Britons unconvinced on evolution
From the BBC.
More than half the British population does not accept the theory of evolution, according to a survey. Furthermore, more than 40% of those questioned believe that creationism or intelligent design should be taught in school science lessons. The survey was conducted by Ipsos MORI for the BBC's Horizon series.
Its latest programme, A War on Science, looks into the attempt to introduce intelligent design into science classes in the US. Over 2000 participants took part in the survey, and were asked what best described their view of the origin and development of life:
22% chose creationism
17% opted for intelligent design
48% selected evolution theory
and the rest did not know.
Intelligent design is the concept that certain features of living things are so complex that their existence is better explained by an "intelligent process" than natural selection. Andrew Cohen, editor of Horizon, commented: "I think that this poll represents our first introduction to the British public's views on this issue. "Most people would have expected the public to go for evolution theory, but it seems there are lots of people who appear to believe in an alternative theory for life's origins."
When given a choice of three theories, people were asked which ones they would like to see taught in science lessons in British schools:
44% said creationism should be included
41% intelligent design
69% wanted evolution as part of the science curriculum.
Participants over 55 were more likely to choose evolution over other groups, while those under 25 were most likely to opt for intelligent design. "This really says something about the role of science education in this country and begs us to question how we are teaching evolutionary theory," Andrew Cohen added.
Well, you could’ve knocked my over with a feather when I read this recently. My emotions went from shock to sadness and then to anger. I really think we need some kind of investigation into science education in this country. Something has gone SERIOUSLY wrong.
About Me
- CyberKitten
- I have a burning need to know stuff and I love asking awkward questions.
19 comments:
Well, they didn't ask me. I'd love to know who they actually talked to though.
They didn't ask me either, but if this is representative of the British piblic something has gone SERIOUSLY wrong!
How many of the ID proponants can actually explain what ID is I wonder?
44% said creationism should be included? What, like God made the earth & everything in it in 6 days, 6000 years ago? But, but, but we don't even have 44% christians here do we?
I'm shocked, scared & totally gobsmacked. This definitely bears more research.
All very strange... I did wonder who they asked exactly.... 2000 people out of an adult population of 27 million.... I can't help but hope that they were totally unrepresentative....
I see if I can find out more...
BTW- Welcome Muppetlord...
Those are odd findings since I was under the impression that the British population were more atheistic than the US. Perhaps it has more to do with the abstract notion that there is a creator behind this world and less to do with any kind of organized religion.
It's more to do with being "spiritual" and not about the God of the Bible. Ya think?
I wish more people were like that, actually. I think organized religion does more damage to Christian representation than individuals.
Evolution is losing its grip in the scientific world because the evidence that supports it continues to crumble as we learn more about the world and the way things work in detail. Most believers in Evolution don't know diddly about the science involved, they just learned it in school and read/hear about it in the news, movies, magazines, etc.
I agree that a lot of it is based on belief. Richard Dawkins credits Darwinism with giving him intellectual permission to be an atheist. But is he fooling himself?
How many people come into the discussion with an open mind? I actually began studies as a paleontologist in college and was a Darwinist and now I am a Creationist who pretty well understands the arguments on both sides. My open mind eventually sided with God and against chance.
Sadie Lou said: Those are odd findings since I was under the impression that the British population were more atheistic than the US.
Odd findings indeed. I too thought that we Brits were more rational. I guess not. I'm trying to find out more about the actual survey itself. That might explain things a bit more. Also the sample size was rather small. I'm hoping that the numbers were affected in some way by that.
radar said: Evolution is losing its grip in the scientific world because the evidence that supports it continues to crumble as we learn more about the world and the way things work in detail.
Oh, I beg to differ BIG time on that one. Evolution is certainly not losing any ground in the scientific community. I think what has happened is that scientists thought (wrongly) that the idea of evolution was so powerful that it should be obvious to everyone. That it was, in effect, a done deal. I'm afraid that they underestimated the irrational component in humanity. I have a feeling that they won't make that mistake a second time.
radar also said: I am a Creationist who pretty well understands the arguments on both sides. My open mind eventually sided with God and against chance.
Interesting. I was an atheist before I was convinced of the arguments (and PILES of evidence) for evolution. During debates on evolution/creation with other creationists I visited some of the websites offered up as evidence. I found them to be a combination of bewildering, misleading and laughable - at least from my perspective. I think I'd need something pretty amazing to get me to turn my back on Darwin.
Thanks for your comments BTW.
I'm rational. I'm also a Christian. I defy reason in your little bubble, I guess.
