I've been thinking lately about those who tell me to keep an "open mind" when it comes to other people's opinions or belief systems (even those of which I am in conflict) and the more I think of it, the more I think they're full of rubbish and clay.
I'm not sure where "open minded" philosophy came into being, but whoever developed it must have been a victim of severe heat stroke, head trauma, or underwent a mid-life-crisis of post-life-proportions.
It seems to me, that approaching an opposing (usually warped) opinion with an "open mind" is like allowing a Trojan Horse within my intellect whose occupants sole purpose is to lie in wait, then assault and kill me as I sleep.
A defender seeking survival of his or her civilization would never let a foreigner inside the walls without affirmation of friend or foe. The only way to combat the error of "open mindedness" is to approach opposing opinion with a "guarded mind;" not only is it more logical, it adds a measure of safety and increases the risk measure of ones own survival.
The probable tragedy of "open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion is not only completely irrational, it crosses into the realm of self inflicted libotomy or mutilation. It essentially means that I compromise my belief or abandon myself in some thing or some way of life that runs contrary to the Orthodox Teaching of the Catholic Church which comes to us from the Holy Spirit. In today’s world, this abandonment oft results at the expense of serious damage to the soul.
"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion should be approached with great caution:
If I open my door willingly and without thought of consequence to a complete stranger, I risk rape, murder, dismemberment, disposal and all ill accord due to such an act of insanity. Yet if, from behind my secure door, I guardedly execute pre-established protocols for responding to strangers who come calling, I greatly reduce the risk and/or threat of buggery, disembowelment, dismemberment and roadside disposal to myself and/or my family --thus-- increasing the assurance of safety for myself and my family.
"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion can be applied as a matter of physics:
An army of overwhelming force attacks a lightly guarded citadel. They break through a gate & hoard their way through as they gain entry into the city--slaughtering at will... it seems nothing can stop the onslaught. Suddenly, those in front realize the entry is nothing more than a dead end with two walls to their left & right and one wall in front of them. They try to stop, but the momentum of the mass of humanity behind them has no idea what's ahead. The law of inertia kicks in and in due course, the army slams into the wall as thousands are crushed & trampled by the force in the rear. The defending army, having the enemy boxed in, attacks from behind the walls of enclosure and repels the enemy.
It's the same way with dialogue: If there's no guard in place to challenge an opinion, weakness is exploited and the challenged is massacred.
For my part, if I don't know the topic, I try to keep my mouth shut. It's better to walk away with my integrity in tact than to hold position against someone knowledgeable on the subject--not to mention the fact that there's much to be gained by dissecting one's opinion for its constructive or destructive content.
It's generally understood that opinions expressed on realities such as abortion, sexual perversion & deviation, border control, homelessness, etc., set off nuclear explosions on approach or contact. To entertain issues with "an open mind" risks abandonment of ones sense of reason & logic--not to mention morality, virtue or faith. Although it's insane for a person to sacrifice their faculties on the altar of intellectual prostitution, its commonplace today--a total war... it's the Verdun of the final age.
Before Catholics enter into dialogue on such issues, they must first know what they're talking about and also must have reconciled that knowledge with catholic faith; between right & wrong, good & evil, true & false, fact & fiction. To do so prematurely without solid foundation does not allow an opposing "opinion" proper inspection, before entry into the mind's gate which ultimately leads to the citadel of the heart. When in doubt, default to church teaching.
A "guarded mind" is essential to all dialogue. It may be safe to "listen" to the opinions of others, but human "opinion" is oft a mixture of unproven "fact" and untested "truth" and oftentimes enters into conflict with the mind and the conscience - and further, the Church, which again has ALWAYS taught that it is guided and directed by the Holy Spirit. That said, recognizing that the opinion of others is sometimes healthful & most times toxic; it is always best to guard against matters of opinion with caution so one can control access to the doors of sanity so that the devil doesn't get "in" thus resulting in "in"sanity.
