Are you "partisan"?

Modern brain research has (once again) validated what we all know... Original sin taints the human mind... including our ability to think logically.

In this research, they examined the brain patterns of partisan politicians (Democrat and Republican)

The study points to a total lack of reason in political decision-making.

"None of the circuits involved in conscious reasoning were particularly engaged," Westen said. "Essentially, it appears as if partisans twirl the cognitive kaleidoscope until they get the conclusions they want, and then they get massively reinforced for it, with the elimination of negative emotional states and activation of positive ones."

National politics aside -- I think this is something worth considering when we think about other areas of life where "politics" enters -- often as an unwelcomed guest. For example, we often hear the laments about "politics in the church" -- which seems to grow in intensity on a three year cycle... but is always "there" in the background.

The overall implication is, the human mind will twist reality to fit its own preconceived notions. You might be saying, "yeah, I know. It's so irritating when my oppenent in an argument does that." The import of this research is that it is likely not only your opponent who is doing it.