Is skepticism a requirement for safety in your daily life?

Question

Recently a story in the news told of a woman who scammed almost $1 million from 22 of her neighbors by telling them that a CIA satellite would scan their bodies for disease and that agents would sneak into their homes in the night and adminster the appropriate drugs to cure them.

(Read the story here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11497294/ )

Would you recommend skepticism regarding such claims?

Why not turn the same skepticism to the claims of religions?

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ERIC:

Since when did religion not cost people money? Religions collect and spend BILLIONS of dollars each year.
.

Answer 1

I have been into health and fitness all of my life. There are great supplements on the market and there are supplements that don't work. If someone introduces protein powder X on the market and makes a claim, one asks is this a non bias study (done by a university) or did the manufacturer perform the study?
Religion makes too many claims that don't hold up to reason. I cannot support a sumpreme being that is a genocidal misogynistic insecure homphobic megalomaniac. I compare people that worship God to a dysfunctional enabling person that overlooks an abusers transgressions and only sees good.

Answer 2

Yes, some skepticism is necessary. [a lot in that case]
And I can see how you'd want to be skeptical about which religion you follow and what they are preaching. There are many who preach falsities in the name of Christ. The Bible even says to test what is preached against the Bible to make sure it is the truth.

Answer 3

Yes!
Finally, an intelligent Q on Y/A!
If we don't have little of skepticism in this day in our lives....we can't survive! Unfortunately, we were not all created like each other....so, no one knows who to trust an what morals your neighbor has!
And religion I believe is not to be taken blindly.....I know I've now entered into a controversial territory! Religion is there to guide you...

Answer 4

Skeptcism is a requirement for what is false. But truth exists, also. If we were skeptical that the sun would rise tommorrow, our lives would be pretty sorry.
There are religious falsehoods, as well as religious truths. We should turn to God and honestly ask him to help us sort it out. He doesn't want us believing in any false concepts. But he does want us to believe the truth.

Answer 5

LOL. As if the CIA had any interest in people's welfare!

I'm skeptical as to the sanity of the people driving beside me on the roads!

Answer 6

I agree.

Why not turn the same skepticism to the claims of the dominant scientific paradigm?

EDIT:

And that gets thumbs down? Skepticism is a necessary ingredient in the scientific endeavor. Do you think scientists don't defend their paradigms to the death? For God's sake, educate yourself: start with Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions."

Answer 7

You are comparing apples to oranges.

The scam could cause a lose of money...nothing to really gain.

Religion/spirituality could cause a lose of time at most...but you could gain inner peace.


Skepticism is not needed for either...only detachement (pure impartiality)

You could just see what is there, investigate for yourself for a while, and then come to a conclusion through your own experience.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 8

Skepticism...a good quality....I have that quality...I never believe until I have found the proof myself...Skepticism should be the start of every decision we make in life...

Answer 9

I'm skeptical.

Answer 10

You make good points and I agree with both of your views.