What about being open minded?

Question

Not to generalize, but why do many who say they are open minded, are open minded usually only about every other belief besides Christianity? What does this mean? And is this spoken of in scripture? Additional: Please dont answer with because we "shove" religion, etc. If youre open minded, youre open minded, period, right?

Answer 1

You start any enquiry with an open mind. Once you have accumlated evidence you reach a conclusion. Been there done that.

Answer 2

Good question, and good point. What about being open minded to other ways of thinking?

It means really listening to the other point of view, and if possible, seeing where there are similarities and embracing them as true for both people in the discussion, and when there are differences, being able to express the fact that the differences are there with calm respect.

I was a Christian, now I am a pagan Witch. I understand that Christians say that it is a part of their religion to preach the gospels to others. I was there. The problem with that is that people generally don't like to be told that they are wrong, and Christianity, it seems to me, is a religion that basically says that you are either with us or you are against us, and there isn't a lot of mutuality. I have been told flat out that my spiritual path (Witchcraft) is fake and doesn't exist. I think that is not being very open minded. I don't say that about Christians.

As another person pointed out, Christianity is also rather singular in telling all non-Christians that they are going to suffer eternal torment in hell if they don't come around to their way of thinking. This doesn't promote a whole lot of willingness to be open minded, for who would want to embrace a faith that says such a terrible thing about one's own beliefs?

I know that there are very nice Christians who do some very good things in their communities. I am open minded to that! I just must respectfully disagree with much of the teachings that you evidently embrace.

Bright Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 3

That works both ways though. Many people who claim to be open minded seem only to say that to draw people into conversations and then push their own points of view.

I'm not saying that one group is better or worse in that regard. If you want to find open minded people you have to look to people from a variety of beliefs and expect a mix of open and closed minded from each.

The best way to fight clos minded people is to keep an open mind yourself and encourage the same kind of debate whenever possible.

Answer 4

I have tried to have open minded discussions with christians, but like everything in life it takes two to tango. One cannot have an open minded discussion with a closed minded person. Christians are so sure they are right and the rest of us are wrong that an open minded discussion is impossible.

Answer 5

To be totally honest, I think that many psychic wounds have been created in the name of Christianity. It is unfair to the religion, but many who have grown up in the Christian church or around people who have, and that includes most Americans, have had bad experiences in the name of that religion. I know that was the case for me. It took me several decades to get over my early experiences of Christianity. Finally, I can say that all religions have something to offer, and that there are Christians that I would like to know. That was not always the case.

Answer 6

I think Christianity and Islam are the only 2 I know of whose God instructs their followers to actively obtain converts Obviously the two religions use different methods of doing that. Just because Christianity is rejected does not mean the person wasn't open minded. I was open minded about JWs and Catholics and other sects until I studied them. Now I am close minded toward them. Unfortunately, many do the same with Christianity. Others only know a lot of false teaching about Christianity and naturally are against it as anyone would be over some of the things being taught by my religion.

Answer 7

I am open minded ... period
but being open minded doesnt mean agreeing with everything... it means considering everything and accepting what makes sense for you
that should go across the whole spectrum of beliefs .. including Christianity

my own personal thoughts on Christianity...
some of it does not make sense for me , but I can still take from the teachings of Jesus

Answer 8

I totally agree with you.It's kinda hyprocritical isnt it? They are "open minded " about drugs,homosexuality,fashion,and random things and some pointless things but always get angry about Christians! One guy screamed in my face in 9th grade that I was stupid because I was a Christian and not a democrat. I agree, people should be consistant, but no one's perfect!
It's annoying when people tell me to be more open-mined, I didnt say I was going to be did I?

Answer 9

I've never claimed to be open minded. The Lord made "one" way to receive Salvation, not two ways or three ways....One way (John 14:6 ). He did this to make it easy to find Him. Whereas, Satan makes many different ways, but they all lead to eternal death not life. I am very narrow-minded where my faith and soul is concerned. God's Word says what He means and means what He says. I never have to go outside of the principles of Christianity whose foundation is God's Word to find any answers for my life. Narrow is the way that leads to life and open / wide thinking is the way that leads to destruction
( Matthew 7:13-14 ).

Answer 10

I grew up in a catholic family, I read the bible ,studied and evidences showed me that christianity is a lie.
I cannot live a lie, I am a deist now. I believe in God, I do not believe it sends anyone to be torture in hell if they do not accept a particular religion. That is false ,injust, and I will never follow that type of God. My idea of a God is of a kind God, A GOD THAT will NOT send anyone to be TORTURED FOR THE ETERNITY!
I am sorry I have more compassion and love for people than that.

Answer 11

Unfortunately, some that I like to call extreme religious fanatics give Christianity a bad name and give people wrong perceptions. A lot of these fanatics are mean-spirited and judgmental. Not a true Christian at all. I believe in God but if I didn't, I definitely would not think about changing after listening to some of those fanatics.