Posted on 10/23/2005 12:06:32 AM PDT by 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.
Yes, it is faith. Some people simply cannot conceive of anything that contradicts their faith, so for them it does not exist.
LOL, that is the most severe case of projection I've seen in days!
<sigh> Look. You and me, and probably every one of us, wishes we could have an infinitely long life. We all deeply mourn the loss of our loved ones who went before us, and mourn before-the-fact our own eventual deaths. But some of us aren't able or willing to abandon the plain facts before us just so we can believe a comforting myth that makes all our fears go away.
You can try to wish away death, and maybe you'll be successful at it. But why not simply focus on embracing life instead?
BTW, evolution per se has nothing to do with my atheism. Evolution would make perfect sense as the kind of feature of a universe that had the capacity to surprise & delight an omniscient (& therefore bored) God.
So the same old tired and oft-refuted creationist nonsense then? I'll pass, thanks.
With some research, I found that the article you referenced, and several others on the same site, do not contradict the radiocarbon dating method at all.
This site, BiblicalChronologist.org has a series of good articles on radiocarbon dating. I am providing links to each of the primary articles below:
How does the radiocarbon dating method work? (The Biblical Chronologist, Vol. 5, No. 1)
How precise is radiocarbon dating?
Is radiocarbon dating based on assumptions?
Has radiocarbon dating been invalidated by unreasonable results?
Hope this helps.
I'm not a creationist. But since you know it all and have your head implanted in your butt cheeks, you didn't hear...
"So a scientist reporting superconductivity in Cobalt dioxide proves Genesis Christianity how?"
That was at the end of a long debate about radioactive dating...another poster suggested Noah's great flood had made the water superconducting and that changed the radiocarbon dating signature of everything on earth.
"The creationists typically add up the years mentioned n the bible and get an age of about 10,000 years. This requires the dinosaurs to lived at the same time as men so it requires a series of explanations that don't jibe with observed evidence."
Ussher did that in 1658 and it was pretty quickly disproved when contact with China was made. Somehow it stuck and became doctrine for some folks. Anyone who really investigates his method can find it's pretty weak. I don't think it's a fair statement to state that creationists do this as if all creationists do. If a fossil was found with a footprint and dino print together, it would prove that they co-existed but lack of a fossil is not proof that they didn't co-exist.
It doesn't have annything to do with mine either, but I do see it as fair game for attack:
#1. nothing is sacred;
#2. the creationists vote and I genuinely hate the Marxists, certainly more than the religionists do (I do not see hate, greed or killing as being sins);
#3. I don't see any reason as to why evolution is the only theory that has such exalted status in education or how the federal government (including the courts) have any say so in the matter.
#4. I also view some of these critics of the religionists as enemies (you have not done or said anything to be included in that - yet). Many of them have the only purpose of being here to subvert my political objectives.
And when I say enemies, I mean the type I have encountered on a real battlefield, not in some mealy-mouthed courtroom with tassle shoed lawyers or sheltered, weakling university professors and television talking heads.
Now, as far as evolution is concerned, I see life through a prism of warfare. A lot of these chumps really wouldn't make the natural selection cut with with guys like me around if they didn't have some of those godist, religionist, bible thumping types manning their armies to protect them.
I'll stick with my comrades at arms because I know I can count on them. These other guys, I can count on them for nothing, except maybe a stab in the back...
I discovered the thread before you. You run along old man...
I'm not a creationist. But since you know it all and have your head implanted in your butt cheeks, you didn't hear...
I wasn't referring to you in that sentence, actually. But it's interesting that you're so quick to assume that I was, and so obnoxiously defensive about it....
Two literary quotes come to mind:
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth" -- Proverbs 28:1"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." -- William Shakespeare, "Hamlet" (III, ii, 239)
[...] have your head implanted in your butt cheeks [...]
How old are you, twelve?
Obviously you aren't talking about archaeologists! Why, we wrestle dinosaurs!
