Superstiton/religion & anti intellectualism

[drfuzzy]

---

 NO, sorry, what works in one context does not always work in every context. There is no one right way to approach bad claims, other than to insist on non violence, no matter who says what. I really hate this good intent, it sounds nice but, far too often this good intent leads to setting up taboos, and that is never good for any parties involved.

"Be nice" all the time simply does not work. For me, it is "depends" on time place and context. 

And sorry I hate the word "respect", that is a hollow and loaded cliche. If it were used in the context you are advocating I'd be fine with it. But that is NOT what most people use it for. "Respect" is simply a word most people use to say "I don't want to consider I am wrong, so don't bruise my ego, and know your place in the social order". "Respect" is a word far too often used to shut down a conversation.

HUMANS certainly have rights, but claims as ideas do not deserve to be scrutiny or blasphemy free. So it depends on context of situation and case by case.

---

How many believers have you successfully talked out of their beliefs with that attitude? Oh, none, really? That's a shocker.

Chill, EP.  I think that we need to hang on to the knowledge that there are many, many different types of believers out there.  You and Brian37 can both be correct, in different contexts, different places, different belief systems and different people.  There is no magic formula.  
   While I agree with Brian that ideas / beliefs should not be scrutiny or blasphemy free.  I'm a fan of cold hard facts, and I rather enjoy applying them to unsubstantiated woo. But that doesn't mean that I think de-converting people is my business.  Their beliefs are their business.  And some of them would happily die rather than doubt.