In an attempt to continue the analogy, I have to suggest, that no one is going to know if any of the doctors or medicines really worked...until they are dead. So what does it really matter which doctor they visit or which medicine they take?
You are right. People are free to continue whatever beliefs they want.
The problem (as I’ve stated before) is that the Doctor holds a fake doctor certificate. He isn’t what he professes to be. If he were honest, and told everyone up front that he isn’t a certified Doctor, and that he practices alternative medicine, I wouldn’t have any problem with what he does.
To break it down so that there are no misunderstandings, I will leave my analogy behind.
I don’t care if Mormons wish to practice their beliefs. I do object to them proclaiming to be Christian just like everyone else. When I ws a youngster, the LDS Church actually disliked being called Christian. They’ve recently changed their tune and want to be seen as more “mainstream.” I see it as a way for them to convince more people to join them.
About one half of all LDS members become inactive or leave the Church entirely. All those people who leave, left for a reason....they aren’t all liars.
>>In an attempt to continue the analogy, I have to suggest, that no one is going to know if any of the doctors or medicines really worked...until they are dead. So what does it really matter which doctor they visit or which medicine they take?<<
Assuming that two courses of medical treatment were equally ineffective in prolonging my life, I would nonetheless prefer to take that treatment with the fewest negative side-effects.
By the same token: Given a choice between two (equally false) religions, I would choose the one which allowed me to live my life with as little interference as possible. So even though I view both Islamic Fundamentalism and Pastafarianism as utter bilgewater, I would rather not join a faith that dictated that I strive to don a suicide belt and walk into a crowded marketplace.