If you believe whole-heartedly that there is a magic man in the sky that created all there is, despite the fact that there is not a shred of evidence leading in that direction, then I'd say YES, "closed-minded" should adequately sum you up.

 

I would say you are closed minded because you see no possibilities past the end of your nose.

Though I have no knowledge of the ultimate truth, I'm open to possibilities, but nothing so solid has concretely come my way that I can offer to others as the indisputable truth.

 

Many unexplainable things have made me go "Hmmm?", and I make a point of not allowing myself to forget them, but still my human limitations leave me wondering full of questions that other humans have no answers to.

 

Growing up going to Catholic schools and being raised by big time devout Catholic parents, I have childhood friends who have evolved to many various levels of beliefs from remaining very devout Catholics, to Atheists, Agnostics, etc...

 

I'm not personally wild about labels, but for the sake of having one I'll call myself a "spiritual agnostic".

 

Though I avoid trying to explain myself in much depth to some of them because it wears me out, it tends to be the devout Catholics of my past who have a tendency to firstly assume that I'm still a Catholic because that's they way I was raised, and then because I'm not a regular at church, I've become a "Bad Catholic".

 

Because I don't live within the confines of a married Catholic with children dynamic, or attend church, to them I am somewhat missing the mark of how I should be conducting my life. They still seem to respect me, but with that ever present notion that I haven't fully lived the way that I was supposed to have. But of course, they still pray for my soul.

 

It doesn't resinate with them, while I'm feeling the wrath of their judgement, that there are depths to my lifetime of thinking that go way beyond the surface of me simply just being a "Bad Catholic" as they see me to be.

 

It's quite apparent that they would be dumbfounded if I opened up a big can of thought on them that without doubt would to them just reinforce that I'm a lost soul who could us a bit of saving.

 

I realize that they're not capable of absorbing within a few minutes that which took me years to arrive at. For them, they would first feel a ton of Catholic guilt to even think of questioning things, and then shudder to think that I had foregone my guilt to question things.

 

Oh the horror that I would dare question things.

 

Because I avoid detailed explanations, they just assume that I am "ashamed of myself" like I ought to be, and they feel good about themselves to have offered me a welcoming back.

 

How nice.

 

They're so certain of themselves, while my awareness of their limitations only makes them appear to me as being tremendously shallow, but I bite my tongue before allowing myself to say so knowing that they wouldn't understand anyhow what I was saying.

 

How dare I refute their condescension, which again would only be viewed as an example of me being rude and a "Bad Lost Catholic".

 

But of course all along they are "open minded".

I would say you are closed minded because you see no possibilities past the end of your nose.

 

If there is at least a tiny morsel of evidence past my nose, I am very open to consider it. Do you have such a morsel?

So I guess as a white believer with a gay daughter, two straight sons and two black daughters, I can't see "things" non-believers do.

 

Man, you are messed up:lol2:

 

Who is your shrink??:lol2:

Though I have no knowledge of the ultimate truth, I'm open to possibilities, but nothing so solid has concretely come my way that I can offer to others as the indisputable truth.

 

Many unexplainable things have made me go "Hmmm?", and I make a point of not allowing myself to forget them, but still my human limitations leave me wondering full of questions that other humans have no answers to.

 

Growing up going to Catholic schools and being raised by big time devout Catholic parents, I have childhood friends who have evolved to many various levels of beliefs from remaining very devout Catholics, to Atheists, Agnostics, etc...

 

I'm not personally wild about labels, but for the sake of having one I'll call myself a "spiritual agnostic".

 

Though I avoid trying to explain myself in much depth to some of them because it wears me out, it tends to be the devout Catholics of my past who have a tendency to firstly assume that I'm still a Catholic because that's they way I was raised, and then because I'm not a regular at church, I've become a "Bad Catholic".

 

Because I don't live within the confines of a married Catholic with children dynamic, or attend church, to them I am somewhat missing the mark of how I should be conducting my life. They still seem to respect me, but with that ever present notion that I haven't fully lived the way that I was supposed to have. But of course, they still pray for my soul.

