Does anyone else think the God Gene idea is a very stupid idea and actually kinda disgusting,
That is, I am an atheist, but not because of some gene that I have or don't have, and people are theists, not because of some gene that they have or don't have.
2007-01-30 02:05:39 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not sure. I thought this was linked to the Meme? Which suggests we all have a part of our brain that regulates "faith" in a sense. Much the same way it regulates the chemicals in your brain for all of the other functions and emotions. I personally don't think it's a gene, but this sounds very similar to the research they did on the Meme, as well as the research they are now doing on prayer. So far they have shown that prayer, of ANY kind (including meditation by buddhist monks, spells by pagans/witches, etc) all cause a certain area of the brain to release certain chemicals which give the person praying (or whatever) a sense of peace and good will. (this is NOT to say that one person praying for another works... they have been showing for the past yr that it doesn't work in the sense mainstream religions present it)
2007-01-30 03:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think 'god gene' is possibly the worst name they could have chosen but of course it looks good in the media.
I don't think whoever hypothesised the gene's working did ever intend to say 'this is an on/off gene that either makes you a believer or not'.
So in proper context and without loaded words, I can imagine such a thing and not be disgusted, nor do I think it is necessarily pseudo-science.
2007-01-30 02:29:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know about a God gene, but here are two interesting links for a God Spot in the brain. One from the atheist empire the other from a science correspondent. An answer to one of my questions posed God DNA in our genes, interesting thought.
http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/images/new_page_2.htm
http://atheistempire.com/reference/brain/main.html
Peace and Love
2007-01-30 02:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by digilook 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I have to say that I've personally seen genetics affect personality.. my oldest son's father was never a part of his life. He is 20 years old and uses the same gestures, idioms and thought processes as his father.. it's uncanny, really.
I don't know that genetic structure includes or precludes a god-gene. I think it's way too early in that science for them to really know if that's true. I hope it isn't. I'd like to think my beliefs are based on my education, research and choices.
2007-01-30 02:15:56 · answer #4 · answered by Kallan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there necessarily is a god gene per se, but given the evolutionary value of having a few tribal leaders and many more tribal followers, there is likely some genetic basis behind the tendency of so many to blindly follow the mob.
2007-01-30 02:14:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, if the theory is proven, it only deals with the likely hood that you will have an interest in the "spiritual". This would be similiar to having genes that help with you being a mathematician, you still have the choice to develop that or not.
2007-01-30 02:12:24 · answer #6 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Considering the strongly demonstrated correlation between brain structure and the particulars of that gene, plus the strongly demonstrated correlation between that gene and religious or spiritual beliefs, why would it be insulting?
Unless you're still trying to defend free will somehow even though it's entirely illusionary. What's one more aspect to predeterminism?
2007-01-30 02:09:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientists have a very primitive understanding of genes. Genes are something that evolve and pick up information from the lives of parents to pass on to their children. Your parent is scared by a horse you become scared of a horse. Your parent picks up a bad habit, so to will you. So these so called genes are just a marker that has evolved from some life experience.
2007-01-30 02:12:45 · answer #8 · answered by ByeBuyamericanPi 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All of my life I have noticed that people are either spiritual and bent towards understanding such things or they aren't. It seemed that there was no gray area at all. So, in a way, it would explain that situation completely. I am intrigued enough to see what the scientists find out about it.
2007-01-30 02:11:33 · answer #9 · answered by expertloghomegal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they called it a god-gene as opposed to a dependency gene because it is pc.
2007-01-30 02:10:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