Whats wrong with being open minded?

Question

I see and hear a lot of people giving their opinion, while blatantly disregarding others' opinions... i just want to know whats wrong with being open minded? There could be a point, a fact that contradicts your own... yet makes sense.
if it doesnt make sense to you, it makes sense to SOMEONE. there has to be a reason right? that 'someone' wouldnt believe for no reason at all...

So im just wondering. why not read others answers/opinions and state your facts, instead of turning a blind eye to anything they say and just trying to degrade them... they may well have a valid point.

I dont want people telling me that" people should me more open minded... how true. yay..."... Bullshit.

I want people who ARENT open minded to come and answer this. because i KNOW you have a reason for your views and opinions... and i want to know. Dont insult me. teach me. it may that you are correct and there is NO reason to be openminded at all..

so let the lesson commence...

Shame

@gobragomagh: good point... i see what you mean. Makes you think... but one thing i believe in... is however right you THINK you are... it may not be true.

Am i spineless?

@BabyBoi: I dont know how the Bible works... but i do know that in the Q'uran... people are encouraged to read, explore and learn.
This is because the Qu'rans claims to have a logical explanation fo everything... so it has nothing to lose by allowing people to learn. I believe the first word revealed was "read", which in many cases is interpreted as "to gain knowledge and learn (through reading)".

If you can research on the churches lack of freedom, and provide me with some authentic links; i'd be interested to learn more.

So the main points here:

>>If i am open minded it means i cannot think for myself OR i have no beliefs.

>> IF i have a belief i MUST close my mind so that a belief that may potentially be correct and logical may not enter my mind.

Answers:

1. I have beliefs... but i am open to the fact that there may be something out there that may more correct. If there is something that I can find no fault with... and i believe blindly... even then i try to understand others' opinions, and WHY they believe THEIRS so blindly. I dont close my eyes and walk past. Because there MUST be a reason for them to believe as well...

2. The 1st answer pretty much answers this one as well.

@ Lex: Your point is valid... and makes sense to me.

But to me... I can never be satisfied knowing that something out there might be more correct. If I find something that is perfect... i am satisfied. But if what I find has even the slightest flaw in it... I keep my mind open for other possibilities.

Its a matter of choose to believe, instead of try and find the truth.

Thats my humble opinion.

A valid point though my friend. I am not trying to make you open-minded. Im trying to figure out why you aren't.

@ froy: I never thought of it like that. wow... that is a seriously good answer.
But then... why are people closing their minds... if they believe their opinion is SO correct...

because if it IS correct, then there should be no fear of it contradicting with anything. and if it DOES contradict with something... it probably wasnt worth believing in...

@ primoa1970: you will listen... but will you try and understand? or will your beliefs stop you or forbid you from trying to understand anything that may prove it wrong?

If your belief is the correct one. It will allow you to freely learn other of beliefs, without fear of being contradicted and losing.

As I said above... if it CAN be contradicted... it doesnt deserve to be believed in the first place.

Answer 1

I am open minded with certain things......

But not things that cannot be changed......like the truth about my salvation.

I will most certainly listen to a person of another faith talk all they want. But it will never change the truth of Scripture.

Answer 2

When it comes to religion, I am close minded. I should be. I believe Jesus is The Truth like He said. There is only one truth. Other religions deny this, so how could I possibly agree? God has given us definite rights and wrongs.

You know, many Muslims are teaching that the Holocaust did not occur. Are you open minded enough to believe this despite the proof, history, witnesses, survivors? Some people say we never landed on the moon? Do you think that may be true? You have to stand for something or you will fall for anything. Close your mind to keep out the garbage!

God Bless.

Answer 3

I'm probably about the least opened minded person you can get. You're not the first person who's declared I have to be more opened minded. :) But I always think, "How open minded can you possibly be without having your brain fall out?"

I am that way, because I believe there is right and wrong in this world. Good and evil. Musashi once said, "Even if you strive on your chose path day after day if your heart is not accord with it, this is not a genuine path... If you do not follow a geniune path unto it's cosumation, a little crookedness could later become a major warp."

So, I find myself a good path. I place my feet down on the path, and I follow it, with both passion and conviction.

Answer 4

Everything is black and white. Open minded or not a persons belief is inevitably based upon the company they wish to keep. There is nothing at all wrong with being open minded, the problem is taking your thoughts and putting them into action and prove that being open minded is worth the while for your own life.

Answer 5

Our minds are like a computer. Without firewalls, virus protection, spam and spyware, anything can get in.
We must be very careful as to what we allow in our minds.

There are things I watched more than 20 years ago on Television that still pops into my head as I pray. (not good)

There are things I listened to that almost got me off course because I was mad at my spiritual leaders at the time and almost wound up completely back on drugs and alcohol.

Being open minded is dangerous. We must prayerfully listen, consider, and measure everything by Gods Word.

Answer 6

I am not open minded and I will tell you why. To me, it is a choice that is forced upon me by mankind - be open minded towards God and let Him tell me how I need to live my life, or be open minded towards mankind and let them tell me how I need to live my life. The two are exclusionary. Look at how much people rail against Scripture when it is posted on Y!A. If I listen to God and then tell people what God says, then they react just as those who refused to listen to the prophets of old did. I am willing to sit down and study Scripture with anyone, but if what they say is not based in Scripture but in man's wisdom, I immediately throw all that they said out. Remember, you can not serve two masters and all those who Try will be vomited out.

The Bible tells me to study it. I read and study and constantly go back to the original languages to find out what it says. To me, the Word is Jesus, so I am constantly going to Him to seek knowlegde, wisdom, and understanding.

Answer 7

Your point is valid on every level. We should have open minds, as well as open hearts to others and their opinions. Human nature rebels against righteousness so often that we tend to brush aside the small voice of reason and common values of sense. Sadly, most of us have contradicted ourselves at least twice, and are guilty of being hypocrites. For the most part we try hard to be open to new things. I know it's not just me.

Answer 8

So couldn't it be possible that people are not as closed minded as you believe them to be? Isn't it just possible that I might be open minded enough to listen and consider your point of view and still choose to believe what I believe? Just because someone can't change my opinion doesn't mean I am not open minded. It just might mean that they don't have the answer.

Answer 9

Don't you know that thinking is a sin and you will burn in hell for all eternity just for even suggesting that someone have an open mind? Don't you know the bible does not tolerate thinking, especially rational and logical thinking at that? You can not have faith if you use your brain, because it might contradict something (however logical it may be) in the bible or other teachings that are spewed to control the masses.

lol...damn fundies....if they are right...well i want to be wrong then

Answer 10

Being open minded has different degrees and depends on ones moral values and judgment. I consider myself an open minded person as long as I don't cross the limit of common sense.

Answer 11

I am very open-minded. I dont believe that this life and this world and what I see with my eyes, Is it. I am open to the idea of something bigger, better and far more advanced for our brains.

I respect other's religions, opinions. I dont respect, However, being called close-minded by someone who doesn't even know what it means.