this is illogical, surely you see that?

Absolutely not. Why is it illogical?

melo:

anyone who does believe in equality would (in fear of offending your sensitive self) acknowledge that all groups of opinion-holders have equal valence in a democracy.

But they would still ask questions like "Should people be forced to listen to religious organisations?", not "Should people be forced to listen to anyone?" or so.

melo:

i think your points would be made better if you take what others have to say on board more rather than seeing them as folks to be out-argued in some points-winning kind of way.

That's not my intention. I am trying to get answers that one can move on from. I get repetitions of replies that not answers for the point I made. It is quite possible that my posts are not clear enough and too easily misunderstood. It is quite possible that my interlocutors' posts are unclear. Or both.