I believe the foundational aspect of learning is humility, simply because it's implicit within this virtue that one is open to the possibility that ones understanding may be flawed - in more advanced souls, it is simply the absense of pride. It reminds me of a passage from the Tao Te Ching;
All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power
A tolerant, open mind is a byproduct of humility; humility, on the other hand, requires knowledge and a capability for emphaty.
If you encounter an idea which creates friction within your balls, remember that the other part is naturally acting in accordance with their maturity, understanding and their subjective set of values and ideals. While people have natural inclinations which differ, keep in mind that much of what they say and do might in fact be a mechanical, automatic pattern in their character due to indoctrination and conditioning, which is often completely under the radar for the people themselfes.
I don't see much benefit in calling people morons - I find it more valuable to discern the workings of their mind. Religious people often run under an operative system called fear-and-hope; this makes them prone to excessive sensationalism and there are plenty who have an underlying sense of insecurity, perhaps due to the nature of gambling on belief, whose ball could land on black, manifesting itself as an impulse to paint the whole world red - you know, they stand on shaky ground and need support.
It's not hard to criticize without putting the other part down, and done in a respectful tone, the other person might actually benefit, instead of shrugging you off as a whatever. Also, the problem with debates is that it's not so much as putting a plate of food down on the table and leave it there for people to take, or to share samples and seek inspiration, but more about taking the whole fucking plate and shove it down someones throat, expecting the dude to pull a 10/10 sign with a big smile on the stuffed face.
I'm rambling and this is getting too long. Going to finish this with a golden verse of Pythagoras, with a commentary by Iamblichus.
Offer not your right hand easily to anyone.
"This warns the disciple to keep his own counsel and not offer wisdom and knowledge (his right hand) to such as are incapable of appreciating them. The hand here represents Truth, which raises those who have fallen because of ignorance; but as many of the unregenerate do not desire wisdom they will cut off the hand that is extended in kindness to them. Time alone can effect the redemption of the ignorant masses."