Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Starlight Witch

Home
Pagan
Does Our DNA Remember Religious Persecution?

Does Our DNA Remember Religious Persecution?

Last updated on: June 7, 2018 at 9:30 am by Astrea Taylor

Does Our DNA Remember Religious Persecution? 2018-06-07T09:30:43-04:00 Astrea Taylor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Epigenetic Inheritance is the study of genetic traits that can be turned on or off depending on an environment, and are passed on to offspring. In other words, our DNA changes based on how good or bad conditions are, and our kids are either better or worse off because of it. It also means we’re the product of our ancestors’ stresses.

pagan persecution modern day witch hunt genetics dna remember memories

Photo courtesy of Ally Aubry and Flickr, CC2.

In non-human subjects, an epigenetic disturbance can last for several generations (in one, greater than fifty!). In animals with genetics closer to humans, such as mice and other mammals, it seems as though thirteen generations may be the lasting strength for a species to lose its genetic fear markers and to show no fear to its former agressors.

Because humans have such long life spans, and because of the very recent developments in genetics, epigenetic inheritance is hard to prove without several shadows of doubt. However, in one human study, the children of holocaust survivors had the same trauma expressed in their genes.

What does this mean for us witches and pagans?

If this theory can be applied to humans over several generations, it means that we hold the memories and stresses of our ancestors. Think back to thirteen generations ago and what was going on with your ancestors. My ancestors were either living in Europe or emigrated to what would become America at that time. They likely lived through centuries of severe religious persecution in their home countries, enough to make many of them move across the world in the hopes of greater freedom.

Even though a lot of my ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War for a constitution based on religious freedom as one of their primary tenets, they still had to endure a country steeped in conservative Christian belief. They lived in a time when the witch hunts at Salem and Hartford were relatively recent, and threats of such occurrences spread across the new country. They lived through times where it was not only prudent, but life-saving to hide from persecutors and get the kids baptized to hide in plain sight. In short, they lived through times of fear.

As the thirteenth generation, I’m poised to break that fear and change my genetics. Maybe you are too. Lucky 13, huh?!

I’m still confounded by current American culture. Religious freedom is still questioned by so many. To be anything other than white, cis, straight, and of a Christian/Catholic religion is to be suspected by people who hold power. This shows up in our culture regularly, and possibly in ourselves as shame, fear, guilt, and anxiety. Fear of persecution is still strong in many of us.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

There’s a tendency for some to play it safe. While that keeps us alive enough to make the next generations, those lives are without power. Those generations make less progress. I understand the fear and isolation of the past, but now, in the age of communication, we’re poised to hold each other accountable more often, to keep records, and to band together against oppression. This is a good tool — one we can use to our advantage.

Does your family have remnants of non-Christian or witchy behavior that are just now seeing the light? Just the other day, someone in my family attended a Christian church to support a friend playing music there. She didn’t like the church because it wasn’t free enough. It was too confining. The preacher probably referred to god as a “he,” like so many churches. She’s always been drawn to Mary, not the Christian concept of a male god or Jesus. My grandmother saw ghosts, and told me it’s a trait passed on from her mother. It made me wonder — how much witchy stuff couldn’t be talked about back in the older times? How much of our witchy history have we lost to a fear of persecution that was still alive and well?

I like to think that if we have the gene expressions from the 1700s, maybe we have even more gene expressions of ancient memories, going back all the way to the dawn of humanity. From reading history books, I know our ancestors were most likely agrarian for several millennia. They planted, worked, and harvested through the seasons and the wheel of the year. More likely than not, they lived in close proximity to nature. They looked up at a night sky so heavy with stars, before light pollution dimmed our connection to it. They ate food so fresh, it was likely picked or slaughtered that day.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay, CC0.

Could those memories be with us? Is that why I feel so exalted when I camp and experience a greater connection with nature? When I’m there, I’m more in touch with my intuition. I pay attention to feelings and nature. I connect with animals and feel one with the earth, the wind, the sun, and the bodies of water nearby. Perhaps those ancient memories do guide us, in the same way that birds know that certain butterflies are poison without being taught.

Maybe that’s why the pagan movement seems to be growing — it’s a lovely combination of society’s fears being eradicated and our ancient memories coming forth. I only hope we can create a world that is even more free and empowering for all people, everywhere, especially those who’ve been/who are marginalized. The future depends on it.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t say this has a larger implication for people whose ancestors experienced more recent persecution, such as people of color and Jews. Christian and Nazi terrorists against the ‘others’ are real and recent (i.e. slavery, lynchings, church burnings, Charlottesville). I’m glad we as a society seem to be evolving and changing for the better, but I still feel those moments are so recent that I can’t help but mourn that we haven’t made more headway. There’s still so much to be done in terms of equality, how people are seen and shown, and respect.

~ Starlight Witch ~

Facebook * Instagram * Patreon * Twitter

Energy Articles

Pagan Articles (General)

religious persecution

witch

witch hunt

About Astrea

Astrea is a polytheistic pagan witch, fire dancer, new ager, and writer of fiction. Check out her social media accounts to see all her blog posts and extra special witchy / artsy / personal content. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

April 16, 2018

Healing Fears The Jungian Way / My Encounter With The Bear

Next Post

April 20, 2018 Personal Gnosis Is The New Black

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book and Tarot Reviews Energy Articles Pagan Articles (General) Pagan God/Goddess Articles Pagan Holidays Pagan Pop Culture and Politics Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2023 June 2023 November 2022 December 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many days did God take to create the world?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Six Two Ten Seven