Consider this a comment or plea to the Web at large.
Knock off the Kirk Cameron jokes.
Stop saying he's turned into a nut, or he's been brainwashed, etc. People have beliefs, but not everybody professes the same set. Again, people have beliefs, but not everybody is passionate about their beliefs. Neither the content nor the strength of someone else's beliefs grants you the right to treat him or her with disrespect. Go ahead and disagree with someone; tolerance means you allow that person to believe what they wish. But I would call for a tougher standard than tolerance: no personal attacks, no "you have different beliefs therefore you're somehow mentally-deficient" remarks.
Even speaking in a merely practical sense, which strategy is more likely to bring others around to your point of view: heaping scorn on every other alternative and those who believe in them, or acknowledging the real reasons people believe differently and then showing how your beliefs are a better fit?
Saturday, June 9, 2007
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