posted on November 22, 2004 09:20:26 AM new
WASHINGTON -- Dean Hamer has received much criticism for his new book, "The God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired Into Our Genes."
Evangelicals reject the idea that faith might be reduced to chemical reactions in the brain. Humanists refuse to accept that religion is inherent in people's makeup. And some scientists have criticized Hamer's methodology and what they believe is a futile effort to find empirical proof of religious experience.
But Hamer, a behavioral geneticist at the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, stands by research he says shows that spirituality -- the feeling of transcendence -- is part of our nature. And he believes that a universal penchant for spiritual fulfillment explains the growing popularity of non-traditional religion in this country and the presence of hundreds of religions worldwide.
"We think that all human beings have an innate capacity for spirituality and that that desire to reach out beyond oneself, which is at the heart of spirituality, is part of the human makeup," Hamer, 53, said in an interview at his home.
"The research suggests some people have a bit more of that capacity than others, but it's present to some degree in everybody."
"The God Gene," published in September and featured in Time magazine's Oct. 25 cover story, is a sequel to "Living With Our Genes," a 1998 book in which Hamer examined the genetic basis of such behavioral traits as anxiety, thrill-seeking and homosexuality. Hamer said his previous research, most notably his work on anxiety, encouraged him to look into the genetic propensity for religious belief.
What he found was that the brain chemicals associated with anxiety and other emotions, including joy and sadness, appeared to be in play in the deep meditative states of Zen practitioners and the prayerful repose of Roman Catholic nuns -- not to mention the mystical trances brought on by users of peyote and other mind-altering drugs.
A misnomer
At least one gene, which goes by the name VMAT2, controls the flow to the brain of chemicals that play a key role in emotions and consciousness. This is the "God gene" of the book's title, and Hamer acknowledges that it's a misnomer. There probably are dozens or hundreds more genes, yet to be identified, involved in the universal propensity for transcendence, he said.
Furthermore, the scientific linkage of a gene with chemicals that affect happiness or sadness does not answer the question "Is there a God?" but rather "Why do we believe in God?"
"Our genes can predispose us to believe. But they don't tell us what to believe in," said Hamer, whose current research involves HIV/AIDS.
Critics in the scientific community argue that Hamer's conclusions are simplistic and speculative, relying too much on anecdotal evidence and too little on testing of the VMAT2 gene to determine other possible connections to behavior. They also wonder whether his findings can be replicated, a necessity in scientific research.
"The field of behavioral genetics is littered with failed links between particular genes and personality traits," said Carl Zimmer, a science author who reviewed the book in last month's Scientific American.
Some religious leaders welcome the idea of a genetic basis for spirituality and say it validates long-held teachings.
"I wondered for a long time why [the concept of] a genetic implant hasn't been put in print or been part of a conversation in the broad theological community," said Bishop John Chane, of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
Chane also welcomes the notion of genetic universality as a new, deeper way of promoting understanding among people of different faiths -- particularly Judaism, Christianity and Islam, all of which trace their beginnings to the same father, Abraham.
Others, such as Bishop Adam Richardson Jr., of the Washington area district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, said it's hard to quantify matters of the spirit and that attributing behavior to one's genetic makeup "can be a frightful thing." By analogy, saying that people are predisposed to be spiritual suggests criminals are genetically wired to be criminals and have no hope of rehabilitation.
Richardson said there's also the danger of people losing hope, of believing their genetic makeup limits their development and personal growth. "In my own system, we do have choice. We always have choice," he said.
Hamer said his own religious development began in a Congregationalist church, which he abandoned when he became a scientist. But he discovered new spiritual meaning when he began researching this book.
He likens spirituality to the capacity for language: Humans are genetically predisposed to have it, but the language people speak and the religion they practice are learned rather than inherited characteristics.
People are designed to communicate through language, but they speak English, French or Chinese because of the part of the world they grew up in. Similarly, genetic makeup may urge people to believe in a Creator or find spiritual fulfillment, but culture, history and environment determine whether one is a Christian, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist or Muslim.
Although people can change or abandon that religious affiliation, they may not be able to rid themselves of the genetic propensity to be spiritual.
But people can build on and develop that innate spirituality through meditation, prayer and creative arts.
These practices can be done inside or outside organized religion, he said.
Hamer said he has received numerous comments from people who say the dichotomy of spirituality and religion makes sense. "I always knew this, that I was inclined to be spiritual, even though I've always had a problem with religion," they tell him.
