Happy Atheist Forum

i was called closed minded yesterday, i normally wouldn't give a comment like that a second thought, but i started to think about it. are atheists just as closed minded as fundies? i mean, i am certain that there is no god or supernatural being. i am sure of it. but am i just being closed minded?

Quote from: "quizlixx"i was called closed minded yesterday, i normally wouldn't give a comment like that a second thought, but i started to think about it. are atheists just as closed minded as fundies? i mean, i am certain that there is no god or supernatural being. i am sure of it. but am i just being closed minded?

Closed minded assumes you aren't willing to hear alternatives, much less consider accepting them. Atheists, by and large, have arrived at their stations in life through a great deal of introspection, observation and research. If atheists are closed minded, theists are mindless.

I was called closed-minded recently, too - in fact I posted about it like you did. It bothered me. If you used to be a Christian (or any other religion for that matter), and then after thinking about decided you just didn't believe in mythology anymore, then you're not closed minded. That's a reasoned decision. Being brave enough to adopt a new world-view based on your convictions is indicative that you're very open-minded.

Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"If atheists are closed minded, theists are mindless.

 

Atheists are just as closed minded as those who do not believe in invisible pink unicorns  

I've been accused of being closed minded by a Christian. When asking the person that was calling me closed minded to consider Atheism or even other religions, he said that was "insulting"

I think Open or closed mind is always in vague.

Some open-source geeks categorized themselves as more open minded than people using windows. But of course that is not the point of open or close mind.

I also never think that atheists are in always in an open-minded condition. Somehow, there are still something that we cannot accept at all. Probably religion, for us? See, we are closed-mind too..  :hmm:

It's a pretty lame thing for a christian, especially a fundie, to use the term "closed minded". First, they don't even really know what the hell they mean by it. To them, it just means, "You don't believe in my god, so you're wrong." They also misuse the term cynic as well, calling skeptical people cynics.

If anything, skeptics are more likely to utilize the scientific method to determine what they will believe, instead of some book of thousands-of-year-old tales.

What this person was trying to do was dominate you and force their mindset on you and get you to associate something you believe with a negative trait. Atheists are people who don't believe in a god or gods.  It's a pretty simple set of parameters.  People who do not believe in a god or gods may or may not be close-minded.  They are not mutually inclusive or exclusive traits.

An atheist can say they don't believe and still listen to a person's input.  They can ask questions and find out about the other person's beliefs.  When an atheist starts to tell the other person they aren't allowed to think a certain way or try to force the person to share their own beliefs through some physical means, then they are being close-minded.

All that is unproven is, for all practical purposes, imaginary, and all things being equal, my own personal imaginary ramblings are just as valid as anyone else's.  To be truly 'open-minded' we have to accept the idea that every single imaginary belief is an equally valid unprovable possibility.  Some atheists will believe this way, some won't.

Religion is far more close-minded than a person who says they don't believe the imaginary is real.  Religion is actually trying to take over the imagination and limit it to only a few religiously viable options.  

In my mindset, I don't try to limit what I think, instead I make the distinction between reality and imagination and give parameters for what can be real or imaginary, based on science.

As far as I am concerned, I have to make some distinction at some point as to what I'm going to believe is possible in this reality, which I have at least one big toe firmly planted in at all times. I choose to base my beliefs on the perceivable, testable evidence of what reality is rather than what I actually want it to be.  I don't believe the imaginary is real.  That doesn't mean I won't let myself or others be free to discuss it, entertain it, illustrate it through some artistic means, become rather immersed in it or daydream about it.  I would hardly consider myself close-minded because of the fact that I don't think God is real.

If no sound argument of reason or direct evidence could change that certainty of yours, then you are being close-minded.  A situation rectified typically by reminding yourself that you don't know everything about everything.  Now, you're not likely to get that sound argument or evidence, but if you do come share it with us!     But, in the most general sense, if you won't even hear the justifications or reasoning of people on the other side, then you're being very close-minded.  Sure, there are time constraints, but I mean for the sole reason that you don't want to hear a conflicting worldview.  I really doubt that's the case, and this person that called you close-minded was probably just trying to take a shot at you.  Chastise (don't insult) them for such tactics, people can be better than debating through ad hominem.