*wink*
sadie lou said: I'm rational. I'm also a Christian. I defy reason in your little bubble, I guess.
I am impressed at how you keep coming back here... Thanks.
Anyway - I really must do a piece on reason & faith at some point (soon). I think it's pretty obvious that we have a different idea of what reason is - or maybe we don't (which would make life 'very' interesting). But in the mean time:
Can you outline what process of reasonable argument you went through (with yourself or others) to arrive at a faith position? If its too complicated or personal we can put it to one side for now (until I post that piece adressing the issue). But I would like to know how you can arrive at a belief in God through reason - because I sure can't [grin].
CK,
You're discouraged by those numbers but I wish we (the US) had them. I've seen several polls, but in general, US belief in evolution (without any intervention by a god) hovers around 10%. Now THAT's sad.
It is always discouraging when a society regresses.!
I am indeed discouraged (and honestly shocked) by the numbers. I was under the impression that religion was in terminal decline in this country. Apparently not. Guess we're just going to have to try harder to push it over the edge.. [grin].
Surprising results! I think I like a comment I read from some scientists studying "The Big Bang." I can't remember it verbatim but it was something along the lines of, "there's definitely evolution, but the closer we get to understanding that moment of creation, the more we question who fired that first shot of energy and set everything in motion? It had to come from somewhere, someone."
Not sure about there actually being a 'first cause' - and I'm definitely not sure about there being someone or something that could be called a first cause.
Sadie-lou/CK, no matter how you look at it, belief can not be based on nreasoning. At some point you have to make a leap of, um, faith.
Just because you have not seen any compelling evidence to prove their is a God, does not lead to a reasned argument that there isn't. Just because Sadie-Lou has had personal experiences she considers to be God's work, does not constitute a reasoned argumnet that there is one.
And therein lies the problem. Lack of proof is not evidence. Personal experiences are not evidence. You need empirical evidence to prove/diprove theories using reason. Everything else is personal faith. We are all slightly unreasoned when discussing our beliefs.
Can you outline what process of reasonable argument you went through (with yourself or others) to arrive at a faith position? If its too complicated or personal we can put it to one side for now (until I post that piece adressing the issue). But I would like to know how you can arrive at a belief in God through reason - because I sure can't [grin].
I like putting myself through the test of participating on blogs/discussions that challenge me. How boring would life be if we only surrounded ourselves with people who were very similar to ourselves?
I'd like to tackle this question you pose on a thread specifically addressing this question. Perhaps you can state in your original post how you came to the rational conclusion that there is not a God and then I'll will outline my rational conclusion as to why there is a God and specfically--the God of the Bible.
I'd like to address Mrs. Aginoth there as well.
:) cyber--just alert me when you have that post up so I don't miss out.
Sadie Lou said: cyber--just alert me when you have that post up so I don't miss out.
Deal.. I'll try & do it fairly soon.
Mrs A said: Just because you have not seen any compelling evidence to prove their is a God, does not lead to a reasoned argument that there isn't.
I actually think it goes a LONG way towards it. After all - Just how much lack of evidence to you need to form a reasonable opinion/belief that something does not actually exist?
It provides a reasonable belief, but not a reasoned scientific argument. Sorry CK, much as I agree with you on your beliefs, they ARE beliefs, and if is impossible for lack of evidence to ever be total proof of any theory, however likely it is.
The same argument applies to anything. How do we prove BigFoot doesn't exist? We can say there is no (reliable) evidence, that only unverifiable personal accounts say he does, that it is very unlikely as there is nothing for him to eat, nowhere for him to live, that it is likely that some evidence would have been found by now... But we can only prove his non existance when we have walked every square cm of the area, visited every cave & taken thermal images over a period of time.
I have absolutely zero belief in God/higher beings/the soul ect, but it is my belief, backed up by my own reasoning, but not proven by reason/science.
did you find any more info on the survey BTW, cos every time I see the header of this post I just think **** **** **** **** ****!
Mrs A said: It provides a reasonable belief, but not a reasoned scientific argument. Sorry CK, much as I agree with you on your beliefs, they ARE beliefs, and if is impossible for lack of evidence to ever be total proof of any theory, however likely it is.
That's exactly right. I do not believe God exists. However I cannot (at this time) PROVE that He does not exist - so yes, it is a BELIEF. I certainly have no problem with that.
Mrs A asked: did you find any more info on the survey BTW, cos every time I see the header of this post I just think **** **** **** **** ****!
Not yet. Still searching... Yeah, me too.. *****************
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