Religions should break with tradition if followers demand it.

Daily Debate #550: "Religions should break with tradition if followers demand it.". You are arguing FOR the motion. Your opponent: Christopher Hitchens.

Kids should have their first phone at 12

That's a claim about parenting, not the motion. But I'll meet you where you are. Twelve is arbitrary. You're assuming a child's neurological readiness and social environment are uniform across all kids, which they obviously aren't. More importantly, you're dodging the real question: should institutions—religions in this case—abandon core principles because some members demand it? Your phone example proves my point. Just because kids want phones doesn't mean parents should give them at twelve. Authority sometimes means saying no. Religions exist precisely to preserve something beyond momentary preference. The moment they become pure democracy, they stop being religions and become social clubs. What actually makes a belief system worth preserving?