I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “It’s my belief, and you’re just going to have to respect that.” It typically comes right after the description of some supernatural force or practice, whether it be psychic readings, energy/faith healing, chakras or any other idea that has been relegated to the trash bin of progress. This is what should be called the “ultimate defense” of wacky ideas, in that typically the person in question has run out of excuses for said practice.
So, should we respect that belief? Should we say that because it is something you believe in, it’s okay? I mean it is just a belief, right?
Nonsense. If a friend came up to you, told you to your face that every time a person wasn’t looking, a leprechaun jumped out of a hole and tweaked his nose at that person, you would be inclined to say that friend was a nutter, or hopefully just being facetious. Why? Because the very idea of a leprechaun jumping out of holes is the bread and butter of fairy tales. To this day, we have not observed a single shred of proof for the existence of leprechauns. The claim by an acquaintance that they jump out of holes to insult unsuspecting humans is therefore quite silly.
Why should we elevate beliefs over facts? In the entire history of the human race, what has a belief based on a lack of any evidence gained us compared to the gains of science? Science has, in the space of just the last half century: gotten us to the moon and able to land surveyors on Mars, helped to lower the cancer mortality rate, raised not only our standard of living but also our life expectancy, helped protect us from mother nature, and many other things that would take up an entire encyclopedia to fill. Belief has given us wars, genocide, and hate. Yes, religion has given some people hope, but there is so much that one can grasp onto in the real world that can give just as much hope without sacrificing reality.
People believed that the earth was the center of the solar system. People believed the earth was flat. To this day, people still believe in energy healing and karma, people still believe in psychics, ghosts and fate. Perhaps one of these days, people will realize that their beliefs don’t line up with reality. I for one chose reality, and I’m tired of the fairy tale.
Edit: Let me be clear: I do not think the government should be able to say that you can’t believe this or that. The government should stay out of peoples’ personal lives, as long as they are not harming others. I am just saying that a belief should not be elevated above fact. A person is not a bigot for telling you something you believe is stupid. A racist is a bigot, a person who seeks truth and detests untruth is not.