Faith ‘genetic’ says report

GENETICS may determine how religious people are, according to new US research.

Scientists who studied 273 sets of twins found that while environmental factors influence faith at a young age, genes become the dominant factor in adulthood.

Laura Koenig, who led research at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, surveyed 169 pairs of identical and 104 pairs of fraternal twins, all male and in their early 30s.

They were asked to grade how often they took part in religious activities and the importance of religious faith in their lives.