Quote:
Originally Posted by shahrad
If you guys read a fairy tale about a witch, are you guys inclined to see what is the point of the author or are you guys more inclined to say that the author believes in witches?
Depends. If the author makes a claim that witches are real and we should behave as if they are real, and people influence my life directly or indirectly based on their beliefs in such witches, then I'll debate the evidence of the witches. If I'm with rational people who understand that the story is allegorical and intended as a life lesson and not a description of actual historical events, then I'll debate the point of the life lesson.
Unfortunately, too many fail to recognize that the story is a fairy tale and not a history book which requires acceptance of its claims, and thus the debate is shifted to explaining to people that source of their childish beliefs.
Thanks for helping to illustrate our frustration here quite well.