Atheists: If evolution was true, are you genetically born to believe in god or not believe in god?

Question

Would you say that it is predetermined before birth to be an atheist through your genetic make up? Would that be considered an evidence of evolving into more logical conclusion?

So, if the belief in god is not genetic, are you saying it is by conscious choice? And that conscious choice was nothing to do with your genetic make up but your cultural and environmental conditioning? If that is the case, are 97.5% of the world made the wrong choice of believing or conceiving the idea of god or god's existance? In a logical conclusion, either atheist got it all wrong or theory of evolution proves the existance of god.

Answer 1

I do believe that we have genetic predispositions that make us more or less likely to believe in gods and the supernatural.

However, those predispositions are not directly predispositions to believe in those things ("the God gene", or anything like that). Instead, they're things like

- a predisposition to feel discomfort at not having answers (which makes believers more likely to accept easy answers regardless of whether or not they're true)
- a predisposition to attribute natural phenomena to intentional causes (this one we see in prey animals all the time, for reasons that have obvious evolutionary benefits)
- a predisposition to affiliate (again, stronger in believers, and having obvious evolutionary benefits)
- of course the whole gamut of genetic differences in intelligence and ability.

Cassandra (above) writes:

"When you are born, you are a clean slate. We are NOT predetermined to do ANYTHING."

There was a long time when I believed this as well, it's what I was taught as an undergraduate in the 70s and 80s, and I understand why people still believe it, but in fact it's false. Probably the biggest change over my lifetime in psychology has been the confirmation that we are NOT a blank slate at birth with respect to important psychological variables.

The most valuable tool for revealing this to us has not been genetic testing or even the Minnesota twin studies, but rather the habituation paradigm, which has enabled us to get a much clearer picture of young infants' abilities. The results have been absolutely revolutionary.

That being said, Bouchard's twin studies have revealed a significant genetic predisposition to religiosity (or away from it, of course). How religious you are is influenced quite a bit by your genes. Of course that doesn't determine which religion you adopt - you get that from your parents, peers, and culture.

Answer 2

What is "programmed in our heads"is to wonder "why?"Man is a very curious species,always exploring,always wondering why things happen.In the beginning,when man first atttained the first bit of intelligence,of self awareness,he still did not have "knowledge".The simplest answer to the "whys" would have of course been "goddidit".Science is built on prior science.Kind of like the "caveman" commercial..."Sorry,we were busy inventing the wheel,taming fire,starting agricultur,sorry we didn't get to you sooner"So they really had no scientific "tools"built up in order to come up with ANY other explanation Than "god".How the hell were they to answer back then.?"A singularity exploded...?"Of course not,but anyone who has ever dealt with a four year old cannot deny than man,to this day,still has a NEED to know "why",and,until KNOWLEDGE is attained,"goddidit"would be the default answer that man has a "need"for

So,I would say YES.Man is genetically born to believe in "god" as that was the prevailing ,and only,answer fathonable at first.It is only when you become aware first,of the FOUNDATIONS of science,upon which modern science is built("If I have seen farther,it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants")and only VERY recently in human history,did we develop the "tools" and understanding to show that those "god" explanations were not,in fact,the reason "why"

The biggest shame is those that choose to deny knowledge,which is built layer upon layer,over thousands of years,as if those who had only achieved the technological level of community wells and clay pottery..No telescope,microscope,
electricity,cameras,indoor plumbing,commuting by animal power,no idea the Earth revolved around the Sun,not even basic medical care,etc... that THOSE people knew MORE about the nature of the universe than man does today.That sir,is ludicrous

Answer 3

Good question. I think that it is human nature to believe in a god! It is a natural side effect of the way we are. We create large societies (and are thus used to an authority that is greater than ourselves), we have fertile imaginations (in order to help us overcome our problems in advance of actually having the problem), and we have great communication skills. It stands to reason that eventually someone would invent a god and pass the belief on.

So I think that we are all predetermined to believe in a god, rather than be atheists. Of course we were all genetically predetermined to walk on all fours once, but it took an effort to overcome this and there are still problems associated with walking on two legs that don't bother the other mammals (who walk on four). In the same way, it has taken an effort to overcome belief in gods. And likewise, atheism has brought its problems. But you can't have progress without problems, and, like walking on 2 legs, the pros far outweigh the cons.

I realise this answer will probably piss a lot of people off, including you, who's obviously a believer and doesn't think evolution happened. But this it the way I see it and I do not apologize for it.

Answer 4

There is some evidence that a tendency to religious faith is genetically determined. There are certainly areas of the brain that seem to be concerned with religious feelings and experience.
But of course this has nothing to do with the question of such beliefs being true or false.

Answer 5

I don't see how this is connected to evolution, really. However, I doubt that anything about our personality or mental state is 100% genetic (just as I doubt it's 100% environmentally influenced). All evidence points to a balance between nature and nurture.

Answer 6

Religiosity or lack thereof is not determined 100% by genetics.

There might be inborn traits (similar to temperament) that make people more or less likely to believe in God(s). But our environment, upbringing and conscious thought processes all play a role.

Answer 7

The prevalence of religion, in and of itself, does not constitute an argument in favor of the truth of any belief in any supernatural entity or phenomenon.

It does suggest, however, that belief has been useful to us -- as useful in its own way as the opposable thumb.

And again, the fact that it may have been useful is also not enough to make it true, and certainly not enough to make a virtue of the capacity for belief not founded on evidence.

Answer 8

Genetics is not a computer programme. No-one is fixed at birth to do much more than breathe, pump blood, and suckle.

Belief in authority may confer a survival advantage to a species, especially a highly intelligent one. But we have outgrown this fantasy and should see it for what it is.

Answer 9

You are born learning. You learn what you are taught. God is taught. Religion is taught. Fear in this arena is taught.

Edit:
Way to misinterpret data!

Let's try this. In some Hispanic cultures, it is acceptable for a 14 year old to marry a 35 year old. That is not acceptable in the US. In some countries, it is perfectly acceptable for some women to be topless. Not so in the US. These are things that we are taught. They are cultural.

Answer 10

When you are born, you are a clean slate. We are NOT predetermined to do ANYTHING.

We ARE ingrained with a racial memory, and that is in our DNA. But it does not lean toward atheism, OR christianity.
There are people all over the world who have never even heard of chrisitanity, and they do just fine. They believe what their parents have taight them.