I confidently doubt that anyone can persuade me but I am not close-minded. I will listen to what others have to say so long as they are not cliches. Ha. I'm a poet and didn't know it!

Quote from: "quizlixx"i was called closed minded yesterday, i normally wouldn't give a comment like that a second thought, but i started to think about it. are atheists just as closed minded as fundies? i mean, i am certain that there is no god or supernatural being. i am sure of it. but am i just being closed minded?

Saying to a rational atheist (by which I mean someone who intelligently evaluates the universe in which they live on the basis of science & reason), "You are closed minded" is simply another way of saying, "You're not open-minded enough to believe the utterly unsubstantiated mythical rubbish I believe" ... frankly I think you should consider it a compliment  

Kyu

A lot of people bash Christians on this sight and whine about shit. You can be an affiliate of any religion and still be opened minded, it's just most of you are like me, you don't buy bullshit and refuse to sit in a church and hear someone run their mouth about how you should give them money because god wants you to. I don't see myself as an Atheist because it's just a label.

although from what I saw on this forum I will agree you guys are NOT closeminded, but i beg to differ
I believe that I am. I do not want and will refuse to listen to anyone who talks to me about religion or their "reason"

I've been thinking about this lately. Ultimately, what close-minded means to me is the lack of reason.  If you refuse to incorporate reason into any subject, you probably are close-minded to a certain degree.  Most who are not theists have usually gotten there by way of problem solving involving reason and a lot of common sense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_that_I_know_nothing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_that_I_know_nothing)

Socrates begins all wisdom with wondering, thus one must begin with admitting one's ignorance.

This is the BS my family gave me when I told them I was an atheist.

"Keep an open mind" and "consider all opinions" they kept saying.  It's like they didn't understand that having an open mind, and considering all opinions, is exactly what made me into an atheist.

By agreeing to keep an open mind, I think I was duped into admitting that there's a chance that I'm wrong and they're right.  Argh.

It's possible I'm closed minded to things I'm not aware of.
I know I'm closed to thinking about some of societies worst taboos, I don't want to even consider whether they could possibly appeal to me.
I don't have as many taboos as some though, cannibalism, suicide, euthanasia, murder, I'm not shut down on those.

The idea that there is a god watching and judging us as religion describes?
That door of possibility is pretty much shut, not much point revisiting it, nothing new to see.

 ;D I'm close minded to a belief in zombies... and yet

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorcycleforums.net%2Fforum%2Fattachments%2Fsuzuki%2F25297d1309921005-intruder-recall-zombie-thread.jpg&hash=4d9150bb95fe5389002f47035cbb4edfa719e281)

Quote from: Thunder Road on February 05, 2012, 01:51:04 AM
This is the BS my family gave me when I told them I was an atheist.

"Keep an open mind" and "consider all opinions" they kept saying.  It's like they didn't understand that having an open mind, and considering all opinions, is exactly what made me into an atheist.

By agreeing to keep an open mind, I think I was duped into admitting that there's a chance that I'm wrong and they're right.  Argh.

In all fairness, keeping an open mind and considering all the options ought to have gone with ways, when it came to your family. They ought to have been able to keep their minds open enough to try to understand or at least respect your point of view. Heck, there's ALWAYS a chance, however small, that we're 'wrong' when it comes to supernatural beliefs. It's OK to accept that, and still be an atheist or agnostic or other sort of freethinker. But 'being openminded' doesn't mean suppressing the questions you have, and the beliefs you have, in order not to insult someone else just in 'case' they're right. It simply means reviewing all the options, and being open to new information as it becomes available.

