Most Americans Favor Teaching Creationism

[sabra]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2005/08/30/most_americans_favor_teaching_creationism.html

Most Americans Favor Teaching Creationism

A new Pew Research Center poll finds that "about half the public (48%) says that humans and other living things have evolved over time, while 42% say that living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time."

Nonetheless, "most Americans (64%) say they are open to the idea of teaching creationism along with evolution in the public schools, and a substantial minority (38%) favors replacing evolution with creationism in public school curricula... Even many who are politically liberal and who believe in evolution favor expanding the scope of public school education to include teaching creationism."

However, "an analysis of the poll also reveals that there are considerable inconsistencies between people's beliefs and what they want taught in the schools, suggesting some confusion about the meaning of terms such as 'creationism' and 'evolution.'"

[Catch22Dem]

1. They didn't ask me!

Fine, I'll show up at their church this weekend for an evolution lesson during goddamn bible study.

[SoCalDem]

2. Fantastic.. THAT's what Sunday School is for

I am all in favor of Sunday School and Mommy & Daddy & Granny & Grampa and the church schools teaching that.. The PUBLIC schools are for all kids, regardless of their faith, so it should NOT be taught there:)

[lakercub]

62. Maybe a higher level high school philosophy class as well

That way a teacher can show evolution, creation, and intelligent design side-by-side and show why the last two aren't science. This also wouldn't waste time in science class. This class would also have to be elective, not required. My children will already know why creationism and intelligent design don't stack up.

[Birthmark]

3. Sure.

And the same people would scream about how awful American students do on science tests.

[Joebert]

4. Most of the people they asked at a Baptist convention... n/t

[BattyDem]

5. Bullshit!

I'd like to know who they polled.

[drfresh]

36. About the Survey

Results for this survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a nationwide sample of 2,000 adults, 18 years of age or older, from July 7-17, 2005. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. For results based on Form 1 (N=1,000) or Form 2 (N=1,000) only, the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The full breakdown is here:
http://people-press.org/reports/tables/254.pdf

[zanne]

51. And I second that Bullshit!

That's the word that popped into my head when I first saw the article.

[DBoon]

6. you don't like evolutionary biology? fine

when you have a heart attack, insist on being treated by creationist methods.

[Arkana]

7. Good--teach it in Sunday School, where it belongs.

Otherwise, keep it out of the schools.

[Initech]

8. Keep church outta my schools!

I'm sure that a lot of community college and high school science teachers would LOVE teaching creationism.

[Caution]

9. Most Americans favor free beer as well

Doesn't mean that it makes any friggin sense.

[Charlie Brown]

10. Thankfully science is not decided by opinion polls

I will not vote for ANYONE who wants to water down academic curriculum with pseudo-science and religion.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

54. But whether it's taught or not

is subject to the decision of local school boards. The fundamentalists or evangelicals (and I am aware that there is a difference, but I don't know right now what that difference is) have as their stated aim the control of all school boards. You have to fight them locally.

[lakercub]

63. Correct, look at Kansas

Kathy Martin and Connie Morris and others of their ilk have started watering down their state's science requirements because they can. They also had that farce of a "trial" where ID was put up against evolution. After that "trial" Morris actually said that evolution had been disproven. Unbelievable.

So, while it is true science isn't based on polls, science education is at the will and whim of local and state school boards. Most of the members of these boards are politicians, not scientists, and have no business going anywhere near science standards. But they will, especially in the midwest, where flat-earth creationist Luddites are taking hold of their local and state politics.

I'm in Colorado Springs and I am somewhat surprised, given our proximity to Dobson and the Family Research Council and all the other religious interventionist twits, that we haven't started seeing more of this here. I will fight it tooth and nail when we do (and it's just a matter of time, sadly).

[BootinUp]

11. I shoould have been born a cheese eating surrender monkey.

[Gloria]

12. The whole country has devolved into Knuckledrag????

I gotta get out of this asylum....

[I_Make_Mistakes]

18. That is BS

As a serious Christian, my BS meter just blew the top off!

Do I believe God created the world? Yes. Do I believe he used scientifically discovered means to do so? Yes. Do I believe you have to believe in Creationism to explain the creation of the world? Hell, no.

I have, and never had, a conflict between scientific understanding, and the belief in God. And, most my Christian friends have neither. This is pure and utter, BS!

