12 replies to this topic

[halcyondays]

Nature vs Nurture, the idea isn't new but it seems like the more research that is done the more we see that genetics play a far greater roll in shaping who we are than we would like to think. It makes me wonder if in the future we couldn't genetically engineer people to be less religious and more altruistic, making for a much better society.

Minneapolis – April 05, 2007 - A new study in Journal of Personality shows that selfless and social behavior is not purely a product of environment, specifically religious environment. After studying the behavior of adult twins, researchers found that, while altruistic behavior and religiousness tended to appear together, the correlation was due to both environmental and genetic factors.

According to study author Laura Koenig, the popular idea that religious individuals are more social and giving because of the behavioral mandates set for them is incorrect. “This study shows that religiousness occurs with these behaviors also because there are genes that predispose them to it.”

“There is, of course, no specific gene for religiousness, but individuals do have biological predispositions to behave in certain ways,” says Koenig. “The use of twins in the current study allowed for an investigation of the genetic and environmental influences on this type of behavior.”

This research is another example of the way that genes have an impact on behavior. “Society as a whole assumes that home environments have large impacts on behavior, but studies in behavior genetics are repeatedly showing that our behavior is also influenced by our genes,” says Koenig.

[Athanasios]

If you are interested in a whole book of studies showing combination of genetics and environment shaping how we are, check out the book 'Nature Via Nurture'.

One thing I found interesting in the book is a gene that, if it is on, allows terrible things to happen to a person as a child without it affecting their behavior as adults. If it is off, they would have VERY high probability of becoming a violent criminal. What does this mean if we have a pill that can affect the gene, and we know someone has suffered child abuse?

[william7]

We should always keep on the table the possibility of full scale religious socialization to reinforce whatever genetic predisposition to altruistic behavior there is. I believe learning will still prove to be necessary to motivate and guide the level of altruistic behavior needed to produce a viable social existence.

There's also the possibility that tinkering with the genes may not be feasible and prove to be hazardous to the human psyche in some unforeseen way. Better to look to nurture rather than nature for the solution. It's simpler, safer and more natural.

[Andy]

News flash: Religiosity/Altruism are NOT automatically virtuous. In fact, people like Hitler were among the biggest altruists history has ever seen. Give yourself up to the "race", the "state", the "god", the mystical "higher good", ect. Sacrifice does not equal morality.

Edited by Andy, 25 December 2007 - 04:16 AM.

[forever freedom]

Sacrifice does not equal morality.

Couldn't agree more.

[william7]

people like Hitler were among the biggest altruists history has ever seen.

??????????

The Wehrmacht enjoyed great success in the early stages of the war, and the Axis Powers managed to occupy most of Mainland Europe and parts of Asia at the height of their power. Eventually however, the occupation was rolled back by the combined efforts of the Allies after a long struggle, and the Wehrmacht was ultimately defeated. By 1945, both Hitler's policy and the Nazi Party lay in ruins; his bid for territorial conquest and racial subjugation had caused the deaths of tens of millions of people, including the deliberate genocide of an estimated six million Jews in what is now known as the Holocaust.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler

Edited by elijah3, 26 December 2007 - 03:29 AM.

[Reno]

people like Hitler were among the biggest altruists history has ever seen.

??????????

The Wehrmacht enjoyed great success in the early stages of the war, and the Axis Powers managed to occupy most of Mainland Europe and parts of Asia at the height of their power. Eventually however, the occupation was rolled back by the combined efforts of the Allies after a long struggle, and the Wehrmacht was ultimately defeated. By 1945, both Hitler's policy and the Nazi Party lay in ruins; his bid for territorial conquest and racial subjugation had caused the deaths of tens of millions of people, including the deliberate genocide of an estimated six million Jews in what is now known as the Holocaust.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler

Forgot to give the definition of altruist.

Edited by bobscrachy, 26 December 2007 - 07:19 AM.

[william7]

Forgot to give the definition of altruist.

Thanks for the definition. I can see clearly now. Hilter was being altruistic towards the German people, the Nordic master race.

[Andy]

Forgot to give the definition of altruist.

Thanks for the definition. I can see clearly now. Hilter was being altruistic towards the German people, the Nordic master race.

Yes. I'll try to be more specific in the future.

But sacrifice and altruism in general has enabled many criminals in the upper echelon of government and religion to gain psychological control over others by making them feel guilty about their success which is completely unnatural and hurts human beings. At this point, once the criminal has gained mental control, the victim is now ripe for usurping their earned prosperity.

The government and religious leaders are the parasitical criminals.

[Andy]

full scale religious socialization to reinforce

There it is hanging out all pink and naked. FORCE.

[Andy]

The pathetic thing about all these left wingers, in this case the religious ones, is that they convienently ignore the whole "give a man a fish/teach a man to fish" thingy...pathetic.

[william7]

full scale religious socialization to reinforce

There it is hanging out all pink and naked. FORCE.

My use of the word "reinforce" was not used as a substitute for "force." I used "reinforce" according to its dictionary definition which is to strengthen or make stronger. This has nothing to do with violent force. If you look up the definition of the word "force" you'll notice the big difference between these words.

[william7]

The government and religious leaders are the parasitical criminals.

So, then, by extension, Hitler, and the religious leaders who kowtowed to him and his ideology, were parasitical criminals?