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Is Religion Genetic?

Is religion genetic (like the homosexuality argument)?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 3.2%
  • No

    Votes: 22 71.0%
  • Its a valid argument (similar to the one about homosexuality)

    Votes: 6 19.4%
  • I don't care

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Cilogy is a troll

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 2 6.5%

  • Total voters
    31
Reading things helps.

It sure does :2wave:

I said "quality" not "equality."

Oh, my bad :doh

I was largely being sarcastic, you are free to vote "Cilogy is a troll" if you wish. In fact the title of the thread is the only thing that really matters, so you don't have to respond to my OP, just answer the question.

So where is this "war on sexuality"? What is it, who argues it, what are the arguments, what data is presented for either or both sides, what are the goals the arguments seek, etc?

I certainly don't expect you to source volumes of information, just a sample of such a "war" would be very helpful. A blog, a political figure's comments/speech, anything of that nature.

I don't see anything challenging/misrepresenting/disrespecting God in the OP, so your "blasphemy" comments seem very out of place :confused:
 
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I think spiritual tendencies are inherent, but religion/doctrine is taught.

Very accurate and concise way of putting it. I agree 100%.
 
So where is this "war on sexuality"? What is it, who argues it, what are the arguments, what data is presented for either or both sides, what are the goals the arguments seek, etc?

Basically it is the "supposed war" going on between anti-LGBT and pro-LGBT people or groups.

I said "war on sexuality" because people give things the weirdest names like the "war on FOX news" or "war on porn" or "war on the middle class." They aren't actual violent wars, they are just heated debates that have gained significance because of how much they are debated and how much they are politicized.

Thus, sexuality is a debated thing, since one side believes homosexuality exists, the other side does not. So on and so forth.

I certainly don't expect you to source volumes of information, just a sample of such a "war" would be very helpful. A blog, a political figure's comments/speech, anything of that nature.

I don't think many people say it, I just gave it a name for the sake of this poll.


I don't see anything challenging/misrepresenting/disrespecting God in the OP, so your "blasphemy" comments seem very out of place :confused:

Sarcasm and/or a joke.
 
Basically it is the "supposed war" going on between anti-LGBT and pro-LGBT people or groups.

Oh I gotcha now, I guess I never heard of it referred to that way is all.

Be careful using a general framework like that, because while homosexuality is not a disorder, transsexualism certainly is, therefore its deceitful to lump them all together. There's no greater opponent to transsexualism then those who undergo surgery to make living with it easier, and most LGBT groups support transsexuals, which runs against the concept that there is a war against it.

Taking a page out Capt'ns play book regarding liberal use of smileys when you're not 100% literal/serious helps sarcasm come across this dry text where we lack body language and voice inflection :2wave:
 
In theory, all the conditions of humanity's material existence are genetic. If you mean is there a single gene which makes someone religious, then no, probably not, and the same goes for sexual orientation. If I was going to look at religion from the perspective of genetics, I would look in terms of what kind of genes produce which personality types and how these types tend to react to and practice religious scripture.
 
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Be careful using a general framework like that, because while homosexuality is not a disorder, transsexualism certainly is, therefore its deceitful to lump them all together.

Ok now wait a second here.

Transsexualism is not always a disorder, which I will explain below.

I didn't lump them together, whoever came up with "LGBT" lumped them together. I'm not being deceitful.


There's no greater opponent to transsexualism then those who undergo surgery to make living with it easier, and most LGBT groups support transsexuals, which runs against the concept that there is a war against it.

You must understand that transsexual/transgender are both umbrella terms.

Here is the problem, the reason LGBT groups support transsexuals is because they think transsexuals are transgenders. Transsexuals often identify themselves as those who have the disorder from birth. Transgenders identify themselves as a gender after they have surgery. But anyway, both terms are thrown around a lot, which is why LGBT includes the "T."

