CC: This isn't really a pitting, but since it's personal...

[Jackmannii]

@Stoid

I consider it ignorant to assert that something is a fact when it is impossible to determine one way or another using widely accepted methods for testing such things, and the existence of an afterlife is impossible to determine.

I can only paraphrase, but one of my favorite quotes/ideas goes something like “It is the height of arrogance to assume that the limits of our perception constitute the limits of what there is to perceive.”.

And a personal favorite quote of mine (it’s actually mine, copyrighted and everything) goes like this:

The correct response to “absence of evidence doesn’t mean evidence of absence” is “You’ve got nuthin’”.

And it’s the height of something (more ignorance than arrogance) to say in effect “You can’t prove me wrong, so my beliefs must be respected!”

No, beliefs without evidentiary foundation need not be respected. This of course does not mean that it is necessary to pop into theological discussions to declare that religion is bunk. Civility, and all that.