Is it really true that 50% of Americans don't believe in Evolution?

Question

The figures range from 9% to 60%. Maybe it has something to do with how the question is phrased ins surveys. For example, if asked if they believe that the world was created 6000 years ago and kangaroos skipped all the way from Noah's Ark to Australia, perhaps only 9% would agree. But if asked if they beleive that the whole Universe is just an accident with no purpose whatsover, and that nothing but blind chance rules the evolution of species, then perhaps only 50% would agree.

Personally, I think that Americans are much more like Europeans in this regard, and that it is the nature of the questions put to them makes it look as if the US is turning its back on science

Answer 1

I venture that >90% of Americans don't know what they truly believe. We say we belive A or B or even C, but if pressed hard, we are apt to change our minds. Likewise, too much of what we believe is dictated not by reasoned decision, but by default, accident or b/c it has been fed to us. Social Psychology strongly suggestes that what people believe and how they behave is too often at odds; likewise, what is believd is easily swayed if others disagree b/c of our herd behavior (desire to fit in). In the end, it doesn't sem to matter since the herd behavior mentality appears to dictate for most!

Answer 2

The problem is the premise of the question and the use of the term "evolution".

When we're talking Darwinian evolution, we're talking about a scientific theory (and that is a key word) which believes among other things that humans evolved from apes. There is much missing from this theory and even the idea of our evolution from Neanderthal man has been disproven. As scientific theories go, it may be widely accepted by many but it's seriously lack in proof.

The other part of your question really has nothing to do with evolution and everything to do with Creationism v The Big Bang. There is more proof that the earth predates Judaic writings about Adam and Eve, but no proof that any theory of a sudden eruption of cosmic gases lead to the development of the earth. We simply hypothesize without any credible evidence.

By contrast, we have a large group of people with faith in a Creator who may or may not believe the earth is 6000 years old, but still believe that the earth didn't "just happen". From an evidentiary standpoint, it's just as valid to believe in Creationism as it is to believe in The Big Bang because realistically there is no evidence in support of or refuting either.

Answer 3

First, let's get one thing straight, evolution is not science; it is a theory of origins, just as creationism. Evolution as Creationism can never recreate the events of the past. To do so is to introduce an element into the experiment that wasn't present, intelligence, particularly in the case of evolution. Secondly, the only thing that gives evolution a veneer of legitimacy is the vast ages of time. This hasn't been established, because all the dating methods are based on 3 assumptions. 1) We would know the original parent to daughter relationship ie. Uranium to Lead. 2) We would know that the decay rate throughout the ages is unchanged. 3) We would know that there were no external influences during the decay process. Sadly, for evolution, nobody can know any of these. Miller's Spark machine was an example of intelligent design, not spontaneous generation by random processes governed by chance. We are not turning our backs on SCIENCE, just on a theory that is terminally ill.

Answer 4

Evolution is a good theory, but it is not absolutely proven|

And evolution per se is not contrary to Christianity, as so many Christians believe it is|


There is not a theory of evolution, but you could say *theories* of evolution - Darwinian natural selection being one of them|

But because of the political climate within academia and the mainstream scientific community, Darwinism is for the moment, the only acceptable theory|


However, for a Christian, if he accepts evolution, it has to involve some sort of creative process where God is the ultimate author and designer of all that exists| He cannot believe in God and Christianity, and hold that all life came about through a parallel and independent process according to purely materialistic laws|

That would contradict the teaching of the Bible|


The six days of creation related in Genesis need not be taken as six literal 24 hour periods, but can be taken as six phases in a 13.7 billion year old universe, as "day" is being used in a symbolic manner there| After all, if you read Genesis, the days cannot be the days we experience on earth, because the sun and the moon were created on the fourth day|




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Answer 5

Darwin meant for Evolution to be interpreted through a Christian sense. He was explaining how a one celled organism can adapt and evolve into a more complex creator, but not leaving God out. He was saying how amazing God is by not only making something so small but to make it to where it can become something else. The monkey theory was just a theory explaining how this could "possibly" happen. Darwin never said that we evolved from monkeys, but that maybe - if God saw fit- to have them become more like humans. The reason 50% believe is because it is true, pregnancy is evolution....tadpoles to frogs is evolution....caterpillars is evolution....because they evolve...the other 50% dont understand evolution

Answer 6

i'm never specific with regard to the 50% discern. as a manner to have self assurance that the Earth is purely 6000 years previous (I advise, come off it -- i've got touched human-made artefacts older than that!) you will possibly could desire to compartmentalise your ideals, denying a lot of certainty that the psychological gymnastics in touch could desire to furnish you a concepts tumour. for occasion if, as some Creationists declare, the 2nd regulation of Thermodynamics precluded evolution from working then it would additionally avert air conditioners and fridges from working. So a Creationist might could desire to settle for the opportunity of evolution, purely quickly, almost every time they stepped into their kitchen! the alternative is that Creationists might certainly could desire to be honestly so dense as to not get the thought the regulations of nature are time-honored and immutable. If that have been the case, however, i might anticipate to ensure greater post-mortem comments itemizing reason for death as "forgetting to breath".

Answer 7

judging by the responses on this board it's not so much a confusion about evolution, people simply have no idea what science is and don't have the basic critical thinking and enlightenment era skills necessary to make informed decisions.

Answer 8

Unfortunately it is true. Americans are second only to Turkey in non-belief in science.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2006/08/14/science/sciencespecial2/20050815_EVO_GRAPHIC.html

Answer 9

Yes - I believe what the Holy Bible tells me!@~

Answer 10

I have no clue.
But I do know that I don't. I think the whole theory is ridiculous.

And just so you know, I studied evolution.
It just wouldn't work in reality.