Well, I guess the devil didn't cause evolution

[wmw999 2,589]

A recent poll finds that more Americans believe in the Devil than in evolution

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Poll finds more Americans believe in devil than Darwin
Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:53pm GMT

By Ed Stoddard

DALLAS (Reuters Life!) - More Americans believe in a literal hell and the devil than Darwin's theory of evolution, according to a new Harris poll released on Thursday. It is the latest survey to highlight America's deep level of religiosity, a cultural trait that sets it apart from much of the developed world.

It also helps explain many of its political battles which Europeans find bewildering, such as efforts to have "Intelligent Design" theory -- which holds life is too complex to have evolved by chance -- taught in schools alongside evolution.

The poll of 2,455 U.S. adults from Nov 7 to 13 found that 82 percent of those surveyed believed in God, a figure unchanged since the question was asked in 2005.

It further found that 79 percent believed in miracles, 75 percent in heaven, while 72 percent believed that Jesus is God or the Son of God. Belief in hell and the devil was expressed by 62 percent.

Darwin's theory of evolution met a far more skeptical audience which might surprise some outsiders as the United States is renowned for its excellence in scientific research.

Only 42 percent of those surveyed said they believed in Darwin's theory which largely informs how biology and related sciences are approached. While often referred to as evolution it is in fact the 19th century British intellectual's theory of "natural selection."

There are unsurprising differences among religious groups.

"Born-again Christians are more likely to believe in the traditional elements of Christianity than are Catholics or Protestants. For example, 95 percent believe in miracles, compared to 87 percent and 89 percent among Catholics and Protestants," according to the poll.

"On the other hand only 16 percent of born-again Christians, compared to 43 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Protestants, believe in Darwin's theory of evolution."

What is perhaps surprising is that substantial minorities in America apparently believe in ghosts, UFOs, witches, astrology and reincarnation.

The survey, which has a sampling error of plus or minus two percent, found that 35 percent of the respondents believed in UFOs and 31 percent in witches.

More born-again Christians -- a term which usually refers to evangelical Protestants who place great emphasis on the conversion experience -- believed in witches at 37 percent than mainline Protestants or Catholics, both at 32 percent.

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There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Muenkel 0]

I think that makes sense since such a large percentage of people believe in God ergo (I love that word) it would lend itself to more people believing in creation at some point; or God making an intervention in the process of evolution.

_________________________________________
Chris

[vpozzoli 0]

The comparison in itself is meaningless IMHO. The devil is a mythical figure that requires one to "believe" in its existence.
Belief is meaningless in relation to a scientific theory. See the thread next door for confirmation (or not)
Unless what was actually meant is: there are more Americans that believe in the existence of the Devil than there are that believe in the existence of the theory of evolution. But that makes even less sense

Cheers,

Vale

[wmw999 2,589]

What's funny is that I find no disconnect whatsoever in believing in both God and thinking that the theory of evolution is the best explanation for how things are now. Absolutely none.

They talk about different things, and I guess that means that I don't believe that Adam and Eve were the first people, either.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[steve1 5]

What scares me is that probably most of the people leading our country believe in devils, miracles, angels, and supreme beings who can do magic.

I just hope they are thinking rationally the next time they decide to go to war with another country....

[Muenkel 0]

You're probably more in the minority with that way of thinking. I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today.

This is just a thought on my part. I personally don't have an opinion as to whether evolution or creation in its purest sense happened. I personally believe God had a hand in it. How He did it, I don't know; which I guess is my whole point.

_________________________________________
Chris

[SpeedRacer 1]

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You're probably more in the minority with that way of thinking. I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today.

hmmm. as I've posted before, Catholics & many mainstream protestants have no problem with the theory of evolution.

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It's weird: I keep hearing about these "polls" that over half of Americans reject the theory of evolution.

My question is: Where are they finding these people?? Most people that I come into contact with, Christians and non-Christians alike, shake their head in disbelief at the Creationists.

Speed Racer
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[Darius11 12]

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What's funny is that I find no disconnect whatsoever in believing in both God and thinking that the theory of evolution is the best explanation for how things are now. Absolutely none.

I agree.
I have always looked at science as something that makes my faith even stronger not weaker.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[jakee 1,596]

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You're probably more in the minority with that way of thinking. I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today.

hmmm. as I've posted before, Catholics & many mainstream protestants have no problem with the theory of evolution.

Some Catholics. Except for, y'know, the Pope and stuff.

To Muenkel; "I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today." That is a very US centric view. In every other 1st world country on the planet people who believe in literal creation are a tiny minority who are regarded as being rather strange people.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[wmw999 2,589]

I think it's actually in part a reflection of how polarizing our thought patterns are. And how we're led to that.

You are either with us or against us.
You can't be my friend and be for him.
If you're against any portion of the Iraq war you're against the troops.
If you are for any portion of the Iraq war you're for George Bush.
If you don't let the president do whatever he wants to you're against America.
If you don't hate Islam you're against Christianity.
If you buy (x) you hate (y).
If you're a feminist you hate men.

It's all over the place. Shades aren't as attention grabbing to write about as black-and-white, so more and more things are written in big black-and-white polarizing terms to get people to buy their news and advertising.

