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I'm having trouble understanding these few lines:

In recent decades, we've come to assume that respecting our fellow citizens' moral and religious convictions means ignoring them. But this stance of avoidance can make for spurious respect.

What does 'to make for spurious respect' mean? I guess 'spurious' here means 'non-genuine', but I am confused of how this fits in to the phrasal verb 'to make for'.

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  • Spurious has several different senses. There's nothing about its use here that makes it obvious that one sense is meant more than another. (Smoking cigarettes in bed can make for a stressful period of rest if they catch fire.)
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented May 8, 2020 at 3:56
  • “can make for” here means “can lead to” or “can result in”.
    – Xanne
    Commented May 8, 2020 at 4:20

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Can make for spurious respect can mean nothing but imaginary or insincere respect. That is what the kids refer to as ironic these days. The phrase to make for is just as Jason and Xanne say, result in, come to or mean.

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