Faith closes the mind. It is pure idol worship.

[McBell]

I've never found that to be true, that faith closes the mind. I mean, it might be true for a small percentage of people, but not for the majority of people. Faith is not idol worship. Idol worship is worshiping someone or something that is not God.

How does you definition of "idol worship" work for someone who does not believe in god?

To an atheist, would not your worship of god be "idol worship"?

 

[McBell]

What if that faith tells you to be open minded ? Would you say that you are being closed minded, and you should not be open minded because your faith tells you to be open minded to prove that faith is wrong? Do you think in that condition the faith is making closing your mind to ?

Please present an example of faith that does not include close mindedness.

 

[McBell]

I'm sorry....but faith is what prevents Christians from reasoning and figuring out that we are NOT saved through the Cross.
and that Jesus was murdered and we must reject the Cross and any murder. Because killing a human being, even if it deals with the worst of the criminals, is awful. Not to mention killing Jesus...

Where would Christianity be right now if it weren't for the capital punishment of Jesus Christ?

 

[Sabour]

Please present an example of faith that does not include close mindedness.

Islam is an example.

You are never supposed to believe in it blindly and people are always asked to reflect on things in the Quraan.

Furthermore, the Prophet peace be upon him said that seeking knowledge is a way leading to Paradise. He said: "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari)

For example the Quran repeatedly asks us to observe the earth and the heavens. This instills in man a desire to learn natural science as well. All the books of Hadeeth have a chapter on knowledge. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari there is a chapter entitled "The virtue of one who acquires learning and imparts that to others."

The prophet peace be upon him also said: "When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three — an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Muslim)

 

[DawudTalut]

Faith closes the mind. ..................
..................................................................
Regards
DL

Peace be on you.
Holy Quran says:
[3:191] In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding;

[3:192] Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, Thou hast not created this in vain; nay, Holy art Thou; save us, then, from the punishment of the Fire.

[13:4] And He it is Who spread out the earth and made therein mountains and rivers. And fruits of every kind He made therein in two sexes. He causes the night to cover the day. Therein, verily, are Signs for a people who reflect.

[16:12] Therewith He grows corn for you, and the olive and the datepalm, and the grapes, and all kinds of fruits. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who reflect.

[16:45] We sent Our Messengers with clear Signs and Scriptures. And We have sent down to thee the Reminder that thou mayest explain to mankind that which has been sent down to them, and that they may reflect.

[30:22] And one of His Signs is this, that He has created wives for you from among yourselves that you may find peace of mind in them, and He has put love and tenderness between you. In that surely are Signs for a people who reflect.

[45:14] And He has subjected to you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth: all this is from Him. In that surely are Signs for a people who reflect.

Ref: alislam.org/quran

and

Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth @ Al Islam -Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth

According to Ahmadiyya Muslims faith on Allah the Exalted opens the minds and saves it to fall in ditches in darkness and shows it light to think clear and productively.

 

[allfoak]

How about we describe faith as our intuition?
If we do that then we have a polar opposite of logic.
Now that we have the two opposites we have something to work with.

If we see intuition as an inward gift and logic as our servant, then we know how to use them.

These two things are part of what makes us human.
They are not limited to use in religion.

 

[Estro Felino]

Where would Christianity be right now if it weren't for the capital punishment of Jesus Christ?

well...we would try to imitate Jesus Christ and be as holy as him.

People go on sinning and naively believe that Jesus' sacrifice will save them

 

[Estro Felino]

Islam is an example.

You are never supposed to believe in it blindly and people are always asked to reflect on things in the Quraan.

Furthermore, the Prophet peace be upon him said that seeking knowledge is a way leading to Paradise. He said: "Whoever follows a path in the pursuit of knowledge, Allaah will make a path to Paradise easy for him." (Al-Bukhaari)

For example the Quran repeatedly asks us to observe the earth and the heavens. This instills in man a desire to learn natural science as well. All the books of Hadeeth have a chapter on knowledge. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari there is a chapter entitled "The virtue of one who acquires learning and imparts that to others."

