Are you closed minded?

[Erebus]

I think that you are referring to what is sometimes called philosophical doubt, which unlike psychological doubt, is understood more than felt. One doesn't really feel uncertain about the reality of the world implied by our perceptions, but once one has understood Descartes' argument that he has no way to step outside of his sphere of consciousness to see what it is he is conscious of and confirm that its not all the machinations of a deceptive demon, or in a more modern formulation, that we aren't really brains in a vat having artificial conscious experience, he understands that there is room for doubt. He understands the limits of his knowledge and acknowledges a small measure of philosophical doubt.

Spot on

 

[Woberts]

How certain are you? Absolutely or varying degrees of uncertainty and certainty?

Absolutely.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I highly doubt the existence of any type or form of deity/god. However, I am open to compelling evidence. Haven't seen any in my lifetime, but I am still open.

I also believe that the doubt I have is entirely reasonable given the extent to which god(s) existence has been demonstrated.

 

[viole]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. I’ve noticed, some theists will even say it’s possible their god does not exist but immediately deny what they said with some tangent. Therefore, they’re absolutely certain.

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded. People who are closed minded cannot accept new information to the contrary; they’ll dismiss it without a thought. Even Socrates understood the immense problems with certainty. Even science does not use absolutely certainty.

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?
VS Do you believe it’s most likely god exist but possible god does not exist or it’s unlikely but possible?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.

Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

I am not absolutely certain of basically anything. I cannot even a priori exclude that I am brain in a vat.

That does not entail that I cannot make knowledge claims. For instance, I know I have two kids, but I am not absolutely certain of it (in the brain in the vat scenario i would probably not).

So, like every synthetic proposition, I know that God does not exist, but I am not absolutely certain that He does not exist.

Ciao

- viole

 

[JJ50]

I was a believer when young but I soon lost my faith as I never had any connection with god.

 

[Nakosis]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. I’ve noticed, some theists will even say it’s possible their god does not exist but immediately deny what they said with some tangent. Therefore, they’re absolutely certain.

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded. People who are closed minded cannot accept new information to the contrary; they’ll dismiss it without a thought. Even Socrates understood the immense problems with certainty. Even science does not use absolutely certainty.

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?
VS Do you believe it’s most likely god exist but possible god does not exist or it’s unlikely but possible?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.

Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

Sure a God could exist.

Which one?
What are God's attributes?
Is there more than one God?

One can't know what they don't know. I just prefer not to pretend having knowledge of something that I don't.

 

[Fool]

i have experienced and know the beloved, through humane actions.


Song of Solomon

 

[George-ananda]

I want to participate in this survey. But it's complicated. I am a Advaita (non-dual=God and creation are not two) pantheist. So I would identify more with the 'theist' camp.

I would put myself in the open-minded camp too. My position is that I believe Advaita is the most rational understanding I've heard with all things considered.

 

[Quintessence]

But whether you ask "do gods exist" or "can you provide some insight on why these things are gods for your culture?" are basically the same question just phrased differently? To answer the first one "do gods exist?" you would most likely draw on insights of what things in ones culture are considered gods to explain it.

Oh, I wish it worked that way in practice. Unfortunately, most discussions that begin with "do gods exist" end up being superficial exchanges with little attempts to gain multicultural understanding. Instead they become conversations caught up in "proving it" and figuring out who is "right" and who is "wrong." When we simply grant that the gods are a thing for theistic cultures and individuals, it provides the opportunity of asking deeper questions and listening while suspending judgement.

But if you skip such question, your assumption would always be from a starting point that Gods do exist. Which as I understand by the OP, is what is meant by being close minded. How your Gods might cause your culture to behave, whether that is positive or not, is how you make sure that it stays ignorant in regards to reality.

Declaring a culture that is different from our own is "ignorant in regards to reality" is a perfect example of what happens when we don't allow other cultures space to tell their stories. It is also another way of being "closed minded" as it is judging another culture by our terms instead of on its own terms. If the goal is multicultural understanding - and for me it usually is - judging in this way represents a failure to listen that makes such understanding an impossibility.