I say, let the RW bring their tower of Babel down. I think most educated Christians see science as, understanding God's Creation mission.

[me b zola]

38. What is pure and utter BS?

I'm sorry, I am not quite clear what your post is saying.

[0007]

67. What part don't you understand?

[yourout]

13. They did not ask me.

I would have said no F###ing way!

[wli]

14. What did they do, go into a fundie church and poll pew by pew? n/t

[deadparrot]

15. Yeah...I'm getting the hell out of this country.

ASAP.

If you can't fully grasp the concepts "creationism" and "evolution," this country has major problems on its hands.

[really annoyed]

16. Crazy!

I would like to know exactly WHO they polled here!

[mzmolly]

17. Do they agree with teaching mythology as well?

I think they need to expand on this question personally.

Most people would not object to teaching a variety of beliefs as long as said beliefs are expressed in the proper context - religion or science.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

24. This is exactly why the RW are attacking the educational system

They are afraid of an informed public. They can not control the sheeple that way.

I, look to the Reformation, as the destruction of the Catholic monarchy, by information. Prior to the Wittenburg Press, printing the Bible in the language of the people, the Masses were delivered in Latin (the peasants had no clue what the Priests were saying).

Well, we know how that turned out, the Peasant Revolution. Ok, maybe, it's PR II!

[Chico Man]

19. Teach in in a religion or philosophy class

Not the science classroom.

[against all enemies]

20. How will this country compete with intelligent ones?

This country wants to teach intelligent design and stop stem cell research, while places like South Korea study science and take the lead in stem cell research. South Korea for christ's sake. We're doomed, left behind reading the bible while the rest of the world takes off.

[lakercub]

64. China and Japan should be thrilled

As this religious insanity starts spilling into other disiplines the United States is going to be left behind. Maybe that's what the Tim LaHaye novels are about?

Problems teaching evolution and doing stem cell research are glaring examples of what happens when non-scientists (especially religious non-scientists) get involved in science.

[IndianaGreen]

21. No wonder our country is experiencing a brain drain!

Many scientists are leaving the US because of the dismal state of research in fields such as stem cell. The push for teaching science that began in the aftermath of Sputnik, and which led to great advances in science and technology, is now being undermine by our inability to tell the differences between fact and fiction.

[krkaufman]

22. Nice poll! "Most" want creationism taught... but, then, most don't know..

... W-T-F it is...!!!

[fob]

35. Nice way to get a sure A+! All you have to do is start every answer

to every test question with, "I believe...".

Whammo! Instant 100%!

[bpilgrim]

23. i gotta get out of here

wonder what countries need a webmaster :shrug:

peace

[craigolemiss]

25. As long as it is taught ---

Alongside the Flying Spaghetti Monster!!

http://www.venganza.org/

:9:9:9:9

[sakabatou]

26. Yes! Let's teach about nonfalsifiable hypothesis!

[opiate69]

27. "Most Americans" also:

Think that McDonald's is good food, Survivor is quality television and "Pop" is quality music. Doesn't make them the least bit correct.

[annarbor]

65. Fantastic Point!

If most American's would have gotten their way in the 1950's, I would still be riding in the back of a bus somewhere....we have to accept the fact that many of our bretheren are absolute idiots!

I am not impressed by this survey...

Ann Arbor

[kodi]

28. turn down the lights on the Enlightenment. welcome back the Dark Ages

anyone who believes in creationism or intelligent design is an idiot and a danger to the human race.

their stupidity should no longer be tolerated but held up to public ridicule whenever possible. the past attitude of intelligent people to merely ignore these idiots has not worked. they and their stupid ideas need to be shown for what they are, the rantings of lunatics.

[Zhade]

29. 38% of Americans are fucking idiots.

Yeah, I said it - you have to be an IDIOT to want to replace a scientifically-proven fact with an unproven, contradictory, bullshit myth.

Sorry, that's just how I see it.

[Trajan]

34. I have had one standard since I was a teen ....

75 % of the human beings on this earth are fucking loony and ignorant fools ......

I sometimes count myself in that group (such is reality) ...

That rule has never betrayed me ....

[tom_paine]

30. And it's back to the Dark Ages we go!

Save me a seat at the witch burning.

