Posted on 03/07/2006 2:34:37 PM PST by SirLinksalot
Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll
Whopping 69 percent of Americans want alternate theories in classroom
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Posted: March 7, 2006 5:00 p.m. Eastern
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
A new poll shows 69 percent of Americans believe public school teachers should present both the evidence for and against Darwinian evolution.
The Zogby International survey indicated only 21 percent think biology teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it.
A majority of Americans from every sub-group were at least twice as likely to prefer this approach to science education, the Zogby study showed.
About 88 percent of Americans 18-29 years old were in support, along with 73 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of independent voters.
Others who strongly support teaching the strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory include African-Americans (69 percent), 35-54 year-olds (70 percent) and Democrats (60 percent).
Casey Luskin, program officer for public policy and legal affairs with Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture said while his group does not favor mandating the teaching of intelligent design, "we do think it is constitutional for teachers to discuss it precisely because the theory is based upon scientific evidence not religious premises."
The Seattle-based Discovery Institute is the leading promoter of the theory of Intelligent Design, which has been at the center of challenges in federal court over the teaching of evolution in public school classes. Advocates say it draws on recent discoveries in physics, biochemistry and related disciplines that indicate some features of the natural world are best explained as the product of an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process such as natural selection.
"The public strongly agrees that students should be permitted to learn about such evidence," Luskin said.
The Discovery Institute noted Americans also support students learning about evidence for intelligent design alongside evolution in biology class – 77 percent.
Just over half – 51 percent – agree strongly with that. Only 19 percent disagree.
As WorldNetDaily reported, more than 500 scientists with doctoral degrees have signed a statement expressing skepticism about Darwin's theory of evolution.
The statement, which includes endorsement by members of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences, was first published by the Discovery Institute in 2001 to challenge statements about Darwinian evolution made in promoting PBS's "Evolution" series.
The PBS promotion claimed "virtually every scientist in the world believes the theory to be true."
Argument from ignorance--2, anti-evolutionist creationists--0.
The statement "there is no evidence of X" implicitly means "currently no evidence has been found for X", not "there is and will never be any evidence of X"
Interesting that the youngest people polled seemed to be the strongest supporters of teaching more than evolution.
They also tend to be the most pro-life in those polls.
Personally, I lean toward evolution after years in the creationist camp, but I still favor a debate on this and feel that the scientific evidence needs to be presented on both sides.
Yucca and yucca moth.
Those who control the meaning of words, by definition, define the arguement....
How do you feel about teaching the idea that life may have originated from outer space?
They already do... the Big Bang theory... another immaculate conception...
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And how do they rank in educational attainments?
You are not being politically correct. You should say differently truthful.
The people in the age group are at least 18.
The evolutionists have no more proof human life evolved from other Terran life than those who would say humans came from outer space...
In fact, evolutionists have to admit human life came from outer space... the Big Bang theory... just another immaculate conception...
see #708...
Hey, where have you been. I thought you found out you were wrong about the rapture and were gone and I was wrong about post mil and I was left.
Oh, you mean young whippersnappers with no knowledge of the real world. BFD.
The “origin of species” is rooted in the idea of a singularity: the mechanics of the DNA molecule. All species of Terran life has it.
Like the singularity of the “Big Bang” theory, these two are categorically inseparable as immaculate conceptions. It only takes a mere application of logic.
The evolutionists have no more proof human life evolved from other Terran life than those who would say humans came from extraterrestrials...
Proof, no. Science does not deal in proof (try some good Irish whiskey).
Evidence though? Actually there is a lot of evidence showing evolution from earlier forms.
But I wouldn't want to bet the rent money on extraterrestrials.
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