Granted, not everyone prioritizes understanding other cultures or persons. For some, priority is "winning" the argument or being "right" and having "the truth." For those people, flicking the judgement switch immediately is simply a matter of course and not viewed as a problem. I suppose as an academic, I see it as a problem because flicking that switch means you are painting your own bias onto the subject you are studying. As a researcher, it is my job to observe and record, not judge. So if someone tells me they are a theist, my first question isn't "prove to me your gods exist" (a combative demand) it is "tell me more about your gods" (an invitation for discussion).

So at some point, as more and more things seems less connected to sacrificing to the Gods, the question of whether they actually want sacrifices in the first place become relevante, which eventually leads to the question of whether they even exist or not, so it seems like a reasonable question to ask. I think.

Don't get me wrong, it's not an unreasonable question to ask... in spite of the argument highlighting its importance being a very poor one. I just find the question pedantic and uninteresting, especially since they don't facilitate much learning about other cultures compared to less loaded questions.

 

[syo]

god exists like the air we breathe.

 

[atanu]

I have had some dramatic experiences also. It's the *interpretation* of them that I find questionable.

Can I request you to share your experience?

 

[Polymath257]

Can I request you to share your experience?

There are reasons why I cannot share. Sorry.

 

[atanu]

There are reasons why I cannot share. Sorry.

Okay. No problem.

Usually, the non dual experience (it is not an experience though) is not conducive for any interpretation. So, I was just keen.

 

[Elliott5779]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. I’ve noticed, some theists will even say it’s possible their god does not exist but immediately deny what they said with some tangent. Therefore, they’re absolutely certain.

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded. People who are closed minded cannot accept new information to the contrary; they’ll dismiss it without a thought. Even Socrates understood the immense problems with certainty. Even science does not use absolutely certainty.

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?
VS Do you believe it’s most likely god exist but possible god does not exist or it’s unlikely but possible?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.

Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

i believe in G-d and i am closedminded and proud!

 

[Nimos]

Oh, I wish it worked that way in practice. Unfortunately, most discussions that begin with "do gods exist" end up being superficial exchanges with little attempts to gain multicultural understanding. Instead they become conversations caught up in "proving it" and figuring out who is "right" and who is "wrong." When we simply grant that the gods are a thing for theistic cultures and individuals, it provides the opportunity of asking deeper questions and listening while suspending judgement.

You do have a point here, but if the such beliefs causes damage to others, I don't think its about cultural understanding anymore, but doing the right thing. So not even wanting to adresse such question is not really acceptable, I think. Because it would be the same as simply allowing others to be hurt without reason. Obviously this is not all religious views where this is relevante, but do you think we should ignore a religious view, that actively caused harm to others and not question it, because its part of their culture?

Declaring a culture that is different from our own is "ignorant in regards to reality" is a perfect example of what happens when we don't allow other cultures space to tell their stories. It is also another way of being "closed minded" as it is judging another culture by our terms instead of on its own terms. If the goal is multicultural understanding - and for me it usually is - judging in this way represents a failure to listen that makes such understanding an impossibility.

Granted, not everyone prioritizes understanding other cultures or persons. For some, priority is "winning" the argument or being "right" and having "the truth." For those people, flicking the judgement switch immediately is simply a matter of course and not viewed as a problem. I suppose as an academic, I see it as a problem because flicking that switch means you are painting your own bias onto the subject you are studying. As a researcher, it is my job to observe and record, not judge. So if someone tells me they are a theist, my first question isn't "prove to me your gods exist" (a combative demand) it is "tell me more about your gods" (an invitation for discussion).

I think it might be because we look at it differently. I don't care what people believe if their beliefs are not harmful for others, but when they are, they ought to questioned and therefore the question of whether their God exists or not, must be relevant. If you can't question that, why should you question what they are doing then?

 

[Workman]

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

I use(d) to..THINK God was a lie..
AND, FOR NOW..I ABSOLUTELY KNOW! GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRUE!

If I may look in its conclusions in answers and determine which IMO..is more open/close minded..

I’ll start with mine first!..
If you had notice in my answer, is mentioned of none stated..in using of your term to say: The end??

For reason why? Because my END was followed through from the start in its beginning..therefore answered my own matters with Certainty..than be CLAIMED ownership of my BELIEF!
In my definition of True God.
Instead being ‘The End’, Rather its My statement of being ‘FINISHED’.

I started my beginning with stating an ASSERTION of a God.
(Assertions is caused by uncertainty, making of in heaps of loose end(s)).
And than! I found its truth of ending my assertions and uncertainties from a God. Making my truth! My belief, My God. My answer!..

