The core error of human beliefs is that we are responsible
for our behavior. But the truth is that human behavior is directed by our
genetic priorities. Our genetic priorities are hard wired and displayed by our
biology and our unconscious mind. Consequently,
when we are not in our conscious mind, which is usually the case, our behavior
is not under our direct control, as our society leads us to believe.
Due to this law of nature, the highest priorities of genetic
motivations are for self-survival and centered around such as; competition for
resources, security, mating, power, greed, and are commonly known as our
‘caveman genes’. Our lower genetic priorities are centered on cooperation and
include such as: a spiritual nature,’ altruism, compassion, love of neighbor
and the like.
Sacred scriptures and Spiritual leaders, such as Jesus, the Buddha,
and other great religious and spiritual teachers from yesterday and today have
taught to repent from our evil nature, and ‘love your neighbor’. But our genes
speak louder than such pleas, and all the prayers throughout history have had
little effect on turning off our ‘caveman genes’. Until practical and effective
ways of how to change our genetic priorities become available, there appears to
be little hope for individual and world peace.
But now, recent research in genetic engineering and the new
science of epigenetics offers possibilities of reversing genetic
priorities. The epigenetic mechanism,
which is initiated by environmental signals, has been shown to change our
behavior independently from our genetic code. On an individual basis,the goal
is to turn off our ‘caveman genes’ to allow expression of our altruistic genes,
which produce happiness and ‘love of neighbor’
See www.happinessgenes.com for
background and sources
James D Baird PhD
