Just asking. Not a troll question, a legitimate question. Doing a yahoo search on "god gene" this is what came up,
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=god+gene&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
There are 7,940,000 websites that address that, a "god gene".and yesterday there were 7,910,000 - meaning in one day its gone up 30,000!
So, I ask again, is there a difference between Atheists and Theists at a genetic level?
And no, this is NOT a troll question.
2007-01-30 01:53:37 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
who the hell uses Yahoo search anyway :P
(probably they refreshed their index recently)
well, this will probably confuse religious dogmatists, but the god gene is not even a theory, it is a hypothesis, and a controversial one at that.
According to this hypothesis, the God gene (Vmat2), is not an encoding for the belief in God itself but a physiological arrangement that produces the sensations associated, by some, with the presence of God or other mystic experiences, or more specifically spirituality as a state of mind.
Until more information becomes available I will withhold opinion.
2007-01-30 02:04:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was going to say that I doubted it, but given that it's a bad name and actually refers to a potential genetic predisposition to being more open to the mystical/spiritual, I could see how it might be true. I suspect that as with all things it's not just a case of genes and/or environment.
2007-01-30 10:05:19 · answer #2 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, a gene that makes ppl gullible?
Sounds about right, Theists seem far more likely to believe b.s. than Atheists. My mom will believe anything.
I think being an Atheist is more from conditioning than genes though.
My dad and mom both believe in god.
My older brother and I are Atheists.
And my little bro & two little sisters still believe.
2007-01-30 10:01:47 · answer #3 · answered by lilith 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would not be surprise if there were certain genetic traits that made one more or less predisposed to faith. Is there a single god gene? Most likely not, genes do not work that way.
2007-01-30 10:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
belief in a God gene itself speaks of a belief in some sort of theism
so IMO there is no such thing a a genetic predisposition to atheism
2007-01-30 10:03:35 · answer #5 · answered by mike c 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that this God gene theory is rubbish,God wants to save all humanity and has given us all the same chance,it still comes down to our own free will choice.
Here is another reality,`You are not as bad as you think you are,but not as good as you could be`
2007-01-30 10:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so because some theists become atheists. I think it is more like alcoholism. In some cases there is a genetic predisposition but it doesn't define whether or not you will become a theist.
2007-01-30 09:59:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Im assuming the Theists have evolved inorder to get this gene, because its not likely to be found in animals
2007-01-30 10:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by TULSA 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God says that some are given an extra measure of faith, so it may be sorta true, but it is not JUST a thing with the brain. I know for a fact that God exists.
2007-01-30 10:02:48 · answer #9 · answered by The GMC 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I highly doubt it. I think 99% of theism comes from being taught it as a child in current times.
2007-01-30 10:01:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