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Poll: Most Republicans Reject Evolution
Associated Press ^ | June 12, 2007

Posted on 06/13/2007 8:30:23 AM PDT by presidio9

The three Republican presidential candidates who indicated last month that they do not believe in evolution may have been taking a safe stance on the issue when it comes to appealing to GOP voters.

A Gallup poll released Monday said that while the country is about evenly split over whether the theory of evolution is true, Republicans disbelieve it by more than 2-to-1.

Republicans saying they don't believe in evolution outnumbered those who do by 68 percent to 30 percent in the survey. Democrats believe in evolution by 57 percent to 40 percent, as do independents by a 61 percent to 37 percent margin.

The poll also said that those who go to church often are far likelier to reject evolution than those who do not. Republicans are likelier than Democrats or independents to attend church services, according to Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup Poll.

At the GOP's first presidential debate last month, the 10 candidates were asked which of them did not believe in evolution. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo raised their hands.

The Gallup survey, conducted May 21 to 24, involved telephone interviews with 1,007 adults. It had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: christianity; crevo; crevolist; dnctalkingpoints; evolution; gop; polls; religion; smearcampaign; theoryofevolution; zogbyism
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To: conservativehusker
You can take your flame suit off...

2 Peter 3:8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

21 posted on 06/13/2007 8:55:25 AM PDT by pgyanke (Duncan Hunter 08--You want to elect a conservative? Then support a conservative!)
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To: JerriBlank
Sad to see the republican party so out of touch on this.

Let me see if I have this straight. Left wing intellectuals are wrong when it comes to: anthropogenic global warming, the importance of fathers and traditional marriage for childrearing, the economic benefits of free markets, the economic benefits of low taxes, whether gender roles are merely social constructs, and whether western civilization rose to prominence because of a superior culture. But they are correct when it comes to macro-evolution.

Got it. You are right, it is sad to see Republicans out of touch with consensus of left wing intellectuals.

22 posted on 06/13/2007 8:56:32 AM PDT by Jibaholic (http://www.gentlerespect.com/)
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To: narby

Third time at least and still not much interest. The Space Shuttle 1G indication is getting more responses by far.


23 posted on 06/13/2007 8:56:33 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Treaty)
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To: presidio9
This actually doesn't surprise me. What is it that characterises Republicans (rank and file, not the leadership), generally? Pragmatism, common sense, and a "see for myself attitude" that rejects unsubstantiated ideas that have no factual basis.

A majority of Republicans reject evolution because evolution is simply not scientific - it's a philosophy used to interpret data in a certain way, but it is one which relies upon circular reasoning, wishful thinking, and inferences from unsupported speculation. Republicans rightly reject evolution specifically because Republicans are clear-headed people who think for themselves. Evolution is a philosophy for people who unthinkingly believe whatever they were told to believe in the dumbed-down government schools - schools where critical thinking and actual examination of the claims of a theory or belief are never taught.

Think about it, folks. There's a reason the evolutionists hyperventilate at the mere thought that ID or creationism might even be mentioned in a public school, much less included as a part of the curricula. It's because evolutionists are afraid to have to actually put their belief system up on trial and have it questioned. Evolution receives much the same hallowed status in American public schools as "scientific socialism" did in Soviet schools - it's a truism, and and any debate must be stifled.

One would think that if evolution were really supported by independent facts and reason, that evolutionists would just be chomping at the bit to pit it against creationism in the schools - what a great way to show the kids how stupid those creationists are, and how superior and correct evolution is. The fact that evolutionists are afraid to do that, and want discussion on the subject limited to a very narrowly defined set of talking points speaks volumes.

24 posted on 06/13/2007 9:03:35 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Run Fred RUN!)
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To: JerriBlank

There is a difference between not accepting the THEORY of evolution in its entirety and rejecting it completely.


25 posted on 06/13/2007 9:04:18 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: RightWhale
Third time at least and still not much interest.

The subject of evolution is pretty well worn out on FR. My point is that the original article will succeed in planting the seed in many people's heads that Republicans are stupid. It will do long term damage to conservative politics.

There have been many conservative pundits that have attempted to put the creationism issue behind us, but it hasn't caught on here on FR, where a group of very well trained scientists were chased away to Darwin Central. That was a serious strategic mistake if conservatives actually care about gaining and holding political power.

It's irrelevant whether evolution or creationism is true or not. The fact is that painting Republicans as creationists will damage them badly. Creationism is a third rail subject.

26 posted on 06/13/2007 9:06:06 AM PDT by narby
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To: Jibaholic

“But they are correct when it comes to macro-evolution. “

Oh, so you believe in micro-evolution, but not macro-evolution.

Well, that’s a start.

Good luck!


27 posted on 06/13/2007 9:10:10 AM PDT by JerriBlank
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To: presidio9
Democrats believe in evolution by 57 percent to 40 percent, as do
independents by a 61 percent to 37 percent margin.


The headline is another example of the hideous work-product of the MSM.

Anyone with a brain knows the REAL NEWS is that two-fifths of Democrats
don't believe in evolution!

Now a real investigative reporter would try to figure out why
that many Democrats are still evolution-deniers.
28 posted on 06/13/2007 9:12:00 AM PDT by VOA
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To: presidio9

“There is a difference between not accepting the THEORY of evolution in its entirety and rejecting it completely.”

Which part of “survival of the fittest” is being rejected?


