to new concepts and ideas and notions? Not just about religion but about everything.
2007-12-14 09:37:30 · 21 answers · asked by DavinaOpines 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
One of my lecturers used to say 'an open mind is as a closed mind until it's made up'. In other words, you don't really know how truly open minded you are until one of your fundamental beliefs is challenged. How you react to that proves whether you honestly have an open mind or not. It's easy to be open minded about something when you have no strong feelings about it anyway.
2007-12-14 09:45:00 · answer #1 · answered by skuleathome 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I examine every significant idea extensively before deciding. Once I have decided, I hold fast to my decision. If I see contrary evidence, I examine it, and if it is worthy, I change my mind. Each and every one of us has to develop SOME ideas that we hold fast. If we didn't, we wouldn't be able to operate. The ideas we have decided on aren't always readily apparent. They become part of our set of presuppositions. A person should never just accept something because they pride themselves in having an open mind. The term "open mind" is really a judgmental term. If you're not at least partly gullible, some people would say you don't have an open mind. As another person put it here, my mind is not so open my brains fall out! That's what I usually tell people as well.
2007-12-14 14:33:13 · answer #2 · answered by Pat G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll use one of my favorite quotes for this one.
"It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas.... If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you.... On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones" - Carl Sagan, 1987.
2007-12-14 14:08:08 · answer #3 · answered by Chaine de lumière 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I see someone refer to an open Mind; Interpretation;
They want to fill it with their Filth;------- Lord set a Watch on these Eyes-- Ears and Tongue,that You have Blessed Me with,that I might be Pleasing unto You;
2007-12-14 11:58:08 · answer #4 · answered by section hand 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's open, but not enough to allow my brain to fall out.
The phrase "open-minded" is seriously abused by New Agers who think just because something can be imagined it can be possible. There are limits to what is possible. Many people aren't open-minded to this fact.
It is healthy to be open-minded, but if you are too much you are in danger of being duped by charlatans. One must use one's power of reason and evaluate claims for plausibility.
2007-12-14 09:42:51 · answer #5 · answered by Peter D 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Very. I'm quite happy to throw new information into the colander of my consciousness, and sift out that which I think is reasonable and that which I think is not.
2007-12-14 09:41:26 · answer #6 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Open, but with a discerning heart.
Then, once something has been PROVEN to be true, my mind shuts on that. Something MUST be proven true first.
2007-12-14 10:08:02 · answer #7 · answered by Jed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd like to think/believe my mind is open...but sometimes I am a bit set in my ways/inflexible...I am generally always willing to listen regardless. PEACE!
2007-12-14 09:41:29 · answer #8 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
when you are open to the ways around you,
you become more in accord with your own.
2007-12-14 09:41:38 · answer #9 · answered by Oracle Blackrose ( Pagan ) 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Open, but not so much that I believe everything I am told.
2007-12-14 09:41:25 · answer #10 · answered by Becca 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