ron rawson: their method seems to be draw a conclusion, then find means to support it.
That is so true. I have heard witnesses tell me about their experience learning to be witnesses. One witness told me that he said to his study conductor "If you can show it to me in the bible I'll believe it." When you start off with reasoning like that your goose is cooked. His conclusion was already formed. The bible is the truth. He was very appreciative of the witnesses setting him straight on what the bible says.
Critical thinking is important and as a part of critical thinking it's important to realize when your conclusions about something are wrong. Sometimes that's the most difficult thing for any of us to do. Proving someone wrong on something sometimes leads to all sorts of new discoveries.