40 years ago many conservative Christians (and orthodox Jews, etc) were far more in the mainstream than they are now. They weren't being told that the mainstream was evil. And mainstream folks weren't as busy trying to find an identity in an increasingly anonymous world, and looking for a movement to identify with.

The most certain thing is that society, American and other, will change. That's always been the case, and always will.

Personally, I hope we don't end up in a society like that of Heinlein's "If This Goes On--"

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Amazon 7]

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What scares me is that probably most of the people leading our country believe in devils, miracles, angels, and supreme beings who can do magic.

I just hope they are thinking rationally the next time they decide to go to war with another country....

Amen Bro

This bullshit of trying to bring on the End of Days by meddling over there really is disconcerting.

[quade 4]

Here is the strangest contradiction I found in the article;

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82 percent of those surveyed believed in God

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Belief in hell and the devil was expressed by 62 percent.

If a person doesn't believe in the Devil, then why would they believe in God?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[jakee 1,596]

Assuming God = All Powerful then believing in God and the Devil is a contradiction, not believing in God without the Devil.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Andrewwhyte 1]

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What is perhaps surprising is that substantial minorities in America apparently believe in ghosts, UFOs, witches, astrology and reincarnation .

Do they mean minorities like Hindus and Buddhists?

[jakee 1,596]

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What is perhaps surprising is that substantial minorities in America apparently believe in ghosts, UFOs, witches, astrology and reincarnation .

Do they mean minorities like Hindus and Buddhists?

Rev Lovejoy: Remember Homer, God helps all of us, whether we be Christian, Jew or... miscellaneous.

Apu: Hindu! There are over seven hundred million of us!

Rev Lovejoy: Well that's just super.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[billvon 3,120]

> I think it's actually in part a reflection of how polarizing our thought
> patterns are. And how we're led to that.

I think it's primarily ignorance that leads us down that path. Even a cursory study of evolution leads one to see that it doesn't contradict a belief in God; indeed, a great many scientists who study evolutionary theory are quite religious. Many people who think gays have a "militant gay agenda" don't know any gays very well, and people who think that muslims supported the 9/11 terrorists often don't know many muslims.

Unfortunately, these disconnects often develop into the sort of black and white splits you describe, and often such splits can "harden" people against learning new things. "I believe in God so I'm certainly not going to read anything by that atheist Dawkins or that blasphemer Gould!" That tends to reinforce the split, further polarizing the population.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I do not know if GOD exists, but I have a hunch that his buddy the DEVIL does not exist.
But what I can tell you is that the "DOG LIVED".

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[SpeedRacer 1]

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You're probably more in the minority with that way of thinking. I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today.

hmmm. as I've posted before, Catholics & many mainstream protestants have no problem with the theory of evolution.

Some Catholics. Except for, y'know, the Pope and stuff.

.

Nope. I don't know about Pope Benedict, but Pope John Paul II certainly had no problem with the theory of evolution. He had said so on more than one occasion.

Usually it's Fundy Protestants that have that problem.

Speed Racer
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[Channman 2]

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You're probably more in the minority with that way of thinking. I think it is probably more common for those that believe in God, reject evolution as it is defined today.

hmmm. as I've posted before, Catholics & many mainstream protestants have no problem with the theory of evolution.

---

It's weird: I keep hearing about these "polls" that over half of Americans reject the theory of evolution.

My question is: Where are they finding these people?? Most people that I come into contact with, Christians and non-Christians alike, shake their head in disbelief at the Creationists.

Maybe its because you live in the North East. In the South Christians shake their heads in disbelief at Darwin's Theory.

[SpeedRacer 1]

hmmm. as I've posted before, Catholics & many mainstream protestants have no problem with the theory of evolution.

---

It's weird: I keep hearing about these "polls" that over half of Americans reject the theory of evolution.

My question is: Where are they finding these people?? Most people that I come into contact with, Christians and non-Christians alike, shake their head in disbelief at the Creationists.

[quade 4]

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Assuming God = All Powerful then believing in God and the Devil is a contradiction, not believing in God without the Devil.

Your sentence structure eludes me.

Could you perhaps rephrase that?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[JohnRich 4]

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82 percent of those surveyed believed in God...
42 percent of those surveyed said they believed in Darwin's theory...

Those two numbers mean that some of the people who believe in god, also believe in the theory of evolution.

Explain that!

[kelpdiver 2]

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Here is the strangest contradiction I found in the article;

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82 percent of those surveyed believed in God

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Belief in hell and the devil was expressed by 62 percent.

If a person doesn't believe in the Devil, then why would they believe in God?

Many religions have a deity, but no hell, or anti christ. Catholics don't have hell. So the 82% catches all those who have some sort of supreme being. 3/4 of them accept the devil and hell notions.

The 42% bit for evolution explains why we keep having these debates wrt schooling. And because the Christian Right has been very effective at running for school boards, why we see the outright bans on reality.

[jakee 1,596]

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Assuming God = All Powerful then believing in God and the Devil is a contradiction, not believing in God without the Devil.

Your sentence structure eludes me.

Could you perhaps rephrase that?

Sorry, I was in a hurry.

If we're talking about the christian style omnipotent God, then it is more contradictory to believe in God and also believe in the devil than it is to believe in God and not believe in the devil.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[rehmwa 2]

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Catholics don't have hell.

They do too.

They have: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and Limbo

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants