I'm not making a philosophical statement. I'm saying if you cross this line, our ability to live peacefully together is going to end.
His premise is sound though. If you force a belief on someone without nurturing an appreciation and understanding of why they are supposed to be doing it...the moment they are free of your control they will stop doing it.
He atleast explains why you shouldnt force it...(because it makes the day no fun.)
Really interesting along his point is that in Jewish Law, if someone violates the Shabbat rules, while technically it is a sin punishable by death, he is considered innocent, like a child who doesnt know better...because if they truly understood and appreciated the value of the day, it would be impossible not to observe it.
Here's a question, because this is a phrase I've encountered a lot, but I have often wondered whether this is somewhat a self-defeating statement. "Don't you dare force your beliefs on anyone else" is in itself a belief, that you are forcing upon another, is it not? Just because it is a belief about beliefs, or how someone ought to believe, does not excuse it, I have wondered.