Monogamy Gene

As I was on my way to work this morning, I was listening to the radio.  Rick and Bubba were on commericial and WAY FM was playing the same old music over and over again, so I was flipping through the stations and came across a sound clip of Dr. Phil commenting on the “Monogamy Gene”. Let me start by saying that I am no scientist and I don’t understand all the scientific jargon, I’m just someone who believes in the Word of God and it is my standard by which I compare all things. Apparently there is a gene variant called “allele 334”, studied at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, that is linked to a man’s ability to bond with his wife. (The word used in the articles is “partner,” but I prefer to use “wife” because I believe God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman. I do not consider a homosexual man who cheats on his partner to be infidelity because that relationship was not divinely appointed in the first place.)  Research has been going on for a while. If this is old news to you, sorry. According to an article on New York’s WNBC, men with one or two copies of this allele are “more prone to marital dysfunction and more likely to get divorced.” The allele controls the production of vasopressin, a hormone found in mammals. This hormone can affect a man’s attitude towards fidelity and monogamy. If men don’t have the gene variant, they are more likely to be a devoted mate. I think it is just sad what this world is coming to, although I shouldn’t be surprised. We, humans, are creating a disorder and medicine for anything and everything under the Sun. Heard of ODD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder? An “ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning.” Also known as SIN. But, instead we give it a scientific name so that children can have an excuse for their behavior and parents can feel better about themselves. As an educator, I see disorders that do hinder a child’s ability to learn and/or socialize. I am not opposed to medication when it is necessary to improve the education and well being of a child. However, I am completely opposed to situations where medication is used to subdue behaviors that are simply a result of the sinful nature of a person. I believe parents have a responsibility to raise their children in moral homes where they learn to take responsibility for their actions. One thing my mother ALWAYS told me was that I am responsible for my actions and I can control my attitude. I hated to hear it at the time, but it’s truth. One thing I do not like to hear from my students is “So and So made me do it.” No one makes you do anything, you choose your actions. If only all parents would enstill that in their children–be accountable to your own actions, then maybe we wouldn’t have so many unnecessary prescriptions for medications. The only medication many children need is the word of God and parents who teach them the principles of God. A parent told me one time that she teaches her child to pray for those who hurt her, instead of seeking revenge, and reminds her that the meek shall inherit the earth. What a wonderful thing to teach such a young mind.