Free Republic Poll on Evolution

Free Republic ^ | 22 September 2006 | Vanity

[PatrickHenry]

Free Republic is currently running a poll on this subject:

Do you think creationism or intelligent design should be taught in science classes in secondary public schools as a competing scientific theory to evolution?

You can find the poll at the bottom of your "self search" page, also titled "My Comments," where you go to look for posts you've received.

I don't know what effect -- if any -- the poll will have on the future of this website's science threads. But it's certainly worth while to know the general attitude of the people who frequent this website.

Science isn't a democracy, and the value of scientific theories isn't something that's voted upon. The outcome of this poll won't have any scientific importance. But the poll is important because this is a political website. How we decide to educate our children is a very important issue. It's also important whether the political parties decide to take a position on this. (I don't think they should, but it may be happening anyway.)

If you have an opinion on this subject, go ahead and vote.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The idea of conduction such a poll is equivalent to endorsing the idea of teaching what is popular, not the consensus of those working in the field. Perhaps this does represent Conservatism as it has become.

[RogueIsland]

Why do you think you need to post them over and over again? Posting them again and again and again, well, that's just spam.

He keeps posting them because the Creationists keep posting the same stupid, deliberate misrepresentations and mental flatulence again and again. I admire his tenacity, but he is unlikely to ever penetrate the cement-like, militant ignorance of a Creationist.

[onyx]

BUMP YOUR POST! In the meantime...

Free Republic Opinion Poll: Do you think creationism or intelligent design should be taught in science classes in secondary public schools as a competing scientific theory to evolution?

Composite Opinion
Yes	57.8%		748
No	32.6%		422
Undecided	5.6%		73
Pass	4.0%		52
	100.0%		1,295
Member Opinion
Yes	55.4%		444
No	33.0%		265
Undecided	6.9%		55
Pass	4.7%		38
	100.0%		802
Non-Member Opinion
Yes	61.7%		304
No	31.8%		157
Undecided	3.7%		18
Pass	2.8%		14
	100.0%		493

[ More Opinion Polls · Return to Forum ]

[Doctor Stochastic]

Are they also going to give equal time to other creation myths from Scientology, Raelism, Hinduism, Islam, Shinto, Norse mythology, etc?

But of course. People are often granted what they think they wish for.

[JCEccles]

Evolution including the intelligent design variant of it should remain with the sciences.

Darwinism should be taught as part of the religion and philosophy curriculum.

Why didn't you include that as an option?

[Doctor Stochastic]

"Freeping" a poll means voting many times to affect the result or to destroy the validity of the poll. It is one of lessons that Free Republic learned from Mayor Daly the Elder.

[freedumb2003]

Evolution including the intelligent design variant of it should remain with the sciences.

Right after teaching the astrology variant.

[Doctor Stochastic]

"Conduction" should be "Conducting."

[freedumb2003]

I'd rather vote for Nancy Pelosi as Queen of the USA than let you have any say in how I educate my children.

Libertarian home-schooler?

[Focault's Pendulum]

I vote

I don't believe the FR is a Libertarian site.

ok

does anyone knows what this means??

[freedumb2003]

"Conduction" should be "Conducting."

Conducteosity?

[muawiyah]

Modern biology is like ancient biology. Biology hasn't changed.

So, what is it you would like to state ~ maybe that the principles of evolution are TAUGHT as part of a program of education in biology and biological processes?

BTW, if you really did need a "base" for understanding bilogy, I'd think you'd have to have CHEMISTRY under your belt first before you got into the metaphysics of evolutionary processes.

[jwalsh07]

Catholic school. American by birth conservative by choice.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I don't believe the FR is a Libertarian site.

I don't either. Of course, having posters endorse Pelosi's views over those of long-time conservative activists doesn't tend to make FR look conservative either.

[PatrickHenry]

The idea of conduction such a poll is equivalent to endorsing the idea of teaching what is popular, not the consensus of those working in the field. Perhaps this does represent Conservatism as it has become.

Yes, but somehow the poll topic become an issue in various political campaigns, so even though I think the whole thing is misguided, it's important to the success -- or failure -- of Republicans. For example: [Michigan Gov. Candidate] DeVos says he wants intelligent design taught in science classes.

[freedumb2003]

Catholic school. American by birth conservative by choice.

Of course, you realize that curricular standards are established by the public (actually the State), right?

[freedumb2003]

Modern biology is like ancient biology. Biology hasn't changed.

The study of it or biology itself? The study has changed significantly -- we know a lot more now than we did.

[ml1954]

Evolution including the intelligent design variant of it should remain with the sciences.

Darwinism should be taught as part of the religion and philosophy curriculum.

Why didn't you include that as an option?

Ugghhh, PH didn't create this poll.

And I'm interested in this distinction you've made between 'evolution' that should 'remain with the sciences' and 'Darwinism'. Please explain.

[jwalsh07]

Of course, you realize that curricular standards are established by the public (actually the State), right?

Of course which is why I oppose federal intervention in local school curricula and neo Darwinists support it.

[NewLand]

But then again, it's not all that surprising that freeper opinion would mirror broader GOP opinion.

Well, there's a suprise! Free Republic opinion reflects mainstream conservative opinion nationwide.

No kidding.

What do you expect from the #1 conservative website on the planet?

You just cannot handle being an insignificant special interest group. You should be happy that you have a 'big tent' to operate in within the Republican Party.

We pro-science conservatives have our work cut out to make our party the voice of reason once again.

Now that's a statement that smacks of narrow minded liberal tactics.

I'm not suggesting you should leave, but it would be interesting to see the results of the exact same poll on a liberal website.