Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty 70 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Island Man

  This should not be surprising. Certain personalities/mindsets are obviously more prone to religiosity than others. Consider, as an example, the fact that women tend to have a different mindset/personality than men and that this fact may largely be responsible for the disproportionately larger percentage of women than men in christian denominations.

  And since our genes play a big part in determining our personality/mindset - of course, our environment and life experience also play a big part - it is to be expected that there will be some genetic correlation to religiosity. Only, I don't think the correlation is direct - as in there are specific genes directly related to religiosity. I think it's a case of genes influencing certain personality traits and those personality traits, in turn, making one more susceptible to religiosity, among other things.
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  cofty

   I probably would find it interesting if I could access the full paper.

  You can. Just click on the Full Text link. It's free.

  The influence of genetics on our personality is not binary. Only by looking at large studies can it be shown that there is a very strong genetic element in religiosity. 
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  DATA-DOG

   Good point about the enviroment Kate. There are so many factors in religiosity. I would argue that just because we were raised in a religious enviroment and seemed religious by all outward appearances, we were not REALLY religious, especially by JW standards. 

  If we had ever truly believed, would we have doubted or questioned and found our way here? I wonder about that. 

  That study seems very interesting. It seems to suggest a correlation to genetics and religion. If I remember correctly, correlation is not the same as causation. I'm sure there are identical twins out there who have opposite religious beliefs, just as there are fraternal twins with the same belief. 

  I wonder what it would be like to be an identical twin who has to shun your DF'd sibling?? Now THAT would be a study!! 

  
  

  DD
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  cofty

  If I remember correctly, correlation is not the same as causation.

  True but in the link between genes and personality the causation - correlation arrow can only go one way.
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  abiather

  I agree with KateWild—sounds logical and more reasonable.

   My case is similar.

  1)      I was raised as an atheist,

  2)      Then I tried JWism for sometime half-heartedly because of environmental factors.

  3)       Then I was influenced by Einstein’s views on religion and God—and I believe in God and in the reason He has endowed me with, but not in any religions!

  Yet my twin-brother remains where he was in the beginning!
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  Viviane

  I was brought up by Jewish parents and went to a Jewish day school. My parents are agnostic and  atheist.

  How could they have been religious and both atheist and agnostic?
  
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  Viviane

  I agree with KateWild—sounds logical and more reasonable.

  Individual anecdotes aren't representative of a large group.
  
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  Ruby456

  evidence suggests that genetic and environmental influences and an interplay between them are key to understanding religiousity and this goes for all aspects of human existence.

  but having said that biological research into genes and sociological research into environmental factors do throw up some interesting scenarios when we separate one from the other and then when  we put them together.  

  
  

  women for example have different effects on the religiousity of their children (boys come out less religious than girls, however) if they have high socio economic status than if they have low socio economic status and then too how much choice do they have in this?  It has been shown that generally lower socio economic status women produce greater religiousity overall and then more in girls than boys.   However women can choose patriarchal structures over egalitarian structures because of hormones and because of greater genetic predisposition towards creating a safe nurturing environment than men. Also women are more risk averse than men owing to the fact that men have higher levels of testosterone.  ontoh there is the environmental scenario outlined by DJS.  This, imo, indicates an interplay between both environmental and biological factors.

  so cofty this is an interesting subject but religiousity is not solely down to genes or even more down to genes. 
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  cofty

  religiousity is not solely down to genes or even more down to genes

  Yes that is what I said

  The influence of genetics on our personality is not binary. Only by looking at large studies can it be shown that there is a very strong genetic element in religiosity. - Cofty
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  Ruby456

  okay thanks cofty.  I think I was replying to your thread title as well which I guess is tongue in cheek?