I suppose I should be an optimist and believe that everyone is capable of change, but I fear that too often those who wind up at the bitter crank extreme go to their grave as bitter cranks (though I'm hoping that they are in for a big surprise after their non-existent souls
exit their bodies).
Come to think of it, maybe this all stems from my home life. Mom is an open-minded Christian who has had many miracles (manifestations), premonitions and ghostly encounters in her life, and Dad is a laughingly scornful, 'Scientific American'-hoovering Agnostic. Not a few times Mom and I would try to watch a TV show about a "woo-woo" subject, only to have Mr. Sunshine spoil the fun by constantly interjecting his "BS! Hahahaha! BS!" remarks. I seem to have internalized this damnable dichotomy, if not literally inherited incompatible hemispheres
(and no, I'm no scholar, just a natural word-nerd)