Hypothesis proposing that human spirituality is influenced by heredity
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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.[1] The idea has been proposed by geneticist Dean Hamer in the 2004 book called The God Gene: How Faith is Hardwired into our Genes.
The God gene hypothesis is based on a combination of behavioral genetic, neurobiological and psychological studies.[2] The major arguments of the hypothesis are: (1) spirituality can be quantified by psychometric measurements; (2) the underlying tendency to spirituality is partially heritable; (3) part of this heritability can be attributed to the gene VMAT2; (4) this gene acts by altering monoamine levels; and (5) spirituality provides an evolutionary advantage by providing individuals with an innate sense of optimism.
^Silveira, Linda A. (March 20, 2008). "Experimenting with Spirituality: Analyzing The God Gene in a Nonmajors Laboratory Course". CBE: Life Sciences Education. 7 (1): 132–145. doi:10.1187/cbe.07-05-0029. ISSN 1931-7913. PMC 2262126. PMID 18316816.
^Hamer, Dean (2005). The God Gene: How Faith Is Hardwired Into Our Genes. Anchor Books. ISBN 0-385-72031-9.
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