Young children instinctively trust and believe what their parents say; it is a trait associated with improved survival. But once childhood myths explode, their level of trust begins to unravel. Of course, this process accelerates during the teenage years when young people begin to think for themselves and more readily question the wisdom of their parents; under circumstances in which parents are excessively strict or controlling, there is often a reactionary element to this distrust as well.
Children raised in a milieu of mysticism (religious schooling, etc.) are initially sheltered from inconvenient truths but they must eventually function in our complex, science-based society. Then again, guilt is a powerful human emotion and even many scientists retain religious convictions (however tenuous they may be).
While doubt is a threat to mysticism it is also an important control on the scientific method. As we seek truth, we must continuously question the reliability of current scientific data and conclusions; if not, our knowledge is incomplete and potentially misleading. Doubt is an essential tool in our journey toward truth.
