Why Are Theists Resistant To Evidence?

Many findings of science are counter-intuitive, and difficult to accept because the human brain has flaws, such as confirmation bias, hyperactive agency detection, false memories, the placebo effect, religious experiences, and the misinterpreting of medical spontaneous remissions. Because of this, the basic human default position is a belief in some sort of a supernatural God. This was understandable and essentially unavoidable until science came into the picture. With the great increase in knowledge over the last few hundred years and especially the last 100 or so years, all claims for a God essentially have been falsified. Then why do the majority of humans reject these findings from science? I agree that religious indoctrination and the comfort provided from such are major reasons for not accepting the applicable findings of science. However, there are personality traits that also play a role and can be attenuated with the appropriate education.

Psychologists and other mental health professionals commonly use five broad dimensions to describe human personality and psyche (link):

• Openness to experience (inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious)

• Conscientiousness (efficient/organized vs. easy-going/careless)

• Extraversion (outgoing/energetic vs. solitary/reserved)

• Agreeableness (friendly/compassionate vs. challenging/detached)

• Neuroticism (sensitive/nervous vs. secure/confident)

Out of the above, the dimension most related to resistance to the claims of science is "Openness to experience." If theists are low in this dimension, they are less apt to objectively consider arguments against their beliefs. They tend to be incurious, hold conventional beliefs, and may be dogmatic and closed-minded.