I'm not saying there's anything wrong with trying to convince people, if done in an appropriate way. Writing an essay or article in a newspaper or blogging or writing a book is fine. Going door to door and confronting people individually is not, unless the topic was brought up before.
My problem is with this idea of not needing evidence. Just try imagining holding that view in a non-spiritual/religious situation.
"I believe people only die when they want to, so it is fine for me to shoot them."
"I have faith that that man committed the crime so he must go to jail."
"I believe burning this candle will remove your cancer so you can skip chemotherapy."
Do you see how little sense it makes? Sure, you can hold whatever private beliefs you want but those that you have affect how you behave with others and, in the absence of evidence, you are not justified in holding them.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with trying to convince people, if done in an appropriate way. Writing an essay or article in a newspaper or blogging or writing a book is fine. Going door to door and confronting people individually is not, unless the topic was brought up before.
My problem is with this idea of not needing evidence. Just try imagining holding that view in a non-spiritual/religious situation.
"I believe people only die when they want to, so it is fine for me to shoot them."
"I have faith that that man committed the crime so he must go to jail."
"I believe burning this candle will remove your cancer so you can skip chemotherapy."
Do you see how little sense it makes? Sure, you can hold whatever private beliefs you want but those that you have affect how you behave with others and, in the absence of evidence, you are not justified in holding them.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~