Aren't these 3 bad reasons for believing anything..."tradition," "authority," and "revelation."

Question

Richard Dawkins wrote this in a letter to his ten-year-old daughter.

Quote:"The way scientists use evidence to learn about the world is much cleverer and more complicated than I can say in a short letter. But now I want to move on from evidence, which is a good reason for believing something , and warn you against three bad reasons for believing anything. They are called "tradition," "authority," and "revelation." unquote.

And why didn't anyone tell me this as a child?

Answer 1

short answer-yes-those are three bad reasons-lots of love keep the peace old hippie here

Answer 2

In theology these three are not considered "reasons for believing" as Dawkins puts it, but rather sources for the objects of faith and morals. Reason or reasons for believing is a whole other bag o' worms my dog.

Answer 3

Because, unfortunately, the majority of the population seems to be unaware of this fact.

I'd bet that even if they were, it would be largely irrelevent in terms of their beliefs. That's the sort of thing you've either got to learn while you're young or if you still have an open mind.

Answer 4

I think a lot of people belive everything that everyone says, and teach everyone that they know to do the same thing. Which gives the world a lot of trusting people who are manipulated by a lot of corrupt people. Kind of makes you think about where this world is headed to...