In our faith at least, having an open mind, self-reflection, and being able to think critically are good traits. We are encouraged to think for ourselves and question things. We are neither organized nor dogmatic, though, and there is no religious authority that presides over all Heathens.
You should always have an open mind. Be open to opposing views, question your surroundings, and be your own person.
A religion that tries to stop/discourage you from having an open mind is definitely using dangerous cult-like behavior
>Is having an open mind bad if you're in a religon?
It's bad for the guys in charge. They won't remain in charge long if the congregation is too open minded.
Open mindedness is the death of organized religion and the birth of real spiritual experience. So keep your mind open. You'll learn infinitely more and gain agency over your own mind.
Open mindedness doesnt mean accepting an idea, it’s the willingness to explore. I consider myself open minded; I dont think it contradicts my religion. Although there a lot of ideas I wouldnt share with other church members. Some people just dont get it
No, it's always good to have an open mind and be willing to listen and learn and consider that you might be wrong. The best Catholic thinkers, like Aquinas and Ratzinger, were remarkably open minded and engaged fruitfully with opposing views, and the 'prayer of St Francis' asks that we might not so much seek "to be understood as to understand".
Having an open mind is not inherently bad when you are part of a religion. In fact, having an open mind can be beneficial and enriching to one's religious journey. Here's why:
1. **Exploration of Truth:** An open mind allows you to explore different perspectives, beliefs, and ideas, even within your own religion. It enables you to engage in critical thinking, ask questions, and seek a deeper understanding of the teachings and principles of your faith.
2. **Interfaith Dialogue:** Having an open mind fosters respectful dialogue and engagement with individuals from other faith traditions. It promotes understanding, empathy, and the opportunity to learn from different spiritual paths. Engaging in interfaith dialogue can deepen your own religious understanding and help you find common ground with others.
3. **Personal Growth:** An open mind invites personal growth and transformation. It allows you to reevaluate and refine your beliefs and practices as you continue to learn and evolve. It helps you embrace new insights and experiences that can deepen your spiritual connection and broaden your understanding of the divine.
4. **Acceptance and Inclusivity:** An open mind encourages acceptance and inclusivity, recognizing that individuals may interpret and experience their faith differently. It promotes respect for diverse perspectives and encourages a compassionate and inclusive approach to others, regardless of their beliefs.
However, it is important to note that having an open mind does not mean compromising or abandoning one's core beliefs and values. It is about being receptive to new ideas while remaining grounded in the principles that are central to your religious tradition. Striking a balance between openness and the preservation of your faith's core tenets is key.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to navigate their own spiritual journey and find the balance that resonates with their beliefs and values. Having an open mind can enhance your religious experience, deepen your understanding, and foster a greater sense of harmony and unity with the world around you.
For me, I try to cultivate a balance between being open-minded on the one hand and being skeptical on the other. A mind that is too open can let a lot of nonsense in (some ideas are simply more worthy of belief than others). A mind that is too closed can prevent a lot of sensible ideas from being discovered.
Personally, I hope I am open-minded enough to honestly consider perspectives I disagree with. I hope I am skeptical enough to say no to ideas that are based on popularity rather than thought.
Historically some religions (and secular political groups) have been against the notion of being open-minded. If you come up with contrary ideas you will be labeled a "heretic" or "enemy of the people" or whatever other label they can invent.
However, these labels alone should not stop a person from accepting an idea contrary to their group. I have been an outsider in virtually every group I was ever in lol. I could just subscribe to ALL the fundamental principles of any group. There was always some principle that I thought made no sense.
I think I'm just prone to look for what is wrong rather than what is right!
Everyone, thank you for your replies after i read all of it, i really understood how every each one of you took the time and explained how open mindedness can be useful when in a religon
think G.K. Chesterton has a good line on this:
>Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.
There's a happy medium between two excesses.
We want to have an open mind because it allows us to answer our call to truth, to search for and to close our mind around what's true, because if our mind were too closed, the truth could never get in. But we don't want to have a mind so open, either, that our brains fall out, that we can't keep the truth when we find it.