"I see more and more people doing things like yoga," Hamer said. "They do it initially because they want to get more flexible and look good and feel great. Then they find that once they spend some time sitting on a mat, doing nothing but concentrating on their body and clearing their mind of everything else, they say, `That feels kind of good."'
Such feelings can lead to an intuitive sense of God's presence, Hamer said. "We do not know God; we feel Him."
Losing the focus
Organized religion can become so codified, so caught up with learned rituals, that the focus on spirituality gets lost, Hamer said. The resurgence of Pentecostalism and other emotion-based religions is one sign of the staying power of inherited spirituality, he said.
Megachurches, too, are part of this phenomenon and have widespread appeal because of the emotional aspects of worship, he said. "They have lots of music, video screens, the whole multimedia thing going on," he said. "They're tapping into that [innate spirituality]. It's fun and allows people to get into that spiritual frame of mind."
Hamer said more research has to be done to determine whether there is a genetic basis for other religion-related phenomena, including the existence of archetypes, the similarity of creation stories in various religions and the common characteristics of fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Q. What's the difference between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War?
A. George W. Bush had a plan to get out of the Vietnam War.
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There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 22, 2004 10:02:00 AM new
I don't believe it. I read the article in Time last month, and it's just more unproven theory.
I would be much more likely to believe that religiousness is a learned condition.
Regardless of what human culture you belong to, most babies and children are raised by nurturing parents. When the parents are no longer available, or sometimes when they are still around, people tend to want to increase that "nurtured" feeling.
There is a reason Christians call God "father." It's an anthropomorphized term for nurturer. The desire for nurturing manifests itself in religion. "Someone to watch over me."
Of course being raised in a formal religious environment, such as all of us (you may not BE religious, but everyone is exposed to it at least a little), will tend to display itself in more formally religious ways.
The only way to really test either of these assumptions is to examine the hypothetical "feral child", or the classic "baby abandoned on a tropical island". Does this baby grow up to believe in god(s) or is the baby completely self-reliant? That would be the only inarguable test in my mind, not a bunch of research done in a lab.
Now, I'm not saying God is made up by man. He's not. But the psychological vs. genetic NEED for there to be a God is what I'm talking about.
But you know, if your article is correct... That would mean that religion is be a medical condition, just like the homosexuals want you to believe about them!
Not everything is genetic. There is such a thing as free will, which means you need to take responsibility for your choices. God is a choice, gayness is a choice.
[ edited by replaymedia on Nov 22, 2004 10:05 AM ]
posted on November 22, 2004 01:20:06 PM new
Your article could have some merit to it Logan. I've always thought that since it's been known about the sides of our brains working independently, perhaps one side controls faith and a belief in religion more than the other half. That leaves people who aren't dominated by that side of the brain left to question these beliefs.
Like, I'm not good at calculus and never will be but I excel in other areas. Not my fault - just how my brain is wired.
posted on November 22, 2004 06:55:13 PM new
Linda, I was hoping Classic could let me in on the secret of how to understand calculus. It would be a useful tool to help me understand eBay fees.
posted on November 22, 2004 07:13:57 PM new
Interesting article. Personally, I've long been puzzled by those who insist on some distinct separation between the biological and the spiritual. Maybe this gene is a god-key. A connection to the infinite. Maybe the human institutions of religion get in it's way sometimes....
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Dick Cheney: "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11..."
posted on November 22, 2004 07:33:44 PM new
Julian Jaynes authored a book back in the 70's titled: The Origin of Consciousness in the Break-down of the Bicameral Mind. In essence, the discourse deals with whole populations experiencing god(s) speaking directly to them and sites historical information that lends credence to his claims. Eventually, concluding what the ancient populace were experiencing was the result of less evolved right and left hemispheres communicating. One hemisphere speaking as God to the other hemisphere. Anyway it is a interesting read! The DEVIL GENE should be of major concern.
[ edited by hillbillymo on Nov 22, 2004 07:39 PM ]
posted on November 23, 2004 11:58:00 AM newThat leaves people who aren't dominated by that side of the brain left to question these beliefs.
LOL. Kraft. If your brain is not dominated by the side that controls logic, then you wont be too good at calculus, or at reasoning either. So I dont know how you figure that qualifies you to be one of the bounty hunters to question peoples beliefs? You really make me laugh. The simplicity of your statement reminds of me when my nephew managed to arouse himself in the bathtub at the tender age of five or so. He declared that since he knew pinnochio's nose grew when he was lying, that this must mean that he himself was telling the truth about things! But of course, he was a child when he said that.
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[ edited by neroter12 on Nov 23, 2004 11:59 AM ]
But of course, he was a child when he said that.