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"I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:02 am
There are many religious people who absolutely refuse to change their mind, some of them even call others who dont believe in their god and who claim to be open to being convinced a god exist closed minded.
So tell me, if I said, as an Atheist, that I refuse to change my mind, am I closed minded? If a religious person who agreed with you said they wouldn't change their mind, are they closed minded? What about religious people who disagree with you, are they closed minded?
The question is more aimed torwards religious people as you can probably tell.
If you think all the others who disagree with you are closed minded then what seperates your case from theirs?
Why in the first place would you refuse to change your mind about anything? That doesnt seem like an effective way to find truth, just clinging on to an answer and refusing to be convinced otherwise regardless of what we discover or see.
But how can you tell who is closed minded and who is not?
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:09 am
I bow to facts. When someone shows me a fact, I redirect my thinking if such is necessary.
Those who refuse to honor facts will not earn my respect as thinkers. I may love them as people, but I will still know that cardinal flaw of theirs.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:12 am
What Thump said. Anyone who says, 'I absolutely refuse to change my mind' is close-minded, by definition.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:23 am
(This post was last modified: February 27, 2017 at 3:28 pm by Alex K.)
The problem is, usually one would ask the question "what *would* change your mind" and then judge based on that answer whether the person is close minded or not. The trouble is that this needs to be weighted with the plausibility and coherence of the proposition. For example, if someone asked me, what would change your mind about the existence of God, the first problem would be that I don't know which God you mean. For other God concepts it would be "nothing, because they are contradictory". The main problem though is that I would always find a more parsimonious explanation to fit any observation than "the almighty creator of the universe!". Only for people who have been exposed to this strange concept for a long time does it seem a plausible explanation. Such a person would call me closed minded for not jumpting to the God conclusion any time soon.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:51 am
Is close minded the same as ignorance? Or can you be close minded despite the facts?
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Know God, Know fear.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 5:57 am
(February 27, 2017 at 5:02 am)Socrates Wrote: There are many religious people who absolutely refuse to change their mind, some of them even call others who dont believe in their god and who claim to be open to being convinced a god exist closed minded.
So tell me, if I said, as an Atheist, that I refuse to change my mind, am I closed minded? If a religious person who agreed with you said they wouldn't change their mind, are they closed minded? What about religious people who disagree with you, are they closed minded?
The question is more aimed torwards religious people as you can probably tell.
If you think all the others who disagree with you are closed minded then what seperates your case from theirs?
Why in the first place would you refuse to change your mind about anything? That doesnt seem like an effective way to find truth, just clinging on to an answer and refusing to be convinced otherwise regardless of what we discover or see.
But how can you tell who is closed minded and who is not?
Someone who is closed-minded cannot, if asked, restate their opponent's position, nor do they attempt to consider its implications.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 6:32 am
(February 27, 2017 at 5:02 am)Socrates Wrote: There are many religious people who absolutely refuse to change their mind, some of them even call others who dont believe in their god and who claim to be open to being convinced a god exist closed minded.
So tell me, if I said, as an Atheist, that I refuse to change my mind, am I closed minded? If a religious person who agreed with you said they wouldn't change their mind, are they closed minded? What about religious people who disagree with you, are they closed minded?
The question is more aimed torwards religious people as you can probably tell.
If you think all the others who disagree with you are closed minded then what seperates your case from theirs?
Why in the first place would you refuse to change your mind about anything? That doesnt seem like an effective way to find truth, just clinging on to an answer and refusing to be convinced otherwise regardless of what we discover or see.
But how can you tell who is closed minded and who is not?
Your query depends on the circumstances and context in which an argument, be it theistic or atheistic, is being put forward and on the argument itself. It's unclear in what sense you're claiming many theists as close-minded. Can you please give solid examples first about what exactly it is that they are changing their mind, before I can assess and provide my responses? Otherwise, this comes across as vague, unsubstantiated and over-generalised.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 6:40 am
Ultimately everyone is open minded, however what the criteria are for access varies.
Some will value physical evidence over documentary evidence, for others the reverse is true.
Some are simply incapable of grasping nuanced concepts, and most will lie to themselves in order to preserve their current viewpoint.
We are all subject to propaganda and will have erroneous concepts that we don't wish to examine too closely.
If someone states that nothing will change their mid they are merely lying to themselves.
Quote:I don't understand why you'd come to a discussion forum, and then proceed to reap from visibility any voice that disagrees with you. If you're going to do that, why not just sit in front of a mirror and pat yourself on the back continuously?
- Esquilax
Evolution - Adapt or be eaten.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 7:07 am
(February 27, 2017 at 6:32 am)Adventurer Wrote: (February 27, 2017 at 5:02 am)Socrates Wrote: There are many religious people who absolutely refuse to change their mind, some of them even call others who dont believe in their god and who claim to be open to being convinced a god exist closed minded.
So tell me, if I said, as an Atheist, that I refuse to change my mind, am I closed minded? If a religious person who agreed with you said they wouldn't change their mind, are they closed minded? What about religious people who disagree with you, are they closed minded?
The question is more aimed torwards religious people as you can probably tell.
If you think all the others who disagree with you are closed minded then what seperates your case from theirs?
Why in the first place would you refuse to change your mind about anything? That doesnt seem like an effective way to find truth, just clinging on to an answer and refusing to be convinced otherwise regardless of what we discover or see.
But how can you tell who is closed minded and who is not?
Your query depends on the circumstances and context in which an argument, be it theistic or atheistic, is being put forward and on the argument itself. It's unclear in what sense you're claiming many theists as close-minded. Can you please give solid examples first about what exactly it is that they are changing their mind, before I can assess and provide my responses? Otherwise, this comes across as vague, unsubstantiated and over-generalised. I'm saying a lot of religious people refuse to change their mind about god existing, and are closed minded about the subject.
A lot of the times if you ask a religious person what would convince them there is no god, they say nothing, and say they wouldn't change their mind.
Some even call others closed minded for disagreeing with them.
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RE: "I refuse to change my mind"
February 27, 2017 at 11:05 am
Despite this rigidity in regards to belief of people in the Christian realm, it doesn't seem to result in much in the way of 'in house' fealty or obedience to what should be evident and required dogma and strictures.
So, it's a two edged sword, an unwillingness to face the dearth of evidence supporting their beliefs, but also an unwillingness to actually comport themselves in a way as prescribed in Scripture.
Ever notice we see just as much weasel wording and strained logic in support of their god concept as we do in regards to their not having to follow every jot and tittle of his pronouncements in their holy tomes ??
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
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