Do you consider yourself open-minded?

[AndrésC64]

Atheists are often accused of being closed minded, yet I contend that theists are the ones that are really closed-minded. I haven't come across an atheist yet that refused to admit that they could be wrong, that God could exist. I don't recall ever running across a theist, especially a christian, that's willing to admit that they could be wrong, that their God might not exist.

So, are you open-minded?

YES

NO

Updates

1 y

Don't you love it when people constantly dodge questions and then give some lame-ass response and then immediately block you so that you can't reply to them?

[NathanDavis]

I am very open minded with my thinking, yes... but I also have critical thinking and reasoning and that always applies

apart from those two, I do have a set of core values that are quite well cemented in the core of what I am and the way I am

more than anything, I am open to considering different perspectives as well as trying to understand all those points of view that can be differ from mine or what I know, understand, think, am familiar with... especially when they come from people who have lived and lead different paths

changing my mind doesn't happen often, if it happens though... is after and through realization and proper consideration, not without that

[AndrésC64]

Very well said. I completely agree and could never have said it so well. 🙏

[Chazmatazz269]

I’m extremely open-minded. Far more than most. You’re either leading a very sheltered existence or lying about your experience with atheists. The vast majority of self proclaimed atheists i’ve interacted with were not only absolutely certain that there is no god, but that somehow this had been “scientifically proven”. Ell oh ell!
Not that your knowledge and experience would benefit from interacting with them, but you should definitely understand that they are out there in droves. This IS the benchmark of atheism though. Similarly to theism, you must be certain of your belief. Any uncertainty is more characteristic of agnosticism.

[AndrésC64]

You're so full of it. I've been an atheist my entire life. I have been part of atheist groups and I've been an active onine atheist since being online was a thing.

But just to give you a chance, can you find a quote from a single atheist that says that they are absolutely certain that there is no God as you claim?

[AndrésC64]

Before you try to tell me I'm wrong, you are to check yourself first. Atheism is not the absolute denial of the existence of a God. Furthermore, agnostic is not a third option between theism and atheism. "I don't know" is not an answer to a question about belief. Belief is binary. The only way you can answer a question about belief is with a "yes", in which case you are a theist. Or with a "no", in which case you are an atheist. No other answers possible. You're welcome.

[Chazmatazz269]

Clearly you have chosen ignorance. As you were.

[CountessSarah]

Theists throwing around accusations of 'close mindedness' is usually just something I take as an unwitting admittance that they believe nonsense and have given up on appealing to my sense of reason.
I'm very open minded, hence why I'm even talking to people I disagree with in the first place. I'm just not convinced by garbage arguments.
Typically it's the theist who isn't open minded - we see this all the time when they even have a hard time grasping basic hypotheticals.

[AndrésC64]

Exactly. They say that we are the closed-minded ones, yet they dodge our questions at every turn and refuse to acknowledge the possibility that they could be wrong.

[petitedollbabee]

I’m very open minded when it comes to religious beliefs. No one truly knows what’s out there, or what happens when we die, other than the dead. And obviously they can’t communicate with us about what’s beyond life. So I admit that I could be wrong about my beliefs, and im always open to hearing other beliefs.

[ConspiracyTheorist]

Well I wouldn't tell you that what you believe is wrong, I would most likely say that the only thing I know for sure is that the possibilities of what could be are limitless and that maybe none are true or maybe all are, were we created by a Supreme being or entity or deity, or are we the result of an alien species splicing they're DNA into whatever humanoid creatures that already inhabited the earth, or did we all evolve from a single cell organism here? I don't know but I'm sure those aren't the only possibilities.
Is the earth a sphere or is it flat?
Are we living in a simulation? Is gravity real? Is their intelligent life out there somewhere? Are ghosts real? Does something like me pushing rocks around at the creek gonna lead to a flood on the other side of the world 20 years from now? I don't know but having an open mind is in my opinion a freedom that can't be experienced by just anybody and an open mind is the best option when it comes to discovering one's self.

[slatyb]

Being open-minded doesn't mean believing any nonsensical claims. It means being open to changing beliefs if presented with new evidence. This is the main difference between science and religion. Scientific theories change when new evidence is discovered.

[AndrésC64]

Exactly. That's how science works and how knowledge advances. Religion is still stuck from millenia ago.

