A Theological Reply

• Granddad: Exercises for Skeptics by James Brody, 3/12/97
  • Behavior genetics, attachment, & transference by Mark Waugh, 3/28/97
    
    

Mark, Well put! To me it appears that what you are trying to say is that we bring to this earth a genetic package which is effected by our enviormental exposure and this interaction has a significent impact on our behavior. I would pull up short of the unconsciousness for I don't believe in this concept. If we have access to our behavioral antecedents (ie. retrieval) then they are not contained in the unconscious but are rather pre-conscious or that which is within the potential of "becomming" conscious (Sartre Being and Nothingness/On Becomming). Since this is Easter and I was raised Christian I am going to take a Christian read on some of these concepts(I have not been a Christian for over thirty years so I hope the Christians out there bear with me). God brings you into this world for a reason. This reason would be the "genetic package" which you refer to. To the Christian, Christ brings humans into this world to one,serve Him, and two, to serve other humans. The enviorment is the arena into which the Christian brings meaning into the world. The subtext is that the behavior a Christian exhibits is representative of Christ on Earth (God the Son). The behavior is thus, a precursor if you will, to the Christian belief in an afterlife (mostly associated with being one with Christ upon death). Thus, behavior on this planet is targeted toward an eventual reward that occurs , to a large extent, contingent upon ones behavior on earth (ie. very delayed gratification). One rthing that baffles me about these forums is that I have yet to see one posting that represents the Christian perspective! Bear in mind that almost eighty percent of the American population claim Christianity as a religion. Last week in the Philly Inquirer I read that when a poll was taken among Hollywood "moguls" (producers/directors/actors etc.) they stated that about "two to three percent" of Americans attend church once a week. The fact is that "forty to fifty percent" actually attend church weekly. I really think we need more diversity here! I hope the Christians out there here me!........Ed

No Replies