"Open-Mindedness"

quick frustration with class tonight...we began our class by recieving a handout. it was an example of a kind of Buddhist liturgy. now, i know it can be interesting and informative to look at the scriptures and holy texts, practices and traditions of other religions however, sometimes i question how much we "need" to engage. the handout ended up not just being for example/reading...but we were asked to quickly go through an abreviated version of a Buddhist service - a time of corporate response. our professor read the "leader's" text and the class was to respond from the sheet (it reminded me of a messed up version of a catholic mass) anyways, there was the idea presented that this is simply a time or understanding - that words are just words and we are not in the wrong by reciting their sort of mantra. i was the only one in the class that didn't recite the words and i just didn't see a good reason for it--not that i felt guilt with the thought of participating...but it didn't make sense to me why we would do it. (it was suggested that afterwards, we replace the word God or Jesus in place of Buddha or Dharma and "see that it's ok to say and think these things.") i don't know... i guess i don't go to the extreme and say that heart and motivation do not play a part in making out words meaningful or that we were commiting some sort of huge sin by reciting these words...but i guess my question is why....why do we even have to go there? why do we need to put ourselves in these positions? i guess my overall problem with this class is i feel put down all the time...i'm the closed-minded conservative. why do i have to be pushed and pushed to be open minded. why am i constantly asked to be open to "other truths?" in some ways it just seems so counter-productive. i don't know. maybe i don't care anymore if i'm seen as closed-minded. i'm not sure i can or will let myself be as "open-minded" as he's asking me to be. i remember someone saying to me - it may be ok to do...but the question is...is it wise?
food for thought for tonight i guess.....
Jenn