General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why do we so eagerly take to woo? [View all]no one is forcing you to believe anything. Do you propose we outlaw beliefs now? Actually, you have it wrong about acupuncture - read up on it as there are studies proving its efficacy for pain relief.
I guess great scientists came up with the idea to prescribe two drugs for people with Type II diabetes. One is a tumor promoter and the other is a tumor suppressor. The "belief" or rather hope is that one will cancel out the other - not that the hope has been tested.
Some more great scientists came up with another diabetes drug that has been shown to cause pancreatic cancer in animal studies. The decision to keep marketing this drug is now in the hands of the politicians and their handlers - and they are great scientists too..
Your examples are silly. Maybe one of the most dangerous beliefs is that the FDA is there to protect public health.