 

It doesn't resinate with them, while I'm feeling the wrath of their judgement, that there are depths to my lifetime of thinking that go way beyond the surface of me simply just being a "Bad Catholic" as they see me to be.

 

It's quite apparent that they would be dumbfounded if I opened up a big can of thought on them that without doubt would to them just reinforce that I'm a lost soul who could us a bit of saving.

 

I realize that they're not capable of absorbing within a few minutes that which took me years to arrive at. For them, they would first feel a ton of Catholic guilt to even think of questioning things, and then shudder to think that I had foregone my guilt to question things.

 

Oh the horror that I would dare question things.

 

Because I avoid detailed explanations, they just assume that I am "ashamed of myself" like I ought to be, and they feel good about themselves to have offered me a welcoming back.

 

How nice.

 

They're so certain of themselves, while my awareness of their limitations only makes them appear to me as being tremendously shallow, but I bite my tongue before allowing myself to say so knowing that they wouldn't understand anyhow what I was saying.

 

How dare I refute their condescension, which again would only be viewed as an example of me being rude and a "Bad Lost Catholic".

 

But of course all along they are "open minded".

 

 

You are the only other person besides myself that I've heard use the term "spiritual agnostic." I like that description. One certainly doesn't have to be religious to be spiritual. Another great post, btw.

Man, you are messed up:lol2:

 

Who is your shrink??:lol2:

 

I am a conservative and consider myself inclusive and very tolerant. Guess I need to get myself evaluated. :lol2:

 

One of the things I am intolerant of is those that consider themselves superior to others.

If there is at least a tiny morsel of evidence past my nose, I am very open to consider it. Do you have such a morsel?

 

There are several "theories" that you claim as fact and truth. Again, they are just theories. In essence, you have faith that they are truth since there is nothing to concretely prove them.

Though I have no knowledge of the ultimate truth, I'm open to possibilities, but nothing so solid has concretely come my way that I can offer to others as the indisputable truth.

 

Many unexplainable things have made me go "Hmmm?", and I make a point of not allowing myself to forget them, but still my human limitations leave me wondering full of questions that other humans have no answers to.

 

Growing up going to Catholic schools and being raised by big time devout Catholic parents, I have childhood friends who have evolved to many various levels of beliefs from remaining very devout Catholics, to Atheists, Agnostics, etc...

 

I'm not personally wild about labels, but for the sake of having one I'll call myself a "spiritual agnostic".

 

Though I avoid trying to explain myself in much depth to some of them because it wears me out, it tends to be the devout Catholics of my past who have a tendency to firstly assume that I'm still a Catholic because that's they way I was raised, and then because I'm not a regular at church, I've become a "Bad Catholic".

 

Because I don't live within the confines of a married Catholic with children dynamic, or attend church, to them I am somewhat missing the mark of how I should be conducting my life. They still seem to respect me, but with that ever present notion that I haven't fully lived the way that I was supposed to have. But of course, they still pray for my soul.

 

It doesn't resinate with them, while I'm feeling the wrath of their judgement, that there are depths to my lifetime of thinking that go way beyond the surface of me simply just being a "Bad Catholic" as they see me to be.

 

It's quite apparent that they would be dumbfounded if I opened up a big can of thought on them that without doubt would to them just reinforce that I'm a lost soul who could us a bit of saving.

 

I realize that they're not capable of absorbing within a few minutes that which took me years to arrive at. For them, they would first feel a ton of Catholic guilt to even think of questioning things, and then shudder to think that I had foregone my guilt to question things.

 

Oh the horror that I would dare question things.

 

Because I avoid detailed explanations, they just assume that I am "ashamed of myself" like I ought to be, and they feel good about themselves to have offered me a welcoming back.

 

How nice.

 

They're so certain of themselves, while my awareness of their limitations only makes them appear to me as being tremendously shallow, but I bite my tongue before allowing myself to say so knowing that they wouldn't understand anyhow what I was saying.

 

How dare I refute their condescension, which again would only be viewed as an example of me being rude and a "Bad Lost Catholic".

 

But of course all along they are "open minded".

 

1) Well you're still a Catholic. It's that infant baptism; once you're in, we claim you forever.

