Reason ideally is path to truth and understanding and revelation AND STILL IS(So I disagree with the article conclusion).
However that only applies to honest and sincere and rational people.
Many people and I believe it's human nature that mankind are irrational beings, especially unpolished people(unpolished in spirit and soul). They seek justifications even when there's none. They seek to blame and find excuses and when none is actually there then proceeded to MAKE excuses using their own perverted reasoning and lying.
To some people this has grown even so sophisticated that they don't even realize it any longer that they are lying to themselves.
In short they lie and even convinced themselves that's true.
To argue with such people to make them see true reason is POINTLESS, FRUSTRATING and USELESS. These are fools no matter what their credentials are or how much money they have in their bank account.
In the end the prerequisite in any communication (as all communication essence is to see reason and gain understanding) are HONESTY, SINCERITY and OBJECTIVITY.
When none is present it might be as well called PROPAGANDA, POLITICKING, OUTRIGHT LYING or DECEIT
To be honest socially perhaps the average people(at least here) may be politicking more than being genuine. Those people who change their disposition in public or in private aren't they just keeping their manner and hospitality out of fear of being disliked? To Asians maintaining your face(honor) is considered so important that so often these people forget that it is their OWN ACTION and CONDUCT that they must guard instead anybody or anything else. I call these people the little children. Always unpolished people. They want to steal without being called a thief, they want to kill without being called a murderer, they want to lie without being called a liar, they want to live without adhering to honorable code of conduct yet they want to be respected and even praised for their [non existent] honor.