

Answer 2

It's a strange paradox but I've found the same thing. It seems that Christians at least become more close minded and can not consider other ideas and concepts about God etc. A paradox because the root of their religion goes way outside normal perceptions and life experience into the total unknown and way beyond any ones understanding. A true Christian has to take on board an incredible and vast, spectacular unknown, incredible ideas that can't be rationalised and accept what seems impossible. Yet often Christians consistently show very limited and uniform ideas, not at all what you would expect from someone involved with the great unknown.

Answer 3

I think the only brick walling is yours you asked a specific question in rather insulting terms, but you got some very good answers.
You did not ask about the world around you so how can you claim that other peoples eyes are closed. I do not know what you expected. As a Christian I gave an honest answer: All other God's are false if this is true why should I delve int a hypothetical question
I think your own question failed in it's attempt to arouse people to thought. Your point of it having long been a question for Agnostics and Atheists is only partly true. So far as Atheists are concerned there is no God. A stone wall here if ever there was. Agnostic's are looking for God but at best have failed to find him.

Answer 4

Well, undoubtedly some religious people *are* close-minded, but so are many atheists/agnostics.

I think the problem is that the vast majority of people start from an assumption and try to defend it. For example many people, like say, Richard Dawkins start from the assumption "there is no God" and then use science etc. to explain the world. However explaining the world does not necessarily mean there is no God. Equally many people start from the assumption "there is a God" and use everything that they can find to defend this viewpoint.

The fundamental flaw is that the vast majority of people take every piece of evidence and slot it into their beliefs, rather than take a step back and say "is this really for or against God?" We need to take a step back and make a rational decision.

So in answer to your question, no - being religious does not necessarily make you close-minded. Some people are close-minded and this keeps them religious; others are close-minded and this keeps their belief in no God. Ultimately we need to be open minded, and then stay that way, whether we become religious or not.

Answer 5

No, bible prophecy demands that we see how it is fulfilled by events that happen around us. For instance we warned about the " last days " @ 2Tim 3:1-5.. we living it now. So No, one is not closed minded to the world around us.
We Today can be thankful that the apostles of Jesus Christ asked him the question: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” (Matthew 24:3) Their question led to his giving a lengthy, detailed prophecy the accuracy of which leaves us amazed as we see the progress of its fulfillment in this eventful twentieth century. This aids us in determining with certainty where we are in the outworking of God’s purpose toward suffering mankind.
As for other gods, the Hindu's have 3 million Primary gods, what else is new?

Answer 6

Yes, to be drawn into a religion might (not always) close your mind. Usually, for those who is religious, religion is one of the most important thing and they often see the 'white' in their religion. Many (not all) follow what their religion said without considering their surrounding and people around them- about how they feel and how they think.

Answer 7

Christianity is a faith that demands a thought process, in Matthew 22:37 we are asked to love God with 'all our mind' not just blind faith. In 1 Peter 3:15 we are encouraged to have a reasoned answer for the beliefs we hold, not just 'because the Bible says so'. In Isaiah 1:18 we are asked to accept that God wants to reason with us, implying that we are able to reason because we are reasonable people made in His image. Nowhere that I've read in the Bible does it tell us simply believe blindly, but to use our brains and our reasoning to see the truth.
Christianity is faith not religion but the answer stands.

Answer 8

its a double edged sword, religion is great it makes people happy and gives them hope, but on the other hand people constantly fight over it claiming, they have the right idea about it. It closes off lots of people because they let it close them off, you can be very open yet still religious.

Answer 9

I believe you understand the world much better. Say, you are looking from outside the box. Wouldn't it be a lot easier to see the whole thing?

Answer 10

you know if you say religious tome it means each has a religion on which he has worked his brains for positive answers.This way his mind remains open and is not closed . he can observe the world social better and get his own conclusions at what is happening to religions thrust on you.OK my dear.