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Charlie in Dayton
16th March 2005, 04:28 PM
A person's religious inclinations may be genetically influenced... (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7147)
KingMerv00
16th March 2005, 07:29 PM
I was just thinking about this kind of thing.

I've always felt that the faithful and I are drastically different. I guess genetics would confirm my unscientific thoughts.
KingMerv00
16th March 2005, 07:45 PM
I was just thinking about this kind of thing.

I've always felt that the faithful and I are drastically different. I guess genetics would confirm my unscientific thoughts.
SixSixSix
16th March 2005, 07:48 PM
Careful that we avoid genetic determinism here.

My grandparents were very religious, my parents less so, and I and both of my brothers are atheists. Yes, I suppose it's possible that the mix of Mum and Dad's genes happened to result in the alleles in all three cases, but I think in this case nurture wins out.
CFLarsen
16th March 2005, 10:25 PM
Originally posted by SixSixSix
Careful that we avoid genetic determinism here.

My grandparents were very religious, my parents less so, and I and both of my brothers are atheists. Yes, I suppose it's possible that the mix of Mum and Dad's genes happened to result in the alleles in all three cases, but I think in this case nurture wins out.

One could also argue that this is evidence of evolution: The survival of the fittest! :D
SixSixSix
16th March 2005, 10:34 PM
Originally posted by CFLarsen
One could also argue that this is evidence of evolution: The survival of the fittest! :D

One could, but I believe evolution also argues for regression to the mean. That is, without a dedicated breeding program, there is unlikely to be a gradual upward trend in genetically desirable traits.

Put more bluntly: just because Kiless and I are bright doesn't mean our potential kids are going to be geniuses. But I'm reasonably sure we can at least give them a good skeptical grounding.

(Yeah, I realise you were joking. But it isn't actually that bad a point - for a Dane. :) )
c4ts
16th March 2005, 11:50 PM
"Guakers?"
pgwenthold
17th March 2005, 05:38 AM
Originally posted by SixSixSix
Careful that we avoid genetic determinism here.

My grandparents were very religious, my parents less so, and I and both of my brothers are atheists. Yes, I suppose it's possible that the mix of Mum and Dad's genes happened to result in the alleles in all three cases, but I think in this case nurture wins out.

Just because it is genetic doesn't mean it has to be evident in inheritance.

For example, right vs lefthandedness is genetic, right? But how often is there any parental link to such things? I don't know the literature, but I've never seen much for correlation.

Doesn't mean that it's not inherent, though.