While I agree with much of what you wrote, I have to point out that it is impossible to "examine and verify" anywhere near enough of the science that is relevan

While I agree with much of what you wrote, I have to point out that it is impossible to "examine and verify" anywhere near enough of the science that is relevant to our daily lives. That's both a physical impossibility due to resource constraints and a mental impossibility due to lack of domain knowledge required to correctly interpret the data. We have to choose which "shortcuts" to accept. One way or another we end up trusting in something greater than ourselves -- the nebulous scientific community, political analysts, priests, neighbors, etc -- to inform us. Unless you disbelieve basically everything in life you put your faith in somebody or something. Not necessarily 100% belief but some level of certainty is necessary and that doesn't make it less a faith-based decision, for example even priests have a tendency to doubt the existence of God.