[macjets007]

I believe in god, but also believe that there is a possibility that god or god (s) don't exist. You must consider all possibilities.

In practical terms, God is simply a higher power that we don't understand or an advanced civilization (which mathematically speaking is incredibly common in the universe given it's size).

If you are an atheist that's great, and I support that belief as it may be true! The same must go for the atheists though. We know so little about our universe, and it is actually going against the scientific method to not consider you might be wrong.

If you cannot admit our civilization is often mistaken (which has happened a myriad of times throughout history) you are essentially being the non theistic version of the catholic church who burned people at the stake for there beliefs. There can never be one certainty in regards to subject matter as deep as is there a higher power (s).

[smølf]

I have the opposit exsperiance.

Atheists are often closed minded just like theists like Christians. In fact, most people are most of the time. I haven't come across many atheists or not, that didn't refuse to admit that they could be wrong.

Most people are not open-minded most of the time, with any subject of emotional importance.

[AndrésC64]

I have run across very very few, if any Christians that are willing to admit that they could be wrong, that they're God that they believe in may not exist. I don't recall ever running across an atheist that refused to admit that they could be wrong, that god (s) could exist.

[smølf]

I have no such experiences with atheists or anybody else for that matter.
Saying or admitted you don't know for sure but is absolutely convinced, is what everyone is saying.

[AndrésC64]

Can you give me one example of an atheist saying that they are absolutely convinced?

[smølf]

Sure most of my friends, most atheist advocates like Richard Dawkins, and don't quote him saying we can't know for sure because he also said he would believe if God spoke him, then he would trust his senses.

[AndrésC64]

Can you give me a quote of Richard Dawkins saying that? And quite frankly, I don't believe your story about your friends. You have nothing to support that claim.

[smølf]

I do not need to support or prove anything you, anymore that you need to prove your claim to me.
In regards to Richard Dawkins, it's on YouTube.

[AndrésC64]

1) I haven't made any claims that I haven't supported
2) simply saying something is on the internet is not the same as actually providing evidence.

[smølf]

You have not supported any claim in any way I haven't supported my claim, anecdotal evident or no evidence.

[AndrésC64]

Oops. Wrong thread. Regardless, you still haven't provided any evidence for what you claim people have said. Do you have that quote from Richard Dawkins?

[smølf]

I do not store quotes I hear on YouTube, so I won't waste time doing the search for you.
But yes, Dawkins have repeatedly made claims that proves he is stubborn and fixed in his beliefs.

[AndrésC64]

You sure like making claims without any kind of evidence to support them.

[smølf]

I do not need to provide evidence, I stated fact you can validate yourself should you desire to. If not, who cares , I really don't.

[AndrésC64]

Of course you don't need to provide evidence, because you can't. Besides, who needs evidence when they make claims? That explains why you are a Christian.

[smølf]

Right back at you, no evidence and just claims

[AndrésC64]

Guess what Nimrod, I haven't made any claims. You, on the other hand, have. Do you have any evidence to support those claims?

[smølf]

Not claims, experiences and theise experiences are facts. Your experience is likewise only back-up by your personal testemoni.

[AndrésC64]

So you haven't made claims about the existence of God? I seem to remember differently. But just in case. Do you believe in God? You haven't made claims about what Richard Dawkins says, without providing any evidence to support that claim?

So I'll ask you straight out: are you willing to admit that you could be wrong about the existence of your God? Do you admit that you could be wrong and that your God may not exist at all? Because I'm perfectly willing to admit that I could be wrong. Can you do the same?

[smølf]

Obviously we can be wrong in our belief in God or not.
About Richard Dawkins, just watched YouTube with him about God and see it yourself.

[AndrésC64]

So for the record, you are stating that you could be wrong about the existence of your God?

And how many times do I have to tell you that simply saying "Look on the internet" is not the same thing as providing evidence?

[smølf]

Look into Richard Dawkins, he is one.

[AndrésC64]

Repeating it over and over doesn't make it true.

[Adam1978]

I think it's more about being tolerant, open-minded is more about being open to change your mind. And when it comes to religion I am not. There is nothing that can convince me to join any of them. If we talk politics you can't budge me far from my alignment of being liberal. Not confused with any liberal parties but actually allowing freedom of choice when it doesn't affect others.

