> What is more harmful than an idea that inspires it's adherents to close their own eyes to reality?
There is a difference between Existence & Reality. Reality is based on perspective of Existence. Thus Reality is relative and seen by some as "mutable" (though I prefer the functional "immutable" view of a Reality).
So the adherents you are talking about are viewing Reality perfectly well. It's just their Reality is different from yours. Now if their Reality is based on an illusion, like the bad plumbing in the OP, there's the matter of changing their perception & Reality by exposing the illusion.
> But it would be free of disagreement born of irrational prejudice.
What is irrational is in the eye of the beholder & heavily influenced by culture. To your point, some cultures are closer to absolute truth (less based on illusion) than others.
However, even Rationality is based on a culturally defined Reality. What was Rational 100 years ago in America may not be Rational today.
As humanity progresses, we expose the truth and create more illusion in different areas of Existence.
There is a difference between Existence & Reality. Reality is based on perspective of Existence. Thus Reality is relative and seen by some as "mutable" (though I prefer the functional "immutable" view of a Reality).
So the adherents you are talking about are viewing Reality perfectly well. It's just their Reality is different from yours. Now if their Reality is based on an illusion, like the bad plumbing in the OP, there's the matter of changing their perception & Reality by exposing the illusion.
> But it would be free of disagreement born of irrational prejudice.
What is irrational is in the eye of the beholder & heavily influenced by culture. To your point, some cultures are closer to absolute truth (less based on illusion) than others.
However, even Rationality is based on a culturally defined Reality. What was Rational 100 years ago in America may not be Rational today.
As humanity progresses, we expose the truth and create more illusion in different areas of Existence.