Do 6 Out of 10 Americans Really Not Believe In Evolution?

There really is no point fighting over this. You could argue for years and never convince someone of the truth. It's the power of brainwashing. Or indoctrination if you don't like that word. People need to do their own research from many different inbiased sources. But they're probably not that easy to find.

Now I'm just curious but has anyone read posts from the converts corner at Richard Dawkins website? They make an interesting read.

richarddawkins.net...

I myself think good proof for evolution are the mamals in the oceans ..whales etc..

they were dog looking type creatures at one time and evolved to the sea for whatever reason.

This has been shown through there bone structure and such.

Creatures on this planet seem to adapt to there surroundings through lifes

causes and effects over long periods of time. Makes sense to me.

Originally posted by DASFEX


I think this article sums it up between BOTH of the camps Christian and Atheist. Which can admit to these will be interesting to see.

To be blunt, if I as a Christian have molecules to man evolution by natural selection acting on random mutations PROVEN to me, my faith in the Bible and understanding of who I am is massively undermined. I have to downgrade my view of the Bible as revealed truth and revise or even abandon my faith.

You can read the article in its entirety here
www.questiondarwin.com...

Some christians don't agree with that , but it's not like they are in any position of authority for the church...
www.msnbc.msn.com...

reply to post by Kaytagg


Evolution isn't proven, it's only a Theory. Yes, microevolution is proven, but that's not enough evidence to say that it is or has been done on a large scale. So there isn't proof that a dog was once a dolphin, or anything like that. It's not close minded for many people to not buy into the evolution theory, just people need solid proof. Yes, it is stupid of someone to reject the theory all together because of religion and it's stupid for die hard evolutionists to assume everyone is stupid for not believing in the same thing they do. So it's arrogance on both sides. I'm not religious at all, so I don't have a church or god affecting my thought process on this subject. I'm all for a change of mind, but I don't jump on the bandwagon just because it's popular. I'd rather make up my own mind on it.

Originally posted by System

I thought evolution had been proved true. But if scientists find something that doesn't work in evolution they will throw a party because they've made a new discovery, and move forward. They look at all available evidence and come to the most logical conclusion. Currently that conclusion points towards evolution.

Really how so?

You can't apply logic to creationism as there is no evidence for it. Creationists seem to think the theory of evolution is a religion. Where if one thing is wrong then the whole theory must be and therefore you have to throw it out. This may be true with the bible but the theory of evolution is completely different.

Natural Selection was first written about by a creationist and is in harmony with the creation event

If all the evidence available pointed to a creator then scientists would accept that as the most likely explanation for the universe. But they would never stop testing other theories.

Sorry, you're wrong again, evolutionary scientist look for evidence of creation or a creator like a bank robber looks for a cop after a heist. Richard Dawkins was quoted as saying that any evidence looking like or having the "illusion" it was created is then discarded as junk evidence.

Scientists are not your enemy. They are jus searching for the truth.

No Science thinks creatisonists and ID'ers are the enemy and the United States Congress has found them guilty of doing all they could even destroying careers discriminating people for thier religious belief inspite of their formal educations and degree. You think they are looking for the truth and I have shown they are only looking to find evidence to fit their theory and almost ALL of it has been proven to be the acts of fraud, manufactured evedence and fudged data. Scientists have proven they have as much prestige as a cheap prostitute with a crack addiction.

Perhaps next time they shouldnt take this survey in the backwoods of Arkansas ....... and even then, .... those six people only agreed with eachother because they were related.

Originally posted by System

Originally posted by FlyersFan
reply to post by Kaytagg

 

Originally posted by System
6 out of 10 Americans is quite a worrying statistic for a well accepted theory.

Yes it's only a theory ... but obviously it's not 'well accepted'.

Well I guess that depends where you come from. It seems to be well accepted in this part of the UK. I guess America and other counties can't get over the idea that everything was created by a magical man that lives in the sky.

Does your God need a magic wand to create things?

[edit on 30/6/2009 by System]

AAhh yes it wouldn't be an argument without the Darwinist resorting to the old sarcasm and ridicule. I get the impression that is what you always do? If you can't attack the argument with anything subtantive you attack the person and the country he is from?

