I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to the issue of debate and disagreement with others regarding beliefs and belief systems.
On one hand, i've observed both in my own interactions, and observing others, that it rarely changes anything. In the end, most people are not nearly as consistently open minded as they would like to believe about themselves or would like others believe about them.
In many cases, debate and disagreement can put others on the defensive, and when people start getting emotional about it, it can make the opposite happen. Pretty much anyone who has ever been in a deep, long term committed relationship knows that one.
Other the other hand, i've both experienced, and have seen with others, that occasionally when someone disagrees with self (or self's beliefs) in a balanced, respectful, holistically logical, and with positive intentions kind of way, that if indeed that person does have the more broadly accurate and/or constructive viewpoint (from say a nonphysical guide viewpoint), well sometimes it does help one to view things in a different light. Sometimes it's much later on down the road, rather than immediately. But nonetheless a seed was planted.
Also, my teacher occasionally debated with others. Why would he, if it never had any merit, or potential constructiveness? He was not one who liked to hear himself talk, so perhaps there are times and occasions for disagreement and debate. In his case, it seems he didn't debate with others on a personal level, but rather always publicly...
Maybe then his debating wasn't always so much for the person who was likewise debating him, but for others watching and listening? Maybe those not directly and actively caught up in the "drama" of it, were more open to actually really listening to, and getting the truth of he was trying to say?
Maybe the key is going within, and listening to the still small voice, and knowing when to disagree and speak out, or when to just keep ones opinions to oneself?
Boy, i wish i could master that one!
I find it very humorous (and immensely ironic), that people pay to read other people's opinions, and when they actually pay for it with money, they tend to be more open to those opinions. Whereas, when people come on sites like this, and listen to given opinions/views/perspectives/logic that doesn't cost any money and that may be just as wise/expanded or even more so than what's found in books...well people tend to ignore or not really listen so much in these cases.
Maybe we all should put our opinions in books, and that way we'll all be heard more?
We're a funny bunch, we humans. I wonder why we choose for so long, to remain so..well "human" when that entails a lot of suffering? Why do we cling so much to this human experience?