I can't imagine a version of "open minded" in which I simply believe everything that I'm told.  Wouldn't some of the things be contradictory?  So if your definition of "open minded" means "Believing whatever, without the benefit of any sort of logic or proof" then yes, I suppose that I am close minded.  Oh well.

Quote from: Thunder Road on February 05, 2012, 01:51:04 AM
This is the BS my family gave me when I told them I was an atheist.

"Keep an open mind" and "consider all opinions" they kept saying.  It's like they didn't understand that having an open mind, and considering all opinions, is exactly what made me into an atheist.

By agreeing to keep an open mind, I think I was duped into admitting that there's a chance that I'm wrong and they're right.  Argh.

"The difference between keeping an open mind and changing one's mind should be the available evidence." - Tank 5th Feb 2012

If being closed minded means not giving silly claims the time of day then yeah, I'm close minded and proud of it!

I am not closed minded...and I don't want to hear another thing about it...*chucklin*

Quote from: Tank on February 05, 2012, 08:19:40 AM

Quote from: Thunder Road on February 05, 2012, 01:51:04 AM
This is the BS my family gave me when I told them I was an atheist.

"Keep an open mind" and "consider all opinions" they kept saying.  It's like they didn't understand that having an open mind, and considering all opinions, is exactly what made me into an atheist.

By agreeing to keep an open mind, I think I was duped into admitting that there's a chance that I'm wrong and they're right.  Argh.

"The difference between keeping an open mind and changing one's mind should be the available evidence." - Tank 5th Feb 2012

I like it.

I don't really consider it close-minded. Or perhaps I'll just say that if it really is a matter of that, considering God being an equally likely explanation to the origins of the universe and life as scientific explanations is a nice example of the quote that you shouldn't be so open minded that your brain falls out.

To me, the thought of there really being a God out there raises so many more questions than it answers. And with science slowly but surely unraveling the mysteries of the Earth, universe, and life, ruling out something that has absolutely no evidence and has always been supported by 'faith', just doesn't classify as close-minded to me. It classifies as being realistic.

If evidence pops up, then it can be considered, but I can't take it seriously with what we have got right now.

Open mind is all well and good, but when your brains start spilling out, you are in what medical professionals would call a shitload of trouble.

The fact that very few things to me are considered "wrong and taboo" makes me feel more open minded.
I acknowledge that not everything works for everyone. One couple could want  a relationship with routine , and another couple could want a swingers life. Or roleplay in bed.  Or go to a host club. Or to a urine cocktail bar.
Honestly, I feel like I only get to live once.
Things considered extreme in america is not so in japan. I feel more at home there (aside from canada. I heart Canada.)
People's personal relationships and likes dont bother me. I'm not into drag bars, but some men are. I think they're pretty cute. Hopefully one day we'll all actually   become accepting of everyone's personal preferences, and stop judging so.
And stop acting like someone's preference actually affects who they are as a kind, loving human being.

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 04:16:05 PM
The fact that very few things to me are considered "wrong and taboo" makes me feel more open minded.
I acknowledge that not everything works for everyone. One couple could want  a relationship with routine , and another couple could want a swingers life. Or roleplay in bed.  Or go to a host club. Or to a urine cocktail bar.
Honestly, I feel like I only get to live once.

@bolded:  :o Do I even want to know?

It's just a bar in japan where beautiful women piss in your alcoholic drinks. They have them in Russia (or Germany..?) And call them Milk bars.

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 05:42:08 PM
It's just a bar in japan where beautiful women piss in your alcoholic drinks. They have them in Russia (or Germany..?) And call them Milk bars.

Wow. I am so sheltered.

Well, you in the US. They brainwash you to think sex is only between a married man and woman, and you only do it to reproduce.
I grew up with Japanese culture as a major influence, so I am very familiar and open to all their fetishes.
I look at sex as a freedom of expression, like art. There isn't only one style of it.

While being extremely tolerant (Or peerhaps the correct word is "uncaring") towards fetishes and sexual weirdness in general, I have to say I'm very boring in that department.

