Do you think scientists will soon explain why people are religious and believe in God?

Question

Scientists may soon explain why some people are religious and why there’s so much trouble caused in the world by religion. Scientists have already shown that some people carry a "warrior" gene that makes them more prone to violence and criminal acts.

Some people are genetically predisposed to violence and criminal acts, and I suspect scientists have also found that some people are genetically predisposed to spiritual acts, but have yet to publish their findings to avoid a public uproar.

Scientists will probably find that people who are predisposed to the “spiritual” gene are probably more likely to also be predisposed to the “warrior” gene, which would ultimately cause these people to have religious conflicts like crusades and wars. It is already a well known fact that religion is responsible for the majority of wars, conflict and murder of innocent life since humanity began.

There must be a rational explanation why religious people act in such an irrational manner.

Answer 1

I'm not sure about that violence part, but many psychologists explain the human convention of religion as a coping mechanism. It is just too hard to deal with all the things we don't know and what happens when we die, so our brains came up with an explanation - religion.

Answer 2

Well said....whatever may findings of scientists about the relation between spiritual and warrior genes, but I think the term "Religion" is the basic cause of all conflicts barring few in the history where the wars were fought for sheer supremacy. Ofcourse even in those days the conquerors knelt before so-called high saints for their blessings even after killing millions in war. The crusaders where different but their aim was not just to acquire more lands and treasures, but they had pulled out their swords for the sake of religion fanatism too. Its a debatable question really that why religious people act in such an irrational manner; and I wish to say that they are afraid of their position in the religion. Without the existence of religion they are nothing. Its hypocrisy really that religious people professed renunciation of worldly affairs, however, does not inhibit some of them from taking an interest in world politics. Do you think at Vatican they are just keeping themselves only in chanting pages of Bible? No....certainly not. The politician-religious's excuse is invariably that he is there to protect the interests of Religion.
The floods, epidemics, earthquakes, droughts and famines which visit number of unfortunate nations with tragic regularity are not allowed to disturb the tranquil atmosphere of the religious hermitage or ruffle the serenity of the holy men in their meditation. Whatever Scientists probably find, but it will be hard to find the rational explanation as, I believe, the impact of "Religion" is to remain forever.

Answer 3

I can see "warrior" gene being carried, because we are omnivores and before we were "civilized" beings, we were animals (as to my beliefs anyway). But a religious gene.. I'm not so sure about that.

I liked where you were going when you were comparing the two in your second paragraph because it helps prove your point about religion being predisposed but by guessing that if they are predisposed to one then they are automatically associated with the other sort of killed the 'spirit' (no pun intended) of your question.

I don't agree that all religious people act in an irrational manner. Maybe you are speaking of a certain kind of religion or cult. Even so, beliefs are still beliefs whether they are a religion or not. Take the KKK for example, they are not a religion but a group and are fairly violent, even if not physically then verbally towards certain groups.

I believe certain traits can be proven in people, but they are mostly physical such as your warrior comparison. As for religion.. It's more of a mental and individual perception. It cannot be carried onto another being unless that being WANTS to believe it and/or learns it.

Like when people say (quite meanly, I may add) that stupid people shouldn't breed.. It's a yes and no answer. Yes, because they could pass IDEAS onto their children that are fairly stupid and NO because their child has its OWN mind and own decision-making and (hopefully) functional brain.

That's just my opinion. Great question though!

Answer 4

The field of "sociobiology" was born decades ago and was pioneered mostly by the biologist/author/activist Edward O. Wilson. I believe that might be the field that has or will investigate what you're referring to - sadly, sociobiology has met much opposition by critics who continue to make a sort of naturalistic fallacy: sociobiology strives to genetically explain our behaviors, and critics tend to view these observations as suggestions of how we SHOULD behave. For example, a scientist might state that a single gene is inherently selfish (i.e., we are motivated by a natural desire to reproduce and pass on our own genes). A critic might read into this statement and claim that it suggests we SHOULD act selfishly. This is not, however, what the science is saying. In fact, in books such as The Selfish Gene, author Richard Dawkins specifically warns us that being "hard-wired" for selfishness is not ANY indication that we should, in fact, act unconditionally selfish. In much the same way, the efforts of sociobiology to assert such statements about why and how we act the way we do (primarily in regards to how we interact with one another and society) have been stifled by assumptions and misinterpretations about the way we SHOULD act.

