Those Brits who calmly suggest three years after the referendum that maybe it is time to do a rethink the possibility of a second referendum are roundly denounced as apostates who would challenge transubstantiation and the virgin birth and kill puppies.

Brexiteers so ardently opposed to any rethink have become part of a cult whose prophesies are failing. Many religions behave in this way when their initial prophesies begin to fail. Their only hope is to go out and find converts and eliminate heretics even if it be by a figurative sword. Typically they become much less tolerant of alternative views. Christianity followed this pattern in its early days. It really only became evangelic when its early believers began to realize that the expected end of the world would not happen during their lifetimes. In the Brexiteers’ minds as with many other true believes this heresy must be stamped out before their prophesies about Brexit will be proven wrong. Throw them out of the party if they can’t conform. Otherwise they might have to face the possibility that they are wrong.

Let’s look at the original referendum. The vote was close and hardly a message from God. Rather the main inspirations came from Vladimir Putin and his trolls and Cambridge Analytica. Also, generous donations to the Tory party by Russian oligarchs, some with shady connections back to Russia. Anyone ever wonder why Putin is so interested in Brexit? Is it because he really wants what is best for the UK? If you think that, I have a bridge to sell you. No, make that two bridges.

Why is a rethink of Brexit so unthinkable to the zealots? The Brexit voters favored then is not the one that is on offer now. The terms have changed, so why must this dogma of no second referendum be so immutabable. If I vote to buy one of your Jaguar cars and then learn there is no engine, I have a right to pause and reevaluate the selection.

The claim that it would be wrong to break a promise made three years ago is laughable when some of the key Brexiteers freely do so in their personal lives. For example, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage seem to have no problem with breaking their marriage vows. Isn’t until death do we part?

In closing British philosopher John Stuart Mill in his book On Liberty cautioned to beware the tyranny of the majority. Yes, majority rules but the minority is entitled to some respect and consideration of its views. That is what is lacking in the Brexiteer’s argumentation and why the United Kingdom is on a perilous course.