The Folly of an Open Mind - Page 20

stmatthew · #**191** 10-21-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

I admire the fact that PP can start a thread with a false premise and have this many pages and posts!

Explain???

Pastor Keith · #**192** 10-21-2007, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I think every single person who has posted here has a slightly (or greater) definition of what it means to be Open or Close minded.

Again, if being Open minded is NOT a virtue I am STILL waiting to hear if being Close minded IS.

I guess in truth, it really comes down to what/whom your mind is open to, my mind is always open to God invading it with his truth and power. It becomes a virtue when I respond to God with a heart of faith.

Nahum · #**193** 10-21-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC1

I admire the fact that PP can start a thread with a false premise and have this many pages and posts!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

How many times have you heard the virtues of an open mind extolled?

Seems a lot of folks think an open mind is a great thing. It's as if demanding proof before granting agreement is a bad thing. In fact, if you disagree with any ill-conceived, hair-brained ideas that irrational thinkers pose you are considered "close-minded" and, of course, that is the worst sin imaginable to those with no real core values.

Consider this little truth. If you can't consider the possibility that the idea you are presenting is false, you are the one who is close-minded. Close-minded people are the believers who insist some incredible fantasy is true even when there is a complete lack of evidence to support it.

It is my opinion that those who perpetuate the myth of open-mindedness as a virtue do so hoping that you will fall for false doctrine, wordliness, and outright fiction.

So call me a monolithic skeptic, but I refuse to open my mind to some things. My mind isn't a trash can, and I won't allow anyone to toss garbage in it.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Some doctrines are not true, so I refuse to accept them. Some are not genuine in their arguments, so I refuse to listen to them. Some topics are disgusting, so I walk away.

Some thoughts, arguments, and ideas should not be entertained.

Why?

Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Where is the false premise?

Neck · #**194** 10-22-2007, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

How many times have you heard the virtues of an open mind extolled?

Seems a lot of folks think an open mind is a great thing. It's as if demanding proof before granting agreement is a bad thing. In fact, if you disagree with any ill-conceived, hair-brained ideas that irrational thinkers pose you are considered "close-minded" and, of course, that is the worst sin imaginable to those with no real core values.

Consider this little truth. If you can't consider the possibility that the idea you are presenting is false, you are the one who is close-minded. Close-minded people are the believers who insist some incredible fantasy is true even when there is a complete lack of evidence to support it.

It is my opinion that those who perpetuate the myth of open-mindedness as a virtue do so hoping that you will fall for false doctrine, wordliness, and outright fiction.

So call me a monolithic skeptic, but I refuse to open my mind to some things. My mind isn't a trash can, and I won't allow anyone to toss garbage in it.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Some doctrines are not true, so I refuse to accept them. Some are not genuine in their arguments, so I refuse to listen to them. Some topics are disgusting, so I walk away.

Some thoughts, arguments, and ideas should not be entertained.

Why?

Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

If I weren't so closed minded about being open minded. I might listhen to what you stated...

Praxeas · #**195** 10-22-2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

would there be a beneficial need to open ones mind to false doctrine??

An open mind examines the facts and evidence. Open minds search for truth. Thus having an open mind means you seek to reject false doctrine

Praxeas · #**196** 10-22-2007, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

From Answers.com

Open-minded means...

"Receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others."

Again, I don't think that is always such a good thing.

It doesn't say ACCEPTING new and different ideas or the opinions of others. It says receptive. In other words a closed minded person, such as yourself, will just plug their ears and go "nanananalalalala, Im not listening..nananana lalalala"

an Open minded person hears it. Looks at the facts. Thats all open mind means

For example if someone says "Margarine is one molecule away from being plastic" they won't just believe that but they will listen or receive this idea and look at the facts. If it is true then they know this is a true fact...it does not mean then that they will start eating Margarine...it just means they are going to listen to someones viewpoint or opinion. They are open minded. A Roman Catholic that is open minded does not accept your view....he LISTENS to your view and if your view proves to be True THEN he can choose if he wants to now receive it and accept it and experience it.

Closed minded means he isn't even listening to what you have to say if not for any other reason than just to argue with you.

look, what PP said in the first post is true as far as not just blindly accepting other views, but my point is that that is not what being open minded means.

Praxeas · #**197** 10-22-2007, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

"receptive to arguments or ideas"

Merriam-Webster.com

What is so great and virtuous about that?

What is great about it? I will tell you want is not great about the opposite...two polarized sides can't agree on TV...refuse to listen to the other persons viewpoint (which might end up being true)...

Objectivity listens to what the other side says and judges it based on the merits of the argument.

Subjectivity won't even listen enough to judge if the argument is true or false.

Hearing someone make an argument for the Trinity does not mean becoming a Trinitarian nor does it mean approving of it. It means examining it which can lead to one of two conclusions, it's true or it is false...except maybe a third inconclusive argument.

So many discussions here would go more smoothly if we were able to listen to what the other person is saying. But because so many are in fact closed minded it is very frustrating, people talk over or past each other, they don't even have a clue what the other person was trying to say, because they don't care enough to find out. Close minds...and close minds are generally small minds. You can't get an education and be closed minded.

Praxeas · #**198** 10-22-2007, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Maybe if Demas was more closed-minded he would have stayed with Paul.

No if he was OPEN minded he would have LISTENED to what Paul had to say objectively....but backsliding is not really an issue of open or closed minded....it's a heart/morality issue. Open minded and close minded is an intellectual issue

Praxeas · #**199** 10-22-2007, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

The bible is clear that we are to rightly divide the WORD, not somebodies false doctrine. We are not to give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. I know you THINK you are able to take garbage in and not come out stinking, but that is not the case. You do not oppose false doctrine with its faults, you oppose it with the truth found within the Word of God.

How do you know it is false doctrine unless you examine it? How can you try things with a closed mind? That's an oxymoron

Being open minded is not taking garbage in. It's listening to what a person is really saying, instead of just ignoring it but pretending you know and then throwing out arguments without ever having a clue what the other guy is saynig. Open minded does not mean accepting false doctrine. But closed minded could mean being IN false doctrine and NOT getting out because you've closed your mind to what everyone has to say

Praxeas · #**200** 10-22-2007, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I don't see anywhere in scripture Paul telling Timothy to be open to hear a false doctrine so you can refute it. No, he was to "preach the Word". This in and of itself will refute any false doctrine.

So they never refuted false doctrine? How can you refute false doctrine if you don't know what the false doctrine is?

You have to know what false doctrine you are refuting before you can quote the appropriate verse. Unless you were born a Oneness Pentecostal, at some point you had to have an open mind in order to examine your own beliefs and the beliefs of Oneness Pentecostals.