Mac,
I find it interesting that you would make certain scientific claims whilst denying that you engage in any philosophical endeavour. What is science after all if not a certain way of viewing the world with a method of discovery? At heart scientists have adopted various assumptions and presuppositions.  From where did science come from? Did it just fall out of the sky? Of course not. It is established on many philosophical underpinnings. To offer any scientific hypothesis is to engage in a philosophical pursuit 'par excellence'.

Yet I find the notion that people are religious or believe in certain propositions because of a 'belief gene' as particularly dubious.

I'm also curious as to what you were trying to suggest about some of those pioneers of modern science that I mentioned: Bacon, Newton, Pascal. These were no small fish in the development of modern thought. Were they also suffering the ill effects of the defective 'belief gene'?

the
a course in miracles..teaching for today
http://www.celestinevision.com/celestine/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3337&start=30
has relivance on this hobby hoarse thread

[quote="johan9"][quote="GeneHrsy"][b]Let not my seeing a worldly..vieuw
obscure the sight of Christ.[/b]

I can obscure.. my holy sight,
[b] if[/b].. I intrude my world upon it.
[/quote]
there is best here ..given egsamples/..in visions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q56zlqIZDxg

or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe6DN1OoxjE&feature=watch-vrec

[quote]
Nor can I behold the holy sights Christ looks upon, [b]unless it is His vision that I use. [/b]
[/quote]
but his vision..is inner seeing..percieving recieving
based on not seeing the insane sins as reality[only judgments
every story has 2 sides..and the closer tie to 'the sinner'..the less repulsive the sin..[it is well that you forgive thyne owne[but who is not?

think how you percieve the same act..[b]of a loved one
versis a despised..other
[/b]

yet who is not ythy brrrr=other
a brother..is no bother
[quote]
Perception is a mirror,.. not a fact. And [b]what I look on is my state of mind, reflected outward. I would bless the world by looking on it through the eyes of Christ. [/b]
[/quote]
as much as i curse it looking out of mine own..in error

[quote]
And I will look upon the certain signs
that all my sins have been forgiven me.
[/quote]
yet do i look ..as hard
to find excuse for giving of that..'other'
him i deney to be my brother..oh why bother

[quote]

[i]You lead me from the darkness
<of mine own selfish judgments>..to the light;

[b]from sin to holiness. Let me forgive,
and thus receive salvation for the world.[/b]

It is [b]Your gift, my Father, given me to offer to Your holy Son,
that he may find again the memory of You, and of Your Son as You created him.[/b][/i][/quote]

do you ever have ...that 'gut feeling'..[i know i do
call it a hunch if you will..so in 45 seconds..lets hear the last visioning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7PL1H5d5wc[/quote]