Americans are split almost 50/50 regarding belief in evolution. Is this a reflection of a poor education...?

Question

system? Or does it show that many Americans prefer ancient religious texts over scientific theories and reasoning in determining the truth about life?

The Gallup Poll has found several correlating factors (possible causes):

Percentages represent those who agree with the theory

74% of post-graduates
41% of high shool or less
indicating that education is a factor

24% of regular church attenders
71% of those who seldom/ never attend
showing that religion also plays a huge role

From my personal experience, doubters of evolution seem to disagree because of unwillingness to think of an ape as their ancestor, but even moreso from misconceptions of the theory. For example, they believe the theory states everything arose by chance, that life is "trying" to evolve, and that there are no "transitional fossils".

What can be done to end this embarrassment in America? Should scientists do a better job of educating the public?

Answer 1

Americans are split almost 50/50 regarding belief in evolution. Is this a reflection of a poor Christian service? Or does it show that many Americans prefer to believe the unproven theories of Evolution as opposed to God and His Word, who have been here from the beginning?

The Gallup Poll has found several correlating factors (possible causes):

Percentages represent those who agree with the theory

74% of post-graduates
41% of high shool or less
indicating that education is a factor.

uuh, yeah, what else are they going to say. Since the 1960's Evolution has been taught in the public schools and Creationism has been abolished from public schools. The only place Americans learn about Creationism is their religious group, or personal study.

24% of regular church attenders
71% of those who seldom/ never attend
showing that religion also plays a huge role

Right, take the poll to the biblicly un-educated masses who do not know enough about the Bible to defend their beliefs. Brilliant! Horay for Evolutionists!! Why don't we craetionist take the poll to theologins to make it all come out in our favor.

From my personal experience, doubters of creation seem to disagree because of unwillingness to think of a God as their Creator. They do not want to serve their Creator or have a personal relationship with Him. Just for the record, I for one do NOT believe that everything arose by chance, that life is "trying" to evolve, but I DO believe that there are no "transitional fossils", which, by the way, is one of the reasons I belive in creation--lack of evidence for the alternive.

I do agree with you one thing; this is an embarressment in America, and it's also an embarressment for Christians who #1 do not know enough Bible to have an answer for life's questions (to all Christians who read this, see 1 Peter 3:15), and
#2 that Christians are not doing their job of educating the public so they won't put their belief in the faith (yes, faith) of Evolution.

Answer 2

I believe the poll you gave PROVES that most people do not believe the sad lies of a man who recanted his own theory on his death bed!!

It takes MORE FAITH to believe that we came from monkeys than it does to believe in intelligent design my friend.

Do you even know the theory yourself? According to your poll, the more education and less religion, the dumber a person becomes.

74% of post Graduates and 71% of seldom church attenders believe the following:

It began with a single celled amoeba
This amoeba split to become a many celled entity,
It formed into a fish, that formed into a reptile, that crawled out of the sea, that turned into a mammal, then turned into a human.....

Really? A species that metamorphed into a DIFFERENT species FIVE times over???
From an amoeba to a fish to a reptile to a mammal (ape) to a human???

And gee, our school systems are failing because our bright kids are not buying this???

No, our kids in the schools systems are much smarter than the post grads you mention.

This theory would make for a great Power Rangers episode,
but even scientifically, it is just not plausible. Never in the history of the world has ANY species, be it germs, folage, reptile, fish, mammal or human has ever changed into a different species....

CSI could not even find the evidence to back up this evolutionists theory....(and they never close)

So that would make the 59% of middle and high schoolers correct as well as 76% of regular attenders of Church, that Darwins theory is a lie.

Just like the commercial states, "People are smarter than you think." Especially kids and regular church attenders.

Please find me an example, ANYWHERE, with a species changing into another species....Where is the fossil?
Once you come up with concrete proof, perhaps we will talk.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, many people get their understanding of evolution from religious "authorities" who oppose the theory on personal, not empirical grounds. I live in a city where the largest private college in the state (Liberty University, VA) teaches that dinosaur bones are only 3,000 years old.

If you have a group of people resistant to change their opinions because they have been taught that personal beliefs should trump evidence, it is hard to educate them because it requires an alteration to their world view, including an embrace of the scientific method. Another problem is that they equate evolution to atheism, so instead of analyzing the value in science, they view science itself as in opposition to their religious beliefs, and never learn enough to question their assumptions.

I support better education and more public outcry against the religious fanaticism that seems be engendering support with both political parties in the United States. Neither Republicans nor Democrats should play the "faith" card or turn creationism and other misled ideas into political platforms. When a large university can teach that the universe is 6,000 years old in the twenty-first century, we've regressed to the dark ages. When 40% of the American public gives into these mishaps, we have a scientifically illiterate society.

Answer 4

The news reports the news, not the truth. Don't believe everything you read.

For some reason, news about Americans being stupid sells well overseas. Perhaps it's because our president is stupid, and hence when you hear a stat, may it be from the Mr. Stat, or some stupid source, you believe it completely because it's Americans.

