Dictating beliefs

  So I was getting up to use the restroom and have a cigarette after my last post when my niece sits down to my laptop.  I told her that she would be fine for a few minutes while I was gone, but she had to give back my laptop when I got back.  I told her that I would lock it if she didn't give it back.  She asked me "Do I believe you?"  I said yes.  Her reply was "How do you know what I believe?"  Now, I know that many people will be aghast at the disrespect, but that is outside the point of this post.  That was dealt with.  The point here is that I was, without meaning to, dictating a belief to my niece.  She had a valid point in that I can't just tell her what to believe.
  So it comes to that.  It isn't my place to dictate beliefs to people.  To get my niece to believe me, I have to demonstrate that I mean what I say.  It is the same on higher levels.  If Pat Robertson wants me to follow his theology, he has to back it up with reason.  We are supposed to have progressed since the Dark Ages, and yet many people want to dictate their beliefs to others without thought still.  We will get no where until those that dictate their beliefs shut up for the five minutes to listen to the other side and find the valid points they make.  Everyone has a valid point to make somewhere along the line.  It would be more constructive to take the time to listen and address the other side's concerns.  We might solve some real problems if we all just took five minutes here and there.