Most Americans Agree with Evolution [new poll]

Angus Reid Consultants ^ | 01 September 2006 | Staff

[PatrickHenry]

An instant classic.

[lionheart 247365]

I have always believed that Jimmy Carter , John Kerry Hillary Clinton , Ted Kennedy , Howard Dead , Jesse , Rev. Al and too many more dimocrats to name , evolved from a lower form of life spieces .

[Non-Sequitur]

However, I work with some folks that did.

I work with some that are still in the process.

[RadioAstronomer]

I see you on these threads all the time, so I know you find this subject fascinating to debate. I bet you learn a lot about both the subject, and your fellow citizens from such discussion and debate. Let the kids do the same.

Would you complain if the school system decided to teach alchemy as an alternative to chemistry or astrology vs. astronomy in science class?

[RadioAstronomer]

I'm pretty sure I discussed many of those subjects in classrooms of my youth. Some in high school, some in college.

Not in your HS science classes I would bet. I certainly do not remember studying alchemy when taking an organic chemistry class as an undergrad. (Nor in grad school for that matter)

[self_evident]

I certainly do not remember studying alchemy when taking an organic chemistry class as an undergrad.

I don't remember that either, although my memories of organic are hazy -- one of those trauma-induced mental coping devices I suspect.

[RadioAstronomer]

ROFL! :-)

[Virginia-American]

Bump to the top so everyone can admire RW's work in post 136 and post 138

[dread78645]

Krebs cycle placemark

[metmom]

Why don't evos have the nerve to address their placemarkers but instend tend to post their intended to be insulting placemarkers anonymously when everybody knows who they referring to anyway?

[Lunatic Fringe]

"other polls reverse the numbers and make it more like 60% don't believe in evolution"

Source???

[metmom]

Ernesto is very illustrative to the limits of technology and scientific knowledge.

And don't forget, Pluto has been recently demoted, too. So much for science not being done but popular vote.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Please read the definition of a "scientific theory" before starting the "it's just a theory" argument.

[Lunatic Fringe]

"I wouldn't consider 51% most."

most /moʊst/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mohst] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.

1. in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.
2. in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.
3. greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent. –noun
4. the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
5. the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.
6. the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.

[Lunatic Fringe]

I think the fairly even nature of this poll represents where our students come, and therefore those who say both points of view ought to be discussed in school are correct.

BUZZ! Oh, sorry... we have some nice consolation prizes for you...

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm suggesting it's rude and confusing to teach a subject that the parents of nhearly half the class don't believe in, without acknowledging those beliefs.

And I suggest that enabling mythological beliefs and ignorance of science in the schools is wrong. If half of parents refused to believe in gravity, would we simply stop teaching it so we don't offend???

[ahayes]

Tut-tut. Didn't anyone ever tell you that hotlinking graphics uses up other people's bandwidth and is therefore stealing?

[Virginia-American]

I think the fairly even nature of this poll represents where our students come, and therefore those who say both points of view ought to be discussed in school are correct.

However, to imply that either faction, ID or Biblical/Koranic/Hindu/Raelian/etc creationism, of the anti-evolution coalition is science is a lie. If a teacher is caught doing this, they should be fired, and, IMO, impeached and convicted by the Legislature so that they can never again be a public employee. Sound harsh? Well, the law specifies that science be taught. Teaching pseudoscience is a violation of the law by a public servant. The way to deal with that is impeachment for high crimes.

Until ID or creationism has produced some testable hypotheses, and passed the tests, and makes more and/or more accurate predictions about experiments and field observations, they cannot be accepted as science. Calls for teaching them as though they were are affirmative action, as well as high crimes.

[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.

My son had Bio this year and his teacher said he'd rather not even teach evo at all because it's such a hot button issue but that he had to. They spent all of two or three days on it and opened up the discussion to *other* ideas of where life came from.

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.)

Public school, BTW.

[Tribune7]

The rest of the story:

Only among seculars – who have no religious affiliation – does the majority (69 percent) accept the process of natural selection for evolution.

Which is kind of weird if you think about it -- 31 percent of seculars don't accept undirected evolution.