Often I hear a someone say their opponents form a new religion, implying the other side doesn’t think through their beliefs or come up with them on their own. They just believe what they’re told to.

Anyone can lob that grenade at anyone they disagree with. From anyone’s perspective, anyone with different beliefs or values seems ungrounded. To call the other side “a new religion” just shows the speaker lacks empathy and understanding. Sadly, they may garner support from their own side, lowering mutual understanding in favor of tribalism.

If you ever call your opponent a new religion, I suggest you demean yourself in the process. If anyone says it of you, I suggest you point out they demean themselves.

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