Is Kissing Innate?? Or Learned/Cultural?

A detour from talking about Jesus.

I’ve been burdening with myself with the task of writing a post that is not only theologically accurate and profound, but also relatable and funny and engaging to people who don’t even believe in God, which is probably an impossible task, especially because I, myself, remain confused and tentative in asserting “what I believe.”

So I need a break. A break to get the public’s thoughts about kissing, because I just realized that scientists are not in agreement on whether kissing is an innate human activity, or a learned cultural activity.

I’m sorry, WHAT!?

Of course I just always assumed it was normal.

A kiss might seem like a natural thing to do for most of us, but the scientific jury is still out on whether it is a learned or instinctual behaviour. Approximately 90 per cent of cultures kiss, making a strong case for the act being a basic human instinct. I know what you’re thinking...what about the other ten per cent? If kissing was a natural behaviour, surely all cultures would do it? While this small minority doesn’t 'kiss' like the rest of us (due to superstitions and cultural beliefs), they may still engage in kissing-like behaviours, such as rubbing noses together. -Source

Alright… so, that begs the question about making out too.

I asked this in substack notes:

My crunchy friend said that she heard it was innate, because it helps us share a microbiome… this makes some kind of sense on a maternal level.

But really, I’m more stuck on… making out. Could that seriously just be… cultural?

I am nearly horrified to imagine it’s not innate, but some strange learned arbitrary cultural ritual of intimacy to, I suppose… prequel sex.

This brings up so many questions.

Kissing babies, or even just, putting your face up to babies, seems to be innate. But again… what about making out?

Questions I don’t have time to ask because, really, I need to pack and drive up to visit my friend in Connecticut.

To stay in my new niche, way this DOES tie in with THE BIBLE, is…