To summarize the method and objective of this thread.
Is ______________________________ irrelevant for society today? Behold, a list of negative traits that can be associated with _____________________.
Objective: present _________________ as something that ought to be removed as soon as possible for the betterment of all. Without a counterpoint in the premise, readers are manipulated into agreeing with the author. This happens in surveys all the time, many of which are conducted not to measure public opinion, but to change it for a predetermined agenda.
The _________________ can even be filled with anything. Social welfare. Immigrants. Alcohol. Let's use that as an example.
Is alcohol irrelevant for society today? Behold, a list of negative traits that can be associated with alcohol.
-Primary factor in crimes of a violent and/or sexual nature
-Strong factor in epidemiology of sexually transmitted disease
-Increases risk of suicide, depression, and doing something injurious and potentially fatal to one's self accidentally
-Impaired judgment = inevitable accidents, commonly vehicular collisions, unwanted pregnancies also deserving of mention
-Addictive and addicts have a demonstratively greater difficulty maintaining a stable home environment for children and are more likely to lose their job as a direct or indirect result of said addiction.
-Long-term health complications as a result of alcohol consumption requires a heavy upkeep paid by the health care dollar in taxes.
-Easiest vehicle for application of date rape drugs
-Consumption during pregnancy is highly damaging to developing fetus, and those with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are now known to have a medical condition that impairs their ability to control their anger. Doesn't play out too well in the end, most of the time.
Considering the structure of the argument, contrary opinion seems objectively indefensible, especially if "irrelevant" is given a "bad" or "negative" context, rather than a context of indifference or at least balanced fairly. Rolling with the example of alcohol, there is an obvious counterpoint that justifies the relevance that has been thrown into question. It is a choice. And all choices can be made either responsibly or irresponsibly. Personally, I'd rather have someone ranting at me about fire and brimstone than ranting about lens flare whilst excreting and reeking like a distillery . It's less unpleasant to the senses and the odds of being violenced (now a word) is dramatically lower. Unless they are ranting about fire and brimstone while blackout drunk. That's probably a lot worse than the lens flare discussion.
Responsible folks who practice religion often participate in voluntary institutions of society that tend to the needs of those who have been left behind by the economic system. In other words, these people fill one of society's needs in one of many possible ways that you could likely conjure on your own without my having to list them. Ergo, their actions, commonly guided by their faith, fulfill a role that is relevant in modern society. Responsible drinkers contribute to society as well; by purchasing alcohol their tax dollars go into various institutions society is dependent upon and alcohol sales are way too damn profitable for anyone to ignore.
Contrary beliefs, opinions and practices to your own (and my own as well) are relevant in modern society if we are truly meaning to call ourselves civilized.