 

2) I'm sorry anyone ever called you a "bad Catholic" or any other such nonsense. I've a sense that the pews on Sunday mornings are no less filled with sinners than the beds of those still sleeping at home. If going mass regularly was what it took to make one a "good Catholic" -- if such a thing there be -- then the streets of heaven would be more crowded than I'be a hunch they really are.

Sure I am lol. Open to anything that can be proven. As opposed to believing in something based on "faith" A "faith" based belief is a closed minded belief. Because it puts the conclusion in front of the proof and evidence. I can change my mind if proof or evidence is brought forth. Religious believers often don't. One is open-minded, one is closed-minded. Believing in something for which there is no proof doesn't make someone open-minded, it is the opposite. They take a position and then refuse to consider the alternatives.

 

Your non-belief is a matter of faith no matter how you spin it or how much to try to escape that word.

Your non-belief is a matter of faith no matter how you spin it or how much to try to escape that word.

 

Agree to disagree. I think your statement is profoundly ridiculous, and basically just a goofball way of playing with words. No need to discuss it further. Have a good day.

1) Well you're still a Catholic. It's that infant baptism; once you're in, we claim you forever.

 

2) I'm sorry anyone ever called you a "bad Catholic" or any other such nonsense. I've a sense that the pews on Sunday mornings are no less filled with sinners than the beds of those still sleeping at home. If going mass regularly was what it took to make one a "good Catholic" -- if such a thing there be -- then the streets of heaven would be more crowded than I'be a hunch they really are.

 

No one has called me a "Bad Catholic" per se, but it's insinuated when they indicate that I'm not living up to "rules" so to speak that they follow by being "religious".

 

For example, If they saw me eat a hamburger on a Friday in lent they would call me out as if I was doing something wrong.

 

I am not "religious" and am not a follower of an organized religion, but I realize that they can't fathom the idea of how I ever possibly came to being this way, and to them they see it as me being a "Lazy Catholic" who has fallen away.

 

It's not about "falling away" with me. It's about organized religion having no significance in my life, so I don't live under the guilt of its rules.

 

With them having Catholicism up to their eyeballs their entire life, I realize that they can't begin to comprehend when someone like myself who was raised Catholic, but is no longer effected by it as a way of life.

 

To them, they think that when I finally come to my senses I'll one day just quit being lazy and start going to church again and get back to following the "rules".

...And again another mouthful of good sense and logic.

 

I'm too late to participate in this discussion, but I was just about to say "B-Ball-fan, are you okay? I mean this is the shortest post I've ever seen from you." Then I scrolled down a little and saw post #32. I am very relieved.

 

If you have time, I had a good sermon last week over the 3rd Commandment that you might find interesting. It is only 24 minutes long.

Here is the link: http://lystracoc.sermon.net/main/main/20620178

 

That's right baby, I just highjacked a thread to plug my website!!! Do I feel guilty? I think not!!!

I'm too late to participate in this discussion, but I was just about to say "B-Ball-fan, are you okay? I mean this is the shortest post I've ever seen from you." Then I scrolled down a little and saw post #32. I am very relieved.

 

If you have time, I had a good sermon last week over the 3rd Commandment that you might find interesting. It is only 24 minutes long.

Here is the link: http://lystracoc.sermon.net/main/main/20620178

 

That's right baby, I just highjacked a thread to plug my website!!! Do I feel guilty? I think not!!!

 

(Like)

Agree to disagree. I think your statement is profoundly ridiculous, and basically just a goofball way of playing with words. No need to discuss it further. Have a good day.

 

Loving that open mind. And your statement to me is also a matter of faith.

I'm too late to participate in this discussion, but I was just about to say "B-Ball-fan, are you okay? I mean this is the shortest post I've ever seen from you." Then I scrolled down a little and saw post #32. I am very relieved.

 

If you have time, I had a good sermon last week over the 3rd Commandment that you might find interesting. It is only 24 minutes long.

Here is the link: http://lystracoc.sermon.net/main/main/20620178

 

That's right baby, I just highjacked a thread to plug my website!!! Do I feel guilty? I think not!!!

 

At your request I listened to you sermon.