Atheists and genetic mutations

Mutations result from errors during the DNA replication process or other types of damage to DNA (such as may be caused by exposure to radiation or carcinogens).

Newsweek declared about atheists and genetic mutations and a scientific study relating to atheists:

“  |  Left-handedness is a good marker of a high mutational load. They found higher levels of left-handedness in atheists than in followers of most major religions.

Explaining the behavior behind these results, Dutton says: “Religiousness makes you more pro-social, and you become more religious when you're stressed. Religious people would have been sexually selected for because their pro-social, moral, unstressed nature would be attractive.”...

Since the industrial revolution, the hold of natural selection on humanity has weakened. “We developed better and better medical care, easier access to healthy food and better living conditions. Child mortality collapsed down to a tiny level and more and more people with more and more mutant genes have survived into adulthood and had children,” Dutton says.[1]

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There is a link between a person's genetics and autism.[2]

The Telegraph states about atheists and genetic mutations:

“  |  Left-handed people are more likely to be atheists, a study has found, as it says belief is passed on genetically.

The study suggests that religious people have fewer genetic mutations and are therefore less likely to be left handed or have conditions such as autism or schizophrenia.

British academic Edward Dutton, a professor at Oulu University, Finland, said that in pre-industrial times religiosity was passed on like other genetic attributes because it was associated with greater stability, mental health and better social behaviour.

But modern science means many people who would not previously have survived are making it to adulthood.[3]

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In 2011, the University of Boston published a study on the correlation between atheism and high-functioning/mild autism.[4][5] See also: Atheism and autism

On September 19, 2011, the Discover Magazine website had an article indicating that there were empirical results showing a positive correlation between atheism and high functioning autism and the article declared: "This is why the empirical results on the correlation between atheism and high functioning autism are important...

...some people were angry that I seemed to suggest that atheists were antisocial weirdos. Well, there is some data to back that up.[6]

The abstract for the 2017 journal article The Mutant Says in His Heart, “There Is No God”: the Rejection of Collective Religiosity Centred Around the Worship of Moral Gods Is Associated with High Mutational Load which was published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science indicates:

“  |  Industrialisation leads to relaxed selection and thus the accumulation of fitness-damaging genetic mutations. We argue that religion is a selected trait that would be highly sensitive to mutational load. We further argue that a specific form of religiousness was selected for in complex societies up until industrialisation based around the collective worship of moral gods. With the relaxation of selection, we predict the degeneration of this form of religion and diverse deviations from it. These deviations, however, would correlate with the same indicators because they would all be underpinned by mutational load. We test this hypothesis using two very different deviations: atheism and paranormal belief. We examine associations between these deviations and four indicators of mutational load: (1) poor general health, (2) autism, (3) fluctuating asymmetry, and (4) left-handedness. A systematic literature review combined with primary research on handedness demonstrates that atheism and/or paranormal belief is associated with all of these indicators of high mutational load.[7] |  ”

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Theodore Beale wrote: "This would also put Bruce Charlton's Mouse Utopia observations into context, as atheism appears to be one aspect of the nihilistic despair that is a consequence of the increased prevalence of genetic inferiority that results from easier circumstances."[8]

Suraj Radhakrishnan wrote in International Business Times article Atheism Causes Genetic Mutation? Study Finds Religious People To Be Healthier:

“  |  ...a study has linked a lack of belief in god to an increase in genetic mutations in the general population. The study found that religious people tend to live healthier, longer lives than atheists.

The authors of the study say that as societies have progressed, the number of atheists has grown. During pre-industrialization times, societies were highly religious. The community ritual of worship helped individuals develop strong social bonds and to choose reproductive partners that would pass on strong genes to the next generation.

But, slowly as societies drifted, we became less religious, and with the rise of atheism came increased levels of mutations among humans, the researchers say.

The study was published in the Evolutionary Psychological Science on Dec. 20.

“Maybe the positive relationship between religiousness and health is not causal—it's not that being religious makes you less stressed so less ill. Rather, religious people are a genetically normal remnant population from preindustrial times, and the rest of us are mutants who'd have died as children back then,” lead author Edward Dutton from the Ulster Institute for Social Research told Newsweek.[9]

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Theodore Beale wrote: "This would also put Bruce Charlton's Mouse Utopia observations into context, as atheism appears to be one aspect of the nihilistic despair that is a consequence of the increased prevalence of genetic inferiority that results from easier circumstances."[10]

## Contents

* 1 Defending atheist mutational load theory: Dr. Edward Dutton and Guy Madison
* 2 Atheism, left-handedness, socialization pointing to a largely non-genetic explanation of atheism
* 3 Atheists, psychopathy and genetic mutations
* 4 Cancer, genetic mutations and various atheist populations
* 5 Atheism, obesity and genetic mutations
* 6 Atheism, depression and genetics
* 7 Consistent handedness and religiosity/irreligiosity
* 8 Atheism, evolutionary theory and genetic entropy
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 Notes

