I’m getting a little fed up with the astrology-zen part of religion (and it’s a big one)- those who are spiritual and believe in some “higher being”, but aren’t religious. And here’s why… because the spiritual guys are so vague and indecisive and apologetic with their beliefs as well as the beliefs of others, that they might as well not believe anything at all.

That was a bit harsh. Actually, I want to propose that pantheism be a suitable alternative shown to these dualist-post-buddhist-astrology-chart-let-me-read-your-palm folk.

Pantheism has been accurately described by Richard Dawkins as “sexed up atheism”. This is completely right. Pantheism, realistically, is a kind of atheism. Pantheists just make it a habit of calling nature “god”. I have my own irks with how that’s done but at least no pantheist has ever attempted to read my tarot cards.

Generally speaking, those who are spiritual tend to have beliefs that are a careful mix of pantheism, deism, agnosticism and polytheism. I would say pagans and wiccans fall into the category nicely.

So if you think about it, wouldn’t DNA be a suitable alternative to god? I think so.  Here’s why:

The Spiritual God                                                                         DNA

-Took part in the origin of life/universe                             -Is the reason life exists

-Has a possible, though vague, will for creatures               -Codes for looks and basic behavior

-Is immortal                                                                        -Is immortal through copies

-Is present in everything, specifically nature                       -Is in every living organism

-Can be symbolic of sexuality                                              -Lives on via reproduction, often sexual

-Is compatible with science                                                  -Is compatible with science

-Gets closer to you through meditation                                -Can be understood with study and thought

Your genes, in a sense, control you from the start. They can’t answer prayers, don’t determine destiny, and there’s a very good reason why your DNA doesn’t make you stand up for something against your will. Your brain is a supercomputer and DNA is the program. Technically, you can look at the “meaning” of life as reproduction; you exist “only” to pass on your genes.

Obviously, that’s a very monotonous way of looking at it, but genes also give us the emotions, color, vibrancy, and capacity to live that makes life so worth living. I seriously believe that if most people thought about genes the way they thought about god, the world would be much more secular, and much more enlightened.

Cheers