Did anyone ever guess that the sciences of Propaganda and Public Relations could be so close to effectively snuffing the Age of Reason?

Or that so many people, so far removed from the depradations of the Dark Ages, could be essentially be convinced that all advances after the Age of Enlightenment are BAD and should be eradicated?

I guess the Nazis gave us a glimpse of that power, and conversely, it is Europe which now hold the concepts of freedom and liberty alive.

But we are so very close to the Dark Ages again. Closer than anyone can imagine.

I love this line "suggesting some confusion about the meaning of terms 'creationism' and 'evolution'.

Well, duh! Subject a society two three decades of Orwellian Linguistic Newspeak Reconstruction and what do you think you'll get?

[Kagemusha]

31. Sounds like the poll wasn't explicit re: creationism -> science class

And therefore has little statistical value.

[Trajan]

32. I think this is lemons ...

and we need to start to think about making lemonade ....

The notion that ID will be 'taught' is a foregone conclusion ... (what the fuck do they TEACH ? ... God did it ? .... How do they show that ? .. by showing that science CANNOT show all things ? ... how absurd )

LET them mention it in school, and give children the ability to SLAM the idea as soon as it pops up on the screen ....

The notion that god must be 'real' because men are ignorant is fallacious: non sequitur and ad ignorantium ... TEACH your children about fallacies ...

Evolution is a scientific and philosophical standard because it is the most reasonable explanation for how things are: THAT is the reason that biblical creedalists hate it so much, and fear it ... USE those strengths to beat ignorant antiscientism into the dirt ....

Let them pay out enough rope ..... and they will hang on it (metaphorical hanging ... not REAL hanging ... fyi)

[ridgerunner]

33. Creationism should be taught in school

that is, in the same class as the flat Earth theory.:dunce:

[nonconformist]

37. 38% favor replacing evolution with creationism in public school curricula

:wtf:

[progressivebydesign]

39. I'm sorry.. WHERE exactly did they do this poll??

I am so frightened for our Country right now. We are turning into the American Taliban.

Of course, the article also states that some people polled are confused as to what creationism and evolution might actually be. Perhaps some of them have not fully evolved.

[onager]

40. As someone much smarter than me once said...

"If millions of people believe a dumb idea, it's STILL a dumb idea."

[moggie]

41. Correlation with educational level

There was a paper in Nature earlier this year by Geoff Brumfiel (Nature's Washington physical sciences correspondent) which included some delicious data on the correlation between support for evolution and educational attainment. The paper is here:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v434/n7037/full/4341062a.html

The relevant table says that support for Darwin increases by level of education, and gives the following percentages of US adults who believe evolution is a scientific theory well supported by the evidence:

• Postgrad education: 65%
  
• College graduate: 52%
  
• Sample average: 35%
  
• Some college education: 32%
  
• High school or less: 20%
  

So, it's official: dumb people don't believe in evolution.

[Tikki]

42. What exactly is there to teach....Creation(ism) is a....

..little story...takes about five minutes to repeat all the verses.






Tikki

[cyr330]

43. "Most" Americans are fucking stupid

[Voltaire99]

44. Religious tolerance: a little goes a long way.

One problem with the party's recent pandering to religion can be seen here: you don't want to embolden these nuts.

Where are the leaders who will teach Americans to stop thinking and acting like big babies? "Ask not what you can drool for your country..."

[teryang]

45. Most Americans favor teaching that the earth is flat

Dumbing down America mission accomplished.

[Qibing Zero]

46. Disturbing. No other words. nt

[Dinger]

47. I'm A Teacher - The Bible Is Not A Science Book And Science Books Are Not

bibles. I am an ex-Sunday school teacher. I am a public school teacher now.

[DrZeeLit]

48. And what creation myth would they like taught?

I sorta like the Native American creation myths. Full of beauty and reverance for nature. But for "fun" ya gotta go with the Hindu myths. Wow -- chaos, destruction... ooh, boy... would love to see those Baptists get a load of Kali.

Then, you got yer Eskimo creationism, your Hawaiian creationism, your Aborigine creationism.

Hey, that's a lotta studying! But then, they'll be tested.

BECAUSE...

We don't wanna leave no child behind -- when it comes to their science learnin'.

