Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dr. Retard · 05-19-2003, 12:53 PM

I'm just curious here. I know there are alarming polls about what percentage of Americans believe in evolution, or that the earth is 6000-10000 years old (45% on that one, I think).

Now, are there any polls about how well people understand evolutionary theory? Not whether they affirm the theory, but whether they understand it. Like, "True or false?: According to evolutionary theory, man's ancestors were monkeys."

Thanks in advance.

(Also, don't be fooled by the location, I'm an American)

Spaz · 05-19-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Retard
I'm just curious here. I know there are alarming polls about what percentage of Americans believe in evolution, or that the earth is 6000-10000 years old (45% on that one, I think).

Now, are there any polls about how well people understand evolutionary theory? Not whether they affirm the theory, but whether they understand it. Like, "True or false?: According to evolutionary theory, man's ancestors were monkeys."

Thanks in advance.

(Also, don't be fooled by the location, I'm an American)

I don't know statistics, but americans are pretty damn ignorant. Be it politics, education, religion, etc.

BTW I'm American too

EDIT: Well this site seems to have some random polls http://www.accessexcellence.org/BF/b...t/bf02a03.html
click continue to get to more info/polls. Don't think it really answers the question still, but it's something.

Sci_Fidelity · 05-19-2003, 01:02 PM

Yes, the situation is very sad. It would seem the country is losing its place at the top of the scientific community. Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high.

Dr. Retard · 05-19-2003, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sci_Fidelity
Yes, the situation is very sad. It would seem the country is losing its place at the top of the scientific community. Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scien...ews990816.html

With a pie graph and everything!

I was a little wrong, maybe. November 1997 Gallup poll. 44% of Americans signed on to "God created humans in the last 10000 years". Draw your own conclusions re: young earth / old earth.

Mageth · 05-19-2003, 01:10 PM

Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high.

You have the luxury of living in Los Angeles. Come out here in the sticks where the hicks live sometimes to get a feel for the rest of America. There's whole towns in Texas where you'd be hard pressed to fill a small room with people that believe the earth wasn't created just a few thousand years ago.

lpetrich · 05-19-2003, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Retard
True or false?: According to evolutionary theory, man's ancestors were monkeys."

Defenders of evolution often split hairs on this one, claiming that we are not really descended from monkeys, that we only share some common ancestors with them. Though that is correct about present-day simian species, those common ancestors would have looked very simian, so "monkey" is a reasonable term for them.

How about this:

True or false? According to evolutionary biology, humanity shares ancestors with present-day monkeys that were long-ago monkeys.

Dr. Retard · 05-19-2003, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lpetrich
Defenders of evolution often split hairs on this one, claiming that we are not really descended from monkeys, that we only share some common ancestors with them. Though that is correct about present-day simian species, those common ancestors would have looked very simian, so "monkey" is a reasonable term for them.

How about this:

True or false? According to evolutionary biology, humanity shares ancestors with present-day monkeys that were long-ago monkeys.

Sure, fair enough.

So, do you know any polls like this?

Wounded King · 05-19-2003, 02:25 PM

America will never lose its standing at the top of scientific research, not as long as there are still Chinese post-docs.

KC · 05-19-2003, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mageth
Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high.

You have the luxury of living in Los Angeles. Come out here in the sticks where the hicks live sometimes to get a feel for the rest of America. There's whole towns in Texas where you'd be hard pressed to fill a small room with people that believe the earth wasn't created just a few thousand years ago.

It has always astounded me, living in the Midwest, how may people I meet who wear their scientific ignorance as a badge of honor.

KC

Arikay · 05-19-2003, 02:54 PM

Yeah, everytime I see a Jesus fish, or some other anti evolution comment, logo, etc, I think, I wonder if they even have a clue what evolution is or if they just dont like it because they were told not to like it and they dont know how to think for themselves.

05-19-2003, 12:53 PM	#1
Dr. Retard Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 735	How ignorant are (American) people? I'm just curious here. I know there are alarming polls about what percentage of Americans believe in evolution, or that the earth is 6000-10000 years old (45% on that one, I think). Now, are there any polls about how well people understand evolutionary theory? Not whether they affirm the theory, but whether they understand it. Like, "True or false?: According to evolutionary theory, man's ancestors were monkeys." Thanks in advance. (Also, don't be fooled by the location, I'm an American)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-19-2003, 01:02 PM	#3
Sci_Fidelity Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 595	Yes, the situation is very sad. It would seem the country is losing its place at the top of the scientific community. Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high.

05-19-2003, 01:10 PM	#5
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Still, I am a little puzzled by the poll numbers. I've barely met anyone who doesn't accept an old earth. It could just be the people I meet/ hang around with, but 45% seems alarmingly high. You have the luxury of living in Los Angeles. Come out here in the sticks where the hicks live sometimes to get a feel for the rest of America. There's whole towns in Texas where you'd be hard pressed to fill a small room with people that believe the earth wasn't created just a few thousand years ago.

05-19-2003, 02:25 PM	#8
Wounded King Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,211	America will never lose its standing at the top of scientific research, not as long as there are still Chinese post-docs.

05-19-2003, 02:54 PM	#10
Arikay Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ca, Usa Posts: 262	Yeah, everytime I see a Jesus fish, or some other anti evolution comment, logo, etc, I think, I wonder if they even have a clue what evolution is or if they just dont like it because they were told not to like it and they dont know how to think for themselves.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.