Just don't feel the need to explore new avenues - the ones I have established over the years work well for me.

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 08:53:00 PM
While being extremely tolerant (Or peerhaps the correct word is "uncaring") towards fetishes and sexual weirdness in general, I have to say I'm very boring in that department.

Just don't feel the need to explore new avenues - the ones I have established over the years work well for me.

Aw, i'm sure you're fine, Asmo. ^___^

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:13:59 PM
Aw, i'm sure you're fine, Asmo. ^___^

Fine? Yes. Good even... Inventive, however? Not so much.  :D

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 09:31:14 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:13:59 PM
Aw, i'm sure you're fine, Asmo. ^___^

Fine? Yes. Good even... Inventive, however? Not so much.  :D

As long as both parties enjoy themselves and get  off. ;)

I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P

Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

Pissing in somebody's drink sounds like something you'd do for revenge, not a special treat!

I don't care what other people do...but.....that definitely does not appeal.

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P

Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

I dunno why I aww'd at that outloud.

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 11:19:34 PM

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P

Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

I dunno why I aww'd at that outloud.

I don't either.  I don't think I've ever met a guy that has a problem in the orgasm department.  That's one of the benefits of being a guy I thinki.   ;D

Quote from: Ali on February 06, 2012, 11:22:07 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 11:19:34 PM

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P
Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

I dunno why I aww'd at that outloud.

I don't either.  I don't think I've ever met a guy that has a problem in the orgasm department.  That's one of the benefits of being a guy I thinki.   ;D

I think I have to revert to Jim Jeffries on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgQzRATYBjA

Quote from: Crow on February 06, 2012, 11:27:17 PM
I think I have to revert to Jim Jeffries on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgQzRATYBjA

And Chris Rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=68th8s0Z_LU#t=72s

I never found Chris Rock funny. :/

Quote from: Crow on February 06, 2012, 11:27:17 PM

Quote from: Ali on February 06, 2012, 11:22:07 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 11:19:34 PM

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P
Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

I dunno why I aww'd at that outloud.

I don't either.  I don't think I've ever met a guy that has a problem in the orgasm department.  That's one of the benefits of being a guy I thinki.   ;D

I think I have to revert to Jim Jeffries on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgQzRATYBjA

I think I pee'd a little.  That was hilarious. 

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 07, 2012, 12:47:31 AM
I never found Chris Rock funny. :/

Neither have I he reminds me of a young Eddie Murphy but bad.

Quote from: Crow on February 07, 2012, 03:55:27 AM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 07, 2012, 12:47:31 AM
I never found Chris Rock funny. :/

Neither have I he reminds me of a young Eddie Murphy but bad.

Haha xD

Sort of open-minded. I don't think it matters either way, really.

People don't think much, in the first place. We spend most of our time getting cast around by unavoidable necessities - I need a piss, I need a coffee, I stubbed my toe, ow, it hurts, I need food, I need to go to work, my toe still hurts, I need this, I need that - how is having a thought or changing your beliefs supposed to affect your life in anything more than a superficial way? So yeah, go nuts. Mess around with your own head a little. Might as well have some fun with those brief moments of introspection.

Quote from: Crow on February 06, 2012, 11:27:17 PM

Quote from: Ali on February 06, 2012, 11:22:07 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 11:19:34 PM

Quote from: Asmodean on February 06, 2012, 10:09:19 PM

Quote from: Sweetdeath on February 06, 2012, 09:36:17 PM
I'm bloody grumpy if I dont get to orgasm.

I'm bloody grumpy if I... Oh. Right. Always... :P
Haven't had a problem in the orgasm department since my young and inexperienced days...

I dunno why I aww'd at that outloud.

I don't either.  I don't think I've ever met a guy that has a problem in the orgasm department.  That's one of the benefits of being a guy I thinki.   ;D

I think I have to revert to Jim Jeffries on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgQzRATYBjA

Jim is good.  :D