I have read on these forums all sorts of utter bullshit regarding "faith". Lately and recently I have read that you need an "open mind" to have faith. So what does this really mean?
Does "open mind" mean abandoning common sense, and or reality?
Does it mean allowing propaganda to take over your mind with no regard to truth or facts?
In science or the REAL fucking world, "open mind" means observing with no prejudice or preconceived idea of a conclusion.
That is not what it means with regard to faith! In fact, to have "faith" you have to accept a preconceived conclusion no matter what. It doesn't matter what the facts are or where they lead. One idiot on the forum actually stated that facts are somehow not valid. I can't remember the exact quote but that was the idea.
"Faith" in reality is an excuse for not having facts. That is all it is. Having "faith" has nothing to do with an "open mind". In fact, you have to have a closed mind to have faith. You have to close your mind off from facts, history, reality, truth, and intellectual honesty. You have to accept a prejudicial preconceived conclusion which is the very opposite of an open mind.
The best saying I have ever read was:
"THANK GOD FOR ATHEISM!"
Atheists follow the facts and let the facts lead them where ever the facts go. There is no preconceived notion of any conclusion. There is no "leap of faith" to fit a preconceived narrative. Atheists have an OPEN MIND!
So yes, everyone should have an open mind, open to where the facts lead. If the facts don't lead to a conclusion, then sobeit. That is where they lead.
Belief is synonymous with a closed mind. Nonbelief is synonymous with having an open mind.
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When Christian apologists say "open mind" they are engaging in Orwellian doublespeak. An open mind is a closed mind. They want you to close your mind to the evidence and blindly accept claims for which there is no evidence or logic.
No thanks.
I concur with Algebe in that "open mind" means "Agree with me and renounce your need for proof" when touted by a theist and " I am open to the evidence" when expressed by an atheist.
An " open mind" is really just agreeing with whatever nonsense that is put forth by someone calling for the open mind.
It's similar to " common sense" which is again, simply agreeing with the drivel set out.
I suppose it's a bit more polite than " You're an idiot if you don't agree with me!"
But not by much.
It may be obvious ... but for Christmas my youngest daughter got me a book with loads of quotes from Terry Pratchett...... one of which is as follows......
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/terry-pratchett-best-quotes/
Obviously your post is rhetorical, as you have clearly demonstrated that faith and open mind are mutually exclusive. Religious apologists don't seem to know this, and judging from the way they use the term open mind, I think they believe it means put yourself in a suggestible state, without any critical thinking or cynicism when judging claims made about .....insert superstition of choice....
An open mind means you are willing to consider new ideas, without prejudice or bias. Just why they think 2000 year old superstitions are a new idea isn't clear. Based on past experience I'm not hopeful I'll ever get a cogent answer from them either, but I am ever the optimist.
@Sheldon
EXACTLY!
“The trouble with having an open mind is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Without critical thinking and logic we would be as ignorant as the religious.