## Defending atheist mutational load theory: Dr. Edward Dutton and Guy Madison[edit]

* Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory: Part 1 by Dr. Edward Dutton and Professor Guy Madison
* Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory - Part 2 by Dr. Edward Dutton and Professor Guy Madison

## Atheism, left-handedness, socialization pointing to a largely non-genetic explanation of atheism[edit]

See also: Atheism and social outcasts and Homosexuality and genetic mutations

Dr. Neil Whitehead writes about left-handedness and homosexuality: "..everyone knows that left-handed people feel in a minority, and different. Very many homosexual people attest to feeling different and not belonging when they were growing up.. Left-handedness could increase feelings of difference and be one important factor in the complex leading to homosexuality. This could apply to both men and women and the authors quote a study in which non-right-handed women rated themselves as less feminine."[11]

Some people are more likely to be atheist if they are less likely to identify with the religious identity of their family/community (see: Atheism and social outcasts and Atheism and poor relationships with parents),

## Atheists, psychopathy and genetic mutations[edit]

The perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: Atheism and sadism

See also: Atheism and psychopathy and Antitheism and antisocial behavior

A psychopath is someone with an anti-social personality disorder characterized by violent, perverted or immoral behavior often leading to criminality. Psychopaths have little or no concern for other people. Some psychopaths equate love with sexual arousal.[12]

There are a few studies showing a positive correlation between psychopahy and irreligion (see: Atheism and psychopathy).[13][14]

There are medical scientists and social scientists who theorize that psychopathy is a medical condition caused by genetic defects (caused by accumulated mutations within a given population).[15][16][17]

Antitheism is active opposition to theistic belief.

Social science research indicates that antitheists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as narcissism, dogmatism, and anger.[18][19] Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.[20]

Psychopathy is strongly correlated with crime, violence, and antisocial behavior.[21][22] See also: Irreligion, psychopathy, crime, violence and antisocial behavior

## Cancer, genetic mutations and various atheist populations[edit]

See also: Atheism and cancer

Mutations result from errors during the DNA replication process or other types of damage to DNA (such as may be caused by exposure to carcinogens or radiation).

The World Health Organization declares concerning secular Europe: "Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of cancer cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year."[23]

According to the National Cancer Institute:

“  |  Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide....

Inherited genetic mutations play a major role in about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers. Researchers have associated mutations in specific genes with more than 50 hereditary cancer syndromes, which are disorders that may predispose individuals to developing certain cancers.[24]

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Irreligious/nonreligious countries such as China and secular European countries (see: Atheism and China and secular Europe), have significant problems with cancer (see: Atheism and cancer). The World Health Organization declares concerning secular Europe: "Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of cancer cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year."[25]

Denmark, France and Australia have significantly higher rates of individuals holding to an atheistic worldview (see also: Irreligion in Denmark and French atheism and Irreligion in Australia). According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, Denmark, France and Australia have the three highest per capita cancer rates in the world.[26]

Atheist controlled mainland China has a significant problem with cancer and cancer rates are exploding there. See also: Atheist controlled communist China and the environment.

There are various studies which link atheists/irreligious to various unhealthy behaviors associated with cancer development (see: Atheism and cancer).

## Atheism, obesity and genetic mutations[edit]

* Atheism, obesity and genetic mutations

## Atheism, depression and genetics[edit]

See also: Atheism and depression

The English anthropologist Edward Dutton indicates that religious people are genetically disposed to suffer less depression.[27] Atheists are more likely to suffer depression (see: Atheism and depression and Atheism and suicide).

## Consistent handedness and religiosity/irreligiosity[edit]

See: Consistent handedness and religiosity/irreligiosity

## Atheism, evolutionary theory and genetic entropy[edit]

John Sanford

See also: Genetic entropy

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists and agnostics.[28]

The genetic entropy theory by Cornell University Professor Dr. John Sanford on eroding genomes of all living organisms due to mutations inherited from one generation to the next is declared to be one of the major challenges to evolutionary theory. The central part of Sanford’s argument is that mutations, represented by spelling mistakes in DNA, are accumulating so quickly in some creatures (and particularly in people) that natural selection cannot stop the functional degradation of the genome, let alone drive an evolutionary process that could lead for example, from apes into people.[29]

Sanford's book Genetic Entropy and the Mystery of the Genome explains why human DNA is inexorably deteriorating at an alarming rate, thus cannot be millions of years old.[30]

