Dogma debatable
To many people, and contrary to our public misunderstanding, the matter is far from being settled conclusively; and even if it were, to ignore a competing dogma is to encourage ignorance or even an intolerance of others’ core beliefs. How is this conducive to promoting equality, respect, unity and a tolerance of others in society? Surely education is all about raising and discussing vying paradigms. As long as these paradigms are not dangerous, in an evidential causality sense rather than a mere scaremongering sense, then these will only potentially broaden awareness and access to truths. Furthermore, excessive censorship will breed greater censorship and so on, exponentially, until people only know what they are spoon-fed, without manoeuvre to challenge, test and develop. Then we will lack the sort of freedom that permits us to criticise the sort of restrictive totalitarianism we view elsewhere.
Matthew Anderson
South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh