Religious Belief
Recent studies on twins, aimed to identify what determines religiosity, conclude that shared environment – namely, a family’s approach to religion – plays a great role, especially during childhood and adolescence. After that, the picture shifts, the early environment becomes
less potent, and a genetic influence emerges between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The twin data suggest that genetic factors help to explain why adults sometimes stray from the beliefs of their childhood. The more distance they get from the beliefs of their early years, the more idiosyncratic
factors can hold sway over a person’s attitudes. In a way, we are born to be inclined toward religion or atheism.