Friday, December 28, 2007

Close Your Mind

o·pen-mind·ed (pn-mndd)
adj.
Having or showing receptiveness to new and different ideas or the opinions of

othersclose-mind·ed (klsmndd, klz-) or closed-mind·ed (klzd-)
adj.
Intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others; stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas

An open mind is nothing like a whore that anyone can ride for the price of admission.

An open mind allows a person to entertain new ideas without absently rejecting those thoughts or ideas out of hand. Do these thoughts and ideas need to be judged? Yes. Is everything that enters the mind wholesome? No. In order to filter out the good from the bad the mind must first be open to all information and then allow that information to be filtered out accordingly.

A closed mind is a mind that does not have a filter. Instead, like a closed and locked glass door, everything can be seen for a second prior to the thought bouncing back off but nothing is allowed inside for further scrutiny. This type of mind has led to wars, extermination of knowledge, the death of Christ, the imprisonment of great minds, etc.

It is true in this world that most information is given with some type of agenda. Who to vote for, what to eat, who to worship, how to worship, etc.

Some Examples,

Gallileo, stating that the Earth rotated around the sun, heretical at the time

Fat is bad, okay but what about fat folks, do they not like being fat? Is it wrong? Who knows?

Meat is bad for you, a lie put forth by the animal rights activists. Or don't you believe in God because the scriptures tell us that animals were put on the earth for mans consumption and to not eat meat is a sin. I know everyone will argue this so feel free and then read the BOM

Speaking of which, The Book of Mormon, agenda? Should we not allow our children to read this book until they are old enough to judge for themselves the truthfulness? Or....is this somehow different?

Golden Compass, how sinister a plot to get children to hate God. IF parents are doing their job why would the child hate God based on a book or movie?

A Work and A glory, hmmmm agenda here, naw coudln't be. Although I have read that this author has gone on record stating his belief in God and the fact that all people should read his book as their faith will grow, etc.

I know everyone will be offended by this but I am trying to make a point here. Everyone in this world has different beliefs. Who is to say who is right and who is wrong?

Next argument, but we know whats right and we know whats wrong based on gospel principles. Ok but how does the rest of the world see us? Do they know what we know? Do we know what we think we know?

Not all is as it seems, perhaps a little filtered mindedness is needed.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

First, I didn't mean to make anyone mad. I'm sorry.

Second, I clearly have a different definition of an open mind.

The situation I was thinking of, is when someone tells you to do something and you say no. Then they come back and say "Have an open mind" as an argument to get you to do something.

It is this general perception of an open mind that I was talking about.

As far as the other two books/series you mentioned I have not read the Work and the Glory and have heard no controversy over them, so I do not feel qualified to comment. But in general, if the author has the agenda to force people into accepting God then I would object to them and tell people not to read them for the same reason.

Mr. Pullman clearly has an agenda to force people to not believe in God, and I stand by my objection to him and in supporting him.

But with the Book of Mormon I must disagree. It comes inherent with the question. "Read this and then ask God and see if it is true."

This sets the BOM apart. No other book asks you to think about it and decide for yourself. Do Mr. Pullman's books come with such a warning? No. Neither I bet do the Work and the Glory. (Yes I'm sure in the annuls of history there is another.)

And if someone is presenting the BOM to their children without asking them to think it through, they are doing themselves, God, And their children a disservice. The whole story of the BOM starts with that question. To skip that question is doing Satan's work for him. It's the whole reason we're here in the first place.

I agree with you, IF parents are doing their job, his books will be as nothing, but unfortunately a lot parents do not do their job. A lot of people are wrapped up in ignorance and fear and approach the world from this perspective. Then they pass it on to their children, because they know nothing better, and worse have no desire to learn.

It is not an agenda that I object to it is an agenda that is forcing itself on you. And above all the agenda that disguises itself as something else. (If you read something like the BOM or the Bible or the Quran, there is no question what it is about.)

If people still want to believe the Earth is the center of everything then go ahead, but even Galileo said "Hey look through this spyglass and tell me if I'm right." There is still choice in the matter.

I debated whether or not to leave that last comment, and am doing the same with this one, but if you like it or not, its your choice.

Lord said...

Your comments are not offensive in any way. I do not get offended, it is a waste of energy.

I only offered comment on the comment. And yes you are right about the "have an open mind" argument.

It is sad that people ignore the question and believe without questioning.

Children are subject to this even in our church and it is sad.

I just watched a movie, wait I will blog about it.

Anonymous said...

Amen, Lord, amen!