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I would say you could solve this argument with Chess (Hoyle's Rules), with the Fundamentalist Apologists and Atheists both choosing an opponent or team. The problem lies in that the game would need to be played in person to prevent one side or the other using a computer program to aid their move.
"A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia has shown that religious fundamentalism is, in part, the result of a functional impairment in a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex. The findings suggest that damage to particular areas of the prefrontal cortex indirectly promotes religious fundamentalism by diminishing cognitive flexibility and openness—a psychology term that describes a personality trait which involves dimensions like curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness.
Religious beliefs can be thought of as socially transmitted mental representations that consist of supernatural events and entities assumed to be real. Religious beliefs differ from empirical beliefs, which are based on how the world appears to be and are updated as new evidence accumulates or when new theories with better predictive power emerge. On the other hand, religious beliefs are not usually updated in response to new evidence or scientific explanations, and are therefore strongly associated with conservatism. They are fixed and rigid, which helps promote predictability and coherence to the rules of society among individuals within the group. ...
...These findings are important because they suggest that impaired functioning in the prefrontal cortex—whether from brain trauma, a psychological disorder, a drug or alcohol addiction, or simply a particular genetic profile—can make an individual susceptible to religious fundamentalism. And perhaps in other cases, extreme religious indoctrination harms the development or proper functioning of the prefrontal regions in a way that hinders cognitive flexibility and openness."
(Bolding mine.)
This explains quite a bit. I may have to temper my scorn with a little more pity. Many fundies can't help it.
The behavior of humans all throughout recorded history (especially the males of our species) certainly validate this.
That is assuming that their behavior is "wrong".
OTOH...it works for them...for survival and self-satisfaction. That is only subjectively a "bad" way to be.
The article noted that the brain issues only accounted for 20% of the reason one might embrace religious beliefs. I don't even think it is that much. The "study" was very limited...and only assessed a small group of people.
I'd say deeply held religious beliefs are mostly based upon teachings and cultural experience as one grows up. They believe it because that is what they are taught by trusted people and institutions...and how most in their society are.
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