NationStates Jolt Archive

I think the title speeks for itself. And I must say thats an unfair judgement on the part of anyone who says yes. If thats the case, and narrow mindedness is "bad" then you must obviouly frown upon all religious people, which in itslef seems pretty narrow minded

No, just the ones who don't accept that other people might believe differently than they do.

I think the title speeks for itself. And I must say thats an unfair judgement on the part of anyone who says yes. If thats the case, and narrow mindedness is "bad" then you must obviouly frown upon all religious people, which in itslef seems pretty narrow minded

I think whats looked down upon is the amount of times religious moralities have been forced on others and the fear that something like that could happen again.

No, just the ones who don't accept that other people might believe differently than they do.
Quoted for truth.

If they didn't think their religion was right it wouldn't be their religion. This holds for any position any person adopts as their own whether religious in nature or not. So the answer to the question would be no.

If they refuse to admit the possibility that their religion is wrong on the other hand, then they're narrow minded.

not automatically. why HAVE a religion if you dont think its right?

If they refuse to admit the possibility that their religion is wrong on the other hand, then they're narrow minded.
I would hope that if someone is so convinced of Allah looking over their shoulder that they wander half-way across the earth and give the require 5% every year, that they would be willing to deny that they are wrong.
Religion is an all or nothing thing, if you want to be a Jew you have to be a Jew. No second guessing, no saying that this is just opinion, and no accepting that other people are right.

I would hope that if someone is so convinced of Allah looking over their shoulder that they wander half-way across the earth and give the require 5% every year, that they would be willing to deny that they are wrong.

Your statement there was missing a qualifier that mine contained.

I believe my religion is right ................... for me.

What you do is your own business.

Your statement there was missing a qualifier that mine contained.
:confused: I was saying that if you are going to give your life to some belief, then you had better be ready to back that belief up to the end. Maybe I should have prefaced my comment by saying that I would assume that before you trade over the goods of this life for some divine purpose I would expect that you had made damn sure that said divine purpose existed.

:confused: I was saying that if you are going to give your life to some belief, then you had better be ready to back that belief up to the end.

Which is all well and good for as long as you believe that you are correct in that belief.

That is entirely different from refusing to acknowledge the possibility that you are not correct, which is effectively assuming your own infallibility. I can think of no better definition of "narrow-minded" then to assume not simply that you are not wrong... but that you cannot be wrong.

Maybe I should have prefaced my comment by saying that I would assume that before you trade over the goods of this life for some divine purpose I would expect that you had made damn sure that said divine purpose existed.

I don't see how making sure of such a thing (in the sense that there is no uncertainty remaining) is even hypothetically within the capabilities of any human being.

Religion is an all or nothing thing, if you want to be a Jew you have to be a Jew. No second guessing, no saying that this is just opinion, and no accepting that other people are right.

Qur'an 109:6 "To you be your Way, and to me be mine."

Islam is not an "all or nothing" religion. It is a chosen path, chosen by free will and not required. 109:6 speaks to those who do not choose Islam. I can accept anything I like.

I don't see how making sure of such a thing (in the sense that there is no uncertainty remaining) is even hypothetically within the capabilities of any human being.
Which is why I am an agnostic. We are talking about opinions here, and in my mind the existence of a soul, and then from there the existence of a particular god, are questions that you should be able to answer unequivicaly if you intend to give up your life to that pursuit.
Of course, I am also pretty sure that my moral and religious capacity were stunted at some point, so make of it what you will.

Qur'an 109:6 "To you be your Way, and to me be mine."

Islam is not an "all or nothing" religion. It is a chosen path, chosen by free will and not required. 109:6 speaks to those who do not choose Islam. I can accept anything I like.
Alright then, how sure are you there is an Allah?

Sort of Sure
Mostly Sure
Probably Sure
Definitively, there is no God but He

I'm not saying that being religious obliggates you to make conversion by the sword the law of the land, I am just saying that when you entrust your soul and life to a particular cause, I would expect you to have thought it through enough that your faith won't just flap in the breeze (and prefacing everything with, "but I might be wrong", is quite a lot of flappage).

Alright then, how sure are you there is an Allah?


I am absolutely, without a doubt, positive that Allah is the One True God, the god of Abraham. You, however, do not have to believe that.

I'm not saying that being religious obligates you to make conversion by the sword the law of the land

That's good ... cuz I just don't have that kind of time.

I am just saying that when you entrust your soul and life to a particular cause, I would expect you to have thought it through enough that your faith won't just flap in the breeze (and prefacing everything with, "but I might be wrong", is quite a lot of flappage).

Nah ... it's not. Abraham openly argued with God. Noah was a drunkard. Isaiah struggled with sin and his faith. Jesus cried out on the cross.

With faith comes struggle (jihad). It's an essential part of it that you question yourself, your faith, and even your god.

That questioning makes my faith stronger.

I believe someone is narrow minded when they don't acknowledge the possibility that they are wrong. If you don't acknowledge that, you are claiming yourself perfect and (in my opinion) commiting idolitry.