You might be reading too much into that younger demographic. The comparisons to 10 years ago, show that we are becoming less accepting of evolution as a whole. Unfortunately the time comparisons are not broken down by age range.

It's possible that the younger generation having been indoctrinated by the presentation of only one side in school, is more accepting of evolution. But once they turn older they reevaluate what they were taught.

The Harris Poll^® #52, July 6, 2005

Nearly Two-thirds of U.S. Adults Believe Human Beings Were Created by God

Opinions are divided about evolution theories

Earlier this year, the State Board of Education in Kansas reignited an old debate – whether or not creationism should be taught in public schools – and shone the spotlight on a new theory, intelligent design. While many in the scientific community may question why this issue has been raised again, a new national survey shows that almost two-thirds of U.S. adults (64%) agree with the basic tenet of creationism, that "human beings were created directly by God."

At the same time, approximately one-fifth (22%) of adults believe "human beings evolved from earlier species" (evolution) and 10 percent subscribe to the theory that "human beings are so complex that they required a powerful force or intelligent being to help create them" (intelligent design). Moreover, a majority (55%) believe that all three of these theories should be taught in public schools, while 23 percent support teaching creationism only, 12 percent evolution only, and four percent intelligent design only.

These are some of the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive^® between June 17 and 21, 2005.

Other key findings include:

A majority of U.S. adults (54%) do not think human beings developed from earlier species, up from 46 percent in 1994.
Forty-nine percent of adults believe plants and animals have evolved from some other species while 45 percent do not believe that.
Adults are evenly divided about whether or not apes and man have a common ancestry (46 percent believe we do and 47 percent believe we do not).
Again divided, 46 percent of adults agree that "Darwin’s theory of evolution is proven by fossil discoveries," while 48 percent disagree.

Factors such as age, education, political outlook, and region appear to guide views on this debate.

In general, older adults (those 55 years of age and older), adults without a college degree, Republicans, conservatives, and Southerners are more likely to embrace the creationism positions in the questions asked.
Those with a college education, Democrats, independents, liberals, adults aged 18 to 54 and those from the Northeast and West support the belief in evolution in larger numbers. However, among these groups, majorities believe in creationism.
Despite the significant numbers who believe in creationism, pluralities among the demographic subgroups examined still believe all three concepts (evolution, creationism, and intelligent design) should be taught in public schools.

TABLE 1

DID HUMANS DEVELOP FROM EARLIER SPECIES?

"Do you think human beings developed from earlier species or not?"

Base: All Adults

	March 1994	June 2005
	%	%
Yes, I think human beings developed from earlier species.	44	38
No, I do not think human beings developed from earlier species.	46	54
Not sure/Decline to answer	11	8

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding

TABLE 2

PLANT AND ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT FROM OTHER SPECIES

"Do you believe all plants and animals have evolved from other species or not?"

Base: All Adults

	June 2005
	%
Yes, I believe plants and animals have evolved from some other species.	49
No, I do not believe plants and animals have evolved from some other species.	45
Not sure/Decline to answer	7

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 3

DO MAN AND APES HAVE COMMON ANCESTRY?

"Do you believe apes and man have a common ancestry or not?"

Base: All Adults

	July 1996	June 2005
	%	%
Yes, apes and man do have a common ancestry.	51	46
No, apes and man do not have a common ancestry.	43	47
Not sure/Decline to answer	5	7

Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding.

It's possible that the younger generation having been indoctrinated by the presentation of only one side in school, is more accepting of evolution. But once they turn older they reevaluate what they were taught.
_______

Lots of things are possible. Like the older we get, we look for the comfort of any afterlife (given that the current one is running down).

Well, we have proof positive we are intellectually devolving.

It is like watching "Jay Walking" in slow motion.