Given that christianity seems to be passed on through families in most cases?

Does this mean that christians have some sort of irrationality gene that atheists don't have that is continuing down through the generations? it would explain a lot as irrational belief in something to me is a mental problem.Given that christianity seems to be passed on through families in most cases?
So you are saying that atheists are smarter than millions of Christians...Doctors, Scientists, Lawyers etc...? Is that rational?Given that christianity seems to be passed on through families in most cases?
How could you possibly defend an irrationality gene biologically. Since it is generally accepted that evolution gets rid of unnecessary things, and an irrationality gene couldn't really ever benefit an organism, it seems like a difficult position to defend. You, however, sound like a complete douchebag for suggesting that the group you belong to somehow doesn't have the same gene that every other of the over 6 billion human beings do.





Also, why are Christians the only group endowed with this gene? Do you mean all people who are religious, or only certain religions? We owe a lot of our science and technology to Renaissance and Enlightenment Christians (and other religious) who were rational. Descartes, Newton, Galilei, Locke, and DaVinci are examples of major scientists and philosophers who were quite rational while being quite religious. As far as I know, you have yet to publish any groundbreaking research that sets you on a higher plane than any of these important scholars, despite your claim that you are immune to irrationality.





Many people like to blame religion for the ills of the world. There is some truth to this statement, but I think the problem mostly has to do with people. Most religious systems of morality call for the same justice and peace that atheists would like to see in the world. The problem is people. You are committing the same fallacy that overly zealous religious people commit in terms of lumping people into an ';us versus them'; situation. You are exasperating the problem, not helping to fix it. Your ignorance and bigotry towards religious people as displayed in this post (I can't comment on the rest of your life, but I can make rational inferences) demonstrates the same irrationality that you accuse Christians of. Maybe you should try to focus more on living your life and improving the lives of others (something many religions actively try to do) than deriding others for their beliefs. Beliefs that neither side can prove or disprove, by the way.





The real problem here is that people on both sides of the issue are hostile to the belief system of the other. Atheists are as guilty of this as religious people are. It needs to stop. Why don't you, as the paragon of rationality and reason that you promote yourself to be, be the one to take the first step?
Fact is, we've had lots of evidence over the centuries to show that a deity is in charge of the world. You just won't look at it. If you did, you would be compelled to concede that there is a lot of evidence for God, that is, a supernatural force that intervenes in our lives. Not conclusive or overwhelming, to be sure, but it's definitely there -- if you have the guts to look at it squarely.





Now if you were to go like, ';Hey, I don't believe in God, but can you give me some proof,'; I don't think anybody's going to take the time.





However, if you talk with folks without an axe to grind (and if there's really no god, then you obviously have literally no axe to grind, right?), and just listen to people's experiences, you will begin to discover what it is that causes people to believe in God.





I mean, I bump into it practically every day without trying, so I know it's there.





';A true opium for the people is a belief in nothingness after death鈥攖he huge solace of thinking that for our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders we are not going to be judged.'; (Czes艂aw Mi艂osz)





If you cling to an idea as the inalterable truth, then when the truth does come in person and knock at your door, you will not be able to open the door and accept it.


Anon (Buddhist)
Parents have access to the formative years of consciousness in their children. It stands to reason that in learning to collect the rewards for pleasing their parents rather than the punishment and disapproval of failing to do so, they will develop similar attitudes to life. If many relatives and peers as well the the child's society are largely Christian it stands to reason that this programming is reinforced into adulthood. They will of course repeat this programming when they have their own children. The religion itself exhibits symptoms of chinese whispers in that it alters on the way down the line or perhaps adapts to changing societies to gain credibility? Same is true of course of all long term major religions. I support the right to believe in any of these. I also claim the right to declare them all fairy stories.
If so, I skipped out on the gene ';for'; irrationality. My whole family is Christian, has been Christian for as long as anyone can remember, and gave me a thorough Christian education.





Of course, Dawkins has this theory that some people's ';native intelligence'; leads them to the truth eventually. My boyfriend says I'm one of those people.
I think it's more about being raised in that environment. If a child is told from day one that the sky is blue, the grass is green, and unless you accept jesus you will burn in hell forever, chances are they will believe that into adulthood.
Pahh. Hoo Cares?





Everybody is irrational at some stage... in fact I am being irrational now.... thinking I am THE ONLY grim reaper on this planet..





But the sad thing is... it is not true... there are millions more grim reapers out there!
We have acceptance and hope on the Lord. You have denial and rejection of the Lord.


Two different mentalities and two different people on totally 2 different courses.
it is believed that there may be some genetic component to religious belief (though not any specific belief). It has to do with ones suggestibility
It would be the same for atheists too. born with the gene that does not let them believe in God.Irrationality gene.
No but then maybe the same could be said of atheists some malfunctioning gene??
No but it sure makes it sound like a virus.
so Im the exception? was raisedall My life atheist/evolutionist, found God on My own when I was 30 yrs old