Having recently read a completely uncritical profile 2 of dean hamer and his new book on the alleged god gene, 3 i have been thinking a lot about how fringe scientists are able to manipulate the media and get publicity by making especially dramatic claims. The god genebad science meets bad theology by albert mohler. The socalled god gene is a particular location in the human genome. How faith is hardwired into our genes by dean hamer, a molecular biologist who studies behavioral genetics. How faith is hardwired into our genes argues that human spirituality has genetic component. Vmat2 gene molecular study of 2,000 peoples in the religious.
The specific gene in question, that everyone has some version of, is vmat 2. The god gene by dean hamer a couple of summers ago, i checked out a few nonfiction books from the library. The god gene hypothesis proposes that human spirituality is influenced by heredity and that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 vmat2, predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences. Some carry genes for just 1, others 2, and a few, 3 reasons. Hamer, one of americas leading geneticists, presents stunning scientific evidence of the existence. Sep, 2005 buy the god gene reprint by hamer, dean h. The god gene hypothesis is based on a combination of behavioral genetic, neurobiological and psychological studies.
Nov 14, 2004 dean hamer, the director of the gene structure and regulation unit at the national cancer institute in bethesda, asked volunteers 226 questions in order to determine how spiritually connected they. How faith is hardwired into our genes 9780385720311 by hamer, dean h. Together with his scientific collaborators at the national cancer institute at the national institutes of health, he has authored more than one hundred articles for popular and academic science journals. How faith is hardwired into our genes dean hamer, author. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious. He recalls describing to a colleague his discovery of a link between spirituality and a specific gene he calls the god gene. Dean hamer, the director of the gene structure and regulation unit at the national cancer institute in bethesda, asked volunteers 226 questions in order to. Dean hamer is a geneticist and author of many books considered popular if you inhabit academia, but rather too wordy for the racks at the supermarket. The god gene is an interesting survey of the evidence that spirituality is hardwired in our genetic makeup. How faith is hardwired into our genes, dean hamer argues that a variation in the vmat2 gene plays a role in ones openness to.
He discerns a critical role for the vmat2 gene with a variant containing a c, or spiritual allele. The overwhelming majority of americans believe in god, expressing a conviction that has existed since. The god gene download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Oct 01, 2004 scientist dean hamer thinks he has found the explanation for human belief in god its in the genes. Dean hamer is a preeminent geneticist and author of the science of desire, a new york times notable book of the year, and living with our genes. This one is no exception, a suave and savvy treatise on the primacy of nature over nurture and the possibility that. Hamer has already disowned the title of his own book. The god gene hypothesis proposes that human spirituality is influenced by heredity and that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2, predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The god gene book johnson county library bibliocommons. Nowhere has that idea received a more intriguing goingover than in the recently published book the god gene. The god gene hypothesis states that some human beings bear a gene which gives them a prediposition to episodes interpreted by some as religious revelation. According to hamer s hypothesis, spirituality is a biological mechanism that is imprinted on our dna.
Dean hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious faith is in good measure due to our genes and may even offer an evolutionary advantage by helping us get through difficulties, reducing stress. The god gene, neuroscience, and the soul jonathan morrow. Hamer 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at. Vmat2 gene molecular study of 2,000 peoples in the.
Human geneticist dean hamer searches for answers in his new book the god gene. This one is no exception, a suave and savvy treatise on the primacy of nature over nurture and the possibility that its our genes, not our grandmas, that make us good people. Written with balance, integrity, and admirable scientific objectivity, this is a book for readers of science and religion alike. Chief of gene structure at the national cancer institute, hamer not only claims that human spirituality. A vaccine that targets islamic extremists and eliminates their desire to believe in god would be the miracle that the pentagon desperately needed. Hamer has written a book on the subject titled, the god gene. Once again, national institutes of health molecular biologist dean hamer fills the. Dean hamer is a renowned harvard graduate and american geneticist. He wrote that a persons capacity to believe in god. Other studies since 1993 have suggested similar ideas. This vaccine would target the god gene, discovered by nih scientist dean hamer in 2004. Why, the geneticistauthor of this provocative book asks, is spirituality such a powerful and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the god gene. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious faith is in good measure due to our genes and may even offer an evolutionary advantage by helping us get through.
