In his
nytimes column this morning, Nicholas Kristof treats the current buzz that links a propensity toward faith to human DNA. Trouble is, the article implies that all those with faith are Republican, those without are Democrats--and that people of faith reject the science of evolution.
More below the fold.
Here's the way he opens the article:
An "analysis" of Democrats and Republicans from the Ladies' Home Journal in 1962 concluded: "Republicans sleep in twin beds - some even in separate rooms. That is why there are more Democrats."
That biological analysis turns out - surprise! - to have been superficial. Instead, modern science is turning up a possible reason why the religious right is flourishing and secular liberals aren't: instinct. It turns out that our DNA may predispose humans toward religious faith.
Granted, that's not very encouraging news for the secular left. Imagine if many of us are hard-wired to be religious. Imagine if, as a cosmic joke, humans have gradually evolved to leave many of us doubting evolution.
Perhaps pastordan and a few other good Christians out there could set readers straight by way of letters to the editor. Alas, as a lapsed Unitarian Taoist, I don't qualify. Though, as the saying goes, some of my best friends are Christians.
While I admire Kristof for his compassion, his columns often leave me wondering what planet he lives on.