Stop Having an 'Open Mind'

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[michaelmammoth]

aka "Don't let your mind be so open that your brain falls out."

[levibarros]

"To be open minded is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as with opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid." G.K. Chesterton

[Britishdarnlib]

I love when videos have questionable titles but are actually pretty reasonable

[gordorolicosupremo]

Today society is like: “you can have a open mind to think only in what i agree”.

[adamcroes]

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything

[Renewed_Catholic]

It’s important to be open-minded such that you allow new knowledge
into your mind with discernment. However, being too open-minded is bad because when you stand for everything, you stand for nothing.

[hawkwing]

It really seems like you're saying open minded when you really mean indecisive. Being open minded doesn't mean not coming to a conclusion; it means being open to new information and being willing to reconsider the conclusion.

[PJCanadian]

Thought-provoking video. One of my dearest friends is an atheist. When it comes to religion, he doesn't have an open questioning mind at all. He's also one of the finest human beings I've ever known (and I'm 65). He's committed to being kind to others, to rejecting judgement (it's harder than it sounds) and to living his life to a high moral standard while remaining playful and creative. I realize that he's rare but he's an example of how one can be a very decent human being without religious beliefs.

[chrishellize]

Being mature person who's just begun the conversion process (been going to mass a year and started RCIA last month) I can agree that the destination matters. Ive spent a lifetime questioning and wondering, having an open mind...it doesnt really go anywhere. Its also a bit lazy, you can 'kick tyres' and pretend you are 'doing the work', but you're just fooling yourself. Once I found the beauty of the mass, the ritual, the tradition, the room for questions but also some answers (at last!!!!) I felt as though I had solid ground under my feet, finally!! I also want to say that when I fist discovered this channel I assumed it was for the younger generation and perhaps a bit glib, but I was so very mistaken. Dont judge a book by its cover huh?!!! This is now one of my favourite channels, thank you Father Casey :D

[alphacause]

Thank you, Father Casey, for this much needed corrective. A mind not tempered by certain standards of reason and morality is not something that should be lauded. A mind not fettered by some boundaries of logic and standards of right and wrong is one that is susceptible to any absurdity and is willing to condone any atrocity under the guise of inclusivity.

[Nrev]

I love your soft tone but firm stance on truth. Many people think that it is intellectually honest to say you don’t know something and many times it is. But to say nothing can be known or to give up on the pursuit of that truth entirely is cowardice or apathy.

[louiszhang]

Yesterday I was praying to God. After following Christ for three years in college, I graduated and has had a lot of time to think about my faith. The thought lingers in my brain like it never disappears, "how do you know Jesus is the ONLY way?" I wanted to research other religions but I know I'll never fully capture the way people following other religions think. But I know I shouldn't be completely ignorant either. I prayed, "Father, show me how to find the middle ground." Then this video popped up. It really helps me to remember that faith in Jesus is a risk, a scary one at times, yet a reasonable one. Thank you. Even though I'm not Catholic, I can see God is using you and your platform to share the Good News. I hope this comment serves as an encouragement.

[kregorovillupo]

Wait a moment, I hope I misunderstood. Who ever told that being open minded means having no conclusions? I have conclusions, and I am open minded, meaning I recognize the possibility my conclusions being wrong. That's what open mindedness is: recognize fallibility. What it doesn't mean is accepting every claim with equal merit, nor having no conclusion to reach.

[chuckgaydos]

You don't have to commit to believing with certainty that anything is true. If something seems very likely to be true you can live pragmatically as though it's true while still keeping an open mind.

[Itakepicturesofthesun]

I am agnostic but I don't intend on being that way forever. I agree with you that it would do no good to never come to any conclusion.
I personally don't shun any answers or those who claim to know them. I know that agnostics sometimes think they're just better than everyone. I don't consider the idea of god to be "foolish" or "wrong" I'm just not sure if it is the right conclusion.
Meh, I'll figure it out eventually though.

[anlasbry]

Father, I’ve had this discussion several times over with many people since college and you are the first person to give me a good answer.

[dogcowrph]

It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.

Carl Sagan

[gfxpimp]

Belief in things for which there is very little empirical evidence requires an open mind. I can kind of agree with Fr. Casey, in that agnostics can come off as cowards. However, there is some things we do not know. And, sometimes, the most courageous thing is to admit that we do not know them. The journey towards a sinless life may still be worth taking even if you will never get there.

[Gjaimes]

You’re misrepresenting agnosticism. If I think I don’t hold the truth it does mean I look down on people who have strong feelings about what it is truth. Moreover, as a catholic when I was young I don’t recall having space to think outside the church imposed me.I have no problem with people who believe in talking snakes, but this is religious and has nothing to with reason, but faith. Do not mix up apples with pears.

[suspectsusphium]

This is just what I needed to hear after the struggles I had today thank you very much for this message.