Is there a genetic predisposition toward being a theist?

Question

How is it possible for a non-religious person to be born into an overtly religious family?

Answer 1

There does seem to be some evidence that there are some gene combinations that do contribute to a predisposition to theism.

However, you're asking a nature/nurture question, and when it comes to genetics and psychology, rarely is it ever 100% nature or 100% nurture.

Usually the balance is closer to 80% to 90% nature and 10% to 20% nurture.


Someone who did not have these genes or predisposition would still be religious if raised religious, but would be much more apt to abandon them later in life if exposed to information that suggested doing so, whereas someone with this predisposition, raised in an atheistic household, might later adopt the trappings and beliefs of a religion which they've been exposed to.

Answer 2

Yes, there was a study that showed that people who tend to follow a religion tend to have specific genes. Please look for the article if you want. It was in "Time" magazine.

However, this alone doesn't prove nor disprove the existence of God.

If you think about it though, people who believed in God may have had a better advantage of survival. No one knows if this is due to God himself saving those people, or other physiological and psychological factors. If this is the case, it would help explain why the vast majority if the population does have some religious inclination.

Sometimes it's a psychological issue. People often (but not always) say they don't believe in God to rebel against their parents, society, etc, or to make a statement.

One thing that gets me: If the Bible says God knows what we will do before we do it, and that he designed us, then does that mean that those without the "God gene" are predestined to be atheists and honestly can't help it? If they are going to hell, I have to admit this does appear somewhat mean. I am not sure how much "free-will" factors in here.

On the other hand, in science we know that nothing can be proven 100%. It may be coincidence that religious people tend to have this gene set and this study may mean nothing.

J.P. did a very good job on pointing out the nature/nurture debate. Genes are only a part of the picture. I do believe a large part, though.

Answer 3

I suppose there may be a genetic predisposition. A person who is left brain dominant would be more likely to look at things in a logical way. Supernatural questions are irrelevant to them because there is no way to prove it with science.

It is possible for a non-religious person to be born into an overtly religious family because of free will. We make our own choices.

Answer 4

No. Genetics don't have anything to do with religion. Environment does.
But, to answer your question: A person who is genetically disposed to being more intelligent and a deeper thinker could be born into a religious family, only to later reject the family's religion in search of other "truths."
Everyone in my family was Christian, ranging from Lutherans to Jehovah's Witnesses. I developed a higher plane of thinking and started searching at the age of 13. I have gone through many religions, only to find happiness in Paganism.

Answer 5

Any evidence that supports this is probably still questionable. I think the environment affects a person more. Education and science are increasingly changing the way people think. If you go to a very secluded area of the world, you can still possibly convert all the natives into believing one religion. What's your chance of success in the Big Apple?

Answer 6

Good question. I've heard of this book called 'The God Gene' I've been thinking about reading. It supposedly talks about the psychology of why people believe there's a God, or many. Some sort of spiritual otherworld. The Celts, Egyptians, Aztecs, Greeks, etc, etc had their own versions of more powerful spiritual beings. I think it says we're 'hard-wired' to believe but I've run into a precious few who've never had any kind of belief and it's foreign to them.

Answer 7

An individuals beliefs are not genetic. They come from a combination of his parental teaching, his social environment,
his formal education, his peers, and his personal experiences.

Any parent who has more than one child can tell you that each child is a totally different individual, almost from the time they are born in relation to his/her sibling.

Answer 8

no longer all theists are Christians. i'm a theist and that i'm no longer a Christian. although, i'm additionally from an top classification ecu family contributors so we don't use bathroom paper. We use a bidet. Now pass wash your butt and in case you prefer to apply an angel, mushy or no longer, to realize this, i do no longer care one bit. i'm fairly advantageous if the angel did, it may desire to provide up you, precise?

Answer 9

Is possible also that a very religious person can be born in a very demoniac and atheist family.

Answer 10

It's very possible.