I mean, is it possible that the refusal to consider many points of view in establishing an opinion is not a choice for some people?
2007-12-17 03:22:12 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You mean whether bloodymindedness is hereditary?
Sure is.
Runs in my family, and I'm a perfect example.
;-)
2007-12-17 05:59:18 · answer #1 · answered by Tahini Classic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't lay that at the door of genetics so much as I would one's upbringing and environment. Generally speaking, life provides us ample opportunity to question our assumptions. When we are faced with setbacks and problems, we, if we are wise, examine our presuppositions and reconsider our viewpoints. If someone is incapable of registering this, I would imagine that they would have limited capabilities mentally---this relates to examples of life's physical setbacks, though.
In the purely spiritual realm, all of this is tossed out the window. Things spiritual, being ephemeral and tenuous, do not provide such concrete evidence to challenge one's assumptions---either that, or one may be inclined to find excuse for maintaining one's assumptions. I remember well the admonishment from my church days, "let the secret things belong to God." Of course, the "secret things" coincided quite nicely with those things that the church could not answer, contradictions they would not address.
Genetic inclination? I do not think so, not beyond one's inborn intellectual capacities. Of course, my point of view is just that, and may one day be proven wrong.
2007-12-17 04:25:17 · answer #2 · answered by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if it is genetic.
People are all different, but some enjoy arguing and enjoy stating positions allot more than others, so in a way, I guess genetics are involved.
In reality, I think it has more to do with indoctrination than genetics.
I believe that Spaghetti is the best comfort food. Whenever I eat it, it feels right to me and reminds me of home. Religion works in the same way. Christianity, 'feels right' to people because that is what they grew up with, same with Islam, Jewdaism etc...
2007-12-17 03:29:50 · answer #3 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps but I would think that has more to do with environment than genetics. If you grow up in an environment where no one is allowed to have an opposing point of view then you will generally carry that into your own life and beyond.
2007-12-17 03:27:24 · answer #4 · answered by genaddt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure there is some genetic component involved in how intelligent or courageous a person is, and it does take a certain modicum of courage to step away from something you have been brainwashed into thinking all your life and just say, what the fu ck, that makes NO SENSE!!!!!
so, let us pity those who are unable, through no fault of their own, to break free of the preposterousness.
2007-12-17 14:28:45 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intellectual rigor, and avoidance of conceptual contradictions, are clearly not traits evolved into the human brain. There is a strong tendency to believe what we have been told as children, and a tendency toward conservatism in one's personal life. These clearly have some survival advantages, especially in circumstances where knowledge is incomplete.
2007-12-17 03:29:56 · answer #6 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's possible - Genetics has travelled leaps and bounds in the past few decades, and we're starting to understand just how complex our genetic codes really are.
It would be quite funny if there was a way to treat stupidity, though - after all, i have heard from time to time of stupidity being contagious.
:D
2007-12-17 03:26:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes,I see some people is like that.
My daughter in law is definitely one of them.
Imagine how hard you have to live with such a person, and as you say genetically, she and her mother and her grand mother, they all belief that their husband and mother in law are gonna dumped them;..... mind you they deserved what they belief.
It's not easy for the other party, at least not easy for me and my son, but ..........it's better to get rid off.
Rotten apple rotts the others.
2007-12-17 11:49:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's more institutionally conditioned than genetically predisposed. However I suppose a certain amount of genetically influenced close-mindedness must be present.
2007-12-17 03:30:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Why not?
If the ancestors of modern day Christians spent all their time considering existential philosophy or wondering why the dark itself seemed to scare them as it if were its own entity, they would have been eaten by lions before they came to any conclusions. :)
Maybe that's why we can be so mentally advanced and yet so seemingly ignorant (when we want to be).
2007-12-17 03:33:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