Breeding for credulity

[_Panopticon]

I have a theory that there has been at least some effect of selective breeding on the Mormon population when it comes to being credulous. People who are not willing to believe or trust too readily end up leaving the church, voluntarily or otherwise. As a result, genes for critical thinking and skepticism tend to leave the Mormon gene pool.

For example, pretend that Joseph Smith had a revelation that people with red hair were of the devil. How many generations would it take for the gene for red hair to be measurably reduced in frequency?

I know that there have not been very many generations since Joseph Smith. However, in selectively breeding for certain traits in animals, it is possible to accomplish much in just a few generations. Even if there hasn't been a measurable effect so far, it might be observable centuries from now.

Of course, this is not a total explanation for why many LDS people are gullible or have a high "faith" quotient. Also, it doesn't mean that all LDS people are credulous. Even if this isn't a genetic effect, there is certainly a phenomenon of self-selection in the church. Critical thinkers are not welcome, so they tend to leave.

[_Buffalo]

I think to a certain extent critical thought is "beaten" out of Mormons through vigorous propaganda efforts from primary to seminary and beyond. It's only those able to shake off this lifelong conditioning who leave.

[_Runtu]

On the radio yesterday I heard about a study that developing critical thinking in children is highly correlated to the respect parents give to the children's opinions. In other words, when a child expresses a contrary opinion or question, it's best to listen, even if you don't agree.

I think in the church we have been taught to "indoctrinate" (President Kimball's word) our children, and the church's hierarchical structure does not lend itself to questioning of parents or church leaders. So, there is far less incentive for us as parents to respect contrary opinions.

Just my two cents.

[_Fiannan]

I have a theory that there has been at least some effect of selective breeding on the Mormon population when it comes to being credulous. People who are not willing to believe or trust too readily end up leaving the church, voluntarily or otherwise. As a result, genes for critical thinking and skepticism tend to leave the Mormon gene pool.

For example, pretend that Joseph Smith had a revelation that people with red hair were of the devil. How many generations would it take for the gene for red hair to be measurably reduced in frequency?

I know that there have not been very many generations since Joseph Smith. However, in selectively breeding for certain traits in animals, it is possible to accomplish much in just a few generations. Even if there hasn't been a measurable effect so far, it might be observable centuries from now.

Of course, this is not a total explanation for why many LDS people are gullible or have a high "faith" quotient. Also, it doesn't mean that all LDS people are credulous. Even if this isn't a genetic effect, there is certainly a phenomenon of self-selection in the church. Critical thinkers are not welcome, so they tend to leave.

Creativity exists on so many levels. I think what you are trying to pinpoint is a form of rebellious creativity -- the kind that might exist in populations of anarchists and Ron Paul supporters! Haha.

Seriously though, one can be creative in education but still be someone who accepts Gospel principles completely. In science? I knew a guy who held several patents on chemical compounds he came up with and he was one of the most stiff, unquestioning members of the Church I have ever met. There are people who are creative in regards to all walks of life but are not rebellious in regards to Church. In fact, many LDS people maintain a very conventional way of looking at Gospel things while seeing their lifestyle as a form of rebellion against the prevailing culture. If two such people hook up and totally reject American consumerism and norms they may likely have ten kids while five couples who are either conform to societal norms or place materialism over maternalism only have two kids a piece. So whose genes get passed on? And who is to say which of the six couples is more or less conformist?

[_badseed]

I've heard apologist explain polygamy as exactly what you talk about— a breeding plan for belief. The idea is that more women would marry faithful LDS men and thereby produce more children which were 1) the genetic heir of a faithful priesthood holder and 2) raised under the influence of the Spirit, the LDS Gospel, and righteous Priesthood.

The genetic component was seen as literal in the Church. Don't know if it still is.

Bruce R McConkie that talked about this as "believing blood" in Mo Doc.

Believing BloodSee ADOPTION, BELIEF, FAITH, FOREORDINATION, ISRAEL, PRE-EXISTENCE. This is a figurative expression commonly used to designate the aptitude and inclination of certain persons to accept and believe the principles of revealed religion. In general the Lord sends to earth in the lineage of Jacob those spirits who in pre-existence developed an especial talent for spirituality and for recognizing truth. Those born in this lineage, having the blood of Israel in their veins and finding it easy to accept the gospel, are said to have believing blood.

Since much of Israel has been scattered among the Gentile nations, it follows that millions of people have mixed blood, blood that is part Israel and part Gentile. The more of the blood of Israel that an individual has, the easier it is for him to believe the message of salvation as taught by the authorized agents of the Lord. This principle is the one our Lord had in mind when he said to certain Jews: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:14, 26-27.)

Jan Shipps wrote:

By revelation, he [Joseph Smith] called his own father to be the patriarch of the church, and Father Smith instituted the practice of giving individual Saints spiritual messages called patriarchal blessings. Among much else, these blessings informed Mormons of their Hebrew tribal heritage, that is, through which of his progeny they were related to Father Abraham. From this, a concept of “believing blood” developed, and a powerful symbol system gradually grew up to support the notion that people who responded positively when they read the Book of Mormon or heard LDS gospel claims already had the blood of Abraham flowing in their veins. [...]For more than a century, this “believing blood” concept was extremely important. In the wake of the explosion in LDS Church membership that followed World War II, however, less has been heard of it. Even the importance of the patriarachy as a connection to Israel appears to be decreasing. Still, for almost a hundred years, Gentile had a particular meaning in the Mormon world. (Shipps, Jan. Sojourner in the Promised Land: Forty Years Among the Mormons, p. 25, 2000)

[_The Mighty Builder]

Yep, as so stated "Stupid is as Stupid does".

[_Buffalo]

On the radio yesterday I heard about a study that developing critical thinking in children is highly correlated to the respect parents give to the children's opinions. In other words, when a child expresses a contrary opinion or question, it's best to listen, even if you don't agree.

I think in the church we have been taught to "indoctrinate" (President Kimball's word) our children, and the church's hierarchical structure does not lend itself to questioning of parents or church leaders. So, there is far less incentive for us as parents to respect contrary opinions.

Just my two cents.

Good to know.

[_moksha]

You could breed true believers for a hundred generations and still not come up with a true knower.

Anyway, the above statement is incorrect since we are going for the Kwisatz Haderach.