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and health
* Atheism and cancer
* Causes of atheism
* Atheism and marriageability
* List of atheist shooters and serial killers
* Homosexuality and genetic mutations
* Atheists and physical attractiveness
* American "low church atheists" and Alzheimer's disease

## External links[edit]

* Atheism Linked To Mutant Genes, Says New Study, Inquisitr
* Religious People Live Healthier, Longer Lives—While Atheists Collect Mutant Genes, Newsweek
* is down to a genetic mutation, claims academic study, Christianity Today
* Left-handed people more likely to be atheists: Study, Deccan Chronicle

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES, Newsweek, 2017
2. ↑ More Autism Genes Identified, TheScientist website
3. ↑ Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds, The Telegraph, 2017
4. ↑ Religious Belief Systems of Persons with High Functioning Autism, Catherine Caldwell-Harris, Caitlin Fox Murphy and Tessa Velazquez at the Department of Psychology - Boston University); Patrick McNamara (Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine)
5. ↑ Is atheism linked to autism? Controversial study points to relationship between the two, Daily Mail, 20 September 2011
6. ↑ What atheism and autism may have in common By Razib Khan, September 19, 2011]
7. ↑ The Mutant Says in His Heart, “There Is No God”: the Rejection of Collective Religiosity Centred Around the Worship of Moral Gods Is Associated with High Mutational Load, Evolutionary Psychological Science by Edward Dutton, Guy Madison and Curtis Dunkel, pp 1–12
8. ↑ [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2017/12/genetically-inferior.html Genetically Inferior by Theodore Beale
9. ↑ Atheism Causes Genetic Mutation? Study Finds Religious People To Be Healthier by Suraj Radhakrishnan, International Business Times'
10. ↑ Genetically Inferior
11. ↑ Is left-handedness linked to homosexuality? by Dr. Neil Whitehead
12. ↑ Robert D. Hare (2011). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. Guilford Press, 52\. ISBN 978-16062-35782.
13. ↑ Why Do You Believe in God? Relationships between Religious Belief, Analytic Thinking, Mentalizing and Moral Concern by Anthony Ian Jack , Jared Parker Friedman, Richard Eleftherios Boyatzis, Scott Nolan Taylor, Plus One, March 23, 2016
14. ↑ Correlates of psychopathic personality traits in everyday life: results from a large community survey by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Robert D. Latzman, Ashley L. Watts, Sarah F. Smith, and Kevin Dutton, Frontiers of Psychology, 2014
15. ↑ The Psycho Gene by Philip Hunter, EMBO Rep. 2010 Sep; 11(9): 667–669.
16. ↑ Psychopathic personality traits: heritability and genetic overlap with internalizing and externalizing psychopathology by DANIEL M. BLONIGEN,* BRIAN M. HICKS, ROBERT F. KRUEGER, CHRISTOPHER J. PATRICK, and WILLIAM G. IACONO, Psychol Med. 2005 May; 35(5): 637–648.
17. ↑ Glenn, A.L., Kurzban, R., & Raine, A. (2011). Evolutionary Theory and Psychopathy. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16, 371-380
18. ↑ Science Shows New Atheists to be Mean and Closed-Minded
19. ↑ Why Sam Harris is Unlikely to Change his Mind by JONATHAN HAIDT, February 3, 2014 8:36 pm
20. ↑ Science Shows New Atheists to be Mean and Closed-Minded
21. ↑ (2005) Handbook of Psychopathy. Guilford Press, 440–3.
22. ↑ Coid, Jeremy; Yang, Min; Ullrich, Simone; Roberts, Amanda; Moran, Paul; Bebbington, Paul; Brugha, Traolach; Jenkins, Rachel et al. (May 2009). "Psychopathy among prisoners in England and Wales". International Journal of Law and Psychiatry (Elsevier Ltd) 32 (3): 134–41. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2009.02.008. PMID 19345418. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24256789_Psychopathy_among_prisoners_in_England_and_Wales. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
23. ↑ World Health Organization - Cancer statistics for Europe
24. ↑ The Genetics of Cancer, National Cancer Institute
25. ↑ World Health Organization - Cancer statistics for Europe
26. ↑ Data for cancer frequency by country, World Cancer Research Fund International
27. ↑ [Why are Conservative Girls So Attractive and Liberal Girls So Ugly?] by Edward Dutton
28. ↑
* Dr. Don Batten, A Who’s Who of evolutionists Creation 20(1):32, December 1997.
* Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.,F.M., Refuting Evolution, Chapter 1, Facts and Bias
29. ↑ Robert Carter. Genetic entropy and simple organisms: If genetic entropy is true, why do bacteria still exist?. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on 2012-10-29.
30. ↑ John Sanford - bio at Creation Ministries International

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