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Darwin’s followers struggle with unfavourable poll numbers

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In “Wright and Ruse on Creationism” (Evolution Blog, June 13, 2012), Jason Rosenhouse attempts to account for a recent poll of Darwinian evolution vs. other alternatives (guided evolution, creationism), observing:

Well, the latest numbers are out, and they are not good news. The creationism number, which was at an all-time low of 40% two years ago, is now all the way up to 46%. Theistic evolution is down from 38% to 32%, while atheism went from 16% to 15%. That six percentage point jump for creationism and corresponding drop for theistic evolution could well be a blip in the data, but it is significant enough to promote some chatter in the blogosphere.

Dismissing the theories of others, he offers one of his own:

I’m not really sure why these latest poll numbers are provoking so much hand-wringing. The 46% figure is far more consistent with the history of the poll than was the low 40% figure of two years ago. Probably the low figure was just an outlier, and the polling data has just reverted to what it has typically been.

But if we are looking for an explanation, I’m surprised that neither Wright nor Ruse mention a really obvious candidate. It’s hardly news that religious and political extremism tends to flourish in bad economic times with high-levels of uncertainty. In fact, when I consider the sheer level of political dysfunction in this country right now, to the point where I think we can discuss seriously the idea that we are no longer a functioning democracy, I almost hope Wright and Ruse are right. Far better that people be influenced by a handful of atheist writers than by the well-funded and malevolent right-wing forces eager to take advantage of our current economic distress.

Well, the trouble with Rosenhouse’s idea – not that we anticipate him either noticing or considering it – is that these figures are unchanged from better economic times featuring less dysfunction. If a war broke out, the figures would still not likely change.

Darwin and his followers do not have convincing explanations for life. And the best they can come up with is that we evolved so as to not believe them. True. We evolved to believe in reason, logic, and evidence instead.

Alternatively, did you know that religion evolved partly to limit female unfaithfulness? That little girls evolved to like pink , even though the association between girls and pink is only a century old?  Gosh, if we could work Elvis into evolution, he’d be spotted once again at a local donut shop.

It’s been a while since that happened here, so maybe by now it would be evolution …

Seriously, truth, falsehood, and nonsense all strive to defend Darwin, but nonsense prevails so much of the time, and that’s not something that most of Darwin’s supporters even want to try to get under control.

See also Breaking: 46% of Americans still believe God created man, woman


Comments
dregstudios: “There is no argument against the Theory of Evolution other than that of religious doctrine.”
The best argument against the Modern Synthesis is the fact that has not been shown to be a sufficient account for a multitude of extant biological features. For example, It has not been demonstrated to be a sufficient explanation of the origin of unique organs, tissue types, cell types and body plans. Nor of the unique properties of the human mind. The best argument against the Modern Synthesis is that it is grossly deficient.mike1962
June 15, 2012
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"There is no argument against the Theory of Evolution other than that of religious doctrine." I note that you use "religious doctrine" without defining a specific religion or a specific doctrine. Without such, your statement, properly worded, should read, "any argument against the Theory of Evolution requires rejection of the doctrine of atheism". In other words, you are not protesting against inclusion of a particular doctrine, just against something which is against the specific doctrine of atheism. Therefore, it is actually you who are being sectarian.johnnyb
June 15, 2012
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Robert,
Is this a thumbs down for the African “president”?
Umm . . . oh never mind.Jerad
June 14, 2012
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Political problems? Is this a thumbs down for the African "president"? If creationism was given a fair and constant hearing before the public and especially the kids the numbers would rise for the good guys. If evolution is wrong then intelligent people should see through the error once they fully understand the claims on both sides. Especially in the anglo-American civilization which for centuries has been more intelligent. Think of all the attention and establishment and media support evolution gets and it stills struggles to hold its own relatively. Every authority teaches that evolution is true beyond criticism . Imagine if there was a fair shake for YEC and ID in public and media institutions!! The great error would be sent to the ashheap of wrong ideas in history. Yes along with marxism and company of which usually these evolutionists have historical DNA with It figures.Robert Byers
June 14, 2012
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correction: for establishing such Darwinian change is even realistically feasible is non-existent!:bornagain77
June 14, 2012
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The true underlying story behind the 'Monkey Trial' was far from what was portrayed in the movie 'Inherit The Wind'
"Journalism Should Be Based On Telling the Truth—Your Father Would Never Have Done This" http://darwins-god.blogspot.com/2012/04/journalism-should-be-based-on-telling.html
Here is a recent movie that goes a long way towards setting the record straight on the 'Monkey Trial' (Of note: be careful to click through the advertising bluffs to get to the movie on the page):
'Alleged' - full length movie http://www.movie2k.to/movie-964408-Alleged.html Writer, Producer Fred Foote Sets the Record Straight with 'Alleged' - podcast Description: David Boze interviews filmmaker Fred Foote, writer and producer of the new feature-length drama Alleged, which seeks to tell the real story behind the infamous 1925 Scopes Trial in Dayton, Tennessee that pitched Darwinian evolution against belief in God. After seeing the 1960 film Inherit the Wind, starring Gene Kelly and Spencer Tracy, Foote did his own research into the trial and discovered that Inherit the Wind was "almost exactly wrong" on many crucial points. So he set out to make another movie that would set the record straight and would explore how media can influence society's perspective on past events. http://www.idthefuture.com/2011/12/interview_writer_producer_fred.html
Here is a portion of Hunter's Civic Biology textbook on Human Evolution that was banned from Tennessee Classrooms:
Hunter's Civic Biology Excerpt: "The Races of Man. - At the present time there exist upon the earth five races or varieties of man, each very different from the others in instincts, social customs, and, to an extent, in structure These are the Ethiopian or negro type, originating in Africa; the Malay or brown race, from the islands of the Pacific; the American Indian; the Mongolian or yellow race, including the natives of China, Japan and the eskimos; and finally, the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white inhabitants of Europe and America." (p.196) "The Remedy. - If such people were lower animals, we would probably kill them off to prevent them from spreading. Humanity will not allow this, but we do have the remedy of separating the sexes in asylums or other places and in various ways preventing intermarriage and the possibilities of perpetuating such a low and degenerate race. Remedies of this sort have been tried successfully in Europe and are now meeting with some success in this country." (Italics added for emphasis) http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/tenness7.html
Moreover, in spite of the relentless propaganda by Darwinists (with the help of big media), the fact of the matter is that the evidence that Humans may have evolved from some ape-like ancestor is weak. Furthermore, a actual demonstrated mechanism for establishing such Darwinian is even realistically feasible is non-existent!:
just how well supported is the theory of evolution that man descended from some lower order of animals? http://darwins-god.blogspot.com/2012/04/heres-example-of-ultimate-evolutionary.html?showComment=1335133338533#c4586671024926171105
bornagain77
June 14, 2012
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Here in TN, they have taken steps though new legislation to allow creationism back into the classroom. This law turns the clock back nearly 100 years here in the seemingly unprogressive South and is simply embarrassing. There is no argument against the Theory of Evolution other than that of religious doctrine. The Monkey Law only opens the door for fanatic Christianity to creep its way back into our classrooms. You can see my visual response as a Tennessean to this absurd law on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/04/pulpit-in-classroom-biblical-agenda-in.html with some evolutionary art and a little bit of simple logic.dregstudios
June 14, 2012
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