You've reeducated me, fine sir. Confirmation Bias being a concept I've learned and forgotten. More importantly, it absolutely explains away all of my comments above. Nicely done and thank you.
The one thing I would add to the conversation...
Many contradicting things could be true. That's why we should not assume any of them until we have evidence that would help me determine which if any of the options we might be aware of is likely. Otherwise, chances are we would be assuming the wrong thing.
We should not assume, but we should absolutely imagine any and all things until / so that we can prove them right/wrong. That is the nature of discovery, invention and innovation. Nothing is possible without first being hypothesized.
"Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." A. Einstein
RE: Australia shedding religion from their culture, "No Religion" is now primary belief.