If you seek self destruction, approach things with an open mind... open the gates and be conquered. If you seek preservation, stay at your post.
I'm not sure where "open minded" philosophy came into being, but whoever developed it must have been a victim of severe heat stroke, head trauma, or underwent a mid-life-crisis of post-life-proportions.
It seems to me, that approaching an opposing (usually warped) opinion with an "open mind" is like allowing a Trojan Horse within my intellect whose occupants sole purpose is to lie in wait, then assault and kill me as I sleep.
A defender seeking survival of his or her civilization would never let a foreigner inside the walls without affirmation of friend or foe. The only way to combat the error of "open mindedness" is to approach opposing opinion with a "guarded mind;" not only is it more logical, it adds a measure of safety and increases the risk measure of ones own survival.
The probable tragedy of "open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion is not only completely irrational, it crosses into the realm of self inflicted libotomy or mutilation. It essentially means that I compromise my belief or abandon myself in some thing or some way of life that runs contrary to the Orthodox Teaching of the Catholic Church which comes to us from the Holy Spirit. In today’s world, this abandonment oft results at the expense of serious damage to the soul.
"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion should be approached with great caution:
If I open my door willingly and without thought of consequence to a complete stranger, I risk rape, murder, dismemberment, disposal and all ill accord due to such an act of insanity. Yet if, from behind my secure door, I guardedly execute pre-established protocols for responding to strangers who come calling, I greatly reduce the risk and/or threat of buggery, disembowelment, dismemberment and roadside disposal to myself and/or my family --thus-- increasing the assurance of safety for myself and my family.
"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion can be applied as a matter of physics:
An army of overwhelming force attacks a lightly guarded citadel. They break through a gate & hoard their way through as they gain entry into the city--slaughtering at will... it seems nothing can stop the onslaught. Suddenly, those in front realize the entry is nothing more than a dead end with two walls to their left & right and one wall in front of them. They try to stop, but the momentum of the mass of humanity behind them has no idea what's ahead. The law of inertia kicks in and in due course, the army slams into the wall as thousands are crushed & trampled by the force in the rear. The defending army, having the enemy boxed in, attacks from behind the walls of enclosure and repels the enemy.
It's the same way with dialogue: If there's no guard in place to challenge an opinion, weakness is exploited and the challenged is massacred.
For my part, if I don't know the topic, I try to keep my mouth shut. It's better to walk away with my integrity in tact than to hold position against someone knowledgeable on the subject--not to mention the fact that there's much to be gained by dissecting one's opinion for its constructive or destructive content.
It's generally understood that opinions expressed on realities such as abortion, sexual perversion & deviation, border control, homelessness, etc., set off nuclear explosions on approach or contact. To entertain issues with "an open mind" risks abandonment of ones sense of reason & logic--not to mention morality, virtue or faith. Although it's insane for a person to sacrifice their faculties on the altar of intellectual prostitution, its commonplace today--a total war... it's the Verdun of the final age.
Before Catholics enter into dialogue on such issues, they must first know what they're talking about and also must have reconciled that knowledge with catholic faith; between right & wrong, good & evil, true & false, fact & fiction. To do so prematurely without solid foundation does not allow an opposing "opinion" proper inspection, before entry into the mind's gate which ultimately leads to the citadel of the heart. When in doubt, default to church teaching.
A "guarded mind" is essential to all dialogue. It may be safe to "listen" to the opinions of others, but human "opinion" is oft a mixture of unproven "fact" and untested "truth" and oftentimes enters into conflict with the mind and the conscience - and further, the Church, which again has ALWAYS taught that it is guided and directed by the Holy Spirit. That said, recognizing that the opinion of others is sometimes healthful & most times toxic; it is always best to guard against matters of opinion with caution so one can control access to the doors of sanity so that the devil doesn't get "in" thus resulting in "in"sanity.
If you seek self destruction, approach things with an open mind... open the gates and be conquered. If you seek preservation, stay at your post.
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