Can a "completely open-minded" person hold any convictions, or reach any conclusions?

[Jack]

Much that I have read suggests that it is a personality weakness, possibly an indication of insecurity, to hold so tightly, to a conviction, that no argument, to the contrary, can change that belief, or conviction. Some, even go so far as to suggest that one is narrow and bigoted!
Personally, I continue, daily, to read, discuss, and add to my knowledge, but nothing causes the least little bit of doubt about my foundational beliefs regarding this life, or the next!
So, if I am a narrow bigot...so be it! Praise God for the gift of faith, which this world cannot take away from me!
How "narrow" are you?

[David Zierenberg]

...nothing causes the least little bit of doubt about my foundational beliefs regarding this life, or the next

I recall a story of one doubter. Jesus described him thusly:
"Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater..."

I'll just say that, as I understand it, it is the rare man who never has doubts.

And of course, "open-minded" does not mean accepting all viewpoints, just a willingness to consider all viewpoints.

[Jack]

David; Long ago I "considered" the idea that God didn't create the world, and everything in it, and decided that's
the blindest kind of thinking there is. How often do you suggest that I should re-consider the idea?
There are many less important things that I have not decided upon, like: Who will win the World series?

David Zierenberg said:

...nothing causes the least little bit of doubt about my foundational beliefs regarding this life, or the next

I recall a story of one doubter. Jesus described him thusly:
"Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater..."

I'll just say that, as I understand it, it is the rare man who never has doubts.

And of course, "open-minded" does not mean accepting all viewpoints, just a willingness to consider all viewpoints.

[Harry]

I will admit that I'm narrow minded because I believe that the Lutheran Confessions are a correct exposition of Scripture. And I like FOX News.

[Otsukafan]

LOL Jack, I hope you're not hoping to find an open-minded person to answer this. This is theologica after all.

[robert brown]

"It's not good to go against your conscience" Martin Luther

[Jack]

Otsukafan; No, but I thought that some might like to make such a claim for themselves! I admit that there are a number of "secondary issues", upon which I have not reached a hardened position.
I've come to believe that popular opinion (politically Correct) is to have an open mind to any concept, as long as the other party doesn't insist that theirs is the only correct position. Jesus Christ would not gain an audience, today, by claiming: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me!"

Otsukafan said:

LOL Jack, I hope you're not hoping to find an open-minded person to answer this. This is theologica after all.

[Christian]

I once saw the statement that went like this--"The purpose of having an open mind is for it to eventually shut (or close) on something." I can't remember the source for sure, but I think it may have been Joseph Sobran.

If "completely open minded person" means someone who is completely open minded on every subject, then no, they will not reach any conclusions if they remain completely open minded, since IMO coming to particular conclusions or convictions entails closing one's mind at least in a tentative sense.

But is it possible for someone to be completely open minded? It seems to me that would entail accepting the idea being a tabula rasa, or blank slate. For the sake of argument, if the blank slate idea is true, the slate starts getting filled in very early on in life.

I agree with the poster above who stated that the term open minded typically is used in the sense that someone is willing to consider other views. But we all come to the table with certain presuppositions which can make it difficult to honestly entertain opposing views.

[Carol Jean]

Jack, are you saying that once a person comes to a conclusion on any subject then they are considered to be close-minded?

I think most folks would like to think that if evidence warranted they could change their mind about certain things. So even though I would agree and I am convinced that there is a God and that God is the God of the Bible and I won't change that conclusion there are other conclusions that I hold loosely (like you say, secondary). Does that make me partly open-minded and partly closed-minded?

[John Roberts]

For a person to be "closed-minded" about a conviction then wouldn't they have to had been "open-minded" at some point prior about the thing? Are we born with "close-minded" convictions?

People who deny God exist are simply suppressing that truth. But what about other things, don't we need to become open-minded at some point to become convicted of the truth of many of other things? Are we born with the convictions of truth we now hold? Didn't we need to be open-minded at some point so that we can now say "this is what I believe"?

[Char]

Christian, Seraphim quoted something similar awhile back from Chesterton.

Interesting that you bring up the tabula rasa. We are to a degree shaped by base assumptions and I think that there really is no such thing. I wonder if there really should be. The problem I see isn't being indebted to those assumptions, it's pretending that you aren't.

Open mindedness tends to mean different things to different people. To some it really does mean you never say you are right or that someone else is wrong-an utterly ridiculous notion. This is the so-called "open mindedness" that people react to because they inherently know it's stupid. It's reckless not to tell someone they are wrong in their belief that warfarin is a condiment. As the saying goes, don't be so open minded that your brains fall out.

But sometimes open mindedness simply involves knowing someone's position even if you don't agree with it. Or it insists that you take someone else's view into consideration (though it is often forgotten that consideration can end up in rejection). Sometimes it means acknowledging that you can see why they came to that conclusion even if you disagree with it. It can mean looking at all the evidence and making your decisions based on that, knowing that if new evidence comes up, it can change your view (even if you don't think it will). It can mean prioritizing your beliefs. It could mean being a devil's advocate so that people understand the other side. And...yes it can mean admitting there are several correct answers to a question given different circumstances.

Ungenerous agreement (that is telling someone you agree with them but interpreting what they are saying incorrectly so that it fits your view, or only looking for commonalities when there are in fact bigger differences) is sometimes trying to be "open minded" but I don't think it actually is.

Sometimes you just have to be honest about the evidence. For example, Christians might often say that nothing will convince them not to be Christians; but Paul encouraged a type of "open mindedness" by saying yes there is something that should convince you not to be a Christian, and that is if Christ was not raised.

[John Roberts]

"don't be so open minded that your brains fall out.". I never heard that one before. I like it. It seems some people can never hold to any convictions at all.

Is God asking us to be open-minded enough to learn? Is He asking that of us as individuals? Or is He asking that of us in some other way? Is it close-minded to follow in the steps of others? Is it close minded to not even question the steps of others? Is it an individualistic responsibility?

[Ratatösk]

Jack, I believe that I need to remember that ...

Opinions and convictions are unavoidable and necessary.

All of our opinions and convictions are finite and limited.

Being hurtful and divisive is avoidable.

Some things are worthy of being hurtful and divisive.

Some things are not.