So, 60% of Americans support teaching creationism...

[Kraklen]

this isn't terribly surprising. The AAAS has ran scientific polls for years on the subject and about 40% are invariably young earth creationists.

Shit, 60% of Americans can't even give a working definition of the word molecule (again, according to the AAAS).

So I'm curious how DUers stack up.

[damntexdem]

1. Yeah, but 100% of Americans evolved from apes ...

so what can you expect?

[4_Legs_Good]

2. I have no problem with schools teaching creationism, intelligent design...

IN THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES CLASSES!

david

[Kraklen]

8. Creationism is an insult to religious studies.

That's like having a class about that poster in the doctor's office about walking hand in hand on the beach with God.

[ironman202]

12. it's evidence that the deeper meaning of thier own religion

is wasted on them.

[Kali]

16. EXACTLY!

[tridim]

3. "Creationists" are proof of devolution

while "evolutionists" are proof of evolution.

[Kolesar]

7. Are we not men?

[NewWaveChick1981]

20. We are DEVO...

(One of my favorite bands of all time...)

[cascadiance]

21. Are we not men?...

D-E-V-O

[DanCa]

4. They dont realize the consequences.

It's not a simple sunday school, it's pro life propaganda wrapped up in a trojan horse.

[Strawman]

5. People in polls tend to give the least potentially objectionable answer

They don't really care one way or another, so they say something like, "I think all different points of view should be taught." They don't really consider the distinction between what is science and what is not. It's kind of an off the cuff, easy way out answer.

[Kolesar]

6. Did you really *need* a poll to make me ...

... crazy, pissed-off, and without hope for Americans?

[woodsprite]

9. I support teaching creationism in Sunday School and church.

I can see it being acknowledged as another "theory" in regular school. Why do all these people have to make it so difficult. It's religious doctrine, keep it in the church. Teach real science, tangible facts, etc. in real school.

Some days I just feel like banging my head against a wall.

[formerrepuke]

10. 60 PERCENT? That can't be right.

[ironman202]

15. remember, it's a push poll

[craychek]

11. Creationism is faith not science

thus is should be taught in religion

[expatriot]

13. I chose the first one because that is the one closest to my belief...

but my position would be "Evolution is a scientific fact that has been found to be the most plausible explanation for the origin and the continued adaptibility of the species. The driving forces of evolution are within the model itself and any discussion on the motivating forces beyond the system's explanation is outside the realm of science and therefore immaterial to the discussion.

(I am an agnostic)

[xray s]

14. I wish we just would have stayed as primordial soup

thing would be so much easier...

[Taverner]

17. The poll may be slanted

I remember hearing one religous organization's question, asking "Do you think God was behind the force that made man?"

OF course, if you were a Christian who beleived in evolution, you would say yes - and then they lump you in with the Creationist group.

[sam sarrha]

18. Public school education.. "This r shit... an this r Shinola" pop quiz

tomorrow..

[Hardrada]

19. I'm glad you can't implant such specious knowledge

in logical beings like robots or androids. The American people are more like rodents than robots it would seem. Maybe the future lies with AI.

[Tims]

22. It will continue to get worse

It's a positive feedback loop. The more poorly educated you are, the more likely you are to promote and believe things which are demonstrably false and in turn stand in the way of those wishing to properly educate the next generation.

People today do not value education for the knowledge it brings, but for the job opportunities they think it opens. They have aversions to all things they cannot see as bringing immediate material reward or which conflicts with their limited world view. Parents used to wish their children to be better educated than themselves. Today they become terribly uncomfortable when their children come home with new ideas they don't understand.

But then again I don't believe that 60% of the population believes in creationism, it is just that many are under the mistaken belief that somehow showing "both sides" of an argument is a good thing. The purpose of education is not to simply place all possible views on a table and pretend they all have equal merit and let the student decide for himself what to believe, we must guide them toward what the best of our current knowledge shows to be true.

Our science curriculums must be set by teachers well educated in science using text books written by scientists and reviewed and vetted by other scientists. To do anything less is to short change our students. No matter how well intensioned, a parent, a school administrator, or a legislator has no right to an opinion on any subject they are not properly educated and informed about.

I have rarely encountered anyone believing creationism or simply disbelieving in evolution who has even the vaguest idea of the most basic principles of science or the nature of and evidence for the evolutionary process. I find it quite appalling that people will try to argue with me that evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics when they can't even describe that law. The difference between them and me is that when I want to know about evolution I consult the literature of evolutionary scientists and when I want to know about creationism, I look at the creationist's literature. The creationist will only consult the creationist literature for information about both. It's kind of like Republicans never listening to what Democrats say only what another Republicans say they said.