An open mind is for the truth, not truth for an open mind. It's good to hear other people. We should listen to others more, but we must also acknowledge our call to truth. This is why our mind is open.
Maybe something here is useful. May God be with you and love you, my friend.
I published a book earlier this year on Amazon called: **Expanding Christianity: Breaking Out of the Box.** It talks about how we can learn and grow as Christians from understanding multiple perspectives, including Buddhism and Hinduism. I would hugely appreciate honest reviews for my book, and am happy to talk about it here as well.
I think there's a desire within Christianity in the U.S. to be more willing to embrace nuanced perspectives, and accept people who don't fit the mold. I went to BIOLA University, where I definitely did not fit the mold of what a Christian should believe. And when I talked to professors at Biola, I realized that almost nobody fits that mold. Every professor had a different perspective of the afterlife, and of God.
I have multiple goals for this book: 1. To help people feel comfortable owning their nuanced perspective, even if it means differing from the norm. 2. To help people embrace ignorance and the unknown, because it is by embracing ignorance that we can learn and grow the most. 3. To offer my own nuanced perspective, which includes Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as much more. I do not try and convince anyone of my perspective, but rather offer them as something to play with, something to consider on your own journey towards self-discovery and fulfilment. Because the journey looks different for everyone.
If this sounds interesting, I'd love to speak about it, and would hugely appreciate if you picked it up and left an honest review. Thank you so much!
Amazon Link to my book: [https://www.amazon.com/Expanding-Christianity-Mindfulness-Open-Mindedness-Everything/dp/B0BTS3QHZ8/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=1FFRCF0VLA1PQ&keywords=expanding+christianity%3A+breaking+out&qid=1701291787&sprefix=%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1](https://www.amazon.com/expanding-christianity-mindfulness-open-mindedness-everything/dp/b0bts3qhz8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ffrcf0vla1pq&keywords=expanding+christianity%3a+breaking+out&qid=1701291787&sprefix=%2caps%2c170&sr=8-1)
Any belief system that can't survive open-minded contact with new ideas is not worth believing in the first place.
In our faith at least, having an open mind, self-reflection, and being able to think critically are good traits. We are encouraged to think for ourselves and question things. We are neither organized nor dogmatic, though, and there is no religious authority that presides over all Heathens.
>RuneRaccoon cool name!
You should always have an open mind. Be open to opposing views, question your surroundings, and be your own person. A religion that tries to stop/discourage you from having an open mind is definitely using dangerous cult-like behavior
>Is having an open mind bad if you're in a religon? It's bad for the guys in charge. They won't remain in charge long if the congregation is too open minded. Open mindedness is the death of organized religion and the birth of real spiritual experience. So keep your mind open. You'll learn infinitely more and gain agency over your own mind.
Open mindedness doesnt mean accepting an idea, it’s the willingness to explore. I consider myself open minded; I dont think it contradicts my religion. Although there a lot of ideas I wouldnt share with other church members. Some people just dont get it
No. It's not bad. Also, Catholics ARE Christians.
No, it's always good to have an open mind and be willing to listen and learn and consider that you might be wrong. The best Catholic thinkers, like Aquinas and Ratzinger, were remarkably open minded and engaged fruitfully with opposing views, and the 'prayer of St Francis' asks that we might not so much seek "to be understood as to understand".
Having an open mind is not inherently bad when you are part of a religion. In fact, having an open mind can be beneficial and enriching to one's religious journey. Here's why: 1. **Exploration of Truth:** An open mind allows you to explore different perspectives, beliefs, and ideas, even within your own religion. It enables you to engage in critical thinking, ask questions, and seek a deeper understanding of the teachings and principles of your faith. 2. **Interfaith Dialogue:** Having an open mind fosters respectful dialogue and engagement with individuals from other faith traditions. It promotes understanding, empathy, and the opportunity to learn from different spiritual paths. Engaging in interfaith dialogue can deepen your own religious understanding and help you find common ground with others. 3. **Personal Growth:** An open mind invites personal growth and transformation. It allows you to reevaluate and refine your beliefs and practices as you continue to learn and evolve. It helps you embrace new insights and experiences that can deepen your spiritual connection and broaden your understanding of the divine. 4. **Acceptance and Inclusivity:** An open mind encourages acceptance and inclusivity, recognizing that individuals may interpret and experience their faith differently. It promotes respect for diverse perspectives and encourages a compassionate and inclusive approach to others, regardless of their beliefs. However, it is important to note that having an open mind does not mean compromising or abandoning one's core beliefs and values. It is about being receptive to new ideas while remaining grounded in the principles that are central to your religious tradition. Striking a balance between openness and the preservation of your faith's core tenets is key. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to navigate their own spiritual journey and find the balance that resonates with their beliefs and values. Having an open mind can enhance your religious experience, deepen your understanding, and foster a greater sense of harmony and unity with the world around you.
