Religion
See other Religion Articles
Title: The Closed Mind (faggot propaganda posted by Gatlin)
Source:
Psychology Today
URL Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ ... terrain/201907/the-closed-mind
Published: Jul 6, 2019
Author: Andrea Mathews LPC, NCC
Post Date: 2020-04-21 17:25:23 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 3094
Comments: 21
Each of us knows at least one person whom we would say has a closed mind. Bias, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, and homophobia are all examples of closed- mindedness. When one’s mind is made up, there is no changing it. But there are other forms of closed-mindedness—for example, religious fundamentalism (regardless of the particular religion) is also a form of closed-mindedness. Fundamentally, what closed-mindedness does is shut out the possibility of original thinking.
The closed-minded person is not allowed to question her own beliefs. Such questioning allows a person to center on her own authentic self and to come to terms with—not what she has been taught to believe—but what she actually believes. Belief is very, very important, for it is upon belief that we formulate our lives. It is on belief that we build the foundations of our lives.
Original thought is a thought or belief that comes from the center of our essential being. Many, many of our thoughts originate externally. Someone has told us how to think, and so we just think that way without ever questioning the validity of such thoughts or beliefs. Original thinking generates ideas that hold water, not because they are right so much as because they are real. Original thinking allows us to fly free from the constraints of our own bias, see through it to creative, problem-solving beliefs
On the other hand, it is fear that generally keeps the mind closed. Often the fear is based on the idea that one must be right in order to be OK. It is not safe to be wrong. Therefore, once an idea is grasped, one must hold on to it, for fear that to question it might prove one wrong and thus unsafe.
Unfortunately, closed-minded people can take positions of power over others—thus training others to likewise have closed minds. Parents who have closed minds often train their children to believe as they believe—and will even go so far as to outright reject a child who does not agree with their beliefs. There are many LGBTQ adolescents who are homeless right now, because they challenged the beliefs of closed-minded parents. What was hoped, in these cases, by the parents, was that their closed-mindedness would create an equal set of closed minds in their children. When it doesn’t work that way, the parents are outraged and simply get rid of the whole problem by kicking their children out of their homes.
There are many who operate out of a closed mind as a coping mechanism for a deep-seated fear that they cannot even access, because to explore their own minds might be too frightening. The open-minded person is willing to explore his own mind and even find that he’s been wrong about something and self-correct. The closed-minded person is unwilling to do this. Being wrong is simply not safe. Being right at all times about all that matters is the way to feel safe. Even if one must resort to illusion or delusion in order to hold on to the belief that one is right and thereby safe, the closed-minded person may do so.
For this reason, trying to talk the closed-minded person out of a closed mind is not likely to succeed. Arguing, trying to prove your points, these are methods that are likely to fail. Rather, facilitating a safe zone for this person, in which safety is the primary interactive tool, might mean that the closed-minded person will ever so slowly begin to explore his own mind. When, for example, a white person biased against their darker-skinned brothers and sisters meets and begins to formulate a safe relationship with a darker-skinned person, he may begin to open some.
The problem is that because safety is the biggest issue here, this bias will generally not allow such a comradeship to occur. Therefore, we must continue to facilitate the openness of society necessary to allow for such engagements— interactions necessary to the living experience of working, buying, and generally intermingling with the world must continue to occur. We must not allow for the shutting down of these opportunities to engage. If we go backward in time, by shutting out certain marginalized individuals from the capacity to interact with others—including the closed-minded—we simply increase the possibility for more closed-mindedness.
Why does it close, and how does it open?
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Gatlin (#0)
Ignore Thread - psychobabble voodoo bullshit
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Ignring Truth Will Not Set You Free.
Good article, except for the part of why gays often end up kicked out of their parent's house. The reason given is not really true.
Religious fundamentalists are closed minded? The author should try it sometime. Giving your heart to Jesus and reading His word is an amazing adventure, full of new info and experiences. Sorry, Mr.Mathews, but you are missing the entire adventure of revelation. It's the only book you can read and read, yet still find something new based on where you are in your life at that time. It is full of wonders to ponder.
This is what it means to me to be a fundamentalist... Edit: The fundamental question remains...does one wish to be LGBTQ, or does one wish to see God? How do these two desires even compare?
Gatlin is posting some faggot propaganda. Is Gatlin showing us he is a
faggot like his good buddy Yukon did? Gatlin says if you are not a faggot
you are a homophobe and if you don't believe that you are ignoring the truth.
Your wife must have died and you have come out of the closet.
Your name. When I first saw it I was reminded of the incredible Watchman Nee. It reminded me that I should dust off his books and reread them. He was such a blessing to so many of us. I did wonder if you are his nephew. If so, I had the privilege of dining in your home. :) God bless.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" is the ninth commandment of the Ten Commandments, which are widely understood as moral imperatives by Jewish scholars, Catholic scholars, and Post-Reformation scholars. And should be thoroughly understood by any person who calls himself a Christian and needs to act responsibly to follow the word of God instead of continually acting like a petulant six-year child to “bear false witness” by changing titles to posted articles. The Ten Commandments are not to be ignored. It’s important that you study and understand them. But, of course, it’s more important that you begin to obey them The book of Exodus describes for you the Ten Commandments as being spoken by God, inscribed on two stone tablets by the finger of God, broken by Moses, and rewritten on replacement stones by the Lord. Working hard to disobey the Ten Commandments from the wrong motivation and for the wrong end is a surefire way to live out our relationship with God in the wrong way. God gave the commandments that they might be obeyed. Stone, you desperately need to learn how to kill sin in your life. Grace to You …
Homophobes should consider a little self-reflection,
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#2. To: Deckard (#1)
(Edited)
gnore Thread - psychobabble voodoo bullshit
#3. To: Gatlin (#0)
#4. To: Gatlin (#0)
#5. To: WWG1WWA (#4)
(Edited)
Sorry, Mr.Mathews, but you are missing the entire adventure of revelation.
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
#6. To: Gatlin (#2)
homophobia are all examples of closed- mindedness. psychobabble
voodoo bulls**t Ignring Truth Will Not Set You Free.
#7. To: watchman (#5)
#8. To: A K S tone, And Other Christians Who Do Not Follow The Word of God (#0)
The Closed Mind (faggot propaganda posted by Gatlin)
#9. To: A K A Stone, (#6)
(Edited)
Stone, Your Reading Assignment:
Is Homophobia
Associated With Homosexual Arousal?