Untouched by the hand of God (How people in various countries view the theory of evolution)

The Economist ^ | Feb 5,2009

[SeekAndFind]

IT IS 150 years since the publication of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which suggested that all living things are related and that everything is ultimately descended from a single common ancestor. This has troubled many, including Darwin himself, as it subverted ideas of divine intervention. It is not surprising that the countries least accepting of evolution today tend to be the most devout. In the most recent international survey available, only Turkey is less accepting of the theory than America. Iceland and Denmark are Darwin's most ardent adherents. Indeed America has become only slightly more accepting of Darwin's theory in recent years. In 2008 14% of people polled by Gallup agreed that “man evolved over millions of years”, up from 9% in 1982.

[kittymyrib]

However, the top 10 European countries that believe in the monkey-man religion will soon be under sharia law and will believe the account of creation as taught by the ruling mullahs.

[ClearCase_guy]

I detect at least some correlation between Socialism and a willingness to believe that we are here by random chance, with no guiding principle other than what we decide upon.

[doc1019]

Great, a chart that statistically proves idiocy is in the majority! Thanks. ;-)

[SeekAndFind]

Well, it looks like only Turkey is less accepting of the theory than the USA ( the world leader in science and technology). Iceland and Denmark are Darwin’s most ardent adherents.

Iceland is of course on life support, and Denmark? Well, a brave little country if you go by the Mohammad cartoons episode, but these days, they would be better off praying for divine intervention than subverting it.

[Marie2]

Also, some correlation between Christianity and rejection of evolutionary theory?

The exception would be Turkey, I guess that is Muslim influence.

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, I think it mostly amounts to the same thing. In a country where Christianity is strong, neither socialism nor evolution is likely to become a central part of life. Islam also opposes evolution, AFAIK, so there's Turkey.

As Christian faith has declined in many countries, socialism has moved in to take its place. Evolution is a part of this changeover, although the Evos get upset when people point out that a belief in a random and godless universe makes things like Nazism a bit easier to bring off.

[grey_whiskers]

However, the top 10 European countries that believe in the monkey-man religion will soon be under sharia law and will believe the account of creation as taught by the ruling mullahs.

Kind of ironic for those who believe evolutionary principles guide everything, including memes.

The truth of an idea is supposedly in its survival value; so if evolutionists (being metrosexual Europeons who are too effete and selfish to actually breed) are overrun and eliminated by hyperfertile Mohammedeans, does this mean evolution is falsified?

Cheers!

[mjp]

I detect at least some correlation between Socialism and a willingness to believe that we are here by random chance, with no guiding principle other than what we decide upon.

you need to be a metaphysical materialist, naturalist, and secular humanist to believe fairy tales like this.

[SeekAndFind]

Kind of ironic for those who believe evolutionary principles guide everything, including memes.

One possible social interpretation of Darwinism would be that since the FITTEST survive in the struggle for survival, nature will select the ones who are most FIT to survive.

Given the non-desire of a lot of European countries to have children, and given that a lot of the Muslim population in Europe are having babies at 3 to 4 times the native European rate, If this trend continues, I guess nature is preserving Muslims as the ones most fit to survive.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

One possible social interpretation of Darwinism would be that since the FITTEST survive in the struggle for survival, nature will select the ones who are most FIT to survive.

In the world of Zebra Finches, the 'fittest' ones are the ones with the brightest beaks. Fitness is not always about the strongest, but about the configuration most advantageous, for a certain situation.

[Conservativism]

You’re completely misconstruing evolution. It’s not random chance at all. It’s what gives a species the greatest opportunity to survive and reproduce. The idea is that the genetic mutations are random, but those that persist certainly are not.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[grey_whiskers]

If this trend continues, I guess nature is preserving Muslims as the ones most fit to survive.

Are you saying then that monotheism is natural and adherence to evolutionary biology is unnatural?

Cheers!

[grey_whiskers]

BTW this would also mean that Lysenkoism applies to evolution of memes, not to evolution of genes...except if one bends the rules to note that certain genes are affected and/or activated within the individual by external stimuli, no mutation necessary. The question in that case would be whether continually applying the stimulus over generations would create selection pressure for more expression of that gene, or more sensitivity of that gene to the external stimuli...

Cheers!

[dr_lew]

The irony I see is that the mullah’s support Creationism. Well, why wouldn’t they?

Eppur si muove, dude.

[grey_whiskers]

Eppur si muove, dude.

Is that jive? Or Esperantu? Or Arabic?

Cheers!

[dr_lew]

I just made it up ;-)

[guitarist]

Amoeba to man evolution remains a weak theory. Not because no one is trying to strengthen it...

[smokingfrog]

A lot of countries are left out.