Most Americans

[Phalanx]

- Many adults in the United States believe both creationism and evolution should be studied in the country’s public schools, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 58 per cent of respondents support teaching both theories, down six points in a year.

Charles Darwin’s "The Origin of Species" was first published in 1859. The book details the British naturalist’s theory that all organisms gradually evolve through the process of natural selection. Darwin’s views were antagonistic to creationism, the belief that a more powerful being or a deity created life.

In the United States, the debate on the topic accelerated after the 1925 Scopes trial, which tested a law that banned the teaching of evolution in Tennessee public schools. In 2004, Georgia’s Cobb County was at the centre of a controversy on whether science textbooks that explain evolutionary theory should include disclaimer stickers.

The theory of intelligent design suggests certain biological mechanisms are too complex to have developed without the involvement of a powerful force or intelligent being.

Earlier this month, more than 200 Greek academics signed a petition urging the government to improve the teaching of evolution in the European nation. The group claims the curriculum is "disorganized" and, in some cases, "completely nonexistent."


Full Story (http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/12827)

[Sadena Meti]

Fun tidbit. Back before Darwin, a vice-chancelor of Cambridge made the declaration that "Man was created by the Trinity on October the 23rd, 4004 BC at nine o'clock in the morning."

[Martin Blank]

I question whether this poll is really accurate. After all, it seems that almost every time a school board votes to include Creationism (or Intelligent Design, or whatever they decide to call it next) in the school curriculum, they find themselves voted out of office during the next election.

Miles

[Sadena Meti]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2006, 02:15 PM
I question whether this poll is really accurate. After all, it seems that almost every time a school board votes to include Creationism (or Intelligent Design, or whatever they decide to call it next) in the school curriculum, they find themselves voted out of office during the next election.
Silent Majority. Most people can't believe this debate is even happening, and so don't bother weighing in. Until school boards do something stupid like vote in I.D. Then the silen majority rolls their eyes and votes them out.

[bolshevik butcher]

I'd be inclined to agree. I really don't believe that most americans wnat this taught in schools, and I'm sure you could find polls arguing the other way.

[Rawthentic]

Either way, its reactionary. Us leftists in the US could really start an upheaval if they approved the teaching of evolution in our schools.

[Ozza27]

Yeh Penn and Teller deal with this issue in one of their shows. Go to google and search penn and teller Creationism in videos and you'll find it.

[More Fire for the People]

The most amazing and astounishing fact about American Christians is that unlike their European counterparts they make no attempt at rationality. European Christians have worked evolution, women's rights, etc. into their theological framework while American Christians en masse follow a rigid pseudo-fundamentalist framework.

[RedCommieBear]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 18 2006, 04:09 PM
European Christians have worked evolution, women's rights, etc. into their theological framework while American Christians en masse follow a rigid pseudo-fundamentalist framework.
I'm not so sure about that statement. I mean, I think it may be another silent majority thing. Even Pope John Paul admitted that evolution was more than a theory.

"...New findings lead us toward the recognition of evolution as more than an hypothesis. (...)" - Pope John Paul II

The problem is is that the Young Earth Creationists are extremely vocal, and the conservative fundamentalists are the only ones that are being seen by the media.

[elmo sez]

Where do these people believe this so called "creator" came from ? like who created him if it created us ,?

[Delta]

Yeah, I don't think an accurate poll of Americans would show that most want creationism taught in schools. It is true that a very large amount of people do want it taught though.

[Janus]

Us leftists in the US could really start an upheaval if they approved the teaching of evolution in our schools.
It is approved but in certain states, it's only taught as theory and not fact.

I know that in certain conservative states, many people want both taught but only because they want students to see both sides and decide for themselves or at least that's their reasoning.

[Poum_1936]

I recently saw something in the news about Greek teachers wanting to add Darwin and evolution to the teaching plan. Greek students are not really taught this, as to a "lack of time".

Funny thing though, a day after I saw a poll on "Do you believe in Evolution" conducted in some 30 countries. The US was second to last on people who do believe in evolution. Greece though still low on the list, was still above the United States by 5 or so countries.