I'm not sure why you were net-downvoted; your anecdote was on-topic, relative to the comment you replied to.
I have a similar background, and your use of 'of this world' may possibly indicate that we both suffered at the hands of the same cult.
Within myself, I have personally experienced both the fight-or-flight reaction to dis-confirming datapoints, and also excitement at learning something new. The former happened more often when I was still in the clutches of the cult. I think it boils down to how psychologically invested you are in your beliefs, at the time of feeling the cognitive dissonance.
I have a similar background, and your use of 'of this world' may possibly indicate that we both suffered at the hands of the same cult.
Within myself, I have personally experienced both the fight-or-flight reaction to dis-confirming datapoints, and also excitement at learning something new. The former happened more often when I was still in the clutches of the cult. I think it boils down to how psychologically invested you are in your beliefs, at the time of feeling the cognitive dissonance.