posting this here because i know at least one of you will find fault with it
a) open/closed mindedness is not an absolute; you can be completly closed minded when it comes to theories of God, yet, after losing your house keys, be very receptive (open) to your mates suggestions as to what-the-fuck happened to them.
b) the sceintific method is open minded. However, the sceintists that try to follow this doctrine are also people, and therefore, they are also prone to 'mistakes'
c) its probably false to assume that athiests are open-minded.
take me as an example, I might well make the very open-minded statement: "I'll believe in God when I am presented with satisfactory evidence".... but what does "satisfactory evidence" here mean?
I think, in honesty, this very point demonstrates my own closed-mindedness.
If a giant hand came down from the sky and professed to be god I would not accept such a claim. Instead, I would try to work out whether it is a magic trick, or ask myself whether I am sane (have i taken hallogenic drugs?, for example), or wonder whether it is aliens (since the idea of tech-advanced aliens seems far more logically plausible than the existance of god.)
Bascially, I would consider any plausible account in a desperate search to avoid the obvoius conclusion; god exists.
Its like Sagens dragon*, just reversed:
them "in my garage, there is dragon"
me "prove it"
them "here, it breathe fire!"
me "thats not proof, fire happens all the time"
them "but you can fucking see it!"
me "yeah, but I am actually insane, so i'm going to see a whole load of shit that doesn't actually exist"
them "but millions of people have seen my dragon"
me "well then, millions of people are insane"
...and so on,,,
*http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/Dragon.htm
You fail to earn the benefit of the doubt in this situation from the opinions on this site. In regards to your accusation that I am a "closed-minded anti-theist," I'm very open to evidence of the existence of a deity. But until I have been presented with any evidence for the existence of some sort of high power with purpose and intent, I will not believe in a higher power. That would be like me calling you a "Bible-thumping Neo-conservative icetwat." No need to resort to ad hominem attacks here, sweety.
In regards to your accusation that I am a "closed-minded anti-theist," I'm very open to evidence of the existence of a deity. But until I have been presented with any evidence for the existence of some sort of high power with purpose and intent, I will not believe in a higher power.
That would be like me calling you a "Bible-thumping Neo-conservative icetwat." No need to resort to ad hominem attacks here, sweety.
Quote: from Forever Angel at 9:53 pm on July 8, 2009 Quote: from Event Horizon at 8:47 pm on July 8, 2009 More-so that you seem unwaveringly unreceptive to any logical arguments against God. And when you have exhausted your real --and often times interesting-- arguments, you insist that you are still right, and that everyone else is missing something... Maybe not though, like I said; don't know. Did you not say this... Quote: from Event Horizon at 7:54 pm on July 8, 2009 If you consider a possibility then you are open minded. you needn't necessarily accept that it is plausible. One can deny that something is valid, and still be called open-mined. ??? I did. I do not believe that you actually consider the options though. Like I said, maybe you are open minded; but from what I've seen from you, I get the feeling that you hear arguments and just find as much opposing ideas to throw at it before finally you just say "Bah, it's wrong". I'm not sure you actually consider that it might be a valid point...
Quote: from Event Horizon at 8:47 pm on July 8, 2009 More-so that you seem unwaveringly unreceptive to any logical arguments against God. And when you have exhausted your real --and often times interesting-- arguments, you insist that you are still right, and that everyone else is missing something... Maybe not though, like I said; don't know. Did you not say this... Quote: from Event Horizon at 7:54 pm on July 8, 2009 If you consider a possibility then you are open minded. you needn't necessarily accept that it is plausible. One can deny that something is valid, and still be called open-mined. ???
More-so that you seem unwaveringly unreceptive to any logical arguments against God. And when you have exhausted your real --and often times interesting-- arguments, you insist that you are still right, and that everyone else is missing something... Maybe not though, like I said; don't know.
Maybe not though, like I said; don't know.
Quote: from Event Horizon at 7:54 pm on July 8, 2009
If you consider a possibility then you are open minded. you needn't necessarily accept that it is plausible. One can deny that something is valid, and still be called open-mined.
I did. I do not believe that you actually consider the options though. Like I said, maybe you are open minded; but from what I've seen from you, I get the feeling that you hear arguments and just find as much opposing ideas to throw at it before finally you just say "Bah, it's wrong". I'm not sure you actually consider that it might be a valid point...
Your hopes will fall short. I'm not going on a wild-goose chase through the cacophony of posts to find times that have affected my decision that you are theologically closed-minded, just so you can try to show me why I'm wrong lol I'm not sure my opinion on the matter is that important to me that I want to try to prove it...You may very well not be; the effort is not worth a definitive answer on the matter.
I'm not sure my opinion on the matter is that important to me that I want to try to prove it...You may very well not be; the effort is not worth a definitive answer on the matter.
And your admission of it being a "wild goose chase" would further bolster my thoughts.
I personally DO believe that you are closed-minded; based on many of the things I've seen you argue for/against. Maybe not in all cases, but certainly in many--mostly [if not all] pertaining to theology. Rejection of evidence and support without base is certainly closed minded; and I personally believe that you do that from time to time.
Maybe not in all cases, but certainly in many--mostly [if not all] pertaining to theology. Rejection of evidence and support without base is certainly closed minded; and I personally believe that you do that from time to time.
Lol at answer.com definitions Anyway. It is stupid to restrict open-mindedness to "favorably receiving new ideas" since I may not favorably receive them. I will certainly entertain a new idea; but if I find it wanting or contradictory, it would not be closed minded for me to say so.
Anyway. It is stupid to restrict open-mindedness to "favorably receiving new ideas" since I may not favorably receive them. I will certainly entertain a new idea; but if I find it wanting or contradictory, it would not be closed minded for me to say so.
I would not automatically consider you closed-minded, then. So, where does that leave us?
edit: or worse.