[WePurrsevere]

55. My thoughts as well... if they want to teach one they better teach ALL or

they're going against 1st Amendment rights as well as the "Separation of church and State" (which if I remember a poll back a bit ago correctly most Americans also support in as well). :crazy:

Maybe these diverse "Creationism" beliefs should be taught in Social Studies... with some comparative religion info with their time lines added in as well so students can see how stories often come from other stories that spread and morph much as "gossip" in the game "Gossip" does. :evilgrin:

[Mari333]

49. There are thousands of "creation" stories, its called mythology

they can teach them all, in a MYTHOLOGY course. That is all. another feather in the cap of dumbed down america.

[yellowcanine]

50. Fine - teach creationism. Just don't do it in science class. Teach it

in social studies and history along with all of the other creation myths. As for what is taught in science class, that should not be a matter for public opinion. What is true is true regardless of what the majority might think.

[geckosfeet]

52. Not me. Creationism is bullsh*t. Last one out turn out the lights. n/t

[ramapo]

53. What about the Alien theory of creation???

That should be taught too.

[Dr Fate]

56. I'd like my kids to take Comic book appreciation instead of Literature.

LET THE PARENTS DECIDE!!!!

[Timmy5835]

57. If this were to happen, there goes our economy.

If our students get a poor science education where will all the U.S. science labs get qualified employees from? You guessed it Europe and Asia. This will leave us high and dry.

[shantipriya]

58. Creationism?

Bogus poll.The people surveyed did not understand the questions or they are morons.

[lateo]

59. The title of that article should be changed to...

"Most Americans are Idiots"

[zara]

60. Let's just teach religious alternatives to all science....

Katrina disaster caused by God's wrath at homosexuals and French as alternative to global warming playing a role.
Or,
Supplement our understanding of earthquakes, volcanoes, tides, weather based on science, with God's wrath at liberals.
Or dinosaurs being on the Arc 5000 years ago as an alternative to life's 3 billion year history.
I'd say, lets use the "reductio ad absurdum" as a weapon--but Americans are so friggin stupid and brainwashed that they (we) wouldn't recognize the ironic attack.

[lakercub]

61. TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!!!!!

Of course, there is no controversy. 99% of molecular and cellular biologists do their research and make their observations based on a fundamental understanding of evolution. They do not consult the Bible for these sorts of things. Nor do they consult with their clergy. This is because, in the arena of science, the Bible and the clergy (and most common man opinions) are irrelevant.

So there is absolutely no controversy. Biologists (and to a smaller extent physicists, chemists, and paleontologists) should determine what should be taught about evolution in science class...and no one else. No one else is qualified.

[FlaGranny]

66. Dismaying. n/t

[SeanQ]

68. People need to understand

that it is SCIENCE that allowed us to know Katrina was coming and evacuate 100s of thousands of people. Without sound, objective science, we would be calculating casualties in the 1000's or 10000's instead of probably 100s.

The people who push for teaching 'intelligent design' and creationism want nothing else but to dilute the teaching of science and eventualy prevent any science that does not argee with their opinions. What those that think that maybe a 'fair' presentation don't seem to get is that this is just a toehold that they want. In the long run, any _real_ open science will lead to conflict with a bible as 100% truth creationism world view. Welcome back to the dark ages!!!

Creationism can be taught at church. If you don't like science, home school or start a faith-based private school. Keep it away from public funds and do NOT confuse them with science!

[anotherdrew]

69. most americans dumb as a bag of rocks

seriously, uneducated

[Redstone]

70. Bullshit. I simply do not believe it. 64 percent? Yeah, right.

I know there are a lot of stupid people in America, but there are not THAT many of them who are THAT stupid.

Redstone

[liveoaktx]

71. That'll include the turtle carrying the earth on its back, right?

[CGrantt57]

72. I teach science in New York and I'd be happy...

to teach creationism...as the biggest bunch of unscientific horseshit to ever come down the pike.

Creationism is religion, pure and simple.

I wonder why so damn many "Christians" are such fucking lazy parents?

"Oh, oh," they whine, "Please Mr. Teacher, I don't have TIME to teach my child religion. You do it. But, do it the way I want you to, or I'll throw a tantrum."

But, just let me try and teach them about sex and watch the retards get their panties in a bunch.

Parents...you know I hate 'em.