Republicans growing more skeptical about evolution

[IDemo]

When it comes to increasing partisanship in the United States, it seems no issue is immune. And that includes evolution.

A new Pew Research Center poll shows a widening political gap over theories about how humans came to be, with Republicans growing increasingly skeptical about the idea that humans evolved over time.

Over the last four years, the percentage of Democrats who said they believe in evolution has risen by three points, from 64 percent to 67 percent. But the percentage of Republicans who believe in the theory has dropped 11 points, from 54 percent to 43 percent.

So while there was a 10-point gap in 2009, there is now a 24-point gap.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/12/30/republicans-growing-more-skeptical-about-evolution/

[MrScorpio]

1. They've been looking at themselves in their mirrors for too long

That's all that is

[Rex]

2. Rex looking at Republicans, growing more skeptical about their evolution.

[snooper2]

3. as long as they don't breed I don't care

If they are raising more little stupids then we might be having a problem

[JaneyVee]

4. When your party goes from Lincoln to Palin I could see why.

[Berlum]

5. "What we are really into is, um, a, devolution. Ummmm. D'oh." - Republicons (R)

[mstinamotorcity2]

6. Evolution??????

they must first figure out that babies don't just magically come from "down there."

[gollygee]

7. There's this weird pride

they seem to take about how much they're willing to shield their eyes from science. I know people who don't believe in evolution who have to be willfully choosing to be ignorant. They aren't just stupid. But they boast about their ignorance in a weird way.

[AZCat]

8. I don't know if this reflects changing personal views...

or a change in the makeup of the Republican party. Is this change because people who believe in evolution simply left the Republican party? Without more information I don't think it's possible to tell what the cause really is.

[Katashi_itto]

10. I think you right, the crazy/stupid factor is getting concentrated more and more

[AZCat]

17. It's kind of worrisome.

Their alienation of anybody rational (or non-male, non-white, non-privileged, and non-lunatic) means the crazies are running the party, but their political power doesn't seem to have waned in the same proportion as their popularity.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. The water in the Koolaid is evaporating.

[longship]

23. I was going to post something like this myself.

When your party base is knuckle dragging ignorant and barking mad, those who are informed and sane are going to no longer identify with that party.

I would like to see a correlation between the changing demographic of the Republican Party, but this Pew poll probably does not have the data to do that correlation.

How can anybody vote Republican? Boggles the mind.

[AZCat]

24. I think some of it is inertia.

I know people who vote "Republican" because they always have. Other people only receive information from self-reinforcing sources and aren't able to recognize the growing gap between the propaganda and reality, particularly where the Republican party's efforts regarding their welfare is concerned.

Then there are a few who are rich, white, male assholes who know they are truly the only constituents of Republicanism. Not much can be done with them, unfortunately.

[longship]

25. Well, I think they're losing the moderates.

I think their intolerance is wearing people down. One can only take such a stand for so long before people begin to see that it may be their only position, a negative one.

Hopefully, this will accelerate the cleft in the party and they'll be so they cannot win a national election, if that hasn't already happened. (Not likely, but possible.)

[gulliver]

45. Yup, it could be all of the better educated, clearer-headed people...

...are dumping the GOP and going Independent and Democrat. We know that the number of self-declared Republicans is at a historic low. This poll could simply show an ongoing brain drain.

[COLGATE4]

9. I think the headline should

actually read "Evolution becoming more skeptical of Republicans". Seems to fit.

[IDemo]

15. Oniony, I like it..

[3catwoman3]

28. Perfect!!!

I can certainly see why evolution would be skeptical of Republicans. Intellectually, at least, they certainly seem immune to its effects.

[Shrike47]

12. They are growing increasingly sceptical about and averse to science.

They have been elevating ignorance as a goal, too. They seem to have decided there is no fact, no truth, only opinion. A very dangerous way to think IMO.

[Ilsa]

38. They think of Science as being a field of compromise,

that there are no facts, only opinions.
Democrat: "The world is round."
Republican: "That's your opinion."

[DisgustipatedinCA]

13. Invest heavily in Velcro

I'm no market analyst, but at this rate, I'm pretty sure most Republicans won't be able to tie their own shoes soon. I recommend investing in Velcro.

[Jester Messiah]

14. To be fair, the process does appear to have failed them miserably.

Hard to believe, looking at them, that's all that 65 million years of survival-of-the-fittest could produce.

[JCMach1]

16. I just have to look, or think about THEM to grow more skeptical about evolution too

[ErikJ]

18. To me its like an adult saying they believe in Santa Claus. Pathetically funny.

[IDemo]

19. Wait a minute. Whoa, back up, what are you trying to say..?

[ErikJ]

20. Good point. I meant believing in CREATIONISM (and/ or not evolution) is like believing in Santa.

thanks

[lunasun]

21. One in three Americans doesn't believe in evolution, according to new survey results from the PRC

The results, released Monday in report on views about human evolution, show that 33 percent of Americans think "humans and other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time."

