What if Atheism was genetic?

Question

This is a WHAT IF question, so don't bash me for asking it.

In my history class, we had an interesting discussion the other day. How the subject was brought up is not important, but my history teacher was explaining that there have been recent studies that have shown Atheism and Theism use different parts of the brain.

This made me think, WHAT IF Atheism was genetic? What if some people have a genetic predisposition to believing in a higher power or rejecting it because of different brain structures? How would that affect religion if it could be proved?

Also, in the subject of conversion, assume for the sake of the question that people who convert have a heterogenous allele--that is, they are not predisposed one way or the other because they have an intermediate gene--that is, they're genetically "in between." (A simple example is flowers that can be red, white, or pink--the pink is the "in between.")

I'd love to hear you're opinions. =)

Remember: WHAT IF

Identical twins with different beliefs? Let's call them the genetic "in betweens." This would mean that personal experience is stronger than genetic predisposition because there IS no predisposition.

A lot of people are missing the point--it's a WHAT IF question, meaning, pretend it's true. Gosh. Answer the question asif it WAS true (which is may be, who knows?).

As for recessive/dominant, what I'm refering to is co-dominance. (I pay attention in science class.) The pink flower is co-dominant. If Atheism is rarer than Theism (which, it's been shown, is beginning to become more common), then there is no recessive/dominant. There's just a more common allele, and a rarer one. Sickle Cell Anemia is co-dominant, but the gene for it is rare. People with one Sickle-Cell gene and one normal gene have both cells in equal proportions.

Answer 1

O.K., you win. I will start with going along with what if it were genetic...

...If it were genetic to determine religion and atheism... Then, we would not be responsible for our own future survival.

The out come would be devastating. It would mean that the majority of people who believe that everything was created for us to consume, would cause our own demise without any thought that planet earth is our responsibility to take care of.

We are highly social beings. Our societal beliefs are man made in order to create structure and rules to survive.

Religion predates democracy in order to create rules and describe what science couldn't at the time. Thus, we became dependent on a monarchy.

A democracy is what we are supposed to model to the world, but people who wanted a Christian nation were swindled by their leaders and now we are in an economic dilemma.

Now, allow me to finish this answer with why I cannot go along with it being genetic any longer.

Its like asking what if poverty and wealth are genetic, when in reality... Its education.

The more educated the person, the more likely they will become problem solvers.

Why? Because we create the software that runs the brain, not the other way around!

Right brained thinkers and left brained thinkers can be atheists or religious.

To understand how someone is living at the moment, all you have to do is look at their track record that created their belief in the first place.

Beliefs like, "I'm African American, so no one will promote me in the work place as fast as a Caucasian."

Its genetic to be a particular race, but its not genetic to believe that one race is inferior to another. That's a man made belief for economic self interests.

Your question is really about psychology. Its environment, social morays, and cultural norms that allow one to choose what they believe in. Some society's don't allow you to choose or you will be executed.

A practice means you continue mental and physical rituals throughout your daily life to reinforce your beliefs. Doctors and lawyers run a practice. This utilizes more of the left side of the brain, which is reading spread sheets, logic, and mathematics.

Religious practices tend to use more of the right side of the brain than the left. The right side is spacial, artistic, creative, and emotional.

Doesn't it make sense that rituals have become a practice to teach your brain "how" to think? - In affect, we created religion.

All atheism is, is someone grasping what the Universe really is rather than holding onto delusional beliefs no matter how comforting and reassuring it feels emotionally.

So, no matter which compartment of the brain you are using, your beliefs are based upon how you teach yourself to think, and the best survivors who adapt the quickest in life... Are aware of this truth.

Instead of reacting to what is thrown at them, they analyze what is handed to them and choose to change their reality by removing the obstacles to make way for their accomplishments.

The ones who pray and are aware that it is just a precursor to taking an action, are wise.

Those who pray and think that God's going take care of it for them, are not taking responsibility.

Because, if the out - come is not what they were wanting, then they chalk it up to what the lord wanted and submissively accept it because they are going to heaven anyway.

For example, if someone has cancer and they pray but don't take action for a second opinion that could have saved that person's life... Then, it would be devastating that it would be genetic to be apethetic.

Answer 2

No. Atheism is the rejection of the existence of any form of a god. It is an opinion, a decision, a conclusion someone reaches based upon life experiences. It would still be wrong, but more accurate to say that people are born Agnostic. People aren't born with the knowledge of the two extremes (Atheism and Theism). They are born with a mind full of questions that they don't know the answer for. For most people, the proposed answers they gravitate towards lean them into one extreme or the other (mostly the Theism side, as it's more structured and sounds better than Atheism). But for some, they choose not to believe in that which cannot be proven. It's still a choice. but it's closer to the state that we're born into than the two extremes.

Answer 3

I don't think it's really a what if question. I think that people really are genetically predisposed to being atheists. I think it comes down to genetics and environment.
Since personality is shaped by both factors, I'm sure that beliefs, being a big part of what makes you you, are also shaped by the same two factors.
I don't believe that there can be a 'genetically inbetween' alelle, though. That would mean that both the dominant and recessive genes are there, and neither is backing down. People who are converted are very subseptible to anecdotal evidence, so that must be its own gene, rather than that single gene controlling everything.

Answer 4

I think you're on to something.

In my opinion, I think we're drawn to certain religions at least in part because of our personalities. If we're more social and enjoy being part of a group, we're more likely to choose a belief system like Christianity -- one where the individual is not important but is instead just part of the body of Christ. If we're a loner, we'd probably be more attracted to Buddhism, Paganism, Wicca ... something we can practice alone or with a select group of people.

That being said, our personalities are due at least in part to our genetic structure ... even though a large portion is related to our experience as well. So does this mean that our inclination towards religion could be SOMEWHAT genetically programmed? Maybe ...

Answer 5

There may be a genetic component to skepticism which might make some people more likely to believe things "on faith" than other people which may have something to do with it but so far I don't think we've found such a gene (if we find it we might do well to try to express such a gene more often, it would code for a lot more than just atheism).

Answer 6

How do you explain identical twins with different beliefs? It's not common, but I'm sure someone could approve their existence.

Other than that, it's hard to believe that atheism is genetics, because "genetic atheism" doesn't explain what's beneficial about atheism, or what role does being an atheist do with natural selection. Well, animals seems atheist/agnostics to me, so they might have passed that "gene" to humans.

But I've noticed that theism seemed capable of adapting to society.

Answer 7

If Atheism was genetic and Religiousness was genetic, then perhaps this would discredit religion.

Wait, it has been scientifically proven that there is a "God" area in the brain involved with religious activities and visions. Therefore we are all hard wired for fanatism and wishful thinking.

I bet man did invent religion after all out of this genetic need.

Answer 8

It's not genetic.... or maybe I just have genetic glitch?!? My whole family expect my uncle and I are religious. Sit in enough science classes and you'll know it's fake. Or if there is such a higher power my family would of not suffered from a very serious and tragic time.

Answer 9

I doubt there is a specific allele for atheism, but it is possible that people may be born with a predisposition towards believing in a higher power. I personally don't believe that, but I am open to the possibility. I believe that people decide in their own time what to believe in.

Answer 10

well, i guess that you're saying that the 'allele' for atheism is recessive. Though this is a very far-fetched idea, in this "what if" context i guess that could be true. My mother's side of the family is all Christian, and my father's side of the family is all Buddhist, and i'm an atheist. So, it could be a recessive 'gene' theoretically.

But, it's a very far-fetched idea as i have said before, so i doubt that it's actually true.