Is the average Christian misinformed about evolution?

Question

How often do we hear "I did not come from a monkey" or "Evolution is just a theory"? Far too often, at least in my experience. The opponents of evolution always seem to focus on the myths and false claims about evolution and never on the facts. Could it be they do not know the facts, or are they willfully ignorant?

This is a complicated question which cannot be correctly answered with just a quick comment. It actually involves thinking and perhaps a little bit of research. Before answering me with some garble about how you think you know evolution is wrong/a lie/impossible/etc., first visit this link to make sure you don't accidentally say something I already know to be fallacious:

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PSEUDOSC/Top10MythsEvol.HTM

istvan c, would you rather I plagarize someone else's work? I am not advertsing anything other than seeking truth and knowledge in a world filled with lies and deception.

pestie58, the average atheist is an atheist because of what he/she read in the bible. I would say the average atheist knows more about the bible and the darker side of Christianity than the average Christian does.

Niguayona, you did exactly what I was trying to help you avoid. Had you visited the link and read the information provided, you would have been educated and learned that your claim is null and void. I even said in my original statement that this was a complicated question which could involve both research and thinking. Instead you chose to ignore the instructions and repeat the same garble we have already heard and shot down numerous times. Since you obviously are not misinformed but instead made a conscious decision to avoid important information, you have proved to us all that you are willfully ignorant.

Answer 1

I think 'misinformed' is a rather weak term for the level of abysmal ignorance - coupled with stupidity - we see daily exhibited here.

CD

Answer 2

To answer your main question: yes, the average Christian is misinformed about evolution. Many Christians simply believe the Biblical creation story but can't explain the Biblical claims scientifically. I believe that this is one of the reasons that Christians are losing credibility on the secular front.

Your link mentions Nebraska man and Piltdown man. The problem that critics have with this erroneous evidence is this: these are cited as actual evidence in the average public school text book. Kids are learning that these fossils are "evidence" for evolution. Those are only 2 of several false and outdated pieces of evidence that are found in textbooks today. And these are not hundred-year-old books either. Brand new.

So it's not only Christians who are ignorant, but the average American who goes to school in this country. As to WHY they're being taught false information...I don't know.

Answer 3

Creationists and ID folks used to try to disprove evolution, but with all of the evidence in support of it that was getting to be a difficult task. So now the strategy is to employ the "wedge" tactic to try to discredit or cast doubt on the science supporting evolution. It is a deliberately misleading (and sometimes outright lying) method where the goal is not to prove or disprove, but to create an atmosphere of doubt. What it really does is sow seeds of ignorance and fear. By saying evolution is false they assume people who believe their nonsense will naturally seek out the only other alternative--religion. It is yet another example of religionists' attempt to trump reason, intelligence, independence and free thought in favor of obedience, blind faith and conformity.

Answer 4

I'd say 75% are willingly ignorant, 25% don't know the facts.

Unlike most scientists, devoutly religious refuse to change their beliefs that stem from one book, despite tons (yes, literally tons) of information that proves otherwise. They would rather rule out information accepted by millions, if not billions. The main difference is that scientists, when faced with conflicting evidence or new evidence, will change their theories as a result.

Answer 5

The average person is misinformed about evolution. It isn't just a Christian thing (even though that is where I do have the most problems from). Stop people in the street and ask them about evolution. Regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, most cannot answer questions. I have my students do this.

Answer 6

I think a lot are misinformed.

Some Christians, I guess, but a whole lot of fundamentalists are misinformed. And I think it's a mix of not knowing facts and not WANTING to know them because it might upset their false religion.

But most real Christians (not fundamentalists) I know, do know a bit about Darwin's ideas and the theory of evolution.

Answer 7

I think most "Christians on the street" are genuinely ignorant. They've been sold a bill of goods, and they've been well trained to distrust the "leading brand." I'm more skeptical of the people training them - the people with a vested financial interest in keeping them ignorant and complacent.

Answer 8

In a recent survey more Christians didn't believe in evolution than Atheists.
However when asked the question "Does the earth go around the sun or the sun go around the earth?"
Jews got the best score, Liberal Christians came in second and Atheist came in third.

Answer 9

I don't know about average christians, but I can recognize fundies to the squeeling and screetching they do when they suconsciously realize they are caught in an evolutive dead-end.
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Answer 10

My dear friend, as you said you have evolved to be an intelligent Homo Sapien and that means that you can think logically due to evolution...Put it this 2 Atoms in immense void happen to find each other and collided and the was a big bang of explosion and from that chaos everything that we see and what we are today happen just like that, that from disorder became order. To believe in evolution take more faith than believe that in the beginning God created.