Discussing Religion

I was reminded a few days ago that it is a long-standing social rule that one never discusses politics or religion. It's certainly interesting to see the heat generated in forums where other factors override that rule.

On thinking about it, I can see that both subjects are classic examples of a certain sort of topic: those that are not dependent on facts, yet where people tend to have quite rigid views. Therefore the natural state is disagreement without resolution. Generally, people don't like disagreeing, and nor do they like changing their minds. Smooth relations rely on remembering both facts.

What has made me focus on this is the question that has arisen from a number of directions about the best way to influence, persuade, help or reason with brethren.

Let me turn this around.

The brethren KNOW they're right and you're wrong, just as much as you know the reverse. Facts and logic have nothing to do with it; we're talking convictions, which facts can always support if you try hard enough. So anyone trying to persuade brethren should ask themselves "Is there anything they could say to me which would convince me they're right?"

I'm guessing that for most people the answer is "no", but it's worth thinking about it, to see if some fact or argument might exist that would be persuasive - not a real fact, but something that, although not so, would be convincing if proved true.

If the answer is still that they could never persuade you, then congratulations. You have successfully put yourself in the brethren's shoes, and know how it feels.

Many issues can be proved one way or another, by reference to undeniable fact. In subjects where facts are not the basis, searching for unanswerable arguments is a waste of effort. Sorry if that seems unnecessarily negative to anyone eager to make a difference. Maybe one of these days I'll think of something that could actually help.