So the poll says we believe in both creationism AND evolution?

Question

I looked, but didn't see anyone asking a question about this article released in yahoo news a couple of hours ago.

What do you think of it?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070608/lf_afp/usevolutionreligion

Answer 1

So at a bare minimum, at least 16% of those polled believe that evolution and direct creation are both _probably_ true. The cynical response is that at least 16% of people polled are morons. The fluffybunny response is that at least 16% of the people polled understand the difference between literal truth and spiritual truth, and are answering science questions with their minds and soul questions with their hearts.

More likely, people are answering both with their gut reaction and not really thinking about it, or considering whether they've contradicted themselves.

Another couple of possibilities: most of the time when I get asked a survey, there's a question or two on there for which the question, or the answer choices given, does not match with the way I see the world, and when the truth isn't an option I pick one that's closest to the truth. For some people, such as those who believe that evolution is divinely guided, "probably true" may have been the closest answer to the truth for both evolution and creation, from the choices given.

Another possibility: When I was doing phone survey, every once in a while, I would get people who thought I was a crank caller and just made up answers. It could be that some people intentionally messed with the survey, though it seems unlikely that this would account for more than 1% or 2%.

I'm guessing that the truth would be somewhere between not really thinking about it and choosing the best of the answers given.

At any rate, having heard the statistic before that most Americans now believe in creation, it's nice to hear that most Americans also believe in evolution, even if it seems like a contradiction.

Answer 2

The idea that evolution takes a god out of the equation is wrong - The idea that the book of Gen. can be anything more than a primitive fairy tale is obvious

So do I believe we are some sort of spirit beings or we have or will exist in some other form after death ? Yes I do

Do I accept any of the history as presented in the old or new testament bible - No way it is ridiculous to think men could believe such lunacy

Does that take any of the mystery away from life - Not at all

Answer 3

The article simply shows that 25% of the population is too wishy-washy to make a decision and want to hedge their bets.

Addendum

Did those of you that are saying that it's possible to hold both viewpoints even read the article? The choices were:

1. creationism, or the theory that God created humans in their present form at a single period in time within the last 10,000 years

and

2. evolution, the scientific theory that humans developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life

These are mutually exclusive. There was no flavor of the option of "God did it with evolution".

Answer 4

Sounds like a hodgepodge of mixed up people. I would be with the person who said that most of them don't understand either creationism or evolution enough to make an informed decision.

I also agree that polls are only as reliable as the questions asked and the way they are asked. Polls are one of the worst
sources of information on planet earth. They can be twisted to form any opinion they are seeking - unintentionally or intentionally.

Answer 5

i think of it is the two a mix of destructive practise and straightforward stubbornness to hang to unsupported Biblical "evidence" and reject any and all scientific evidence (which has been shown to be genuine) which argues that the assumption of creationism in all probability did no longer ensue; that human beings in basic terms did no longer "poof" into being sooner or later, yet greater slowly over years and years from incredibly common organisms into the human beings of right this moment. they have outfitted a shell of lack of expertise around themselves and don't decide to settle for the actuality that technology is beginning off to crack it. As for me, i think in evolution. I snigger at people who attempt to tutor their element by potential of employing the Bible. It replaced into written by potential of a human. human beings are unsuitable. whether it replaced into dictated by potential of a god, who's to assert that the guy writing it did no longer make a single mistake? Or, in addition to, fudge some information to assist their own ideals and perspectives? no person ever thinks approximately that, it kind of feels. it is extra common for human beings to have faith some thing it extremely is handy and difficulty-free, extremely than some thing heavy that contradicts what they have found out; even regardless of the undeniable fact that what they have until eventually now found out replaced into incorrect (as an occasion: going from believing the earth is flat to understanding for a actuality that the earth is around, OR that, opposite to prevalent theory, the earth easily isn't the middle of the universe)

Answer 6

Creation and Evolution are both valid...and this is the order
in which they started functioning.
They are both functioning perfectly well as we speak......
It's man that finds differences in the validity of each and dwells on it incessantly, creating turmoil within the intellectual
community, even here in R/S.

The third stage of development is Revolution, and if you
are conscious of this, you will see that the first stages of it are in progress.

Answer 7

Doesn't make any difference in what the subject of the poll is. The results are always skewered by how the question is written. I can go out and make a poll that shows that Americans want Barney the Dinosaur as president, but it doesn't make it true.

Answer 8

When you see polls that show up to 20% of americans do not know what state they live in, and many can't place the US on a world globe then the fact so many believe in creationism is easier to understand.

Answer 9

Many people dont think they have to exclusive of each other. Whos to say that a supreme creator didnt start life and allow it to evolve? Dont understand why religion and science have to be incompatable

Answer 10

I read this. I think it shows a lot about how little people actually know about the issue. Many people say they believe in two views that are in contradiction to each other.