I think husbands and wives are a special case only in that they are almost always significantly motivated to preserve their relationship. And that is the key to avoiding the useless discussion problems PG saw. When it is important to preserve relationship with someone else (even only met in an on-line forum) then a discussion won't degrade into a "religious war".
Ironically for the context, this view has crystalized for me from religious teaching.
Ironically for the context, this view has crystalized for me from religious teaching.