Is atheism due to a genetic defect?

[Rick O'Shez]

Atheists appear to lack the "God gene."

But God isn't necessary for spiritual or mystical experience. Thank God.

 

[Gambit]

But God isn't necessary for spiritual or mystical experience. Thank God.

The skeptical community is skeptical of Buddha-nature.

 

[Jumi]

The skeptical community is skeptical of Buddha-nature.

Is that a genetic defect?

 

[LuisDantas]

The skeptical community is skeptical of Buddha-nature.

Even taking for granted that it is indeed so, that would still be a more fortunate situation than simply believing in it out of superstition or fear.

 

[Gambit]

Even taking for granted that it is indeed so, that would still be a more fortunate situation than simply believing in it out of superstition or fear.

It is so. The skeptical community is skeptical not only of Buddha-nature but also of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, streams of consciousness and rebirth.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

Atheists appear to lack the "God gene."

Isaiah 45:7 I form light and create darkness,I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.

 

[shawn001]

Split brain with one half atheist and one half theist

"Neurologist VS Ramachandran explains the case of split-brain patients with one hemisphere without a belief in a god, and the other with a belief in a god."

 

[shawn001]

Atheists appear to lack the "God gene."

From an Atheists and not me.

"But if the idea of a god is inherently illogical (if the very idea is self-contradictory or meaningless), or if it is contradicted by the evidence, then there are strong positive reasons to take a harder stance as an atheist – with respect to that particular god. For in this sense, even believers are strong atheists – they deny the existence of hundreds of gods. Atheists like me merely deny one more god than everyone else already does – in fact, I deny the existence of the same god already denied by believers in other gods, so I am not doing anything that billions of people don’t do already."

 

[Rick O'Shez]

The skeptical community is skeptical not only of Buddha-nature but also of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, streams of consciousness and rebirth.

A lot of western Buddhists are sceptical about them too, but how is relevant to the OP which is about atheism? The "other religions have unfounded beliefs too" argument is just a weak attempt at deflection, and it's irrelevant here.

 

[LuisDantas]

It is so. The skeptical community is skeptical not only of Buddha-nature but also of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, streams of consciousness and rebirth.

Congratulations. It is not always that I meet someone with the authority of speaking as skeptics' ambassador.

Anything credible to add?

 

[Gambit]

A lot of western Buddhists are sceptical about them too, but how is relevant to the OP which is about atheism? The "other religions have unfounded beliefs too" argument is just a weak attempt at deflection, and it's irrelevant here.

A lot of secular Christians and Jews do not believe in God either. So, what?

 

[Gambit]

Congratulations. It is not always that I meet someone with the authority of speaking as skeptics' ambassador.

Anything credible to add?

This is coming from an individual who presents himself as an authority on orthodox Buddhism.

 

[Salvador]

Every mind has the freedom to choose or reject God's salvation. Conjoined twins have the same genes and are two minds who share the same body. However, there are conjoined twins where one twin is a Christian and his conjoined twin is an atheist. The fact that one mind of conjoined twins can be Christian while the other mind of conjoined twins can be atheist does prove that everybody can accept or reject God's salvation.

 

[Revoltingest]

Every mind has the freedom to choose or reject God's salvation. Conjoined twins have the same genes and are two minds who share the same body. However, there are conjoined twins where one twin is a Christian and his conjoined twin is an atheist. The fact that one mind of conjoined twins can be Christian while the other mind of conjoined twins can be atheist does prove that everybody can accept or reject God's salvation.

Are their minds completely identical?
Can I tell myself to believe something which cannot be shown true?

 

[LuisDantas]

This is coming from an individual who presents himself as an authority on orthodox Buddhism.

Not an authority. But someone who has learned of some of the most common misunderstandings and uses his brain. Not too much to ask or to expect, IMO.

More to the point, I am not presuming to speak on behalf of a group I do not respect nor understand.

 

[Salvador]

Split brain with one half atheist and one half theist

"Neurologist VS Ramachandran explains the case of split-brain patients with one hemisphere without a belief in a god, and the other with a belief in a god."

I don't know of anybody who has an atheist/theist split personality; however if an atheist/theist split personality were to exist, then I believe God is wise enough to know which is the dominate personality of somebody who has a split personality.

 

[shawn001]

I don't know of anybody who has an atheist/theist split personality; however if an atheist/theist split personality were to exist, then I believe God is wise enough to know which is the dominate personality of somebody who has a split personality.

"however if an atheist/theist split personality were to exist"

I posted the example and the Neurologist is considered the Sherlock Holmes of neuroscience.

"then I believe God is wise enough to know which is the dominate personality of somebody who has a split personality."

Are you referring to ALL Gods?

 

[Gambit]

Not an authority. But someone who has learned of some of the most common misunderstandings and uses his brain. Not too much to ask or to expect, IMO.

More to the point, I am not presuming to speak on behalf of a group I do not respect nor understand.

Whatever.

 

[shawn001]

Whatever.

"Is atheism due to a genetic defect?"

No children are born with a religion, especially an organized one, but any one at all.

Gambit do you believe all Gods humans have worshiped in history are true?

 

[suncowiam]

Asserting atheists as having a genetic defect is the same as asserting theists as having a genetic defect.

Some genes can be as harmful as a lack of genes.

What's the point here?