Yes, there is nothing more interesting that people who believe they are engaged in critical thinking while peddling stereotypes. I recently had a similar experience. I showed up on some forum with a truncated version of ID101. A small swarm of critics responded by warning people about wedge, accusing me of arguing from ignorance, trying to prove ID and the existence of God, etc. When I politely and calmly informed them that their criticisms did apply to me, my essay, or my book, they started to attack me and accuse me of dishonesty because they just knew what IDers were all up to.

Essentially what you had was people judging and condemning a book they had no intention of ever reading. I'll probably blog excerpts of this later.

…in reality, it is of central importance.

Case in point -
I referred a critic to your book and suggested that it may be a good topic to discuss.

He refused since your publisher states on their website that they only publish what is "consistent with the Judeo Christian worldview."

Apparently, this was enough to convince him that your book was a creationist trojan horse. So the problem is not a clash of ideas, it is some kind of stereotype driven tribal warfare that does not even allow a clash of ideas.

Great points. While many may view this whole topic as some minor tangent, in reality, it is of central importance. I plan to focus some more on stereotype and confirmation bias in upcoming posts.

I agree with you. You add that "people need to stop fighting and start thinking." Indeed. But then some people try to make it look like they are thinking when they are just fighting. Of course, the moment they start peddling a stereotype (i.e., ID = creationism") is the moment you know they don't truly value critical thinking. It is always worth it to stop the conversation and point this out.

Anyone hoping to pursue critical thinking must first realize that in overcoming stereotype they must actually go against their natural tendencies. Critical thinking is a most un-natural endeavor.

There are myriad studies to confirm that bias and stereotype go hand in hand, that memory is selective, and that bias is manifested physically in neurochemical expression. Stereotyping can actually be quantified and measured as a physiological mechanism for survival. It's just human nature.

I like your characterization of stereotype as a sin because like all other sins, stereotyping is simply part of human nature. And like all sins, we have the ability to avoid the behavior, tempting as it may be.

I am an ID Pleasurian. Now because I am ID, I must (according to the orthodox stereotype) be "a Creationist." This is because "ID = Creationism (in a cheap tuxedo)." Yet because I am a Pleasurian I must be "an immoral Godless hedonist" (according to yet another orthodox stereotype). Stereotyping is for intellectually lazy culture warriors. IMO people need to stop fighting and start thinking.