Erm yes I thought that's what I had expressed?

Unnecessary crutches IMO.

@OpposingOpposum Do you believe Antibiotics cure many of bacterial infections? That's not what I'd call a crotch, but it's dogma. Medicine is replete with examples of such dogmas. The key though, is not to allow them to become 'blind dogmas.' If they do, then doctors won't understand the need for other approaches to some bacterial infections, approaches that lead not to super antibiotics so called, but to entirely new approaches.
Dogmas are not always religious, as the original post makes clear.

@Doubting it isn't dogma if it is backed by empirical evidence. Those are facts. An honestly scientific and dogma free mind is open to changing views when new evidence is presented. The problem with dogmas or beliefs are that we become emotionally attached to them. When evidence is presented that runs counter to those beliefs we resist that evidence. It seems to me that is where most of our problems lie. Belief promotes intellectual laziness and blind spots.

@OpposingOpposum The emotional attachment is difficult to break and creates feeling of fear and uncertainty in many, which is why they hang on to them....it often takes stepping out of a comfort zone to be able to look objectively and form new ideas and opinions but the results are generally sufficient to quell the initial hesitancy...it soon becomes the new normal and it takes constant effort to keep this up...at times it is tiring and frustrating...many give up...

@thinktwice erm. Ok? It's difficult to get up and go to work everyday but no one's going to make excuses if I decide to stop going. Why are ignorance and fear acceptable excuses for poor thinking?

@OpposingOpposum I am not arguing that they are acceptable...just noting why many seem to be stuck in dogma...they are excuses used to stop moving forward and why communication breaks down...I consider it a tough thing to break through and attribute poor thinking to people hanging on...I am obviously poorly trying to support your statement

@thinktwice I understand that. It just really really frustrates me when people argue against doing something neccesary because it isn't easy. It's a cop out IMO. "I can't adjust to using particular pronouns because it's hard" "we can't fix our economic/political system because it's hard". When did I don't wanna become an acceptable excuse for doing wrong?

@OpposingOpposum I often have to remind complainers that it is called "work" for a reason...it is work..and yes...frustrating for sure when your own inclination is to persist no matter what...

@OpposingOpposum Your definition of a dogma as a belief not backed up by evidence begs the question in the philosophical sense. Dogma is no doubt used by some with that definition, but by no means all.
But on your definition I agree with you.