Dinosaurs are where you find 'em.
I remember watching the first episode of 'Life on Earth' - the very first of David Attenborough's series on the natural world - in which, by way of a prologue, he walked a long trail down to the floor of the Grand Canyon, pointing out as he passed the various strata of fossil deposits laid down further and further back in time and ever nearer the origins of life on the planet. I'd watched it with rest of the men on the night shift in the fire house where we worked and, as the credits rolled at the end of the show, one of the probationers turned to me to say that, although Attenborough had appeared to present some interesting evidence, he himself knew that the actual and undisputable age of the world was only six thousand years.
A faith that will ignore mountains!
There's also a certain appeal to being the contrarian or conspiracy theorist or occultist -- you have secret knowledge that most people are too dumb to understand. It makes you feel superior. Or less inferior anyway.
"Or less inferior" - I think you nailed it.
He must be a Dickhead ?
Not sure that calling someone names does much to contribute, other than venting.
Seems to me that we're better off trying to establish some kind of common ground (doesn't have to be religious) in which we can begin to talk to each other. Name-calling only serves to entrench opinions on both sides and does little good.
@moNOtheist
Point taken, thank you !
Religious people are afraid to question church teaching and risk going to hell. Fear and hate are powerful controlling elements.