In a society where closed-mindedness is considered "bad" and open-mindedness is considered "good", I've been prompted to examine my own conscience on the issue. I quickly realized that I couldn't do this without defining open-mindedness, closed-mindedness and the reason people feel the need to apply those labels to others and to themselves.

This used to bother me when I was a kid because I wondered why Jesus didn’t just come off of the cross and prove Himself when He was challenged. He could have convinced everyone with a huge miracle, earthquakes and lightning. He could have ascended to the top of Mount Zion as a beacon and established His kingdom there, subduing all of His enemies by force and sending Satan to the lake of fire.