29 posted on 06/13/2007 9:12:50 AM PDT by JerriBlank
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To: narby
Absolutely correct, but don’t expect them to listen to you.
30 posted on 06/13/2007 9:13:11 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Pray for the deliberately ignorant.)
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To: narby
Is this the third time this has been posted?

Fourth (or maybe Fifth)

31 posted on 06/13/2007 9:13:28 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Laws are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools - Solon, Lawmaker of Athens)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
A majority of Republicans reject evolution because evolution is simply not scientific - it's a philosophy used to interpret data in a certain way

Kind of like the philosophy used to interpret actions on Earth to an unseen, undetectable, God.

I have never understood how creationists win by painting science as equivalent to faith. At best, they only create the impression that there are two competing faiths involved. How is that a win?

I'll take a "faith" that has been tested, that has an explained mechanism in DNA, that has massive quantities of evidence to support it, over a faith that points to the empty sky and says, "see, God lives up there".

If science and Christianty are two co-equal faiths, then Christianity loses.

32 posted on 06/13/2007 9:15:19 AM PDT by narby
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To: narby
I'm a Republican and I'm a Christian. These are two great ideas that indeed should be associated with each other. What's wrong with being right?
Either you believe in God and His creation as told in His Book, or you think of yourself as a kind of bald ape, ready to fornicate with anything that moves and are unable to grasp any concept of dignity, nation or justice - in short, you're a liberal.

But who are the 30 percent calling themselves Republicans and at the same time reject God's word? That part of the poll is quite hard to believe.
33 posted on 06/13/2007 9:16:09 AM PDT by wereatwar (We're at war, behave accordingly.)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
A majority of Republicans reject evolution because evolution is simply not scientific - it's a philosophy used to interpret data in a certain way, but it is one which relies upon circular reasoning, wishful thinking, and inferences from unsupported speculation. Republicans rightly reject evolution specifically because Republicans are clear-headed people who think for themselves. Evolution is a philosophy for people who unthinkingly believe whatever they were told to believe in the dumbed-down government schools - schools where critical thinking and actual examination of the claims of a theory or belief are never taught.

Think about it, folks. There's a reason the evolutionists hyperventilate at the mere thought that ID or creationism might even be mentioned in a public school, much less included as a part of the curricula. It's because evolutionists are afraid to have to actually put their belief system up on trial and have it questioned. Evolution receives much the same hallowed status in American public schools as "scientific socialism" did in Soviet schools - it's a truism, and and any debate must be stifled.

One would think that if evolution were really supported by independent facts and reason, that evolutionists would just be chomping at the bit to pit it against creationism in the schools - what a great way to show the kids how stupid those creationists are, and how superior and correct evolution is. The fact that evolutionists are afraid to do that, and want discussion on the subject limited to a very narrowly defined set of talking points speaks volumes.

Throughout this post you are complaining about science and evolution, and that there is no evidence to support evolution. (That is plainly false.)

On the other hand, you want ID taught as a scientific theory even though it lacks any scientific evidence. Talk about a double standard.

You want critical thinking? Riddle me this. How many designers are/were there? When did the design occur? And please specify the evidence that you use to support your positions.

34 posted on 06/13/2007 9:18:09 AM PDT by Coyoteman (Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.)
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To: JerriBlank

The problem began when politicians got hold of survival of the fittest and then historians and it became Progress and Darwin expressed dismay: ‘They are taking this way too far!”


35 posted on 06/13/2007 9:21:33 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Treaty)
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To: VOA
It would be interesting to see if the poll had any questions to see if those polled made any distinctions about "micro-evolution" v. "macro-evolution".

HA HA- you're killing me, a pollster or the MSM actually displaying intelligence, BWAHA HA

36 posted on 06/13/2007 9:21:54 AM PDT by 11th Commandment
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To: JerriBlank

And, it is happening again with Global Warming. Can we learn after a century and a half? Seems in itself to refute the idea of societal evolution.


37 posted on 06/13/2007 9:23:23 AM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Treaty)
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To: wereatwar

Either you believe in God and His creation as told in His Book, or you think of yourself as a kind of bald ape, ready to fornicate with anything that moves and are unable to grasp any concept of dignity, nation or justice
______________

I’m still quite amazed at folks, such as yourself, who can live in such a strictly binary world as you describe. Bothered by not in the least, mind you, it’s a great big world with a lot of strange beliefs (for instance eating dog in the first half of the lunar month for good luck, and cat in the 2nd half), but the “it’s this or that with nothing in the middle” is hard for me to grasp.


38 posted on 06/13/2007 9:24:22 AM PDT by dmz
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To: wereatwar
But who are the 30 percent calling themselves Republicans and at the same time reject God's word? That part of the poll is quite hard to believe.

Those are the Republicans who will leave the party if it is turned into the Christian party. Bringing faithful people into a political party is a winning idea, *if* the party is not turned into a religious party. The faith part needs to be left behind when dabbling in politics and at the voting booth, if there is any chance of success.

How many religious denominations are there in the US? None of them can politically dominate the entire country. And if a political party becomes a religious party, then it's inevitable that doctrinal conflicts will arise and split it apart.

The founders were wise to separate religion and politics. It should stay that way.

39 posted on 06/13/2007 9:24:34 AM PDT by narby
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To: edsheppa

Notice the arrogance of the Darwinists.


40 posted on 06/13/2007 9:27:05 AM PDT by shekkian
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