Such a good quote. People, even very educated people, seem to almost always misunderstand how science works. Gravity existed long before "science" came along with its hypothesis. Same thing with all other phenomena. Even IMA people often do not understand or have an open mind about various things and immediately want a metaphor or "scientific" explanation that doesn't actually exist. They draw the wrong conclusion that if the explanation/hypothesis doesn't exist, the phenomenon doesn't exist.
I consider myself to be an open minded skeptic. Every view i hold is open to change, and not only when a study is released. In fact i wrote an article on the why 'Studies' should not be the only metric we use to validate a method.
However, I think this quote is maybe selling the skeptical viewpoint short. The above is obviously a ludicrous position.
Very few skeptically minded think that something is NOT a reality until a therory for its mechanism is established or proven through the scientific process. Most simply air on the side of the most likely explination until more information becomes available.
Quite common on the other side however, is for peoples minds to be so 'open' that their brains fall out. There is a tendancy in the non skeptically minded to think that if something isnt 'proven' then ALL competing Hypothesis hold the same value, cause ... who really knows right? That is a completely false idea. There is usually a weight of evidence pointing towards one idea being more likely than another.
Many of those with 'Open Minds' are highly contradictory in the evidence they require to believe something ... if it sounds right to them they dont even bother checking the sources or the information any further. Similarly, If evidence does not confirm their bias they will reject the evidence. This tendancy can be seen in the conspiracy community, the healing community, the nutrition community ... all over the place. As someone in nutrition i see it constantly in that community, be it about non celiac gluten sensetivity, veganism, milk, or whatever the latest thing is, people will watch a completely incorrect clip on social media and parrot it ad nausium when the information is either completely false or extremely out of date.
For instance who, that watches The Healer has looked into the production staff? The writers? The patients? The Healer himself? Who has researched the track record of the production company in providing accurate documentary footage? These are 'First steps' in my opinion when claims of such skills are presented.
There is a huge volume of evidence that TV deceives people and does not present reality as it is. There is VERY limited evidence that such shows are honest representations. So to be skeptical should really be everyones default position, even those with an open mind.
Just my thoughts.
Chris.