Carlos

While this type of progress will continue, some theists have already come to terms with it and I think more will acquiesce in the future. Yes, science can explain this and that, how we got from there to here. But everything will still need a reason, a first cause; that's where god will still play a role for them. Maybe evolution did occur as the scientists say it did; while that may contradict the bible (or other creation stories), it must mean that evolution is god's will. Why was the bible wrong? Hmm, let's see... ah, right. "Mysterious ways."

Goodstein's article proposed some interesting reasons for the dichotomy of science in the USA. Thanks for posting the link, DD.

[ November 23, 2002: Message edited by: Carlos ]</p>

Sarpedon

Its possible that the original claim, that the world is 1/7 atheist is based on the fact that China (1/6) of the world's population is officially atheistic. You ask the chinese government if their are any religious people in their country, and they reply: "No! religion is the Opiate of the Masses!" The same was true in days gone by with the USSR. Now in Russia the Orthodox church is on some steroid rampage following the collapse of communism. Don't worry about statistics, just look around you and try to see the progress.

As for those who criticized american miseducation, don't overlook american laziness. Religion is easy, science is hard. We tend to be lazy here, take me, for example, I should be building a model right now.