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Genes contribute to religious inclination
NewScientist.com ^ | 16 March 2005 | Maggie McKee

Posted on 03/17/2005 3:23:14 PM PST by Jacob Kell

Genes may help determine how religious a person is, suggests a new study of US twins. And the effects of a religious upbringing may fade with time.

Until about 25 years ago, scientists assumed that religious behaviour was simply the product of a person's socialisation - or "nurture". But more recent studies, including those on adult twins who were raised apart, suggest genes contribute about 40% of the variability in a person's religiousness.

(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...


TOPICS: Religion & Science
KEYWORDS: genes; genetics; godgene; newscientist; religion; science

1 posted on 03/17/2005 3:23:15 PM PST by Jacob Kell
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To: Jacob Kell

If this comes from "new scientists" - I'll take the old ones.


2 posted on 03/17/2005 3:26:11 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: anniegetyourgun

I agree. I prefer my science from the 18th Century. After that, the science developed into a quasi-state religion and really contributed nothing more to the pool of know edge.

New ideas are just pesky distractions at best. Phrenology was the last of the true sciences.


3 posted on 03/17/2005 3:42:30 PM PST by Duke Nukum (King had to write, to sing the song of Gan. And I had to read. How else could Roland find the Tower?)
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To: Duke Nukum

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for new ideas - and even research. I just don't know why so many "new scientists" waste time, brainpower, and (usually) tax dollars pursuing stuff of nincompoops.


4 posted on 03/17/2005 3:45:18 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: anniegetyourgun

I agree. As soon as I saw the word "psychologist" in the article I doubted it greatly but your quip fired my imagination.


6 posted on 03/17/2005 5:09:32 PM PST by Duke Nukum (King had to write, to sing the song of Gan. And I had to read. How else could Roland find the Tower?)
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To: Jacob Kell
I saw this article earlier today and have been thinking about it. It occurs to me that if "religiousness" is genetic, then those with the "religious" gene should evidence that "religiousness" all of their life.

And yet, many, especially those that experience conversion later in life, often display radical transformations in values, character, and behavior. What would explain this from the author's perspective? A gene transplant? ???

LItekeeper
Chaplain, US Army, retired

7 posted on 03/17/2005 9:01:16 PM PST by LiteKeeper (The radical secularization of America is happening)
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