The prophet peace be upon him also said: "When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three — an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Muslim)

If God asked you to kill a human being, would you obey?

that's what the OP means: religious people sometimes blindly accept what their religion tells them to do, without reasoning first about the righteousness of their deeds

 

[Sabour]

If God asked you to kill a human being, would you obey?

that's what the OP means: religious people sometimes blindly accept what their religion tells them to do, without reasoning first about the righteousness of their deeds

That question doesn't happen.

It only happens to prophets, so God would never ask me to kill a human being.

 

[McBell]

well...we would try to imitate Jesus Christ and be as holy as him.

People go on sinning and naively believe that Jesus' sacrifice will save them

If you reject the murder of Jesus Christ, as you implied in your other post, where does that leave Christianity?
Was it not gods plan to have Jesus killed?

If not, why did god allow it?

 

[McBell]

That question doesn't happen.

It only happens to prophets, so God would never ask me to kill a human being.

This is nothing more than a dirversion from answering the question asked.

 

[Sabour]

This is nothing more than a dirversion from answering the question asked.

That is the way you see it Mestemia, Allah will never ask me to kill a person. That doesn't happen,

 

[McBell]

well...we would try to imitate Jesus Christ and be as holy as him.

Or more accurately "as holy as they believe him to have been"

People go on sinning and naively believe that Jesus' sacrifice will save them

Most people I know do not believe that the death of Jesus saves them.
They believe that the death of Jesus simply makes it possible to be saved.

 

[McBell]

That is the way you see it Mestemia, Allah will never ask me to kill a person. That doesn't happen,

More diversion.
I never claimed nor implied that Allah would.
I merely pointed out the fact that you are using your faith in Allah not ever asking you to to be close minded about actually answering the question asked.

So yes, even Islam promotes close mindedness.

 

[Estro Felino]

If you reject the murder of Jesus Christ, as you implied in your other post, where does that leave Christianity?
Was it not gods plan to have Jesus killed?

If not, why did god allow it?

well...Christianity is about love and altruism. It is not about Crucifixion.
so....in other words...Jesus came to teach us love. Not certainly to be killed.
It was not God's plan. God allowed it because we all have free will and God cannot prevent us from using it. He cannot prevent us from killing.
Because if he did, he would deprive us of our freedom

 

[Sabour]

More diversion.
I never claimed nor implied that Allah would.
I merely pointed out the fact that you are using your faith in Allah not ever asking you to to be close minded about actually answering the question asked.

So yes, even Islam promotes close mindedness.

I understand you never implied Allah would, but the question "what if" means that there is a possibility.

The way I see it is the question closes the mind to a possibility that would never happen.

So far, I will take the "even Islam" part of your answer as positive thing.

 

[Estro Felino]

Most people I know do not believe that the death of Jesus saves them.
They believe that the death of Jesus simply makes it possible to be saved.

yeah...that's exactly what I meant

 

[McBell]

well...Christianity is about love and altruism. It is not about Crucifixion.
so....in other words...Jesus came to teach us love. Not certainly to be killed.
It was not God's plan. God allowed it because we all have free will and God cannot prevent us from using it. He cannot prevent us from killing.
Because if he did, he would deprive us of our freedom

If god is not all powerful, is he worthy of worship?
I mean, you are saying that we mere mortal humans are more powerful than god.
We have to be if we can kill and god cannot...

 

[McBell]

I understand you never implied Allah would, but the question "what if" means that there is a possibility.

The way I see it is the question closes the mind to a possibility that would never happen.

So far, I will take the "even Islam" part of your answer as positive thing.

Thus your thinking faith in Islam does not promote close mindedness is demonstrated to be false.

 

[Estro Felino]

If god is not all powerful, is he worthy of worship?
I mean, you are saying that we mere mortal humans are more powerful than god.
We have to be if we can kill and god cannot...

potentially...yes. We can change this world . We can make it either a Heaven or a Hell...so we are, potentially more powerful than God.

Don't forget that I'm Pelagian...so it's obvious that almost all Christians believe otherwise.