Taking a page out Capt'ns play book regarding liberal use of smileys when you're not 100% literal/serious helps sarcasm come across this dry text where we lack body language and voice inflection :2wave:

I rarely use smilies, what are you talking about?
 
I wouldn't say that I believe people are born religious, but I do believe that people are hardwired in varying degrees in regards to the ease with which they accept dogmatic beliefs. To believe what others believe is such a basic social construct, and the need to cooperate as a group so intrinsic to our survival, that it is those who run towards the extremes in terms of individualism or skepticism who are rare rather than those who believe.

I can easily imagine a biological underpinning for this.
 
Oh I gotcha now, I guess I never heard of it referred to that way is all.

Be careful using a general framework like that, because while homosexuality is not a disorder, transsexualism certainly is, therefore its deceitful to lump them all together. There's no greater opponent to transsexualism then those who undergo surgery to make living with it easier, and most LGBT groups support transsexuals, which runs against the concept that there is a war against it.

Taking a page out Capt'ns play book regarding liberal use of smileys when you're not 100% literal/serious helps sarcasm come across this dry text where we lack body language and voice inflection :2wave:

Transsexualism is a very complicated issue and I do not believe can be termed a disorder in a blanket way. In fact, some who view it as a disorder, see this as cause for sex reassignment surgery. Remember, the easiest way to diagnose whether someone has a psychological disorder is to determine whether or not the issue causes distress in one or more areas of their life. Interestingly enough, sex reassignment surgery will, at times, reduce or eliminate this distress. However, one must be very cautious with this type of "cure". If there is a co-morbid disorder (Depression, PTSD, Schizophrenia, etc...) one may not actually be a transsexual.

Very tricky issue, certainly worthy of discussion.

And Jerry's right... liberal use of smilies on message boards can often prevent miscommunication.
 
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/God-Part-Brain-Matthew-Alper/dp/0966036700]Amazon.com: The "God" Part of the Brain (9780966036701): Matthew Alper: Books[/ame]



....I'm not sure there's a "gay part of the brain" or similar....
 
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Another crazy poll by yours truly ... Uncle Cilogy!

So here goes my usual disclaimer: I hope this hasn't already been created as another poll. If it is please lock the topic or destroy it or eat it or blah blah blah.

Okay now:

With the war on sexuality going on (on all fronts) would you apply the same argument of genetic quality of homosexuality to religion? :)shock: blasphemy!)
No. First it there is no valid "homosexual gene argument" (the "gay gene" theory has been debunked). The scientific consensus on homosexuality is that it develops through a variety of factors, including genetics and environment. Visit the APA website if you're interested in reading more.

Seriously, I was having a similar discussion with a pastor/priest/reverend/whatever of a local church, a person whom I am very good friends with. He runs a church in Texas which is actually pro-homosexuality (gasp! blasphemy again!) So we got to talking about it and he ended up concluding that religion is essentially the choice of a person and homosexuality has not yet been determined as a choice or a genetic trait.

I would say that's a fair argument, since religion is concerned more with the spirituality and free will of a person rather than their attraction or sexuality.

(could be confusing)

What do you think?
It's not a matter of "what I think". It's a matter of scientific facts. No evidence exists that "religion is genetic and cannot be changed" (nor is their any evidence that "homosexuality is genetic", as I explained.) Unless you're capable of providing evidence to back up your assertion, then the discussion is moot. Facts speak for themselves.
 
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCzbNkyXO50"]YouTube- Gay Scientists Isolate Christian Gene[/ame]

Pardon, but this is just to provide a little levity. :rofl
 
Religion is more societal/cultural than genetic. I'm not sure one can lay claim to genetics being involved at all. It's personal choice and experience when it comes to religion. Nothing more nothing less. And that choice and experience is influenced by societal and cultural norms and history. That's why regions can be rather uniform with religions.
 
If you were God, would you really care what People did, one way or the other?? And if you did, wouldn't you just fix them and be done with it. what's with all the ceremonies? Seems He would have more important things to deal with. Or do people feel He is Our Private God?
 
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