Occupy Religion: Don’t Let Religion Occupy You

[skepticscott]

50. It is certainly not the goal of any discussion

to come away respecting the other person's opinion or position. Respect has always to be earned, and in some cases, that bridge isn't crossed. Some positions on matters of fact are simply as wrong as anything can be, and deserve no respect. And even on things which are not matters of objective fact, not every opinion is worthy of respect, either. Perhaps you feel that the idea that slavery was an evil institution in America is not an absolute truth and that it should be questioned, and that there is room for diversity, experience and perspective on that subject. I'm not so open-minded. Even if there are no ultimate and absolute truths, a fundamental part of human thought and reason is to determine, as time goes on, that some things are closer to the truth than others, in some cases much closer. In some cases, one position is so much closer to the truth than anything else that other points of view no longer warrant respect or consideration simply by being expressed, even sincerely.