Christ at age 33 there are three reasons why people believe in god and or attend services. The overwhelming majority of americans believe in god. The book was covered heavily by the popular press, including an article in time magazine featured on the magazines cover kluger et al. Jul 28, 2012 one of the most attentiongrabbing efforts to link spirituality and genetics was put forth by geneticist dean hamer in his 2004 book, the god gene. The idea has been postulate and promoted by geneticist dr. He is known for his research on the role of genetics in sexual orientation and human behavior, contributions to biotechnology and hivaids prevention, and popular books and documentaries on a wide range of topics. Hamers theory that the vmat2 gene in humans is responsible for producing a belief in god has been widely criticized both in secular scientific circles and in the theological world. Dean hamer makes it quite clear, that this book is not an argument that god does or does not exist. How faith is hardwired into our genes by hamer, dean. Hamer showed that this gene predisposes people to a higher level of spirituality.
How faith is hardwired into our genes kindle edition by hamer, dean h download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Now, dean hamer, a geneticist at the national cancer institute at the national institutes of health, claims to have found the genetic explanation for belief in god a god gene that provides an. The god genebad science meets bad theology by albert. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious faith is in good measure due to our genes and may even offer an evolutionary advantage by helping us get through difficulties, reducing stress, preventing disease, and extending life. How faith is hardwired into our genes doubleday, 2004. The idea has been proposed by geneticist dean hamer in the 2004 book called the god gene. The idea has been postulated by geneticist dean hamer, the director of the gene structure and regulation unit at the u. Already on page 8, however, hamer inserts a disclaimer. Molecular geneticist dean hamer first coined the term god gene in his 2004 book, the god gene. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Hamer, 9780385720311, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
How faith is hardwired into our genes, details a recent example of a purported link between a particular gene and human behavior hamer, 2004. And environmental influences are just as important as genetics. In a nonmajors class, we read and discussed the god gene and conducted on. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination toward religious faith is no accident. Hamer brings factor analysis and statistical relevance into play. In fact, he argues, spiritual belief may offer an evolutionary advantage by providing humans with a sense of purpose and the courage and will to overcome hardship and loss.
Geneticist claims to have found god gene in humans. This climate propelled dean hamer s the god gene into some measure of prominence cover of time, october 25, 2004. How faith is hardwired into our genes paperback september, 2005. Chief of gene structure at the national cancer institute, hamer. How faith is hardwired into our genes, in no way disproves god. In the god gene, hamer makes his case for a materialist and evolutionary explanation for faith in god.
One of the most attentiongrabbing efforts to link spirituality and genetics was put forth by geneticist dean hamer in his 2004 book, the god gene. In his 2004 book, the god gene, hamer introduces a new, exciting topic for those interested in both religion and science. National cancer institute, and his colleagues published a paper that suggested the x chromosome called xq28 might contain a gay gene. National cancer institute, and author of the 2005 book the. How faith is hardwired into our genes, dean hamer argues that a variation in the vmat2 gene plays a role in ones openness to spiritual experiences. Hamer you might not require to go somewhere to read the ebooks. The most important words in hamer s book surely are the last ones, where readers will find a takehome message. He recalls describing to a colleague his discovery of a link between. Evidence now suggests that the 1993 study by geneticist dean hamer on a possible gay gene is not valid. Nevertheless, his book is riddled with unsubstantiated science and a distorted view of faith. Dean hamer makes it quite clear, that this book is not. In a nonmajors class, we read and discussed the god gene and conducted on a small scale an extension of the study it describes.
In this book hamer explores the impact of genetics on belief in god. Scientist dean hamer thinks he has found the explanation for human belief in god its in the genes. Dean hamer, the director of the gene structure and regulation unit at the u. There are probably many different genes involved, rather than just one. Unfortunately, the final pages seem to have a few unintentional slips. According to hamers hypothesis, spirituality is a biological mechanism that is imprinted on our dna. The god gene hypothesis proposes that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 vmat2, predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences. Hamer claims that this gene accounts for the spirituality that emerges in some people but not others.
Hamer s theory that the vmat2 gene in humans is responsible for producing a belief in god has been widely criticized both in secular scientific circles and in the theological world. How faith is hardwired into our genes by dean hamer. The god gene hypothesis proposes that human spirituality is influenced by heredity and that a. References linking genes to complex human traits, such as personality type or disease susceptibility, abound in the news media and popular culture. Popular science at its best, the god gene is an indepth, fully accessible inquiry into cuttingedge research that can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Dean hamer is a molecular biologist at the national institutes of health, where he heads the gene structure and regulation section at the national cancer institute. Why, the geneticistauthor of this provocative book asks, is spirituality such a powerful and universal.
541 229 508 1025 1352 490 865 666 14 1333 1377 479 408 1121 1068 303 817 1355 177 1527 813 1035 43 76 685 1194 1493 976 612 1487 822 1092 421 705