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God gene

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Your Text: Insert Slimies » Insert UBB Code » Close Last Tag \| All Tags UBB Help	Eh, I'm not sure I buy that. Why does everything have to be linked to genes these days? Are we that intent on obliterating the idea of free will? Is it that comforting to believe that everything we do and are has been predetermined? How many questions can I string together in a row? Nonetheless, I will be watching this develop with interest. I just finished reading Daniel Dennett's "Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon" (published this year) and one of the things he seems to be certain of is that scientific research will not uncover something like a "God gene" or "religious experience center" in the brain. This is one point on which we agree, and I think I'll need to see more evidence than this cursory treatment of the topic. Maybe I'll pick up the book. Also, I find it interesting that the article notes that his findings "are being greeted skeptically by many in the religious establishment" but does not mention how others in the scientific community have reacted. I think it is pretty obvious that the religious establishment is going to react negatively--I'm far more interested in seeing what the scientific community thinks about his work. [Edit: Then again, maybe I [i]won't[/i] pick up the book. A review of the book from Scientific American (via [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385720319/qid=1148954519/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-3629079-3096754?s=books&v=glance&n=283155]Amazon[/url]) answers my question about why there has been no reaction from the scientific community (the study hasn't been published in a scientific journal yet). It also elaborates on the "homosexuality gene" mentioned in the Washington Times article (the study was never successfully replicated) and pretty much slams the book from a scientific viewpoint. If the Washington Times article piqued your interest, you should definitely read this review to get the (at least initial) scientific perspective.] [img]http://www.liminality.org/asylum/sigs/suho_umbrella04.gif[/img] ___________________________ Suho: [url=http://www.liminality.org]www.liminality.org[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/4837]Cell 270[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/5689]Sig Rotator[/url] \| [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/22173]the Fellowship of Sup[/url] [small](Edited by [url=http://www.ozoneasylum.com/user/2031]Suho1004[/url] on 05-30-2006 04:11)[/small] Loading...
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