[XXblack88]

I can be Open minded to a certain extent. But in the same sense religion is a very complicated topic to talk about/ understand I don't understand atheists or how/ why they became one. And I'm not going to pretend like I do.

[AndrésC64]

It's not about becoming an atheist. Everyone was born in atheist, people are taught religion since the time that they are small. The reason why I and so many other people remain atheists is that we see no good reason to become a theist.

[XXblack88]

Theist?

[AndrésC64]

Someone who believes in god (s).

[XXblack88]

Oh got you

[genericname85]

no i'm not. i have solid opinions on most things and to convince me of a different view, you gotta provide solid arguments and facts. i don't think being "open minded" is a good trait. it means you're naive, gullible and easily swayed.

[Pinay_ako]

I am open minded. But if I disagree, I’d keep my opinions to myself if I know I’m going to hurt people’s feelings. We can still all be respectful of each other’s opinions without stepping on people’s toes.

[Still-alive]

You’ll never hurt mines heh 😏

[sirderpsalot123]

Nobody wants to be wrong, but IF the logic is sound, I am willing to reach and accept a conclusion that I may not like.

[AndrésC64]

Yeah, if the logic is there, I don't know how I could come to any other conclusion. That would, by definition, be illogical.

[sirderpsalot123]

Yes, but people will come up with a weak argument and accuse you of not being open-minded enough to see their side.

[sirderpsalot123]

I am a lot more open-minded than people I know are willing to give me credit for.

[Sandeeppingping]

Yes and I don't think people understand that, like we'd be discussing something and I fully understand their point then I'd state mine suddenly I'm a zionist nazi, make it make sense

[menina]

I would say that I am. I respect people's religious beliefs as long as they also respect mine and don't try to force me into believing in what they believe in.

[Apple1996]

I flip back and forth from Christian to atheist all the time so yeah I'd say I'm pretty open minded

[convo_king89]

@Apple1996 I know sexually for open minded. I’ll try anything.

[convo_king89]

You’ll* shit auto correct

[Apple1996]

@convo_king89 haha yess I'm open minded sexually too 😛

[Apple1996]

@convo_king89 will you really try anythinggg?

[convo_king89]

I mean when I say open minded, I mean like I don’t judge everyone has their thing. I don’t think I I’d want to do a rim job, im not lickimg any of her shit.

[Apple1996]

@convo_king89 ah what? Booty lickikg feels so good. And no you don't get shit on your tongue if she's clean

[convo_king89]

@Apple1996 I will keep that in mind if it ever cums up.

[KittyBox]

Not sure how i'm meant to test out if i'm closed or open minded, I could say i'm one thing, but then say something that contradicts that, I'd like to say i have a balance of both qualities, as it sounds more realistic.

[josephinelcajon]

Very open minded on everything! Never say never! Keeping an open mind is critical for all of us on everything!

[anylolone]

I'd say they are equally bigoted. I dealt with both a lot.

[AndrésC64]

When was the last time you heard a Christian admit that they could be wrong? That their God may not exist?

[anylolone]

Actually, I see this a lot.

They call it crisis of faith.

[Blackcosmo]

Depends. When it comes to religion I have a firm belief.

[convo_king89]

Open, everyone has their things as long as it doesn’t affect me or harm anyone or thing go for it. This bs debate of gay marriage. Is bullshit. Let them do what they want to. Who cares.

[spg12212122]

Being an extreme of anything is bad, too open minded and your brains fall out and too closed minded and you have dogma.

[jshm2]

Then you are too insular, and close minded to know better.

No self-respecting "atheist" every admits to being wrong. It's why they are atheist. They are the sort of shit stain who will without shame say "I don't believe in the paranormal, but here is something I can't normally explain.."

It's why they are deaf, dumb and blind, and no one needs their presence, just their labour.

[AndrésC64]

I don't know any atheist who would refuse to admit that they are wrong. And I just told you that I freely admit that I could be wrong. Can you do the same? Can you admit that you could be wrong? Can you admit that you're God may not exist? You can't, can you? That's why you're a theist. You think you already have all the answers.

And do you know what logical people say about things that they can't explain, such as UFOs or the beginning of the universe? We say "I don't know. Because that's the only honest answer. Do you know why they are called UFOs? Because they are UNIDENTIFIED.

[ODC2112]

And by whom they would accuse of being closed in mind? By the religious who believe in fairy tales like children?