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Most Americans Agree with Evolution [new poll]
Angus Reid Consultants ^ | 01 September 2006 | Staff

Posted on 08/31/2006 7:42:01 PM PDT by PatrickHenry

More adults in the United States believe the theory of evolution is correct, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 51 per cent of respondents think that humans and other living things evolved over time, while 42 per cent say they existed in their present form since the beginning of time.

Charles Darwin’s "The Origin of Species" was first published in 1859. The book details the British naturalist’s theory that all organisms gradually evolve through the process of natural selection. Darwin’s views were antagonistic to creationism, the belief that a more powerful being or a deity created life.

In the United States, the debate on the topic accelerated after the 1925 Scopes trial, which tested a law that banned the teaching of evolution in Tennessee public schools. In 2004, Georgia’s Cobb County was at the centre of a controversy on whether science textbooks that explain evolutionary theory should include disclaimer stickers.

The theory of intelligent design suggests certain biological mechanisms are too complex to have developed without the involvement of a powerful force or intelligent being.

Last month, Austrian cardinal Christoph Schoenborn said the two views are not necessarily incompatible, declaring, "There is no conflict between science and religion, but a debate between a materialist interpretation of the results of science and a metaphysical philosophical interpretation. (...) The possibility that the Creator used evolution as a tool is completely acceptable for the Catholic faith."

Polling Data

Some people think that humans and other living things evolved over time. Others think that humans and other living things existed in their present form since the beginning of time. Which of these comes closest to your view?

Jul. 2006

Jul. 2005

Evolved over time

51%

48%

Existed in their present form
since the beginning of time

42%

42%

Don’t know / Refused

7%

10%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,003 American adults, conducted from Jul. 6 to Jul. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: believeinevolution; consensusscience; crevolist; genesis1; niceosity; thewordistruth
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To: metmom
And don't forget, Pluto has been recently demoted, too.

Ya gotta "Rule the neighborhood" doncha know!


(Exactly what the C vs E fuss is all about, too!)

181 posted on 09/01/2006 6:34:41 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: ahayes
...and is therefore stealing?

Quite a stretch!

182 posted on 09/01/2006 6:36:00 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: metmom
I sure remember going over alchemy, humors, flat earth, and the geocentric nature of the universe when I was in school. No, they didn't teach is AS science but that's where I heard it. They had time to *teach the controversy*, explain to us why those concepts weren't valid, and still teach us everything we needed to know.

As a history lesson in what NOT to believe. There was no "*teach the controversy* involved.

Then he told them that he was going to teach them what answers they needed to put down on the test in order to be considered *correct*, so they would get it marked right. He didn't care what they really thought and told them not to put down what made sense to them, just put down the answers that they needed to to pass. (So much for teaching kids to think for themselves.)

There is a teacher who should be fired!

He has no business teaching biology. Period!

183 posted on 09/01/2006 6:36:27 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: ml1954
....Like not wanting to see Pelosi as Speaker Of The House.

Saying such things before sleep does induce nightmares! The only thing worse would be being forced to watch a Ted Kennedy / Helen Thomas porno!

184 posted on 09/01/2006 6:38:42 AM PDT by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what and Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: freedumb2003

"where did Adam and Eve's daughters-in-law come from"

Possibly nearby tribes that were not selected by God to be the first of His people, I would assume. The Bible even states that some of heavens creatures started to have carnal relations with earthly women and things sort of got out of hand. The philistines were supposedly a product of this, thus the giant Goliath.


185 posted on 09/01/2006 6:45:50 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?")
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To: Oztrich Boy

Hahaha!!!!


186 posted on 09/01/2006 6:51:32 AM PDT by BBT
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To: Elsie

"Which 'GOD'?"

Is that a rhetorical question? That God that made the universe. Els, are you feeling okay?


187 posted on 09/01/2006 6:54:11 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?")
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To: Elsie

Hey I was right on without quoting scripture! The Holy Spirit was with me.


188 posted on 09/01/2006 6:55:05 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?")
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To: PatrickHenry

If evolution is a fact, then why is there no evidence of any species evolving into another more superior species in the last, oh say, 1,000 years? 2000 years? All evidence is that evolution has stopped, which is not logical or scientific.


189 posted on 09/01/2006 6:56:10 AM PDT by thirst4truth
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To: thirst4truth

Why do you need a new flu shot every year?


190 posted on 09/01/2006 6:58:19 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: onedoug
How did reproduction "evolve"?

Hint: It didn't.


A fascinating hypothesis. Tell me, what explanation do you have for reproduction, and what evidence have you to support the claim that reproduction did not "evolve"? Also, are you referring to sexual or asexual reproduction? If you refer to sexaul reprodution, are you speaking of such reproduction in general, or are you specifically referring to one form, such as that of placental mammals?
191 posted on 09/01/2006 7:03:09 AM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: metmom

Which "creation" story is being discussed in such schools, and how is the alleged comparison made?


192 posted on 09/01/2006 7:06:33 AM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Texas Eagle

>>I wonder how many people believe Pluto is a planet.

LOL!

This reminds me of the story of the kindergartner who brought a kitten to school. One of the kids wanted to know it is a Boy or a Girl kitty. One of the kids proudly announced he knew how to tell (The teacher was afraid of what might come next), then the tot proposed they vote on it. (It either is, or isn’t, but a poll won’t make much of a difference.)

Reality, it’s not up for a vote.


193 posted on 09/01/2006 7:08:05 AM PDT by DelphiUser ("You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think")
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To: PatrickHenry

Is "The Origin of Species" about the origin of species, or about their changing over time? Puzzling title, considering most Darwinists argue that Darwin wasn't talking about the "origin," but the "evolution" of species....

Maybe I'm misunderstanding his use of the term.

Anyway, FWIW, the study seems pretty goofy. Of course homo sapiens have changed some over the years....


194 posted on 09/01/2006 7:16:43 AM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: thirst4truth
If evolution is a fact, then why is there no evidence of any species evolving into another more superior species in the last, oh say, 1,000 years? 2000 years?

What do you mean by "superior"?

All evidence is that evolution has stopped, which is not logical or scientific.

You are apparently misinformed. No biologist has suggested that evolution has "stopped" at any time.
195 posted on 09/01/2006 7:20:04 AM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Theo
Is "The Origin of Species" about the origin of species, or about their changing over time?

It addresses the means by which new species come to exist. It refers not to a single event, but to a general pattern of events.
196 posted on 09/01/2006 7:27:15 AM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Theo
Is "The Origin of Species" about the origin of species, or about their changing over time? Puzzling title, considering most Darwinists argue that Darwin wasn't talking about the "origin," but the "evolution" of species.... Maybe I'm misunderstanding his use of the term.

Well, there's no way to figure it out except to keep looking at the title. If you solve the mystery, let us know.

197 posted on 09/01/2006 7:30:31 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (The universe is made for life, therefore ID. Life can't arise naturally, therefore ID.)
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~ a ~
PWNED!
~ placemarker ~

198 posted on 09/01/2006 7:46:06 AM PDT by King Prout (many complain I am overly literal... this would not be a problem if fewer people were under-precise)
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To: PatrickHenry

Since most Americans don't use the tool of evolution any more than they use the theory of relativity, it seems somewhat odd that the at large opinions amount to much.


199 posted on 09/01/2006 7:47:25 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the law of the excluded middle)
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To: King Prout

Big time! (evil grin)!


200 posted on 09/01/2006 7:48:32 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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