Majority of Americans Reject Secular Evolution (Gallup Poll, Sep. 2005)

BP News (Baptist Press) ^ | October 19, 2005 | Michael Foust

[GretchenM]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A majority of adults support the biblical account of creation according to a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll -- the latest in a series of polls reflecting Americans' tendency to reject secular evolution.

In the poll, 53 percent of adults say "God created human beings in their present form exactly the way the Bible describes it." Another 31 percent believe humans "evolved over millions of years from other forms of life and God guided" the process. Twelve percent say humans "have evolved over millions of years from other forms of life, but God has no part."

The poll of 1,005 adults, conducted Sept. 8-11 and posted on Gallup's website Oct. 13, is but the latest survey showing Americans tend to reject a strictly secular explanation for the existence of life:

-- A Harris poll of 1,000 adults in June found that 64 percent believe "human beings were created directly by God," 22 percent say humans "evolved from earlier species" and 10 percent believe humans "are so complex that they required a powerful force or intelligent being to help create them." In another question, only 38 percent say humans "developed from earlier species."

-- An NBC News poll of 800 adults in March found that 44 percent believe in a biblical six-day creation, 13 percent in a "divine presence" in creation and 33 percent in evolution.

"Nobody starts out as a Darwinian evolutionist," said William Dembski, professor of science and theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and the author of "The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions about Intelligent Design."

"You start out with a wonder of creation, thinking that there's something beyond it. And then it has to be explained to you why there really is no wonder behind it."

The Gallup poll was released amidst a trial in Harrisburg, Pa., over whether Intelligent Design can be taught in a Pennsylvania school district. Intelligent Design says that patterns in nature are best explained by pointing to a creator (that is, intelligence). Supporters of the theory of Darwinian evolution have opposed Intelligent Design, saying it is not science. Evolution teaches, in part, that humans evolved over millions of years from apes.

But despite the fact that public schools are teaching evolution as fact, Americans are not buying it. A November 2004 poll of 1,016 adults found that 35 percent said evolution was "just one of many theories and one that has not been well-supported by evidence." Thirty-five percent said evolution was "well-supported by evidence," while 28 percent didn't know enough about evolution to answer. In addition, a February 2001 poll of 1,016 adults found that 48 percent said the "theory of creationism" best explained the origin of human beings while 28 percent said the "theory of evolution" made the most sense.

Reflecting the argument Paul makes in Romans 1, Dembski said the "beauty" and the "extravagance" of creation -- the "beautiful sunsets, flowers and butterflies" -- points to the existence of a creator.

"Unless you're really indoctrinated into an atheistic mindset, I think [the beauty of creation] is going to keep tugging at our hearts and minds," he said.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, called the Gallup poll findings "incredible" and said they should be "encouraging" to conservative Christians. ...

Said Dembski: "The secularized education system ... is not being executed as effectively as the secular elites would like. So that's something that we have to be thankful for -- that a lot of schools are not implementing it and forcing it down kids' throats. But it's still happening, and as far as it happens, the indoctrination can be quite effective."

For example, Dembski said, there is little public outcry over PBS programs such as "Nature" that are publicly funded and regularly present evolution as fact. Also, Americans themselves seem conflicted over what to believe. An August Gallup poll found that 58 percent said creationism was definitely or probably true and 55 percent said evolution was definitely or probably true -- meaning that many of those surveyed saw no conflict between creationism and evolution. And the Harris poll that found only 22 percent of adults believing humans evolved from earlier species also found that 46 percent believe apes and humans have a "common ancestry."

Americans, Dembski said, often try to take a middle road by believing God guided evolution. Nevertheless, he said, the poll numbers are promising for Intelligent Design proponents who are making their case in the public square.

"I think anybody who is on the God-had-something-to-do-with-it side -- whether it's through a direct act of creation or through some sort of evolution process -- is likely to give Intelligent Design a second look,” Dembski said. “We have a great pool of people that we can appeal to.

[GretchenM]

For anyone seeking facts on the debate, I highly recommend this book.

Tornado in a Junkyard: The Relentless Myth of Darwinism, by James Perloff
Dr. EMMETT L. WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT, CREATION RESEARCH SOCIETY, EDITOR, CREATION RESEARCH QUARTERLY "Tornado in a Junkyard is a unique presentation of the scientific case against Darwinism, informally written for laymen. If you are looking for a user-friendly explanation of the facts supporting creation, this book is for you."

This book examines growing scientific evidence that is challenging Darwin's theory of evolution: lack of transitional forms in the fossil record, the impossibility of mutations (almost universally destructive) serving as evolutionary building blocks, the bad logic of natural selection theory, the stunning lack of evidence for "ape-men," the mathematic impossibility of life beginning by itself, [and] more. Also explores how Darwinism helped foster Hitler's racial policies and examines how Inherit the Wind grossly misled Americans about the Scopes trial. Addresses the ever-vital question: Are we here by chance or are we created by God? Indexed, over 80 illustrations, hundreds of quotes from scientists.

