ON THE SPIRIT/MENTAL INTERACTION—Spiritual Genetics[1]

I have been impressed with the research associated with Goleman’s[2] emotional intelligence studies and particularly the pilfering of mental IQ into emotional IQ. It might make an interesting study to look at spiritual IQ also, but I would not want to be too zealous in jumping on the bandwagon. However, the correlation begs inquestioning, and I will use the phrase Spiritual Genetics, although the phrase has been used for many different aspects of God’s association with mankind. It also has association with a subject of which I am much more acquainted. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject.

Genetics has generally been considered as an isolated term defining a study of the biology of heredity and variation in organisms. While studying spiritual things, I have noticed a resemblance of physical genetics to what may be called spiritual genetics. We don’t have to understand the biological process here, but it will probably help to summarize some aspects of genetics as it will help us in our study of spiritual genetics.

Biological genetics involves billions of cells in our body each one having millions of DNA bases (our genotype). (I find it remarkable that God chose to have only four kinds of DNA bases to produce all life on earth.) These millions of bases produce thousands of genes producing long strands making up chromosomes (the human genotype has 23 pairs). Genes through a transcriptive process produce messenger RNA which combines amino acid building blocks producing proteins. We then see the results of our DNA in the skin, muscles, organs, and bones of our body (our phenotype).

Our spirit does not have genes as we know them. However, we all have certain talents and abilities that are expressed through our individualistic biological genes. The question might be asked, “What makes the biological genes make you who you are?” I am different from you in my capabilities, and you are different from every other person (or every other living thing for that matter). The phenotypic behavior of spiritual genes is seen in these talents, aptitudes, and abilities. Theoretically, there has to be spiritual genes since we see the phenotype of them in our talents. I propose that it is spiritual genes that are imposed into our spirit by the Spirit that makes me the conscious me, and you the conscious you. Let’s see what Jesus has to say about this topic through His parable of the talents.

(The Kingdom of Heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.”
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”
The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.”
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”
Then the man who had received the one talent came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:14-30

Paul had his own inimitable way of saying a similar thing:

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:7-13

Paul seems to limit his gifts to a few categories that must have been important in Bible times; however, today we might make additional categories or even as I propose, all the talents we humans have. If these talents don’t come from God who made all things, where do self-specific talents come from?

Our spirit doesn’t have genes compared to our physical genes. God’s genes (we might think of it as God's imposition of His will) enters our life and the talents associated with an individual’s life through his/her spirit. The interaction between the Spirit and our physical life might be shown through a symbolic representation like this: [S]-->[s]-->[ms]-->[em]-->[pe]-->[p]. Life (God’s will, talents) is imprinted by the Spirit into our spirit when we are born; we then use it in our mental on through our emotional to the physical. Once the talent reaches our mental (ms), it is then controlled by our mental free will with the temptations and aggravations of this world tempering all talents to one degree or another. Therefore, we can treat these gifts in any way we want, even ignore them. They are no longer perfect as they came from God; we “regulate” them. Generally, we have no control over biological genes. (I know that there are occasions of environmental influence.) However, these talents and abilities produced through spiritual genes are manipulated by our biological genes and our God-given free will. That is why a person can have great music ability and never touch a piano or sing a song to an audience. The talent lies dormant or is expressed in oblique ways. I once heard of a mentally deficient man who could watch a train of railcars pass by and add every number on each car and give you the sum after they had passed. Where did this come from? It certainly wasn’t learned. How much more good can be done by you and me who have our biological mental capacities along with God-given talents!

The interaction between man and God is itself a gift. Some use it constantly; others pay no attention to it, unless we can call using the life-given talents just to live as giving attention to God. I choose to constantly inquestion, to show myself approved through God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly wisdoming the Word of Truth.

[1] See http://www.keyway.ca/htm2004/20040806.htm for another description of spiritual genetics. The phrase is hardly original with me. This discussion is purely my own use of the phrase. My apologies to reincarnationists who might prefer that this phrase be left to them.
[2] Goleman, Daniel. 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.