Gallup has released a new poll that shows that Americans still reject the concept of evolution of humans in high numbers. Indeed, twice the number of Americans believe that humans were created by God in their current image than there are those who believe in natural evolution. Indeed, those 42 percent believe that man was created by God in the last 10,000 years. That is a considerable difference even if you focus only on anatomically modern humans which appeared in the Middle Paleolithic period about 200,000 years ago. For those who believe in the science behind evolution, the news is not all bad. Nineteen percent believe in evolution without divine involvement while another 31 percent believe that there was evolution from “less advanced forms of life” but that God directed that process. That is fifty percent. Of course, that does appear to leave eight percent that is still . . . well . . . evolving.
Creationism remains remarkably stable in our society despite the continuing discoveries of ancient bones and archeological sites. In 1982, the first such poll showed 44% believed in the theory.
Conversely, those people who believe in evolution has been growing but at a rate only Darwin would appreciate. Those accepting evolution has risen only ten percent from late 1999. When you look at church-attending Americans, the number believing in Darwinian evolution falls to only one out every 100 church goers.
However, the poll still shows that “the percentage of Americans who adhere to a strict secularist viewpoint — that humans evolved over time, with God having no part in this process — has doubled since 1999.”
What is striking is the situation with people with less than high school education– 57% believe in a creationist version of human origin while only 10% believe in an evolution without any divine intervention. The biggest change in numbers appears to come with higher education. Once at the college level, only 27% believe that God created humans in their current image while 41% accept Darwin’s theory of evolution of humans.
As we head into another presidential campaign, it will be interesting to see if this again becomes part of the debate as it did when three out of ten Republican candidates proclaimed their faith in creationism. It would seem that evolution remains a bright line division in our society.
As an academic, I find the rigidity of the faith in creationism remarkable given the continuing finds of modern human bones going back over a million years. However, it is the impact of higher education that is particularly fascinating. It is not surprising, given the views of their parents, that high schoolers would continue to hold firm on creationism. It is the extreme shift after exposure to college that seems to bring out the greatest change. Yet, that figure could be skewed in a type of self-selection (as opposed to natural selection) since the percentage of students who believe in evolution going to college may be higher. According to the government, “In October 2013, 65.9 percent of 2013 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities.” That leaves roughly 33 percent who would not be included in the poll sample from the high school pool. Thus, it is not clear what percentage of students actually shift from creationist to secular views of human evolution.
Byron, david2575, and the non-recurring angryman:
I’ve got to make dinner now, and spend time with my family.
Maybe later, though I doubt it.
So Chuck, I guess you are an autodidact. I know some people who practice engineering who are self taught. They are usually older folks and to be honest, the majority of them dont know jack sh*t about first principles.
I imagine most autodicks are like that.
Byron,
Carry on, then.
Byron,
Read about Lamarckian Inheritance. It’s all above, and if you have a problem then read about Lamarckian Inheritance.
Got it?
Chuck:
Why yes it is. You must be the reincarnation of Carnac.
Chuck:
What is the point that I missed?
Byron,
“What is your background?”
What is yours; civil engineering?
Byron,
“I dont really give a fuk about fruit flies. They all look the same to me and I havent ever heard of one changing into a mosquito or some other insect.”
I don’t give a damn about fruit flies either. Except to present that their life span (approximately 48 hours) has led to some interesting experiments. Fruit flies aren’t going to, “evolve,” into, “a mosquito or some other insect,” in your fuking lifetime.
You miss the point, Lamarckian fool.
cHUCK:
I dont really give a fuk about fruit flies. They all look the same to me and I havent ever heard of one changing into a mosquito or some other insect.
Environmental pressure will cause minor changes to a species as far as I can tell. I am curious how a land mammal becomes a whale if there are no traits which are passed on to subsequent generations.
What is your background? Political Science?
david2575,
Post your successful publication here. By that I mean the avenues available for purchase.
Should I give AIG a $50.00 check now, so that I have the first and only edition?
Let me know, here, on this thread where I can buy your magnum opus.
david2575,
“Hopefully my viewpoint will not be so obscure to you when you can read my thinking from start to finish in my magnum opus.”
Yes, please let me read this! Can you send an advanced copy? Who is the publisher? Do you have an ISBN yet, or should I wait to hear from you?
davidm2575,
“I think speciation has happened in the past.”
But not since “my” dick fit in an, “appropriate receptacle.” Conversation stops at this point.
david2575,
“Chuck is throwing you a curve ball.”
From the master of obfuscation.
Chuck wrote: “From the master of obfuscation.”
LOL. Hopefully my viewpoint will not be so obscure to you when you can read my thinking from start to finish in my magnum opus.
Byron,
“Did Lamarck find that fruit flies evolved into other species? Is that why you are throwing his name around?”
Can’t you read? Lamarck knew nothing of fruit flies, much like yourself. He was a proponent of generational pressures imposing biological change — sort of like your fruit fly response above.
You have his name, read all you can.
Byron,
“Apparently fruit flies do not evolve into other species. Hence your suggestion of my ignorance.”
Do you really expect fruit flies to evolve into another “species” while you are swatting them off your over-ripe bananas?
“You bore me Chuck, you arent [sic] very interesting.”
You have no concept of deep/geological time. It’s ok that you expect evolution to be proven in a petri dish in a few hours, like a sim.
You miss much with this perspective.
mespo,
I agree. The will to limit ideas, knowledge and critical thinking often takes place in a religious context, but not exclusively. It is happening in the political arena in a way which borrows from and thus is quite similar to religious institutions. It also takes place in businesses and academia. This list isn’t exhaustive, but all seem to work alike in stopping thought, learning imagination and questioning (especially of authority!).
Chuck:
Did Lamarck find that fruit flies evolved into other species? Is that why you are throwing his name around?
Chuck:
Apparently fruit flies do not evolve into other species. Hence your suggestion of my ignorance. Had fruit flies evolved into other species, you would have been front and center with evidence.
You bore me Chuck, you arent very interesting. Run along over to Flowers for Socrates, you will find them more to your liking.
Byron,
See Jean-Baptiste Lamarck as to your, “[h]as anyone gotten a fruit fly to evolve into something else,” statement.
Byron,
“Fruit flies dont live very long so you could have many generations in a relatively short time. Has anyone gotten a fruit fly to evolve into something else?”
Your first sentence suggests their study; your second suggests ignorance.