Why do Christians say that non-believers are closed minded?

Question

I heard this morning on the t.v.(I know) that non-believers were closed minded. How about Christians being closed mind to others that don't believe in there God.I don't mean all Christians just the few that say you are going to hell for this and need to repent. I don't tell others they are doomed for not believing in my Gods and Goddess, why should they?

I did say not all Christians just the few

Answer 1

Ok first off, not ALL Christians think that. I'm Christian and I don't think all non-believers are close-minded. I think that people can still change their mind if they have enough knowledge at their disposal. Please don't let the high horse of one person make the rest of us look bad.

Answer 2

Why do non-Christians make such sweeping generalizations? Oh, you say that is just your opinion, not perhaps the opinion of ALL non-believers (your term, not mine). Well, what you heard on tv this morning was the opinion of perhaps ONE Christian, not all. Do not take the views of someone who says they are a certain religion, and assume that everyone of that religion feels or believes the same way. There are crackpots and extremists in every religion. How can you post a question like this and expect an answer? Anyone who would admit to being "closed minded" are not going to answer you, and the rest of us may answer but can't tell you anything because no one knows how another person thinks or why they think that way.

Answer 3

Well, to be fair, some Christians are narrow-minded. Many of them have this set dogma, and when someone comes along and challenges it (even if it's scriptural) they do the adult equivalent of putting their fingers in their ears and shouting "LA LA LA I can't hear you!"

On the other hand, some non-believers are quite narrow-minded as well. Here are a couple examples (taken from the answers you've received here, even):
Christians were brainwashed at an early age to believe in their book of fairy tales.
Answer: What about the Christians, like myself, who became one later in life? What about the Christians who thought the Bible was a book of fairy tales growing up, but as they did more research into it later, they found that it was TRUE? What about the Christians who were raised atheists, by atheists?
"LA LA LA I can't hear you!"

Christians believe that their religion is the only true one, hence the narrow-mindedness.

No, we believe the words of Jesus Himself. We believe that He is who He said He is. Jesus said that the only way to the Father is through Him. Either Jesus was telling the truth, or He was a charlatan, a liar, and probably more than a little crazy. (Claiming to be the Son of God?) So which is it?

Anyway, my point is, BOTH sides tend to be narrow-minded sometimes. I've met plenty of narrow-minded atheists, and lots of narrow-minded Christians. I could write a book on it.

So basically, though it was wrong of the person on TV to generalize, it's at least partly true.

Answer 4

If I tell you the sky is plaid, is it close-minded of you to continue insisting it's blue? We are being told that there is an invisible man living in the sky who loves us so much He just might have to fry us in Hell for all eternity for using His name in vain. We are told that the Bible is truth, and God's word. Then we point out Biblical qoutes like this:

Exodus 21:20-21 – "If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property."

We are then told that the Bible isn't to be taken literally, and is open to interpretation. This is ridiculous: Do you want your doctor to loosely interperet the results of clinical trials when assigning one to you as a treatment plan? Do you want your surgeon to believe that human anatomy is open to interpretation when he's making that vital first cut? The rational answer to both questions is, "no." This is because truth is what truth is, and not dependant on how you feel about it. The sky is blue. Not plaid. So what if you don't like blue?

A close mind is one that clings to a belief dispite evidence to the contrary. It is a fact that prayers are answered at exactly the same rate as random chance. This is despite the Bible telling us: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." How many cancer patients are faithful followers and pray for help daily? Also, why only pray for themselves, when they can (if the Bible is truth) just as easilly rid the entire world of cancer? Because the Bible isn't truth. Plus, how much "interpreting" do you have to do before you realize that you're making this all up as you go?

That's something only close-minded people would do. So I'd say the opposite is the truth: It's the believers who possess a closed mind. As human beings, we have the potential for vast knowledge and intellect. It's a shame to see that self-arrested.

Answer 5

ok, for starters, the ability to be open minded dosent mean you have to change... just be able to accept some good questions and constructive criticism...

secondly... Christians are raised at an early age to "Love" this supreme being in a large book of fairy tales... i found it wierd when i grew up... but i guess most christians never grow up...

and lastly, Christians are the close-minded ones... they claim to have "all the answers", but they never accurately explain their rubbish logic... all they can do i quote a book... an ancient book that's messages were lost in translation YEARS AGO... so the day that a christian comes to me and accurately explains the LOGIC in religion is the day that hell(if you're religious) freezes over...

-EDIT- what's wrong claudia? can you even attempt to answer the question? or just dodge it like every other logical question thrown into the ring?

Answer 6

Open mindedness is in seeing the possibilities within reason, not in all out belief or non-belief. I think people have different ideas about what is within reason. I doubt that will change. I think many people are also stuck on auto-pilot and fixed on what they were taught. Anything else they label false and trickery. I'm not sure if that covers the question or not but it's one of many many reasons some (I have to stress some, not all) Christians and some of other faiths as well, might be stuck in that state of mind.

Answer 7

They believe others are closed minded because their religion, according to their religion, is the only correct religion. Hmmmmm, that sounds awfully closed minded to me. You are totally correct... they are the closed minded ones, and they often project that onto other people. They confuse 'not agree with' with being closed minded.

Answer 8

Because we protest their interference in our lives. They actually think they are doing it for our own good. Rather like the US attacking Iraq. They did it for Iraq's good right? In the meantime, they've ruined their infrastructure, people are dying, and people are sick. Yeah... so much good there. NOT

Christians don't like to be told to butt out. So, when they are told to do so, they call us closed minded.

Answer 9

Atheists arent brain washed at an early age. Christians are. They "Believe" that they are the best. Sad really.

Answer 10

Perhaps.... you missed SOMETHING.... in the Sermon?

(2Corinthians 4:3-4) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

(2Co 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Real CHRISTIANS.... do not .... go to .... Hell! ONLY... False.... ONES!

Thanks, RR