Interfaith Group

that I would consider at the heart for why "working together" may not happen, or will make it difficult to do so.

That is, the idea that it's okay to attack the belief because that's not the same as attacking the believer. The problem with that assumption is that the two are not separate. Honestly, I can't think of any believer that doesn't hold their belief close to their heart. It's as much a part of them as their blood is to their physical body.

I know this is probably a weak analogy, but it's the only one coming to mind to help explain this. But, let's say you decided to truly lay into the spouse of a couple very much in love. Not physically, but with a verbal attack of all the vitriolic and insulting tactics we've seen all too often laid against a belief. Do you think the other spouse would put up with that? Do you think it wouldn't hurt and enrage the other spouse? They are as intrinsically connected to each other as a believer is to their belief. They cannot be separated simply by the mind of the attacker.

Perhaps the attackers don't understand this concept, and I can understand that to a point. To ignore it if you do, though, is the epitome of nasty behavior. Yes, we are told all over to DU to "grow a thicker skin" yet personal attacks are against the SOP. So why are attacks against a believer's belief tolerated and not considered also against the SOP? As the belief cannot be separated from the believer, then that does become a personal attack.

I'm sure some will argue against this, but I think this is a valid observation and quite true for how some perceive, and then attack, believers. Although if anyone has a better analogy, please post it