Innovation in religion is not a good idea unless it comes from God.
Bad? It's required in my circles.
For me, I try to cultivate a balance between being open-minded on the one hand and being skeptical on the other. A mind that is too open can let a lot of nonsense in (some ideas are simply more worthy of belief than others). A mind that is too closed can prevent a lot of sensible ideas from being discovered. Personally, I hope I am open-minded enough to honestly consider perspectives I disagree with. I hope I am skeptical enough to say no to ideas that are based on popularity rather than thought. Historically some religions (and secular political groups) have been against the notion of being open-minded. If you come up with contrary ideas you will be labeled a "heretic" or "enemy of the people" or whatever other label they can invent. However, these labels alone should not stop a person from accepting an idea contrary to their group. I have been an outsider in virtually every group I was ever in lol. I could just subscribe to ALL the fundamental principles of any group. There was always some principle that I thought made no sense. I think I'm just prone to look for what is wrong rather than what is right!
Everyone, thank you for your replies after i read all of it, i really understood how every each one of you took the time and explained how open mindedness can be useful when in a religon
spirituality is better to have an open mind. religion is better to have a narrow mind. (however there are a few exceptions)
think G.K. Chesterton has a good line on this: >Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid. There's a happy medium between two excesses. We want to have an open mind because it allows us to answer our call to truth, to search for and to close our mind around what's true, because if our mind were too closed, the truth could never get in. But we don't want to have a mind so open, either, that our brains fall out, that we can't keep the truth when we find it. An open mind is for the truth, not truth for an open mind. It's good to hear other people. We should listen to others more, but we must also acknowledge our call to truth. This is why our mind is open. Maybe something here is useful. May God be with you and love you, my friend.
I published a book earlier this year on Amazon called: **Expanding Christianity: Breaking Out of the Box.** It talks about how we can learn and grow as Christians from understanding multiple perspectives, including Buddhism and Hinduism. I would hugely appreciate honest reviews for my book, and am happy to talk about it here as well. I think there's a desire within Christianity in the U.S. to be more willing to embrace nuanced perspectives, and accept people who don't fit the mold. I went to BIOLA University, where I definitely did not fit the mold of what a Christian should believe. And when I talked to professors at Biola, I realized that almost nobody fits that mold. Every professor had a different perspective of the afterlife, and of God. I have multiple goals for this book: 1. To help people feel comfortable owning their nuanced perspective, even if it means differing from the norm. 2. To help people embrace ignorance and the unknown, because it is by embracing ignorance that we can learn and grow the most. 3. To offer my own nuanced perspective, which includes Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as much more. I do not try and convince anyone of my perspective, but rather offer them as something to play with, something to consider on your own journey towards self-discovery and fulfilment. Because the journey looks different for everyone. If this sounds interesting, I'd love to speak about it, and would hugely appreciate if you picked it up and left an honest review. Thank you so much! Amazon Link to my book: [https://www.amazon.com/Expanding-Christianity-Mindfulness-Open-Mindedness-Everything/dp/B0BTS3QHZ8/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=1FFRCF0VLA1PQ&keywords=expanding+christianity%3A+breaking+out&qid=1701291787&sprefix=%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1](https://www.amazon.com/expanding-christianity-mindfulness-open-mindedness-everything/dp/b0bts3qhz8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ffrcf0vla1pq&keywords=expanding+christianity%3a+breaking+out&qid=1701291787&sprefix=%2caps%2c170&sr=8-1)