For a more philosophical standpoint about why people have faith and why it can be so dangerous, check out Sam Harris' "The End of Faith."

Otherwise, I agree with you. If allowed, I think science will surely one day be able to pinpoint exactly why we believe the things we believe. Good question!

Answer 5

The matter has already been answered (possibly) by science. VERY recently, neuroscientists discovered a region of the brain that causes people to seek out a higher power.

Apparently, we are all born with the desire to seek God. It would be interesting to get an evolutionist's idea of why natural selection would provide such a tool if religion is useless and causes wars, as the are oft to say.

Answer 6

The answer is because it is simple human behavior. Genes have hardly anything to do with it. Humans are competetive creatures, and since we've lived back in the caves, violence has always been a way to resolve problems in life. When one idea from a simple caveman is expressed and his cave leader doesn't like it, the two of them fight. It's just like territory stuff. When one Tiger goes into another Tiger's territory, stuff happens. It's a natural instinct, not how the genes are formed or molded. Religion is just another form of this violent and irrational behavior that is our instinct.

Answer 7

properly interior the 1st place God has shown many instances that he's actual with the aid of therapeutic people who could in any different case die or people who stay to tell the story the worst injuries on earth and ask any docs who took care of those sufferers THEY CANT clarify IT! that's a miracle, it rather is God. Santa or the the tooth-fairy has yet to heal every person, So all that, that u copied/pasted or typed is fake and a scape-goat for you and your acquaintances to purpose and intimidate the christians, properly wager what it did not artwork. you have already published this question diverse instances, u did not get the reaction u needed so u re-published many times. If u don't have faith in God effective, yet don't get at right here and make it a factor to instruct your baseless factors that could ideally be distinctive if u have been exact counseled. pass with God, he will instruct u he's actual.

Answer 8

Are you referring to the scientists that said the world is fat, or the black people are inferior,or that bleeding a person gets the bad blood out, the scientist that didn't know there was any American continent.The ones that though you
were a criminal if you had lumps on your head.or the one that cut of a wounded leg to save the patient. Or the one that have not eliminated hunger or disease,have not solve global warming or cooling,the one that have not solve the energy problem. Are they the ones you are referring to.Let me make a scientific observation. You need to remove your cranium from you rectum.

Answer 9

Im religious and I do belive in God but the reason people are religious is because maybe the were born into it or simply have a heart. Scientists will go nowhere fast trying to prove or explain the power or the love of our saviour. People just have to relize life is easier with God in their life. Life is a test and in the end your score is heaven or hell, its as simple as that.

Answer 10

All beliefs have energy systems that act like birthing rooms for the manifestation of the belief. Within these energy systems are currents that direct your life experience. You are aware of these currents either consciously or subconsciously, and you allow them to carry you into the realm of experience that best exemplifies your true belief system.

Belief systems resonate with, and are the byproduct of, the dominant energy system of a sympathetic group, culture, and even species. Thus, energy systems are more fundamental than beliefs, and create experience that creates beliefs. Energy systems are wide ranging in their context, but as they relate to beliefs, they can be defined as primordial thought forms crystallized within the human DNA. Some would refer to these fundamental energy systems as instinctual knowledge.

Within each entity is the genetic compound of its ancestry, moving across innumerable generations and species, and, in the vastness of galactic time, this genetic compound accumulates energy systems that pertain to how one survives in the three-dimensional universe. Thus, survival is the dominant energy system of the human entity, which informs its genetic code and triggers its life experience and beliefs.

Survival is the focal point of conformity. When an entity believes so deeply in survival, it is near impossible to break from the conformity that survival requires. And so, the human species, rooted in an energy system of survival, has become a conformist to the dictates of its genetic predispositions and instincts, and its experience reflects this, conditioning its belief system to follow.