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The body as a 'mere' vehical is not an idea exclusive to religion or spirituality. In science, the body as the protective and responsive shield for the genes is an outlook championed by Dawkins, and some great biologists before him. Also I think the philosophical implications are arguably as...

Of what was a very enjoyable post, Juan, I think this is perhaps the most thought-provoking passage. I couldn't even do justice in type to the many swirling ideas in my head when thinking about this. I will say though that you won't find me excusing people based on genetics. I suppose I am a...

I admit that I am immediately sceptical of such a claim. Where can I read into this?

Did you read the OP?

Hi Juan, Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've (unintentionally) mischaracterised a member's post (or even the first time I've done it to yourself - given that I appear to have erred so twice in one thread :D). I have a tendency to interpret too quickly and stumble on for a while...

From the thread 'The Relation of Athiesm to Fatalism'. This was my last post: Thanks Juan. I think I undertsand what you were saying more clearly now, that is to say I misunderstood it originally. When you said that (I paraphrase) 'there are no genes for behaviour' I took the word behaviour...

Yeah I think so. See here:New Thread.

Evolutionary theory does not deal with the formation of life. Special Creation is not really an idea at all in my opinion but a declaration of ignorance. That leaves ID which as far as explanatory theories go is as vacuous as they can get. Something else then. Although I'm in the fine company...

Thanks Juan. I think I undertsand what you were saying more clearly now, that is to say I misunderstood it originally. When you said that (I paraphrase) 'there are no genes for behaviour' I took the word behaviour in a differentlight than you meant I think. From a zoological point of view...

Sorry to drag up old stuff, Juan, but this really stuck in my mind. I can't imagine any geneticist saying anything like that. Where did you hear this?

Post hoc ergo proter hoc. After this therfore because this.

I can only assume Mr Collins was having a bad day, or the statement is not what it seems. I haven't learned a great deal about epigenetics, though it seems like an interesting and attention-worthy subject. Cheers.

Just a note to clarify. The 'this' I referred to is 'this' below: In case anyone misunderstood and read the question differently.

I don't think a morality gene is likely to be found. Genes that program/influence human minds to percieve cheating, killing tribe members, etc as 'bad' may have been selected for, in the same sense that genes that encourage staying put while predators abound would be selected against. Something...

I am almost certain in my belief that a significant part of what we call morals are genetic based.

OK. Our understanding is different. That evolution occurs is undeniable but whether this evolution accounts for the range of life present on Earth is a hypothesis backed by evidence. What that means is that there is data out there which can be apprehended by each of us and verified separately...

Yes. 'Despair' was used in the thread I mentioned. I wasn't trying to imply that fatalism in necessarily desperate.

Juan, thanks for your response. I look forward to more detail, though it already has me thinking. Thank you to the others who responded. I think both. I am open to being wrong, but I don't believe I am. I also don't believe I can know the answer, but believe that the only evidence regarding...

A couple of posters in another thread mentioned that fatalism/despair is the logical consequence of atheism. My immediate thought is that either; a) I have not thoroughly examined the logically entailed consequences of my beliefs regarding deities, or b) the proposition is incorrect. I have...

Are you saying you disagree with the theory of 'modification with descent' because it does not account for the soul, spid3rboy? Or that you think science should focus on such questions? I haven't encountered these discussions, so I am at a bit of a loss here. Why would you maintain this belief...