ER, from another unrelated post:

^We're all entitled to believe whatever makes us feel better, whatever fits in with what we've already decided to be the truth. Whatever that means.^

To a great extent, this is true.

Until the beliefs become dangerous to others, or are forced on them.

I liked the "Storm" poem. You might find it hard to believe, but if I had been there I would have calmly enjoyed the dinner. The dike of diplomacy would not even have been mildly stressed. I know "Storms" of various types, even here on this board. Their beliefs may be irrational, but for the most part they're harmless to everyone else and they aren't forcing them on anyone.

When some "Storm" decides that homeopathic medicine should be tax supported, or that laws should be passed to replace conventional medicine with the alternatives, when someone decides their views should be the only views, and the others suppressed, you have another story entirely.

Ayn Rand wrote an article in 1972 called "A Nation's Unity," where she described the future as it could happen. An excerpt:

^In rare moments, you wonder what has happened to your neighbors. They were decent people once - you remember vaguely - they did not act like wild packs scrambling to get at one another's throats (and pockets). You do not know how many of them are wondering the same thing about you. You know only that there was a time when the local bird watcher and the "problem-adolescent" and the poetry-club ladies and Ms. Fatso were of no danger to anyone, but now they are. Why were they better in the past? If someone answered: "Because they did not have a gun" - you would not understand it.^

When someone wants to replace my reality with theirs, by force of law or worse, they have a fight on their hands. Or at least an argument. But auras? homeopathic medicine? Crop circles? Party on. Offhand I can't think of anyone I've known who believes things like this who thinks I should be forced to support them.

On a related note, it's amazing how often I'm accused of "forcing" my ideas of freedom, individual liberty, and choice on people. I have a hard time understanding how concepts can be warped to that extent.