[GretchenM]

FYI

[exDemocratbutnotRepubican]

50% of americans have IQ's below 100 (by definition).

[traviskicks]

"God created human beings in their present form exactly the way the Bible describes it."
---

And how does the Bible describe it? You have the literalists and the figurativelists and even they disagree among themselves.

A slightly misleading question, but I'm not sure how you would phrase it to more accurately capture the essence of what people think....

[adamsjas]

Evolution teaches, in part, that humans evolved over millions of years from apes.

Sigh... No, it does no such thing.

When one reads this in an article, one despairs at any possibility of an intelligent discussion.

[Kozak]

Science isn't conducted by polls.

[gondramB]

Some key points here - only 35% find conflict between their view of science and relgion.

It's mainly poor people that believe in strict creationsim it starts at 70% with income under $20,000 and drops to 37% with higher income.


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2005-10-10-evolution-debate-centerpiece_x.htm?POE=TECISVA

[mlc9852]

But they still get to vote.

[mlc9852]

Then what is your interpretation of TOE regarding humans?

[mlc9852]

My income is over $20,000 and my IQ is almost 140 and I believe God created the heavens and the earth and humans as they are today. I guess I must be an aberration.

[American in Israel]

50% of americans have IQ's below 100 (by definition).

That explains why some of them believe in evolution I guess...

Honestly, if evolution was real, we would all be sprouting useless apendages constantly in attempts to evolve. But, none of the dead ends exist, therefore evolution does not exist.

[moog]

And how does the Bible describe it? You have the literalists and the figurativelists and even they disagree among themselves.

Yes, there is more than one version of creationism. Which one do you teach? In my Sunday school class, all 10 adults had 10 different ideas about it. While I strongly believe in creationism, one must acknowledge there is more than one version of it. Some believe in the 4000 years things, others believe the process took longer, still others believe something else. ID is an attempt to put some science into creationism, however the basic premise is still the same--that a higher power (i.e. God) created things.

[Wormwood]

ID is an attempt to put some science into creationism, however the basic premise is still the same--that a higher power (i.e. God) created things.

Finally, an honest definition of ID.

[moog]

That explains why some of them believe in evolution I guess... Honestly, if evolution was real, we would all be sprouting useless apendages constantly in attempts to evolve. But, none of the dead ends exist, therefore evolution does not exist. Hehe. Even as a creationist, I do believe that some parts of evolution do happen. Things do adapt to their surroundings in order to keep on going. If they don't, they die out. Humans have done this for a long time. Just think about how much in the last 100 years that we have "evolved" or maybe in other ways "de-evolved:)." There are certain rodents, even in the US, that are "evolving" into other species because of being isolated or new conditions. Animals have developed adaptations for protection--the monarch butterfly eats milkweed which birds hate the taste of, another butterfly has developed so it looks like the monarch butterfly, others develop "eye" patches, some flowers have even devloped features that look like the female of a certain kind of insect in order to trick it into "mating" with the flower and thus propagate the flower species (not through the act, but through pollen of course:), and so on. Of course, I believe the mechanism is God, but that's my opinion.

Now what should I do with this tentacle growing from my nose?:)

[moog]

Finally, an honest definition of ID. Thanks. I'm actually am a very strong believer in creationism, but I've never had trouble with evolution. I've always believed God was behind it. Yes, there were dinosaurs. Yes, there were other ancient life forms. Yes, there are fossils. Yes, there have been cataclysmic events. How do I reconcile it and creation? Admit that I don't know everything and go on with things. I will probably find out everything after I die. I can continue to learn things from both sides that help me formulate my own opinion. The more important issue to me is where I'm going after I die and how to get there. What's happened before has already happened.

Saying that, I can't resist these evolution threads sometimes because it is always so doggone entertaining.

[moog]

Finally, an honest definition of ID.

I forgot the italics tag--AGAIN!!

Thanks. I'm actually am a very strong believer in creationism, but I've never had trouble with evolution. I've always believed God was behind it. Yes, there were dinosaurs. Yes, there were other ancient life forms. Yes, there are fossils. Yes, there have been cataclysmic events. How do I reconcile it and creation? Admit that I don't know everything and go on with things. I will probably find out everything after I die. I can continue to learn things from both sides that help me formulate my own opinion. The more important issue to me is where I'm going after I die and how to get there. What's happened before has already happened.

Saying that, I can't resist these evolution threads sometimes because it is always so doggone entertaining.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

But, none of the dead ends exist, therefore evolution does not exist.

What about the appendix?

[Elsiejay]

And the relevance of this is . . . ..
? ? ? ? ? ?

[moog]

What about the appendix?

Take that one out:).