Skip to main content

Swearing and the God Gene

Last week I saw a FB post that stated that a study now shows that people who use vulgar and profane language were very intelligent. You can be assured that everyone who commented on that post made sure to use foul expletives to impress everyone with their high “IQ”! Later I read that a geneticist named Dean Hamer who works for the National Cancer Institute, claimed he has found a “God gene” in people. He has published his hypotheses as the God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired Into Our Genes. Roughly stated, Hamer, a materialistic evolutionist claims a gene is the reason we believe in God. Previous to the “God gene finding” Hamer, in 1993 said he found there was a “male homosexual gene” which also received great fanfare.
For many people these sorts of claims are believed and passed on as fact – after all, Hamer is a scientist and, most believe that FB is a very reliable source of information! Besides, the word “study” strongly implies that there has been thorough research on the topic at hand. But, are studies and polls always reliable?
The truth is they can only be as reliable as the people and the facts used by those who are conducting the study. The past election has educated the public and fostered a very real skepticism towards the “experts”, and their “studies” and “polls”, and rightly so!
We should keep in mind that we are living in an informational age, but also an age of “agenda- driven” research and news, now known as “fake news”. However the Bible warns that there will be liars whose consciences have become callused; there will be lovers of self, self-adulation, arrogant, malicious gossips and haters of good, just to name a few things! (1Timothy 4:1-2, 2Timothy 3:1-5) Granted there have always been liars, but in our day, lying has become acceptable. The shame associated with lying is gone and now we not only excuse the lies of politicians and just about anyone else, but some even commend them for it!
Only a very foolish or perverted person would believe the so-called link between intelligence and cursing (casual observation will prove otherwise). But, what about Mr. Hamer’s gene “findings”, can we believe him? We will leave that to another evolutionary scientist, Carl Zimmer. Zimmer blasted the “God Gene” and “male homosexual gene” as very bad science and a reckless argument! You can read his response at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/faith-boosting-genes/
So let’s be on guard and not swallow every expert’s claim. After all, Proverbs 18:17 states: “The first to plead his case seems right until another comes and examines him.”
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Gary A. Smith (Repost from 12.15.16)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What's Going On: Understanding the Time We Live In

“Father, Father, We don't need to escalate; You see, war is not the answer, For only love can conquer hate; You know we've got to find a way, To bring some lovin' here today. What’s going on, what’s going on?” Some of you may recognize these lyrics sung by the late Marvin Gaye.   Yeah, what’s going on is right!   Just as Marvin’s generation struggled to make sense of their world, we are struggling today to make sense of ours.   Many are wondering if that is even possible, but let me assure you it is--but only if you have developed a Biblical World View.   I must warn you, if your World View has been shaped by the world’s academia, the major news media, celebrities, or just the voice of the majority, you will not understand “what’s going on”.   In fact, you will probably think I am nuts, but that’s alright with me.   As the Apostle Paul stated, “I am a fool for Christ.”   But as the late John Wimber, (Of The Righteous Brothers and The Vineyard fame) used to ask, “I a
2 comments
Read more

Raising Kids, Manners, and The Golden Rule

So, what do Manners and The Golden Rule have to do with raising kids past and present? There really is a very important connection.  If we want to see children today grow into upstanding adults who do well in life, we really need to be diligent in teaching them manners and also The Golden Rule -- wouldn’t you agree?  Let’s first look at what is known as the Golden Rule. In Jesus’ teaching found in Matthew 7:12, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone was aware of and practiced this in everything?  Well, it is not something that comes automatically to people, especially children!  So you might be wondering, how do we put this into practice?   Glad you asked.  Here’s how we can start.  Begin by teaching your children good manners-- yes, I said GOOD MANNERS. Why good manners?  Because good manners are really the essence of the Golden Rule, which is treating ot
1 comment
Read more

The Lord's Prayer Part 1: Our Father Who Is In Heaven, Hallowed (Or Holy) Is Your Name

As we begin praying we are instructed to follow this format.    The first is really revolutionary because as a disciple, that means we have surrendered and repented of our sin to Christ. We have received His forgiveness, His Spirit and are now “born again”.    We are now given the privilege of calling God our Father.    Romans  8:15  says we have been given a Spirit of adoption, that is adopted into His family and we cry out “Abba! Father!”    Abba means father/daddy…Wow that is wonderful! Notice that we pray to Our Father, the One who is in Heaven and Whose name is Holy!    He is our Father in Heaven, which distinguishes Him from all other so called gods, since all other “gods” and objects are created and are part of a created world or a created realm.    Only our Father is the transcendent Creator.   We are not to pray to statues, idols, objects including beads or crucifixes, people, deceased or living saints, angels, or even Jesus’ earthly mother Mary.    No! Jesus Himself i
1 comment
Read more