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. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. 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. Christ at age 33 there are three reasons why people believe in god and or attend services. Oct 01, 2004 scientist dean hamer thinks he has found the explanation for human belief in god its in the genes. The god gene book johnson county library bibliocommons. 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. Hamer, 9780385720311, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Chief of gene structure at the national cancer institute, hamer not only claims that human spirituality. Molecular geneticist dean hamer first coined the term god gene in his 2004 book, the god gene. 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. How faith is hardwired into our genes by dean hamer.
Hamer claims that this gene accounts for the spirituality that emerges in some people but not others. 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. The socalled god gene is a particular location in the human genome. The god gene, neuroscience, and the soul jonathan morrow. Human geneticist dean hamer searches for answers in his new book the god gene. Hamer showed that this gene predisposes people to a higher level of spirituality. This one is no exception, a suave and savvy treatise on the primacy of nature over nurture and the possibility that. Other studies since 1993 have suggested similar ideas.
Evidence now suggests that the 1993 study by geneticist dean hamer on a possible gay gene is not valid. He wrote that a persons capacity to believe in god. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination towards religious. The overwhelming majority of americans believe in god, expressing a conviction that has existed since. This vaccine would target the god gene, discovered by nih scientist dean hamer in 2004. Hamer brings factor analysis and statistical relevance into play. Sep, 2005 buy the god gene reprint by hamer, dean h. 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. 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. How faith is hardwired into our genes, dean hamer argues that a variation in the vmat2 gene plays a role in ones openness 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.
Already on page 8, however, hamer inserts a disclaimer. Dean hamer makes it quite clear, that this book is not. Chief of gene structure at the national cancer institute, hamer. How faith is hardwired into our genes by dean hamer, a molecular biologist who studies behavioral genetics. Vmat2 gene molecular study of 2,000 peoples in the. 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. 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 overwhelming majority of americans believe in god. Hamer 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at. And environmental influences are just as important as genetics. According to hamers hypothesis, spirituality is a biological mechanism that is imprinted on our dna.
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. 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. How faith is hardwired into our genes argues that human spirituality has genetic component. How faith is hardwired into our genes 9780385720311 by hamer, dean h. The most important words in hamer s book surely are the last ones, where readers will find a takehome message. How faith is hardwired into our genes doubleday, 2004. 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. 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. The god gene download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In the god gene, hamer makes his case for a materialist and evolutionary explanation for faith in god. How faith is hardwired into our genes, details a recent example of a purported link between a particular gene and human behavior hamer, 2004. The idea has been postulated by geneticist dean hamer, the director of the gene structure and regulation unit at the u.
He recalls describing to a colleague his discovery of a link between. In this book hamer explores the impact of genetics on belief in god. National cancer institute, and author of the 2005 book the. Some carry genes for just 1, others 2, and a few, 3 reasons. In his 2004 book, the god gene, hamer introduces a new, exciting topic for those interested in both religion and science. The idea has been postulate and promoted by geneticist dr. Once again, national institutes of health molecular biologist dean hamer fills the. A vaccine that targets islamic extremists and eliminates their desire to believe in god would be the miracle that the pentagon desperately needed. 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. 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. Unfortunately, the final pages seem to have a few unintentional slips. Nowhere has that idea received a more intriguing goingover than in the recently published book the god gene. According to hamer s hypothesis, spirituality is a biological mechanism that is imprinted on our dna. 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.
Why, the geneticistauthor of this provocative book asks, is spirituality such a powerful and universal. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the god gene. The god gene hypothesis is based on a combination of behavioral genetic, neurobiological and psychological studies. How faith is hardwired into our genes dean hamer, author. Hamer you might not require to go somewhere to read the ebooks. Vmat2 gene molecular study of 2,000 peoples in the religious. 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. The specific gene in question, that everyone has some version of, is vmat 2.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The god gene hypothesis proposes that a specific gene, called vesicular monoamine transporter 2 vmat2, predisposes humans towards spiritual or mystic experiences. 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. The god genebad science meets bad theology by albert mohler. This climate propelled dean hamer s the god gene into some measure of prominence cover of time, october 25, 2004. He discerns a critical role for the vmat2 gene with a variant containing a c, or spiritual allele. How faith is hardwired into our genes paperback september, 2005. He recalls describing to a colleague his discovery of a link between spirituality and a specific gene he calls the god gene. 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. Why, the geneticistauthor of this provocative book asks, is spirituality such a powerful and. Nevertheless, his book is riddled with unsubstantiated science and a distorted view of faith.
The god genebad science meets bad theology by albert. The god gene by dean hamer a couple of summers ago, i checked out a few nonfiction books from the library. 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. 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. The idea has been proposed by geneticist dean hamer in the 2004 book called the god gene. In a nonmajors class, we read and discussed the god gene and conducted on a small scale an extension of the study it describes. 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. Dean hamer reveals that this inclination toward religious faith is no accident. National cancer institute, and his colleagues published a paper that suggested the x chromosome called xq28 might contain a gay gene. Scientist dean hamer thinks he has found the explanation for human belief in god its in the genes.
The book was covered heavily by the popular press, including an article in time magazine featured on the magazines cover kluger et al. 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. In a nonmajors class, we read and discussed the god gene and conducted on. 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.
Written with balance, integrity, and admirable scientific objectivity, this is a book for readers of science and religion alike. Dean hamer is a renowned harvard graduate and american geneticist. 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. How faith is hardwired into our genes by hamer, dean.
How faith is hardwired into our genes, in no way disproves god. Dean hamer makes it quite clear, that this book is not an argument that god does or does not exist. Hamer has written a book on the subject titled, the god gene. Hamer has already disowned the title of his own book. The god gene is an interesting survey of the evidence that spirituality is hardwired in our genetic makeup. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Geneticist claims to have found god gene in humans.