The only people I've ever met that believe in Creationism rather than Evolution, all went to schools that taught that. There have been court cases and laws passed regarding evolution and creationism. Too bad you haven't heard of them. I guess stupidity in the U.S. makes news across the pond. Most Americans I know aren't like that. We'll keep fighting for our smarts as long as your media keeps trying to portray us as a bunch of Bible banging, gun toting, Creationist loving Hillbillies. That's not us, just a few. Please understand.

Answer 5

This is an extremely important point. I often ask myself if this nation is actually past the point of saving. Look around, it's a pretty bleak place. What culpability do scientists have in this? How much can you expect of someone trying to teach those people who don't want to learn? I may just jump ship for ANY OTHER industrialized nation. The only nation behind us is Turkey. Give me a break. And the current numbers are higher than 50%. Last I saw, it was over 60%.

Edit: Yep, it's only about 40% of the population that is educated and has intellectual integrity.
http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/bcn_evolution_070217.shtml

Answer 6

No, but poor scientific facts and proof to back it up.

There is no proof of fossil in intermediate transitional evolution and you cannot goes against the barrier that you could not interbreed between species and class.

It make more sense if we were to think that our earth is a laboratory set up by some advanced high tech, high intellegent race that is probably millieum or million of years ahead of us in biotechnology and trying to check "What if's" to sastisfied their curiosity. Or even we may be pet by some of these races like an Aquarium watching us progress.

There is another possibility we are an experiments or an entertainment program on their media for them to watch real life prgress of their betting or even bioproject on a solar system scope or even galactical level..

Some called them God, but they may be a group of scientiest or entertainer or even children playing with their pet project or toy. If you watch the Writing, they always use the plural form of "US". If we are to study the geological record, Biology and The Bible. Through almost 6000 years of human history. These group of people who called themselves US has mature quite considerable since the old testament time to the new Testament. So has the progress of human technology and ability to use their creative power and skillJust to touch it on a different perspective.

Just to stimulate your thinking in another angle of which we seldom touch upon.

--Sunaryo

Answer 7

I think it has to do with religion over anything. Most religios people will deny any scientific outlooks on how we came to be. Most of them are close minded to more possibilities than what there sacred book tells them.
Just to clarify, I don't have a problem with religion, or one specific way that I think humans came to be. To tell you the truth, I really don't care. There will always be a huge divide on this subject all over the world. Unless there is ever scientific proof of evolution found, people will always be divided on this,
and it will be a senseless battle between religion and science.

Answer 8

You can't force people to change.
Along with the whole creationism that is part of the Judeo-Christian faith, comes the hope of redemption and ever-lasting life. So, yeah, if I were a less educated person, I would believe in the whole 'Adam and Eve' thing if it meant I got to live forever in Paradise with my loved ones.
Butttt, since I'm not, I don't believe in Creationism. In my personal experience, I see alot of delusion, an absolute refusal to see what are facts.
Alot of Creationists wonder why there are still apes if we evolved from them. Little do they know that, from their beloved, favorite image of faith, musatard seed, arose the cabbage, brussel sprouts and several other edible vegetables- but it's still in extistance- it is merely natural selection.
I guess you really can't try to educate someone who blatently won't be educated. I don't blame them, it's not their fault. It's the result of two thousand years of constantly claiming to be God's chosen ones to spread the 'Good News' and then wondering why they are so persecuted by the very people they call 'heathen' and 'unsaved.' It's two thousand years of waiting and hoping for tangible proof of God, despite none having been present since then, something they've been taught all their lives, something, that if taken away, could very possibly collapse their world.
So, no, I don't really blame Creationist for believing what they believe- they've been repeating it to themselves for a very long time. It would kinda be like us finding out that it's not gravity that holds us down, but the power of a magical purple unicorn. We'd probably cling very powerfully to our gravity- we've grown pretty attached to the idea. Same with [most] theists and their Bible stories. Nothing can really be done about it- it'll be around forever and ever, so long as man is allowed to have cognizant thought.

Answer 9

I am a Christian and I think it has a lot to do with education, 1st Cor. 3:18, Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise, in other words we let our education get in the way of believing in the obvious, we become so wise we become a fool, we think we can rely on our education to take care of anything, but the Bible says it is appointed for a man once to die, and after this the judgement. Its at he judgement were we willbe in trouble, Jesus said unless we become born again we can see the KIngdom of Heaven, Jesus died on a cross for us, he was a Perfect sacrifice for our sins, our education will not cover our sins on judgement day, If you look around the Church today you will not see very many highly educated people, and it is a shame, they are fulfilling the scriptures and they don't even know it. Have you ever accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, has he washed away your sins and made you clean, you can do that right now, just say this simple prayer, Dear Jesus, I know and confess that I am sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died on a cross at calvery and arose from the grave to wash away my sins, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me, I pray this Prayer believing in the name of Jesus Amen. If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart you are now a child of God, rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of Life. If you have any questions just send me an email, God Bless YOU!!

Answer 10

All of the above.

Our education system, thanks to pressure from religious groups, does a pitiful job of covering evolution in schools - even worse in private religion-centered schools, of course.

As well, intellectual laziness seems to be an admired trait - look at George W as a perfect example. It's far easier to think "God did it, that's all I needed to understand!" than to actually comprehend the statistical, biochemical, and other factors involved.

Don't blame the scientists; most would like to do better, but fear for their jobs. Blame the gutless politicians who pander to the lowest common denominator.