Tell me, why you just proved my point in my first post using the same tactic it says you would.

Originally posted by KarlG
For those who insist Creation exists,

GET OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD.

Read books!

Look at animals!

The big ol' sky!

The oceans and the emotions and the beauty and horror of life!

How can any ONE entity have created that?

It's a result of the PASSING of time - Time is the ONLY creator, because time is powerful enough to make people forget, to make things change, to allow people to die and get born again, or for EVOLUTION to occur.

I don't know why's there's still debate.

Seriously, if only everyone would STOP reading only ONE book: The Bible, and stop fearing hell and sin.

Why do you assume that we don't know as much about evolution as you do? Why do you assume if we read it we would agree with you?

What makes you think anyone entity couldn't have created it but a mindless aimless brainless indifferent pitiless cosmic coincedence could and those same lucky accidents just kept on happening yet you can't answer any part of that without speculating using a lot of hearsay

reply to post by Darth Lumina


That word doesn't mean what you think it does darth lumina.

Some other theories:
The theory of gravity (worked so far every time i tried it. It did hurt sometimes)
the theory of electricity. "test 1,2,3,4" yup works atm.
optical theory. Can you read this?
...


Edit to add: thats actually a good question! How can anybody believe in electricity? Just because they bill you for it? could be scam. Nobody ever saw it (and no, lightning is seeing the effects of electricity, not electricity itself) Doesnt work when unplugged? The pluging in could be the sign that tells the little men to start the work. Opening the device doesn't reveal little men? well... they could be really really little.

[edit on 30-6-2009 by debunky]

Originally posted by KarlG

What you're doing is to DISPROVE the theory of Evolution to PROVE Creation.

First he doesn't have to disprove evolution because it has never been proven. Second he doesn't have to be a creationist to question evolution either and third you are being presumptuous
.

Because the Evolution Theory CAN be proved by itself WITHOUT discreditation of Creation, though of course the two cannot CO-EXIST

Show me.

Can the same be said for Creation?

No but that isn't our fault, it is yours, see below

If you can prove the existence of Creation WITHOUT your "book of facts": The Bible, WITHOUT saying how "Evolution is flawed, blah blah", then yes, well done and I might be inclined to change my views.

You ask someone to prove creation and then say but keep your stable datum (the bible) out of it?

Whereas I can make a stand for the scientific nature and process of Evolution through time WITHOUT bringing in Creation at all.

You can make a "stab" at proving it but saying time did it is no more proof than saying "god did it"

You go ahead Ill be more than happy to listen to your explanation.

Originally posted by Kaytagg
So, anyone still doubting the validity of this poll? I think it's probably accurate -- judging from the mixed responses on ATS, any how.

The most striking thing, in my mind, is that a large majority of people who disbelieve in evolution are very uneducated. Sounds almost too obvious to even need a poll to tell me that.

I sort of don't mind the anti-intellectual streak in America. It just narrows the competition for the 40% minority which some of us are lucky enough to be in. I feel like religion has given me an advantage over 60% of Americans, so this is certainly not all bad news.

Of course! We don't agree with you so we are stupid lacking education. Does that about sum it up? Would you care to match your education of evoluton against mine? I am always up for a debate like that and so far you have already clued me in on your M.O.

Lets see how smart you really are then shall we?

Consider the following four theoretical questions

1) Could an elephant jump over the moon?

2) Could a man balance seven live snakes perfectly straight up on the end of his nose while riding a unicycle blind folded with his hands behind his back for one full hour?

3) Could a blind man, drunk as a skunk having no fingers build a perfect house of cards, from a shuffled pack, in perfect suits, while on the deck of a ship, in the middle a hurricane, without instructions?

4) Could a single celled life form begin by happenstance from ammonia, methane and water?

Just answer yes or no please

reply to post by debunky


Putting the Theory of Evolution with those other theories is a pretty weak arguement. That tells me nothing. Why doesn't evolution belong with those other theories? Because those theories are proven. Evolution on a large scale isn't.

New to me since you can't prove a theory (except in mathematics), you can only falsify it.
How exactly is electricity proven?

Originally posted by weedwhacker
reply to post by Lannock

 

Lannock, your beliefs are yours, but facts belong to everyone.

