Be Your Own Lamp

Here is the abbreviated version of the Kalama Sutta (ကာလာမသုတၱန္). In this teaching the Buddha expounds on these questions and then some. I know many of you are not familar with Buddhism, so it is an example of Buddhist teachings and how the Buddha taught.
Kalama Sutta (ကာလာမသုတၱန္)
"Do not accept anything on (mere) hearsay (i.e., thinking that thus have we heard it from a long time).
Do not accept anything by mere tradition. (i.e., thinking that it has thus been handed down through many generations).
Do not accept anything on account of mere rumors (i.e., by believing what others say without my investigation).
Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures.
Do not accept anything by mere supposition.
Do not accept anything by mere inherence.
Do not accept anything by merely considering the reasons.
Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions.
Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable (i.e., thinking that as the speaker seems to be a good person his words should be accepted).
Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (therefore it is right to accept his word).
"But when you know for yourselves -- these things are immoral, these things are blameworthy, these things are censured by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken conduce to min and sorrow -- then indeed do you reject them.
"When you know for yourselves -- these things are moral, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to well-being and happiness -- then do you live acting accordingly."
Ref: http://foolmoon.com/printthread.php?Board=UBB28&main=38991&type=post