Pew Evolution Poll reminds us why Americans vote Repub

[bonzotex]

Poll: Public Divided on Evolution
From:
Salon, http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8CB1JT80.html


By WILL LESTER Associated Press Writer

August 31,2005 | WASHINGTON -- Americans are divided over whether humans and other living things evolved over time or have existed in their present form since the beginning of time, according to a new poll.

<snip>

In the poll by the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of those surveyed held strict "creationist" views that "living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time." Creationism generally refers to a literal reading of the Bible's story of the creation of man.

Almost half, 48 percent, said they believed humans have evolved over time. Some of those people, 26 percent of all those polled, said they believe evolution occurred through natural selection, and another 18 percent of all those polled, said evolution was guided by a supreme being.

<more..worth a read if you are a Salon subscriber or are willing to watch an ad>

To repeat:
In the poll by the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of those surveyed held strict "creationist" views that "living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time."

I've seen similar polls and even worse numbers of people who simply don't understand science. At least 48% said they at least sorta, kinda, believe humans evolved over time. Science is not incompatible with spirituality or religion, but some religions are clearly incompatible with science.

It's not ok to teach Intelligent Design or Creationism in science class. Not Ok at all. It's not about fairness, it's not about rational inquiry, it's about the deliberate dumbing down of America. "Intelligent Design/Creationism is religion, fucking period.

42% believe in fairy-fucking-tales instead of facts. I'm sorry to those of you that cherish you religion so much you are willing to ignore facts. I'm sorry that you are so afraid of moral relativism that truth becomes "relative". We can argue the fine points and research the archaeological and biological record for a better understanding of our origins, but if you believe, "living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time." ....you are impervious to rational argument.

You are an idiot. You choose faith and belief over inquiry and logic. You have bought so many big lies in the name of your religion that you are effectively incapable of know what is true or even how to determine truth.

You are a Bush voter. You are a Republican. You are the same sort of idiots that sees big fetuses in the swirl of a hurricane. You are the same sort of idiots that think terrorists are God's wrath on an immoral Nation. You are the idiots that thing AIDS was God's way of killing fags. You are the idiots that think "The Bell Curve" is science. You are the idiots that think tax cuts for rich people create jobs. You are the idiots that think you can instill Democracy with guns. You are the idiots that think we become more free by curtailing our constitutional liberties. You are the idiots that blame immigrants for taking your jobs while the Corporation that laid you off hires them locally and sends the rest of your jobs overseas. You are the idiots that think "deficits don't matter". You are the idiots that want to teach fairy tales instead of science in public school.

I could go on, but you wouldn't understand.

Because, you are idiots.

My apologies to the other 48% of America.

(on edit) This is not just a flame rant. If you think, as Democrats, we should support any ID or creationism taught in science classrooms, speak up.

[ClintonTyree]

1. So, it's apparent that 42% of the people in this country........

HAVEN'T evolved and therefore, natural selection will cull them out sooner or later. I hope.

I'm with you, this is simply amazing. :eyes: I can't believe that in the 21st Century 42% of our people insist in believing a 2000+ year old myth.

This will be locked soon, I'm sure.

[bonzotex]

2. why would it get locked?

Am I offending delicate Democrats?

Religion is a meme. It survives well beyond the biological carriers. It doesn't have to be a destructive force..perpetuating ignorance and bad decision making.

Ignorance is only self perpetuating if we allow it to be.

[bonzotex]

3. idiots....on parade

An evangelical Christian group that regularly demonstrates at LGBT events is blaming gays for hurricane Katrina.

Repent America says that God "destroyed" New Orleans because of Southern Decadence, the gay festival that was to have taken place in the city over the Labor Day weekend.

[bonzotex]

4. idiot with guitar

from Americablog: http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/08/how-cute-while-people-died-in-new.html

[wli]

5. those numbers have to be exaggerated n/t

[bonzotex]

6. no...pretty consistent with similar polls over the years

Nearly two-thirds of those in a Pew Research Center poll, 64 percent, say they believe "creationism" should be taught alongside "evolution" -- a finding likely to spark more controversy about what is taught in the schools.

The poll of 2,000 adults was conducted July 7-17 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Go to the Pew research Center for the whole poll and methodology

http://www.people-press.org

[wli]

7. I suspect Republican bias creeping in somehow.

They probably need to use the exit polling tricks with ethnic/etc. groups to reconstruct things or similar.

[bonzotex]

8. Pew is a pretty good pollster

In any case, I don't doubt these numbers. I've seen lots of similar results in earlier polls on evolution vs creationist beliefs. People really are that ignorant. And lots of people just don't give a shit. Their daily lives don't require much critical thought and they know fuck-all about the scientific method. Why not just believe whatever you want or whatever you were taught as a kid?

Be very afraid, not of bad polling, but bad brains.

[really annoyed]

9. I don't find this shocking

From a recent article in the NYT, only 20 to 23 percent of people in the U.S. have any sound knowledge in science.

Personally, I think creationism and "intelligent design" belong in a religious classroom.