Well-structured debates have cross-examination by the participants which often can stimulate critical thinking by participants and audience members. And many debates have an audience questioning period where audience members pose questions to the debaters.
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In addition, ideologues who engage in uncritical thinking often are unaware of opposing arguments and actively avoid intellectually engaging with their opponents arguments.
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The poor debate performances of contemporary atheists and prominent atheists dodging debates is indicative of many atheists engaging in denialism and also a lack of rigorous critical thinking on the part of many atheists (see: [[Atheism and critical thinking]]).