TV and Remote

[Élistariel]

Okay if this makes no sense, blame it on the fact that it is 10:14 am and I haven't slept since yesterday. I was watchin' tv, and there were about 5 different Christian shows on, one was half decent telling how Barbie is ruining our children (no arguement here). And another was one of those *slap a man on the forehead and cure him of epilepsy* I don't really know what that has to do with this. (curse my lack of sleep). But I thought of something. Two extremes, zealots (of any faith), and those open to others. Not necessarily trying to have every faith, but knowing that there is more than one 'path' and not everyone's path is the same. Anyways the title of this post brings me to a metaphor that just popped into my head.

Okay you have two people, a zealot and an open-minded person. Each has a tv, the batteries in the remotes are dead.
TV : the show they are watching - (current personal knowledge), and the tv itself (ie all channels) - all knowledge available.

Now you have the one person who will just be content to watch the one show and nothing more. Even if the show is, say a marathon they've seen before. That is whay they know, what they accept. They know nothing of any other *shows* because they believe they have no need to change the channel. All discussion amogst their peers (and others) about the other shows is obsurd. Being human, they still want to fit in, they want others to talk about the show they watched.

Then you have the other person watching the same show. They soon realize that there is no point in wasting time watching something they've seen before. They know the outcome. This person decides to make an effort to get off the comfy couch and change the channel using the buttons on the tv. They gain more knowledge. They will be able to talk more openly to people, to understand them, not having to change the conversation everytime they get a little confused. (hello run-on sentence).

Guess who's the open-minded one and who's the zealot?

[Gareth]

Interesting metaphor!! You do pose a good point.

[Eirwen Hartsock]

I can totally see your point, it's like Pleasentville, sure they thought it was all pleasent and everything, but once they were shown things like color, and joy, and sadness, and rain...it became SO much better. And I agree, it should not be that you have to agree with every religion out there, but at least be kind enough not to push your own on others, or be so narrow minded that you are convinced that all others are wrong. I've taken quiet a few philosophy and art classes with people of both kinds. I can tell you that both do seem interesting to watch, and to see what they will say. Zealots do humor me, but once they start getting personal and judgemental...oh you just want to hit them with a frying pan....I think a nice balance between the two is ideal. If you do find a path that you feel is your own, that is wonderful, and become joyful and active in your path, but do not be afraid to learn of other paths. I hope I will be able to maintain a balance between Zealot and Open-minded. But if I had to choose I would rather be Open-minded, and I hope I am.