Consider the Source
While trying to explain to a theist why it isn’t their fault that they were raised irrationally, I hit upon a fantastic rule of thumb. Basically, it goes like this: “The less likely you would have been to believe something if you had heard it from an unknown source, the more you need to examine it before accepting it.”
Parents force religion onto their children before they learn to think about something before accepting it as true. For young children, accepting their parents’ words without question is vital — it keeps them from getting hit by cars and burning themselves in the kitchen.
The same idea applies to anyone we trust. Spouses, parents, teachers, and friends have undue influence on us. So the next time someone tells you about some government conspiracy, a new-age “alternative” to medication, or a UFO sighting, consider the facts before believing them — even if they are someone you love.
