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God’s Work? A new poll suggests Americans aren’t so confident in their creationism.
Slate ^ | 12/08/2014 | By William Saletan

Posted on 12/08/2014 1:03:50 PM PST by SeekAndFind

In a dozen polls taken from 1982 to 2014, Gallup has asked Americans to choose among three views of evolution. One view is that humans “developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process.” Another view is that humans “developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process.” The third option is that “God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so.”

In that three-decade span, the young-Earth creationist option has always been the most popular choice. The percentage of respondents who affirm it has never fallen below 40. These findings, along with similar poll numbers, often alarm scientists, journalists, and educators. Nearly half of Americans, if not more, seem to be hardcore creationists.

But they aren’t. A new study, sponsored by the BioLogos Foundation and conducted by Calvin College sociologist Jonathan Hill, explores beliefs about evolution and creation in greater detail. The results show far more nuance, variation, and doubt than is commonly supposed. Most Americans do believe God created us. But the harder you press about historical claims in the Bible, the less confident people are. The percentage who stand by young-Earth creationism dwindles all the way to 15 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: History; Religion & Culture; Religion & Science; Theology
KEYWORDS: bible; creation; creationism; evolution; gallup; genesis; trends
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1 posted on 12/08/2014 1:03:50 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

2 posted on 12/08/2014 1:04:13 PM PST by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The “absolutely/very certain” option seems geared toward eliciting an uncertain response.


3 posted on 12/08/2014 1:10:21 PM PST by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Pretty stupid poll.


4 posted on 12/08/2014 1:12:01 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: SeekAndFind

More Cultural Marxism attacks on Christianity...


5 posted on 12/08/2014 1:12:58 PM PST by Mechanicos (Nothing's so small it can't be blown out of proportion.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Were respondents asked whether they were absolutely certain about the evolutionism, or just the creationism?


6 posted on 12/08/2014 1:13:08 PM PST by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am 100% sure that God does what God does regardless what polling data says about what others should think.I also believe as we live in these last days there will be more and more pressure for people to fall away. I would firmly suggest that you hand onto the only Eternal option that exists thru Christ our Lord...and let the pollsters go to hell!
Freegards
LEX


7 posted on 12/08/2014 1:13:36 PM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: Sacajaweau

That is probably because it was conceived and done by pretty stupid people.


8 posted on 12/08/2014 1:15:13 PM PST by jospehm20
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To: SeekAndFind

The young earth old earth debate is a red herring. Time is not a constant. It changes dramatically across the universe.....and God is outside of time constraints period. Quantum physics demonstrates that both could be true.


9 posted on 12/08/2014 1:16:39 PM PST by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: SeekAndFind

Heh. Like we’re supposed to determine what is truth by polls.

Got relativism?


10 posted on 12/08/2014 1:17:17 PM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SeekAndFind

Slate?

Meh.


11 posted on 12/08/2014 1:21:22 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: SeekAndFind

Given that only 51% of the respondents believe the Bible is factual, those numbers really aren’t all that bad. Simply double the percentage for each question to determine how “Christians” felt about these questions and numbers look pretty good.


12 posted on 12/08/2014 1:21:59 PM PST by Marko413
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To: SeekAndFind

It is way past high time for supposedly conservative politicians to stand up for the Biblical world view. Embarrassing for the GOPe though.


13 posted on 12/08/2014 1:30:26 PM PST by Menthops (If you are reading this..... the GOPe hates you!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am convinced by the preponderance of evidence that the theory of evolution is correct. My beliefs have nothing to do with it.


14 posted on 12/08/2014 1:32:04 PM PST by JimSEA
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To: SeekAndFind
In that three-decade span, the young-Earth creationist option has always been the most popular choice. The percentage of respondents who affirm it has never fallen below 40. These findings, along with similar poll numbers, often alarm scientists, journalists, and educators. Nearly half of Americans, if not more, seem to be hardcore creationists. But they aren’t. A new study, sponsored by the BioLogos Foundation and conducted by Calvin College sociologist Jonathan Hill, explores beliefs about evolution and creation in greater detail. The results show far more nuance, variation, and doubt than is commonly supposed. Most Americans do believe God created us. But the harder you press about historical claims in the Bible, the less confident people are. The percentage who stand by young-Earth creationism dwindles all the way to 15 percent.

PFL

15 posted on 12/08/2014 1:38:02 PM PST by Alex Murphy ("the defacto Leader of the FR Calvinist Protestant Brigades")
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To: SeekAndFind

Where’s the question

“I’m sure humans evolved from single cell bacteria”.


16 posted on 12/08/2014 1:39:08 PM PST by Usagi_yo
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m certain the author is correct and arrived at his hypothesis by omitting certain facts, to arrive at the narrative he was searching for...


17 posted on 12/08/2014 1:46:30 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: SeekAndFind; All

Creationism discussion should be used to support fulfilling the great commission, spreading the good news of Jesus.


18 posted on 12/08/2014 1:54:41 PM PST by Amendment10
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To: SeekAndFind

Need to redo the entire thing, after controlling for the severe intellectual handicap in a population subjected to public schooling.


19 posted on 12/08/2014 2:11:14 PM PST by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: SeekAndFind

Well after all, all those “infallible” ancient churches are claiming that evolution is a dogma and that they’ve always taught it.


20 posted on 12/08/2014 2:12:52 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator (Throne and Altar! [In Jerusalem!!!])
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