The End, WILL NOT ALLOW..to FINISH! without understanding of its..‘Beginning!’.

Or!

‘The Beginning’, WILL NOT ALLOW..at the END! without understanding..Its ‘Finishing!’


If you do not understand in those..
Than you won’t understand your problem.

Having look in your answer speaks louder than words..
You have questioned an assertion, and than answered only with a assertion,Therefore Making of your ending”..Uncertainty!

This would mean your beliefs in its uncertainty..is not worth its time finding its Certainty for its truth. Disrespecting your own thoughts by ending it in confusion of its own known truth..now instead your rather start of a thread about God with the basis on knowledge with your own uncertainty??

Your answer would only be as good as YOU...and you will not know how to test this opportunity!

 

[atanu]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Spoiler: Can you tell

Can you tell me?

Given the materialistic notion that there is no intelligence at Big Bang stage what is the likelihood of a man creating this? Very very unlikely. Almost zero probability No?

So, by using the materialistic paradigm, if god(s) are possible, then God’s existence is likely. No?

Since a materialist-atheist holds that reality is external, God (by definition omnipresent) is an impossibility. Some theists also believe similarly and for them too God is an impossibility, given that God is omnipresent.

For a Vedantic like me (and possibly for many mystics) the reality of “I am” is God and “You too are That”. Where is any doubt? “I am”, however is not a second being and it cannot be known as a second or third person. The non dual meditation experience is the direct proof.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. ...,,,,

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded....,.

It seems you have already made a decision that theists are closed minded.

 

[dfnj]

Here, I’ll go first.
I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.
Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.
As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.
Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

My brain is like concrete cement. I never change my mind no matter what. God is just a word and the word God absolutely exists. What the word God means is purely subjective and irrelevant.

Although it would be nice to somehow how show or prove the soul actually exists and is something separate than physical material. Mind from matter is a really strange. We are made of the very stuff we are experiencing. It sure feels like I have consciousness and I am not a machine. Whatever it is I am experiencing or telling me what to think it's not simple mechanical stuff. Reality seems so real. It's more than just simple measurements of perception. I think reality is spirit and not material. Our soul is part of something bigger than ourselves. When we experience reality it completes a type of self-referential experience/perception circuit with God.

 

[BilliardsBall]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. I’ve noticed, some theists will even say it’s possible their god does not exist but immediately deny what they said with some tangent. Therefore, they’re absolutely certain.

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded. People who are closed minded cannot accept new information to the contrary; they’ll dismiss it without a thought. Even Socrates understood the immense problems with certainty. Even science does not use absolutely certainty.

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?
VS Do you believe it’s most likely god exist but possible god does not exist or it’s unlikely but possible?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.

Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

Define absolute as "beyond a reasonable doubt, to the best of my ability" and I'll go with "absolutely exists".

Yes, that's my vote.

 

[ChristineM]

Concerning god, most atheists are agnostic atheists or soft atheists. Therefore, their belief has some form of uncertainty. I, and I think other soft atheists, believe god(s) are possible, but unlikely.

Contrary to this, it seems most theists are absolutely certain god(s) exist. I’ve noticed, some theists will even say it’s possible their god does not exist but immediately deny what they said with some tangent. Therefore, they’re absolutely certain.

I propose that people who are absolutely certain about a topic, especially one as controversial as this, are closed minded. People who are closed minded cannot accept new information to the contrary; they’ll dismiss it without a thought. Even Socrates understood the immense problems with certainty. Even science does not use absolutely certainty.

Are you absolutely certain god exists or not?
VS Do you believe it’s most likely god exist but possible god does not exist or it’s unlikely but possible?

Here, I’ll go first.

I think it’s possible but unlikely god(s) exist. The end.

Let’s see how open minded or closed minded you are.

As a tracker, I'm going to see how many atheists vs theists answer this question.

Atheists: 5 Theists: 2

Given the 100% lack of evidence
Given the fact suffering exists
Given the number of different religions
Given that the amount of "stuff" attributed to god magic has reduced dramatically as the "not understood" has become understood and the gaps keep getting fewer and smaller.

I am certain no gods exist.

That is not to say more advanced beings that exist on earth do not exist somewhere in this universe.