Over the last few months I have come to the conclusion that my rational, skeptical self is far more open to change and challenge than many of those who have self-declared ‘open minded’ spiritual and mystical views.

I guess that this should not be that much of a suprise really as the whole basis of skepticism and scientifc inquiry is about “questioning”, “challenging” and mot merely “accepting” because we are told that ‘that is the case’!

My recent Educational Blog, about the problem of ‘teaching facts’ was driven by the need to promote healthy debate and rounded discussions of ideas. The Real Twilight Zone aims to open a weekly debate of the ‘unusual’ and of course Haunted Cornwall FM presents yet another space for discussion. However it does seem to me that ‘believers’ are perhaps more ‘closed’ than ‘skeptics’ with attitudes, values and beliefs that are often preseted as being ‘beyond question’.

In a recent Psyhology Journal (Current Psychology) there is an article by Jesse M. Crosby, Scott C. Bates and Michael P. Twohig entitled “Examination of the Relationship between Perfectionism and Religiosity as Mediated by Psychological Inflexibility” (Current Psychology)

In essence there seems to be a link between psychological inflexibility and resistance to change and, what could be called, adherence to strict religious systems, the need for perfection (and hence procrastination) and the ability to challenge beliefs.

Now I know that Psychology has been defined as “the science of telling you things you already know using words you don’t understand” (unknown source) – and so the common sense nature of the points being made are obvious.

However… and here is the question for you to consider – how open are you to the idea of change, the possibility that what you believe is the result of dogma or cultural indoctrination, the need to really consider your own opinions from different perspectives?

Alan