Posted on 12/13/2004 10:00:21 AM PST by Matchett-PI
TALKING: Author and behavioral geneticist Dean Hamer talks at his home in Washington. (Washington Post photo by Juana Arias)
Are humans programmed to worship? Author says people have genetic propensity toward religious belief
By Bill Broadway The Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Dean Hamer has received much criticism for his new book, "The God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired Into Our Genes."
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at hollandsentinel.com ...
See #40.
Actually, I haven't missed the point, but merely partially agreed with the article. And I don't intend to drag you into anything. Of course the Left has an agenda! It's had one ever since Marx published his "Communist Manifesto." I am inalterably opposed to the Left and its agenda. However, I am also capable of acknowledging the obvious regarding the role that genetics (nature) and those to whom we're born (nurture) play in shaping our lives.
Here is a good explanation of our spiritual selves, And why God created us the way he did. It's too long to post here, and chopping it up doesn't do it justice.
http://www.goodnewschristianministry.org/clockchapter2.htm
Everything we do, we do by choice.
Thanks. I'll definitely read it.
I studied anthropology in college, and one of the things I learned was that certain human social structures always reappear. They can't be eliminated from society. One of those structures is religion. Today it is said we live in a secular society in which many people---the best people, the most enlightened people---do not believe in any religion. But I think that you cannot eliminate religion from the psyche of mankind. If you suppress it in one form, it merely re-emerges in another form. You can not believe in God, but you still have to believe in something that gives meaning to your life, and shapes your sense of the world. Such a belief is religious.ML/NJToday, one of the most powerful religions in the Western World is environmentalism. Environmentalism seems to be the religion of choice for urban atheists. Why do I say it's a religion? Well, just look at the beliefs. If you look carefully, you see that environmentalism is in fact a perfect 21st century remapping of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and myths.
There's an initial Eden, a paradise, a state of grace and unity with nature, there's a fall from grace into a state of pollution as a result of eating from the tree of knowledge, and as a result of our actions there is a judgment day coming for us all. We are all energy sinners, doomed to die, unless we seek salvation, which is now called sustainability. Sustainability is salvation in the church of the environment. Just as organic food is its communion, that pesticide-free wafer that the right people with the right beliefs, imbibe.
the muslim "god" isn't the same as the Jewish-Christian God. Our press, dumb as ever, keeps making the mistake of thinking it is.
The Mulim god, who's NAME is "Allah" (no, Allah does not mean god in Arabic, ilhah does) is the complete opposite of the one true God, in fact it's His arch enemy. Muslims are tricked into believing that their Allah is the true God. If you read how islam began, you'd have no doubt as to who it really is. Here is a good read:
http://www.prophetofdoom.net/toc.html
Good point.
The left seems to fear people taking actions "in God's name. What I fear about the left is that they are basically saying there ARE no rules, other than what they think up and agree on.
Scary.
The existence of genetic religiousity would explain a lot, and absolve me of a lot of responsibility. I didn't choose this Christian lifestyle after all. Who would choose this way of life, with the rejection and ridicule that goes with it? Why, in some countries were hunted and killed...
I'll tell ya whut, it breathes new meaning into my tagline!!!!!
With respect, Blackie, that simply isn't true. Examples abound, but let me give you just a few:
Example 1: The child born with a severe congenital or genetic defect -- say, cerebral palsy -- is born into a highly limited life. By being born with such a condition, a kid is predestined to a childhood centered on doctors, hospitals, suffering and an inability to do what healthy children do.
Example 2: A woman born into one of the repressive fundamentalist Muslim religions has few choices open to her. She may or may not receive an education. She may be forced to undergo clitoral amputation. She may be forced to wear a burkha in public, and so on.
Example 3: Even in comparatively free societies like our own, our choices are limited by government edict. A sizeable percentage of our income is taken off the top in income and payroll taxes. We must register our cars and carry drivers licenses. We must obtain permits and comply with building codes and ordinances when remodeling our homes. If we cannot afford to home school or send our kids to private schools, we must accept the public school curriculum. We must work to earn an income. And so on.
Simple common sense and reason tells us the obvious -- that to a considerable degree, our lives are shaped before we're born.
Before folks misunderstand, I am not trying to distrupt this thread. Instead, I'm commenting on the point of the article, which is that there may be a "God gene." I don't know if there is nor not, but our genes (and the familities into which we're born) do shape a large part of who we are and the range of choices we'll have in life.
Hmmm. How about this:
Although people can change or abandon that religious affiliation sexual orientation, they cannot rid themselves of the genetic propensity to be spiritual sexual.
Oh, wait, that's not PC to admit that the expression of underlying propensities can be (gasp) changed.
Get a grip Wolf ~ what have you been forced to do.
Although people can change or abandon that sexual behavior, they cannot rid themselves of the genetic propensity toward a sexual orientation.
"The truth is that everyone has a God-shaped hole in their hearts."
Could you perhaps cite the scripture that states this?
Many of the same things you've been required to do. It really surprises me that you (and others) simply refuse to acknowledge God's truth. If you believe that God causes us to be born, then what follows is that He chooses our parents, the society into which we are born, whether or not we'll be born healthy, and so on. In other words, He sets us on a life path. We are responsible for negotiating that path and of being good custodians of the life He gave us. What is so hard to understand about that?
What is so hard for you to understand that God gave us choices?
Take off the blinders and see the light ~ it will set you free.
As St. Ignatius of Loyola said of God, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.