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And Now ... A Politics GeneGenetics seems to explain everything these days. Previous posts explored recent efforts to account for human sexual behavior, but now it really gets dirty. Few discussions can muster emotion faster than political exchanges, so please be advised that RTB does not endorse any particular candidate, party, or platform. A popular article, "Political Views Driven by Biology," suggests that political beliefs stem (at least in part) from genetics. You might say that a person is hardwired to hold liberal or conservative views. Researchers tested 46 Nebraskans who held strong political beliefs for responses to fear stimuli. They concluded that participants who scored high on stress tests also tended to support positions usually associated with conservatism; including military spending, the death penalty, school prayer, and the concept of biblical truth. The same group tended to oppose pacifism, gun control, gay marriage, and abortion rights. It appears that people who are most alarmed by bloody or really gross images (large spider on someone’s face, a bloody face, and an open wound with maggots on it) tend toward conservatism and are therefore "built differently" than others. The thought is that this type of research might help those on opposing sides of the political spectrum to exercise tolerance toward others, given that biology has produced their beliefs. See anything wrong with this picture? Uh, how about upbringing and influences throughout one’s life? One would think that parents, teachers, clergy, peers, books, TV, the Internet, and many other factors carry far more weight in the development of political beliefs than an evolutionary response to frightful images. Also, regardless of one’s political stance, this kind of conclusion seems to disrespect human capacity to reason, and therefore to learn, grow, and change. And why test only a tiny group from a red state? This smacks of "this helps explain why those bigots believe that stuff. They can’t reason because they’re hardwired, so we might as well accept that fact." Ouch. What do you think? |
Comments
What matters to me is truth
What matters to me is truth and I believe truth to be worth defending with passion.
In this country people have the right to believe what they want to believe, but that doesn’t mean what they believe is right.
Where I think things go wrong is the failure to understand we have an obligation to uphold and support the truth. It seems to me, for some, it is almost considered wrong to take that position, because who‘s going decide what the truth is. That comes from a world view that man determines truth, another lie.
A key example is abortion. Is the definition of life a personal choice? Does a mother get to decide when life begins? That’s a lie. The truth is life is a factual question, the human choice has to do with the value we attach to that life.
Our Christian world view is that truth belongs to God. Do we really believe that? If our world view is correct, standing by and doing nothing is not acceptable. Allowing people to believe in the lies that support their fantasy humanistic world view is promoting evil and history clearly reveals the result of that.
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16 NIV.
Good comment, Randy. Thanks.
Good comment, Randy. Thanks.
It seems a person can
It seems a person can condition him/herself to be less squeamish at the sight of blood, etc.
And while military veterans tend to be more conservative politically, in my experience, that certainly is not absolute.
Also in the mix here is the biblical admonition "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
As a result of verses such as that one, I think there may be a tendency on the part of evangelical Christians not to allow their minds to be filled with the wanton, graphic violence depicted in many movies (and elsewhere) these days. And so the lack of exposure could contribute to a lack of conditioning, hence a stronger reaction to "bloody or really gross images."
And arachnophobia respects no boundaries, be they political or religious!
I think the most important thing for people on any side of any issue is to remember that we are all human, full of fears and foibles. I may be convinced I'm right on a given issue, but in all humility I must acknowledge that I am often wrong on others.
As a consequence it seems wise to recognize that we often stand to benefit from calmly considering the perspective of a person who sees things differently on an issue than we do.
Again, the opinions
Again, the opinions expressed here belong to the authors and do not reflect those of RTB.
I guess I asked for it.
Just tell her that at least
Just tell her that at least Bush is anti abortion!!!
Although, he doesn't seem to have a problem with 63 trimester abortion.
I tend to hold the
I tend to hold the perspective it is liberal thought that’s hardwired into humanism and it is Christian conservative thought that is freed from human biological chemistry. I don’t know how else to explain the upside down solutions offered by liberalism under the guise of compassion and liberty.
It reminds me of a woman
It reminds me of a woman (who I met in business several times) in Garberville Ca. She had two bumper stickers on her sub-compact. One said something about 'Bush/Tyranny/ Treason' (etc). The other said, 'Keep Your God to Yourself!'
I said, "Cheri... it occurs to me that those bumper stickers contradict each other". She asked how...
I explained that her moral judgements are inseparable from her metaphysic, and that she was shoving her god down people's throat while telling them to keep theirs to themselves.
She understood...
The last time I saw her there was only one sticker: Bush/Tyranny/Treason (etc).
I guess she is genetically predisposed to some things... but now she is at least consistent.