“It’s never a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t really know.” Agree or disagree?
It is never a good idea to discuss religion with people you don’t really know because chances are, once you’ve started discussing it, you are both idiots. Smart people would say “I believe in God” and “I don’t believe in God” and that would be the end of it. Idiots would continue with a barrage of arguments.
Atheists
- Science has established there is no God
- Astronauts have seen no God
- All wars happened because of religion
- You are an idiot because you believe in something that doesn’t exist
Believers:
- I know God exists because I believe in Him/Them/Her/It
- If there’s no God, everything is allowed
- Earth is not 6000 years old, it is a metaphor
- You are an idiot because you’ll be damned
- I have to kill you (some religions)
You see, the arguments never stand against each other, except the one about idiots, who they indeed become if they allow their discussion to continue. It is true though, that the end of such a discussion can often be described as “a dead atheist against an idiot believer”, but it does not make the atheist any smarter.
Politics is different. Unlike religion it should not be discussed with people you know! If it is a guy you just met at the bar counter, It is OK to clash with him wielding facts and rumours about the populism or real economic value of France’s 75% income tax. It is OK to fight his opinion on Obama’s choices in health care. You may discover another view, new arguments, and fresh rumours, all rooted in a different background of the person you are talking to. You’d realise though that you may have learned something new, but at the end you still stand on the same spot from which the discussion began. It is OK. Certainty of opinions is a chemical process in the brain, not something you can easily surrender. Do not, though, go to extremes. Do not drive through poor districts of Paris with a Sarkozy poster on your car or through the redneck areas of the US with a democratic bumper sticker. If you value your car, that is.
But discussing politics with people you know, friends or relatives, is as dangerous as flexing your muscles in front of cannibals. Emotional attachments link you to the opponents you know. These attachments will clash with emotional connections towards politicians. You’d feel anger and pity that people so close to you are so wrong in their political beliefs. Your discussion will be fueled by passion, not search for knowledge, and passion leads to anger, anger leads to the dark side, and the dark side leads to you not talking to your dad for a month. Obama is not to blame for it. Be a real Jedi, don’t discuss politics with people you know.
So, politic or religious debate can be navigated to safety. Yet, there’s a minefield you simply have to stay away from. Do not discuss it with anyone. Friends, relatives, total strangers. Art, and anything related to Art is this minefield.
You are in front of a painting, sculpture or installation. You may say, “I like it”, or, “I don’t like it”. You can then expand on what and why you like or don’t like, but god forbid (evolution theory does not allow), to start discussing or criticising preferences of the other guy. It kills any relationship you might have had. It prevents a potentially attractive relationship from development. It cost an ear to Van Gogh.
PS And remember, 
– that’s two words that kill any argument.
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Nicely done. I make a point of not discussing either. One bores me to tears – and the other, I have not interest whatsoever…
Great blog. Cheers.
Cross-cultural differences. I love them. In Russia, a debate on religion or politics is guaranteed to end up in a fight. While this is far from boring, tears are very likely )
Totally fascinating and little exciting…
Is this comment related to x-cultural differences or the next post about the promised penis? ))
LOL. Hopefully both…
Somehow I’ll learn to be more temperate discussing these issues with my friends, family…and strangers. Looks like you’ve got it figured out. Especially the juice bar etiquette. Neat.
Everything has been figured out, except how to live (c) J-P Sartre
I don’t think you can even discuss politics and religion with people you DO know. People are so invested anymore in their point of view, religious and/or politics, that to disagree is often construed as attacking.
Well, while it is better to avoid emotionally charged topics such as religion or politics, they’d still come up during almost any discussion, usually after weather has been thorougly debated )
Yep. It’s hard to change a person’s mind. Assuming, of course, they have one. Ha. And, thanks for “liking” my blog about Van Gogh!
As Terry Pratchett once said, “I’m all for thinking outside the box, assuming there’s some thinking going inside it” )
I love your ice cream paintings. They are so realistic !!! Thank you for liking my blog. *Cynthia
Well, they are, of course ) But I happen not to like the subject matter and the artist’s attitude to life )
Love that image! I am glad that you like it too
I’ve just taken it from the web among thousands freefloating pics. Do you know the source, the author?
Interesting, insightful article! I agree, politics is an art. So are the manners of arguing about politics. When people have an open, flexible mind and extensive experience with diversity, discussing politics can become a tremendously interesting and learning experience.
Some people have opinions. Some of those base their opinions on reasoning. Some of them can reason. And it is with those with whom it is interesting to discuss, actually, anything )
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I agree too. And great choice of picture too !
Thanks! Let’s now embrace each other ))
Thanks for the advice, I’ll follow)) And for the smile on my face too of course)
You are very welcome, nice to know we both are smart people – but that’s an extra benefit )
I so agree with the “so what”
And what about all the rest? ))
I agree
Thank you! It would be a pity if we disagreed ))