I think a lack of skepticism/cynicism would be the main cause, which is probably correlated with religion but can certainly be lacking in non-religious people t

I think a lack of skepticism/cynicism would be the main cause, which is probably correlated with religion but can certainly be lacking in non-religious people too. A common phrase around our non-religious household was "why do you have to be so cynical all the time?". This cynicism has protected me from such rubbish as homeopathy, natropathy, magnetic bracelets and other things those family members have wasted time and money on over the years.