THE GOD GENE

[HERESY]

Awhile back I made a thread concerning the belief in "god", desire to worship, a "god gene" etc etc etc. It was a pretty nice discussion I might say. Yesterday I was at the local supermarket and I passed up the current issue of TIME magazine. Guess what the main story was? God genes and how certain people have genes linked to worship, etc etc etc. I didn't pick up the mag (i was in a hurry) but I'll look into it. Anyone else see this issue? If so what are your views, opinions or comments?

 

[n9newunsixx5150]

This topic was brought up on religiousforums.com and someone posted some article about some book related to the topic. In that article it was stated as if this gene was the "origin" of religious/mystical experience. Of course, such a presupposition is faulty. There may be a gene that makes belief in God more palatable, but to say that such a thing is where actual divine experiences originate is preposterous. It is merely materialists trying to root transcendental experiences in mundane things.

 

[HERESY]

I just read the article and to be honest what you just typed is what the article tried to convey. I want to see where 2-0-6 stands on this. 916 do you think its wrong for man to tinker with such things?

 

[miggidy]

Interesting. I wonder if I can find this article online some where.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Merciedez]

5150...you stupid.

 

[2-0-Sixx]

You must be talking about THIS TIME ARTICLE, which unfortunately only offers the first paragraph, however, I did find THIS which again isn't the entire article, but is much deeper.

The article basically explores a recently published book The God Gene: How Faith Is Hardwired into Our Genes by molecular biologist Dean Hamer. Hamer claims that human spirituality is an adaptive trait, and also says he has located one of the genes responsible, a gene that just happens to also code for production of the neurotransmitters that regulate our moods.

Our most profound feelings of spirituality, according to a literal reading of Hamer’s work, may be due to little more than an occasional shot of intoxicating brain chemicals governed by our dna. “I’m a believer that every thought we think and every feeling we feel is the result of activity in the brain,” Hamer says. “I think we follow the basic law of nature, which is that we’re a bunch of chemical reactions running around in a bag.”

Hamer also states, “My findings are agnostic on the existence of God,” he says. “If there’s a God, there’s a God. Just knowing what brain chemicals are involved in acknowledging that is not going to change the fact.”

Interesting article, no doubt. However, one question still is not answered. How do you explain people who were atheist and then later in life believe in god or vice versa?

 

[Ethereal]

I believe the traits of spirituality are handed down entirely through a psychological process from a persons guardian. During the most delicate stages of a childs life he inherits the same beliefs as those who raised him, usually by force. Once the child grows up, it is difficult for him to leave his comfort zone, that is, the beliefs he has been taught which satisfy his hunger for truth.

For the most part people follow whatever religion they are raised to believe. [I think it is 90% of those following a religion follow the same as their parents] People question existance almost automatically, without knowledge of religion or God. I do not believe in this God gene.

 

[XianeX]

I watched a medical show about a similar perspective. a VERY interesting point of view. but with that in mind it could possibly be looked at as a evolutionary trait or a retardation.

this is the first time i've heard of it as a GENE. the indian doctor that i was watching said that there is a place in the brain that causes "religious experiences" and the like.

I'ma take a look at the article. if it isn't educational it'll at least be entertaining.

"Science used to validate the existence of divinity"

 

[n9newunsixx5150]

I just read the article and to be honest what you just typed is what the article tried to convey. I want to see where 2-0-6 stands on this. 916 do you think its wrong for man to tinker with such things?

I think its a waste of time. These people aren't trying to know God. They are trying to place God and spirituality under the jurisdiction of their senses. The endeavor would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

5150...you stupid.

Wow, you put a lot of thought into that post.

 

[BaSICCally]

Click Here

kinda off topic but this site has some intresting conversations.

 

[n9newunsixx5150]

this is the first time i've heard of it as a GENE. the indian doctor that i was watching said that there is a place in the brain that causes "religious experiences" and the like.

That is his (the indian doctor's) foolishness. He hasn't the power to determine that this place in the brain is the cause of "religious experience". It may be that this place in the brain allows for those experiences, but to jump out and say it is what causes them is a statement that cannot be backed up.

"Science used to validate the existence of divinity"

Real divinity is transcendental. That means that science, by use of the five senses, cannot validate any such thing. They only perceive symptoms of that divinity, just as we perceive the symptom of the soul as consciousness; though we cannot see the soul itself. It is in this same line of poor reasoning that people try to say that the soul has it's origin in some chemical arrangement.

 

[HERESY]

We have some interesting points here. I agree with 916 on this one but I also pose the same question as 206 when he mentions an athiest who converts (and vice versa).


@Nitro what you said (about it being passed down as a trait) was hinted on in the article. Did you read the article?