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Humans Hardwired to Believe in Supernatural Deity?

dohcrx writes "According to a Sunday New York Times article, 6 in 10 Americans believe in the devil and hell, 7 in 10 believe in angels, heaven and the existence of miracles and life after death, while 92% believe in a personal God. The article explores the possibility that this belief structure may be ingrained into our genetic makeup. 'When a trait is universal, evolutionary biologists look for a genetic explanation and wonder how that gene or genes might enhance survival or reproductive success ... Which is the better biological explanation for a belief in God — evolutionary adaptation or neurological accident? Is there something about the cognitive functioning of humans that makes us receptive to belief in a supernatural deity?'"

6 of 1,852 comments (clear)

  1. there is No god by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    there is No god

  2. Re:Or maybe there is some truth in the belief? by bornbitter · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If that is so, they why don't they consider the possibility that this evidence actually could point to the existence of God? Ockham's razor be damned, I guess.

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    "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to govern any other" -John Ada
  3. no... by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Americans are just stupid.

  4. Re:I just don't believe I know. by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You really are sad.

    You dont understand that personal hallucinations do not count as proof.

    How do we know that YOUR Jesus is "My Jesus"? Eh? Thats because its made up in your head.

    You only see what proves your theory correct, and not what proves it wrong.

    And I tried to read that website incoherently babbling about how prophesies will come true and Jesus is the savior of the blablabla.

    What does it take to make you BELIEVE that nobody cares what faith, or lack thereof, you choose?

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  5. Us? by NReitzel · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    What you mean "us", White Man?

    95% of Humanity is Homo simian, two steps up from hairless chimps. Civilization happened when the density of population became high enough that those of us who took a rational approach to our environment could get together and accomplish things. That doesn't change the simple fact that most humans do their utmost to not think about things, because it makes their heads hurt. Faith is a wonderful thing, it tells you everything you need to know. Have you visited your local temple and looked at The Law lately? Every step of life from birth to death and beyond is neatly laid out in explicit, detailed rules, so you never have to actually take a cogent approach to anything.

    Consider the dark ages; a thousand years during which the Holy Mother Church held a sizeable fraction of humanity in her grasp, and condemned fifty generations to poverty, squalor, and disease, in the Name of God. We're seeing it again, as religious fanatics labor to set back the clock and retake the earth from those who doubt The Faith. The veneer of civilization as we know it is paper thin, and we must never forget that the barbarians are, as always, at the gate.

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    Don't take life too seriously; it isn't permanent.

  6. Turning Slashdot into a Gay Dating Service by BigBlockMopar · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    As a limp-wristed bi myself... Where were you when I was still dating?

    Hello... How is your boyfriend? Can I watch? ;)

    --
    Fire and Meat. Yummy.