Actually, in a pinch we can make bow and arrows, spears, stone tools, grind acorns, and in general know an awful lot about primitive technology.
Need your hand-ax sharpened? Who you gonna call?
I discovered the thread before you. You run along old man...
Hey, *I'm* not the one getting overemotional here when his errors are pointed out to him... If you can't handle it like an adult, perhaps you should take up knitting or some other more soothing pursuit.
I have no need to run along, I'm quite in control of myself.
What's your take on it then? How do you think all this life came about?
The Wedge document may drive a wedge it never intended. It may drive a wedge in and destroy the current majority conservative coalition.
If the GOP jumps on this bandwagon, many who have voted GOP in the past may take a pass in the future.
I don't know and neither does anyone else. That is what I object to with these idiot evolutionists, they think they know it all. Well, they don't, because if natural law were ever really allowed free reign, I would make them fossils.
You should know. Remember the email I sent you, I live with the Indians.
Who said something was?
#2. the creationists vote and I genuinely hate the Marxists, certainly more than the religionists do (I do not see hate, greed or killing as being sins);
And this has what to do with the discussion? Are you under the bizarre misconception that an evolutionist must be a Marxist?
#3. I don't see any reason as to why evolution is the only theory that has such exalted status in education
It doesn't have any "exalted status", actually. But it gets attacked more than any other, so of course you'll notice defenses of it more often.
or how the federal government (including the courts) have any say so in the matter.
Because the attacks are religiously motivated and done in a way intended to get thinly disguised religious views taught in public schools, which is a violation of the First Amendment. Try reading a newspaper.
#4. I also view some of these critics of the religionists as enemies (you have not done or said anything to be included in that - yet).
Because...?
Many of them have the only purpose of being here to subvert my political objectives.
Paranoid much? Which of your "political objectives" are you fantasizing that Freeper evolutionists are "only here" to subvert? And what's your alleged evidence for this persecution complex?
And when I say enemies, I mean the type I have encountered on a real battlefield, not in some mealy-mouthed courtroom with tassle shoed lawyers or sheltered, weakling university professors and television talking heads.
Yes, yes, let me know when your chest-beating dies down.
Now, as far as evolution is concerned, I see life through a prism of warfare. A lot of these chumps really wouldn't make the natural selection cut with with guys like me around if they didn't have some of those godist, religionist, bible thumping types manning their armies to protect them.
Ooookay... Ignoring the additional chest-beating, this diatribe raises some questions. If you are indeed an atheist, as you claim, and a "warrior", then:
1. Why do you presume that it's the "godist, religionist, bible thumping types" who "man their armies", without the asistance of other warrior-atheists like yourself? Do you think you're somehow unique or special?
2. You don't actually know any of "these chumps", so on what massive presumption are you basing any of your hasty conclusions about what they might or might not do in a pinch?
3. Your being an (alleged) atheist rules out deity-related origins, and your obvious antipathy to evolution rules that out, so what sort of position do you have on where/how mankind originated?
I'll stick with my comrades at arms because I know I can count on them. These other guys, I can count on them for nothing, except maybe a stab in the back...
You presume very much based on little besides than your prejudices.
Ahhh, the truth at last... you are a newspaper troll!
The First Amendment says no such thing, classic Marxist/ACLU double talk...
I don't know
Clearly.
and neither does anyone else.
Wrong.
That is what I object to with these idiot evolutionists, they think they know it all.
Wrong again. None of us "think we know it all". We just know a great deal more than a) evolution-haters are giving us credit for, and b) anyone can who is so nihilist when it comes to knowledge and learning that he says things like, "I don't know and neither does anyone else". Actually, there's quite a lot we *do* know about the subject.
Well, they don't, because if natural law were ever really allowed free reign, I would make them fossils.
You're a legend in your own mind, clearly. But why don't you go ahead and explain exactly what you're really saying here? It should be... entertaining. If you mean that you'd sneak up behind us and murder us for disagreeing with you on evolutionary biology, go right ahead and say it straight out.
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