[napkinz]

22. From Chuck Norris to Kirk Cameron, Famous ‘Christians’ Say STUPID Things (Videos)

by Simone Sanner
December 30, 2013

While Kirk Cameron seeks to educate us in evolution and “life, the universe, and everything,” we here at AATTP thought we would take a minute from side-splitting laughter to appreciate other crazy famous Christians have said. Long on belief and short on fact, there seems to be a trend where anything goes, as long as you can wrap it up in a homely homily and tie it up with a big Jesus bow. Enjoy some of our favorite quotes ...

Chuck Norris, bemoaning the spread of Atheism online, said, “While you think your kids are innocently surfing the Web, secular progressives are intentionally preying on their innocence and naïveté. What’s preposterous is that atheists are now advertising and soliciting on websites particularly created for teens.” That’s right, folks, Atheists everywhere are stalking your children! There’s a fight over the hearts and minds of your kids! As opposed to Christians’ desire to merely mate with them while they are still young. Jut ask Phil Robertson. ...


Stephen Baldwin shows us his parenting skills with the following statement, “Jesus or no Jesus, if my daughter started working in a strip club, I’d beat her ass.” We find ourselves wondering what he would do if his daughter started batting for Team Lesbian. Baldwin also used the bully pulpit on ‘Big Brother UK’ to preach about evolution. Watch here while Richard Dawkins hands Baldwin a steaming pile of shutthehellup.

Kirk Cameron has a novel way to eat…or is this food snorting? We’re not sure. We just think it’s kinda weird. “Put your nose into the Bible everyday. It is your spiritual food. And then share it.” Shared food snorts. Ew. We wonder what other snorts he shares with his friends. It IS Hollywood, after all.

full article: http://aattp.org/from-chuck-norris-to-kirk-cameron-famous-christians-say-stupid-things-videos/

[Brainstormy]

26. partially a result of

home schooling, church schools, and the proliferation of Bob Jones University "science" books?

[SidDithers]

27. That's 'cause Republicans are fucking idiots...nt

Sid

[RainDog]

29. wow. evidence continues to validate evolution

It seems that, to be a Republican, you have to make a commitment to deny reality.

evolution. global climate change. the worthlessness of trickle down economic theory...

not to mention culture war issues.

science, economics, culture - they're doing it wrong.

[egduj]

30. I'm part of the 1/3 democrats that is very skeptical of evolution.

It's unprovalbe, untestable, unobservable, and has failed 100% time when trying to be reproduced/replicated in a lab.

It doesn't help that the major source of this theory is from some racist whose prime motivation was to prove that the white race was the highest rung of the evolutionary ladder.

[spanone]

32. bwahahahahahaaa comedy gold.

[SidDithers]

33. Hahaha...

Oh, wait. You're serious.








Sid

[Vashta Nerada]

35. Way to ignore science and call Darwin a racist in the same post.

And you're serious?

indeed.

[NoOneMan]

36. Unobservable?

The Stickleback disagrees

[RainDog]

40. This sounds like something you heard from a religious speaker

But the truth is that evolution has been tested, observed, and reproduced over and over again in various species. Fruit flies, for instance, with their short life spans are one example.

Read "Why Evolution is True" by Jerry Coyne, to see the many ways evolution has been tested and passed muster.

It's true that the 19th c. was an era with a lot of racism across the western world, but that doesn't make a science invalid that has been tested, reproduced, observed, peer-reviewed and, also refined over more than a 100 years.

Evolutionary biology has been the source to demonstrate that race is a cultural concept, not a biological one. There is more genetic variation between people whose ancestors originated in the same areas than there is between those that have been viewed as a "race" in the past.

Darwin wrote about evolution but didn't understand the processes behind it. Mendel studied genetic inheritance with plants and provided a window into how traits are reproduced. The study of DNA indicated how mutation and variation occur.

Sadly, too many religious leaders are too invested in false teachings to admit their insistence on literalism is just plain wrong. Those religious teachers are doing a disservice to everyone in this nation with such false teachings.

[spanone]

31. that's because most republicans haven't quite evolved

[Vashta Nerada]

34. They can be skeptical all they want, but the truth doesn't go away because you don't believe in it.

No wonder this country is becoming the laughing stock of the world. While the rest of the world is evolving, we're regressing. Republicans won't be happy until this country is in the Dark Ages.

[ananda]

37. Considering that evolution is a matter of science..

.. and NOT a religion, the question of "belief" is irrelevant.

[Shankapotomus]

39. hmm...

Perhaps if we tell republicans what our stance is on witches they'll start lighting each other on fire?

[TwilightGardener]

41. As long as evolution is put forth as something to "believe" in, as opposed to scientific fact,

the religiously insane will be able to cling to their magical rib creation alternative.

[Zorra]

42. Well, I'm not surprised. I've often found it is necessary to have a real life experience

of something to really understand it.

Democrats innately understand evolution, because they have evolved.

Republicans...weeeell, not so much.

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. wow

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. A bit of good news - Understanding of evolution increases with decreasing age

indicating people are, slowly, learning.



http://www.pewforum.org/2013/12/30/publics-views-on-human-evolution/