Atheists and theists, what do you think of this?

Question

[---excerpt from USA Today]

A full 66 percent said they believed in creationism, with 39 percent of those polled saying it was definitely true and 27 percent believing it was probably true.

But 53 percent said they believed in evolution, the scientific theory that humans developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. Eighteen percent said evolution was definitely true, while 35 percent said it was probably true.

The results were released in a USA Today/Gallup poll of 1,007 adults, taken between June 1-3. The margin of error was three percent.

Here's the link to the article.

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

Just a curious Agnostic here...

Jack B: LMAO... I never thought you would've read that comment!...:-))

Hey,... don't shoot the messenger!...:-))

I have a poll for all of you:

Should I eventually pick a 'Best Answer'...
...or leave it to a vote?

Answer 1

It shows how confused the American system of education is under George W. Bush.

;-)

Answer 2

Agnostic too.
1007 adults really represents but a tiny fracture of the overall population and so I am kinda leery of the results.
I'm also confused as how evolution and creation seem to overlap in their numbers.

Then again I don't care really what others think when it comes to this sort of thing. Not being ugly but I really don't care what my neighbor thinks about this much less 1007 people I don't even know think of it.

I think polls like this are a waste of time and money.

Answer 3

I think figures lie and liars figure. Polls stink. Here is a twist on the Tenets of Epidemiology which translate nicely into polls and surveys.

All studies are flawed.
All study populations are select.
All sample sizes are too small.
Definitions are always biased.
Controlable biases always become apparent after the conclusion of the study.
The data is always dirty.
The analysis is never complete.
Futher study is always needed.
The results are never generalized to everyone.

Answer 4

Well, I don't think 1000 people can be the voice for all of America. And this outcome would also greatly vary depending on what part of the country the majority of the people being interviewed were from.

Rednecks = Creationism

Educated People who use reason and rational analysis to come to a conclusion = Evolution.

Answer 5

If people want to believe in creationism, who is anyone to stop them? As for me, I know that science works, and the facts are out there if people want to go out there and get the facts on evolution. No I don't believe in creationism.

Answer 6

These polls amaze me every time. Evolution has the support of 99% of biologists, it has evidence, it makes sense if you just look at it honestly, and it's even accepted by some Christians out there. But to some people, none of that will ever matter, apparently.

Answer 7

This serves as an excellent example as to why we are often the laughing stock of the educated world. Our education system is near the bottom of the list when compared to all other fully developed nations. It's sad, and we continue to try to make the problem worse. I know, let's add Creationism to science classes, because that will surely make our test scores go up. Wait, no, the opposite of that.

Answer 8

There is overlap because there are Christians who believe in evolution rather than a literal six-day creation. Go figure.

Answer 9

Over 110% results. How could it be wrong. It got an A+!

Answer 10

Just confirms what I already knew: that people are largely ignorant of science. You probably couldn't even get the average American to name more than 3 famous scientists.