God’s Real Residence

We can observe ants busying themselves in their continual struggle for survival. They live in a world that knows nothing of our human existence. They know nothing of the world beyond their defined territory.

If they did know of us, they would consider us as an almighty force that is able to significantly impact their lives. We would be a God-like, omnipotent, commanding ruler. We could control their world and, for the most part, they would have no idea what was happening to them.

It is this perspective that gives many of us our own view on life. We believe there is something larger and more powerful that controls our lives. For some, it may be an almighty God; for others, it may be alien creatures that use us as some sort of astral plaything.

And, of course, as our scientific knowledge expands, the more our position in the universe is put into perspective. Not only do we become increasingly aware of the size of the universe, but we also begin to realise how insignificant a part of it we probably are. Who knows what’s really beyond our world?

This unknown, this uncertainty as to our station in the universe, perplexes and torments us. And so, we search for answers. We push at the boundaries of knowledge and explanation in order to, hopefully, gain some valuable insight. We endeavour to identify our controlling masters through activities such as space exploration and religious study.

But perhaps, rather misguided, we may be looking in the wrong direction? The world isn’t controlled by something out there. On the contrary, it is controlled by something much closer to home.

The suggestion is that the governing force of our lives is our genes. They are the true masters of our universe. We exist for their calling. They make us behave as we do; they use us to achieve their ends.

Although we like to think of ourselves as an independent, free force, we are not self-determining. Far from it! We are governed and controlled by our genetic masters. Quite simply, we do as we are told. We live for their well-being and for their future.

Our genes exist for two reasons: first, to secure their continued existence, and second, to better themselves. It is with this in mind that they make us behave the way we do. We are vessels for their continued existence, and we live to serve their advantage. Our role is to ensure that they continue to prosper.

Understanding our relationship with our genes, recognising that we are mere slaves to their requests, will help us understand and rationalise many of our individual behaviours. Some examples are as follows:

What makes us attracted to one person rather than another?

The person we desire is the person who will contribute something to our genetic advantage. They have some appeal that will either supplement our existing genetic strengths or bring some new genetic opportunities for us. By successfully reproducing with an appealing and advantageous partner, this should enhance our genetic future, ensuring that, within the prevailing environment, our genes improve their prospects of survival.

Why do we have such a devotion and commitment to our children?

Once our own body starts to decay, an alternative storage container is required to hold our genes. Our children are the vessels of the future. They ensure our genes survive. This is why it is so important that parents do their best for their children – they are safeguarding their genetic inheritance.

The design, creation, and delivery of these new vessels are also the mechanisms by which our genes secure their ongoing development and necessary survival.

This fact, that our genes survive long after we are gone, may also demonstrate the greater importance of our genes in comparison to us. We are merely the tools by which they operate.

Why do we choose to limit our reproductive behaviour?

Although we have reproductive capability from our teen years right through to middle age and even old age in some men, we impose limitations on our reproductive activity. This does not necessarily make genetic sense.

Genetic logic would suggest that we should begin reproductive activity as soon as possible and maintain it for as long as possible, thereby maximising our genetic potential. But this is not how we tend to behave. There may be a number of reasons for this:

• We may be wary of proliferating sub-standard genes. There may be a higher likelihood of damaging genetic mutations or faults occurring as we age.
• We may recognise the greater risks involved with later pregnancies and feel that such dangers are not worth taking. The rate of return does not justify it. The fact that we now have a much higher life expectancy is because we live a much more cosseted societal existence. Living longer does not mean we can safely reproduce for longer.
• In living a societal existence, we have to commit more to the raising of our offspring. We may therefore delay the start of reproductive activity because we want to spend more time making sure we find the right partner, one that will be genetically enhancing.
• We may believe that there are gains to be made from operating as an extended family. The more of us there are and the more able we are to support existing offspring, the better the life chances of those offspring. We may feel that if we’re not around to support them, then they may struggle. Financial inheritances tend to be higher when they are not divided as much.
• With society as our prevailing environment, we are increasingly diverted from our genetic purpose. As we shall observe when we consider the role of society, it is noticeable that the more modern and developed a society is then the less its members are attached to their Genetic Priority.

All things considered, it is probably the impact of society rather than the adoption of enhanced genetic motivations and understandings that account for our changing reproductive behaviours.

Why is it that in most circumstances individual interests will always override those of society?

Society exists to protect the human species from the forces of Nature; the individual exists to protect our genes from being eclipsed or surpassed by other genes. More often than not, when faced with a choice, we will act in our own self-interest. This is the power of our genes, impressing upon us the need to prioritise our own survival and, in so doing, to ensure that we do not jeopardise their existence.

As we will observe later, this can, of course, generate a dilemma between doing what is right for the individual and acting in the best interests of society. Although we will value the importance of society for its wider protection and recognise our increasing dependence on society, we will – given our natural instincts – always be more mindful of our personal genetic interests.

How can we explain our behaviour when it may seem irrational or confusing?

Quite frankly, this can be a struggle. Human beings sometimes behave in ways that may not, seemingly, have any apparent genetic logic – gay relationships, childless couples, abortion, suicide, marital affairs, altruistic behaviours. Genetically, they can make no sense. They are not compatible with our life purpose. They seemingly do nothing to enhance our genetic prospects and may even adversely affect our genetic survival.

An explanation for these behaviours could be that they are irregularities or distortions generated by society.

We no longer live in Nature. Society is our new Living Environment. Our behaviours are now governed by this new environment. This is – somehow – deflecting us from our natural genetic objectives. An example of this would be couples who focus on successful careers rather than having children.

The other, perhaps less palatable, possibility is that these behaviours are genetically driven, that individuals carry a gene that makes them behave this way. The concern with this line of thought is that, in not behaving according to the normal, accepted genetic rules, these people may be deemed to be carrying some genetic fault. As such, society may be disapproving, treating them as outcasts or criminals. Society may even seek to embark on corrective treatments such as gene therapy.

A final, necessary consideration is that we should also acknowledge our own ignorance in these matters. For all we know, there may be some obscure advantage for our genes in pursuing these behaviours. We just don’t know what it is. Although we can try to claim an understanding of genetic behaviour, we are mere novices in understanding its motivations, reasoning, and perspective.

For some of us, the idea that we are wholly bound by genetic rules may be uncomfortable. We don’t always like to admit our inadequacies and weaknesses, or that things are not within our control. Generally, we would prefer not to think that there is a bigger, more significant world out there. We would much rather think of ourselves as playing the lead role, as the star of the show, with the spotlight focused on us.

Unfortunately, we have to reconcile ourselves to our true station in life. We may like to think of ourselves as our own masters. But it is not so. We are mere pawns in a much bigger game – a game that is played by and controlled by our genes.

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