Quote Originally Posted by admin
like i said how is obeying being OPEN-MINDED?
how is obeying being close-minded? perhaps in extreme cases, some christians could be considered that way (the renaissance), but christians have tolerated and lived alongside people with other beliefs since it originated. sure they teach their religion and attempt to draw people to it, because they believe it is right. christians learn about different beliefs throughout their lives, and most are receptive to many of the ideas or concepts that different beliefs present.

i do think it is incorrect to consider a christian close-minded because they won't try out a different religion or belief system. christianity is a way of life. people are not born christians and have to make a decision as to accept it or deny it. before they accept christ, i'd say they're in that state of open-mindedness that you refer to. they utilize that open-mindedness and make an educated decsion based on what they've learned. once they've accepted the belief system, however, they become somewhat limited as to what behavior is accepted. this isn't to say that they are close minded to that behavior (many christians bathed in some of the activites that christianity prohibits before they took on the religion), but that in their open-mindedness, chose christianity over that behavior.

open-minded is to have an understanding or a knowlege of something, be it first or second hand

close-minded is to deny any and all information relating to something.