Most people quick to say that they are “open minded” are usually not really that open. Sadly most religious people, we think would be the most open, are usually the least tolerant.
Every person on this planet has a unique life experience. Our spiritual views are an accumulation of every activity, every association, every experience good and bad; everyone is strongly influenced by their sphere of friends, community, family and upbringing. All this information we accumulate helps to mold and develop our perceptions. It’s this environmental influence that can also lead to our becoming “closed minded”.
Most religious people see themselves and their life conclusions as right; this is healthy, why would someone live in a way they viewed as wrong? However the true measure of being “open minded” is when we are exposed to something we disagree with. The open minded person is willing to listen and to explore another persons life conclusions without judgment and argument.
The deeper we explore, that which we disagree with, the more open-minded we become and the bigger we grow. We learn something more, understand deeper, we now have more information to refine our own positions and enlarge our own perceptions.
One is never obligated to accept any information as true or required, we maintain the right and the obligation to accept or reject any information that we are exposed too. However by refusing to to explore that with which we disagree is closing our minds to further enlightenment.
God is Love …. he loves everyone … we need to see beyond our own current human perspective. Our current perspective, which we inherited from our upbringing, may seem foolish or unfounded to those of another religion, country or culture. If such a person would just take the time to inquire and understand you and your perspective they would be all the wiser for it.
Would we be as open with someone we disagree with? Our growth comes through knowledge and understanding mainly focusing on what we don’t know or what we disagree with.
The more we investigate, the more we learn, the deeper we understand the richer and more fulfilled our lives become. We are better equipped to understand and help others. We become more loving and tolerant of other views.
We expand our ability to connect with others and we move beyond our own limited perspectives to see the world as God sees it, with Love for everyone. Read more about Spiritual Love here
“Sadly most religious people, we think would be the most open, are usually the least tolerant.”
Belonging to no religion myself, I am tempted to draw an analogy between that and the superficial sense of patriotism that leads to worship elected officials as somehow greater human beings that regular people.
To sum it up, in both cases, we are confusing the structure for its goal.
Thanks for the input … I certainly agree that political views are divisive too .. it’s religions that focus on openness and love which seems a striking contradiction.