Seriously, if only everyone would THINK and realise how beautiful and COMPLEX our universe is (we probably know less than 0.000001 % of what is [possible] in our universe) they would have no doubt of CREATION.

You, yourself just showed the complete illogic in asserting 'creation'.

You mention the COMPLEXITY of the Universe....(which by inference also includes diversity??)....yet we Humans cannot survive, unprotected in all but the tiniest fraction of a sliver of it.

I think your 'creator' is bollocks! Or, he's just not all that clever.

You are assuming all of this was created just for us

You are doing what you accuse us creationists of doing. Keeping your mind closed. I'm open to accept evolution if you can show me dem missing links. That's all the proof I need.

This debate will be going on for ever. I truely believe there was no special hand in the creation of humans and that the course of evolution is something that runs just like a timeline. It's not random it's the way it has always been, if a creator comes into the principal at all I'd say that his hand may have been in on the creation of the entire universe but not our planet it self. Pretty much like he/she pushed the rock down the hill and now it's on a path that he/she started but that he/she probably can't change.

reply to post by DASFEX

4) Could a single celled life form begin by happenstance from ammonia, methane and water?

Oh, now you're using typical 'creationist' nonsense!!! "questions" 1 thru 3 are fallacious and ridiculous, and you know it!!!

#4 is a question about abiogenesis, NOT evolution!!!!:

But, here is why your question #4 is phrased incorrectly, even in addition to being off topic:



You see? Single-celled organisms didn't just appear, fully formed, from "ammonia, methane and water" as you snorted!

reply to post by Lannock


What about the missing links of religion??? You'll say that they require faith to believe in but then again so does a theory... Faith that it is fact just like God.

from the article i linked to earlier.

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI said the debate raging in some countries — particularly the United States and his native Germany — between creationism and evolution was an “absurdity,” saying that evolution can coexist with faith. The pontiff, speaking as he was concluding his holiday in northern Italy, also said that while there is much scientific proof to support evolution, the theory could not exclude a role by God. “They are presented as alternatives that exclude each other,” the pope said. “This clash is an absurdity because on one hand there is much scientific proof in favor of evolution, which appears as a reality that we must see and which enriches our understanding of life and being as such.”

Now you can think of him what you want but he does wear one of the funniest hats on this planet!

Showing missing links: well... we can't. They are missing. I can't tell you where a lost key is either, since when i tell you it isn't lost anyomre.

Transitional forms: www.google.com...

knock yourself out!

reply to post by debunky


you know that thing that lights up the rooms of your house? or all of those electronic devices? that is more proof than a dolphin turning into a dog now isn't? When i say proof, i say that those other theories are used in day to day life. Gravity, electricity, etc. Evolution is a debated topic that isn't proven.

[edit on 30-6-2009 by Darth Lumina]

This debate has always riled me up! Of course evolution is true, we see it in front of our own eyes..............BUT.............It is not a creation theory!

So Faithful, it is perfectly OK to believe in the "Theory" of Evolution. It in no way undermines your faith.

So Everyone Else, it is perfectly OK for people to not believe that Evolution is the answer in totality! It obviously has a lot of holes, the very name indicates that something had to exist before evolution, otherwise nothing could evolve. Scientific discoveries are happening daily that prove how little we know about the beginnings of life.

I bet I could conduct a poll in which I could get 9/10 people to say they were for or against this theory, depending on how I worded the question.

This non-issue has bogged down the education system and politicians for far too long. All "theories" should be taught in the education system, and they should all be identified by exactly what they are: Theories. All faiths should be allowed in the education system, and they should be identified as exactly what they are: Someones Personal Faith.

All evidence should be readily available for or against any scientific theory in the classroom, and teachers should be educated well enough to give informed answers to kids questions. The teachers should also be competent and confident enough to tell kids when they personally don't have an answer, or that one does not yet exist. Teachers should also be able to tell someone when their opinion or faith is appropriate or inappropriate during a discussion. Then open, honest discussion, and LEARNING can occur in a system that has stifled it for the past several decades!

I beg everyone to open their minds, eyes, and ears! Stop discounting entire theories, faiths, or anything else because of a few discrepancies they may have.

ALL KNOWLEDGE HAS VALUE!