Edit: since this thread has moved, I am talking specifically about the religion forum
K, first of all I haven't been looking around this forum for along time so if things have changed, make sure I know about it. Second, this thread is less about religion and more about this forum, so if this is inappropriate, again point it out.
Now, I've never gone through the process of getting a PhD. But I've heard stories. One has to present his/her work to a group of professors who grill and ask probing questions about the work. Now it can get pretty brutal, but that's science. But it's nothing like this forum. None of the professors will shout out "Your not a scientist", "Your not thinking like a scientist", "You're idea show how ignorant you are" because it's not personal, it's about the work, about the ideas, shouldn't that be how this forum should be? Relentless but not personal.
Yes, religion can be personal, but I think people could show some contraint. Some ideas may be unscientific, doesn't make the holders of those opinions idiots.