| An open mind is like an open well. It is easily | | | | Some people didn't have an open mind after all -at |
| contaminated by anything blowing in the wind. At | | | | least not open to the most likely scenario. They |
| least that is the problem with what many call an open | | | | wanted a particular answer (space aliens) or wanted |
| mind. For example, you may have heard someone | | | | the mystery to be maintained. To this day the |
| called open minded because he believes in visitors | | | | tricksters make their designs only to have paranormal |
| from space, bending spoons with mind power, and | | | | "experts" tromp into the fields the following day and |
| "remote viewing." But isn't this more a sign of a | | | | proclaim that no human could have done it. |
| gullible mind? Let's look at a healthier definition. | | | | Note that being curious about the mystery, and |
| Open Mind - A Definition | | | | speculating about possible causes is not the problem. |
| We all like to think that we are open minded. Here is | | | | Being "receptive to new and different ideas" is a |
| what that means according to a couple different | | | | good thing. Adopting beliefs without supporting |
| dictionaries: 1. Receptive to new and different ideas | | | | evidence may not be, however. Being receptive to |
| or the opinions of others; 2. Not narrow or | | | | the idea that previously unknown forces can cause |
| conservative in thought, expression, or conduct. | | | | things to happen is open minded, but it would also be |
| That sounds reasonable, and we might want to fit | | | | very closed-minded to exclude the possibility that |
| those definitions. The problem comes when we take | | | | there are more normal explanations - especially when |
| this to mean that we must entertain any idea | | | | the bulk of the evidence points to this. |
| regardless of merit, or that believing in unlikely things | | | | So what does it mean to have an open mind? To be |
| is a sign of open-mindedness. Then we begin to give | | | | receptive to new ideas and to avoid narrowness of |
| too much credit to faulty ideas and unsupportable | | | | thought, certainly. But being open minded doesn't |
| beliefs in the name of having an open mind. | | | | mean we have to accept ideas that make no sense, |
| For example, I watched a program on crop circles | | | | or adopt beliefs without any evidence or reason. And |
| the other day. These are circles and other geometric | | | | it has to mean at least that we are open to the |
| shapes of flattened crops that appear in fields around | | | | possibility that the explanations we would like or |
| the world. For years many speculated that | | | | which are more interesting may be wrong. |
| spaceships from other planets, "energy vortexes" | | | | You have a brain that can analyze various possible |
| and other outrageous things caused them. "Experts" | | | | explanations for things. An open mind may assure |
| claimed that they could not have been caused by | | | | you that you consider all those possibilities, but it |
| humans. Much of the public bought into this hype in | | | | shouldn't prevent you from discarding those |
| the name of having an open mind. | | | | explanations without evidence in favor of those with |
| Of course when several individuals and groups finally | | | | evidence. In other words, it should never be an |
| claimed responsibility, and even showed exactly how | | | | excuse to believe anything in the absence of good |
| they made the designs, they were ignored by many. | | | | thinking. |