Posted on 09/01/2005 1:00:04 PM PDT by joyspring777
WASHINGTON - Americans are divided over whether humans and other living things evolved over time or have existed in their present form since the beginning of time, according to a new poll.
People on both sides of that argument think students should hear about various theories, however.
Nearly two-thirds of those in a Pew Research Center poll, 64 percent, say they believe "creationism" should be taught alongside "evolution" - a finding likely to spark more controversy about what is taught in the schools.
That controversy could be related to the difficulty of measuring public sentiment about teaching evolution, creationism or the more recent concept of "intelligent design," a Pew official said.
"We acknowledge there may be some confusion about the meaning of these terms," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. But Lugo said the findings suggest widespread support for teaching students different ideas about how life began.
"What this basically tells us is that in contentious issues, many people take the default position - teach both sides and let people make up their own minds," Lugo said.
"Intelligent design" is a movement among some scholars over the past 15 years that says Charles Darwin's theory of evolution - that natural selection caused gradual biological changes over time - cannot fully explain either how life originated or how extremely complex life forms emerged. An undefined "intelligence" must therefore have been involved, they contend.
In the poll by the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of those surveyed held strict "creationist" views that "living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time." Creationism generally refers to a literal reading of the Bible's story of the creation of man.
Almost half, 48 percent, said they believed humans have evolved over time. Some of those people, 26 percent of all those polled, said they believe evolution occurred through natural selection, and another 18 percent of all those polled, said evolution was guided by a supreme being.
Eugenie Scott, executive director for the National Center of Science Education, questioned whether the poll was a reflection of support for teaching "creationism" in school. The center supports the teaching of evolution in schools.
"What the poll reflects is the power of the idea of fairness in American culture," she said. "We feel strongly we should always hear both sides."
Some want to see evolution taught in a broader context. Warren Nord, a professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, said it's important for students to learn about evolution in context with culture generally. "Students should understand the controversy," Nord said. The different theories "should be addressed in science classes. All science textbooks and courses should locate them in a larger cultural conversation about how to make sense of nature."
The poll of 2,000 adults was conducted July 7-17 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
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Pew Research Center - http://www.people-press.org
Now what do all those evo scientists have to say about "governing of the people, by the people and for the people"?
Probably that they know better than the people at PEW and the comman man too!
Psssttt! so teach both.
I don't think the validity of scientific theories should be decided by majority vote of the general populace.
Probably. The American people can vote the sky green tomorrow - doesn't make it true.
Oh, boy, here we go! Here goes another "you're an idiot" ..."no, you're an idiot" thread! Can't hardly wait!
We're going to put science up for a vote now?
Good! I vote to make pi 3.0. That's a lot easier to remember.
Lets vote to eliminate Mondays also.
Awww...come on!!
I thought EVERYTHING is decided by polls now.
I am thinking of doing a poll on the viability of teleportation... If I can just get people to believe it is possible, the US Patent office will grant my claims!
Me too. Half of me wants to evolve, and half of me wants to stay like I am.
Dude, let me be the first tell you that YOU are an idiot!!
hehe
I think that if they taught creationism in addition to evolution, the creationists might actually be hurt. Compare the evidence for a 6,000 year old earth versus that of evolution, despite all its flaws.
The Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out.
>>>Psssttt! so teach both.
Both? Do we teach New Earth Creationism or Old Earth Creationism? Do we include Greek creation stories? How about those of the Scientologists?
another 18 percent of all those polled, said evolution was guided by a supreme being
This is the kind of muddled thought you get when you cross evolution with creation. People think both are the answer.
If a supreme being did guide it, it must be creation only without evolution...plain and simple. Genesis and Jesus Christ do not give us the option of mixing the two.
No, we should just all believe what the evolutionists tell us to believe and keep our mouths shut. What right do we have deciding what is taught in public schools?
Can't wait either...same ol'sh..tuff.
Maybe in order to understand mankind we have to look at that word itself. MANKIND. Basically, it's made up of two separate words "mank"and "ind." What do these words mean? It's a mystery and that's why so is mankind.
--Jack Handy Deep Thoughts
They do this in college World Religion classes. It is hilarious when you sit through it as I did.
I am terribly impressed by your post....NOT!!!
This is the second time I've come on FR today and the first thing I see on the latest posts is this. I'm beginning to think that FR is all crevo threads!
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