26% of Americans accept Darwinism

[Emily Cartwright]

SpankyMonkey wrote:

> and why should i have to read up on something i dont believe
> in? i dont believe in god doesnt mean i have to read up on the
> bible does it?
>
> just because someone doesnt agree with you sam doesnt make them
> an idiot. this is how all these mistakes get made in the first
> place because people are to scared to speak out for being
> labeled 'an idiot'


You see, Spanky, this is why, just like in the 'Cancer Research' thread, people have no respect for your position. You can't just advance an uneducated opinion and then expect people to consider it to be as valid as that of someone who has actually studied it. From what I've read in your posts you are lacking basic knowledge about the evolutionary theory and Darwinism.

Does that mean your opinion on the subject is invalid? Well, yes, unfortunately, it does. If you're not prepared to infrom yourself about a subject, then your views on that subject are totally worthless.

Take a subject of which I have no knowledge or understanding, like particle physics, for instance. I can't just say "particle physics is rubbish, I don't need to read up on it if I don't believe in it", and if I did say that then people would be entirely within their rights to tell me to go away and come back when I've bothered to actually learn something before I broadcast my narrow views.

[andy at handiwork]

SM wrote 'if we evolved from monkeys then why do monkeys still exist?'

Surely the point is that we and monkeys evolved from a common ancestor, not that we evolved from monkeys?

[Sam Slater]

Hey, hey, hey!

I may come across arrogant when condemning creationism through a God, but I wasn't rude.

You seem to have gotten a little touchy on this subject.

As for blue eyes and ginger hair: If these characteristics didn't evolve, how did we get them, and why are they more prominent in one particular race than another?

Did we mix potions or call on witches to change our eye colour? The fairies at the bottom of the garden casting spells? Oh sorry I forgot, you don't have to give an alternative theory, you just [/i]know[/i], right?

[Sam Slater]

[quote]The fact that only 26% of the Americans accepts Darwinism does not mean 74% accepts creationism.[/quote]

Yeah I know, it's supposedly around 60% that accept creationism. At least that's what they inserted on the forms they filled in.

We all know that in America it's hard to get promotions or influential jobs if you're black, right? Did you know there's only 1 Atheist in the whole senate? It seems admitting you're an Atheist influences peoples decision about you when it comes to job opportunities and promotions.

Crazy.

[Sam Slater]

!laugh!

[quote]If you've read Dawkins you will surely be aware of FSM, he frequently uses it to illustrate points.[/quote]

Are you kidding, I'm from Yorkshire. It's a well documented fact that the FSM called the first Yorkshireman onto the Moors and gave him a tablet of limestone. Engraved on it were a few commandments. These are more commonly known as 'Hints & Tips'. I'll not bore everyone with 'our' religion but it states that Yorkshire males are the chosen people. It also had the recipe for Yorkshire Pudding. Do you think this masterpiece of cookery was some sort of fucking accident?!!! Only the FSM could have told us how to make such a complicated thing! You're not going to tell me that it was a slow step by step process of experimentation that got the Yorkshire pudding where it is today. That's just a mentalists view!

Please check out and you'll realise that only a divine being could come up with such a recipe.

P.s Yeah I've read a lot of Dawkins. The Ancestors Tale is a good read if you're interested in real *cough* evolution. I also liked The Selfish Gene which left me on a cliffhanger, so I got The Extended Phenotype I only got halfway through that though, and got bored. I'm not 'that' interested in natural selection.

I also subscribe to richarddawkins.net's rss feed through sage. Something to read, and there are some good video's posted.

[strictlybroadband]

andy at handiwork wrote:

> SM wrote 'if we evolved from monkeys then why do monkeys still
> exist?'
>
> Surely the point is that we and monkeys evolved from a common
> ancestor, not that we evolved from monkeys?

I believe both are true - modern monkeys and humans both evolved from a common ancestor which was a monkey. I think the connection was about 15 million years ago.

I'd love to hear SM's alternative to both evolution and creation.

[strictlybroadband]

Sam Slater wrote:

> Totally shocking. Only 26%?
>
> I don't know anyone who really believes the Biblical
> version of evolution. Do you?

I suspect my Dad believes it, but I wouldn't want to argue the point. He fell for evangelical Christianity a few years ago and since I hardly ever see him I just let it lie and talk about the weather.

> Does anyone on these forums believe God created the world, with
> Adam and Eve being our first ancestors? It seems unbelievable
> to me. Ok I can accept a few Mormon kids in middle America
> still believing this crap, but 74% of Americans?

It's not fair to blame the Mormons - they're one of the more sane religious groups in America. The Southern evangelists are the really dangerous ones, and not content with spreading their bullshit in America, they are promoting it worldwide. Evangelism is growing fast in the UK and around the world, powered by American dollars.

> There are either a lot of uneducated Americans, or a lot are
> just paying lip service to religious belief.........maybe to
> help them progress?

The typical middle American isn't well informed about very much. I've discussed religion with creationists in America and I knew more about the bible than they did. They believe it because their parents, teachers and priests tell them it's true, not because they understand the arguments.

Science (not just evolution) is under attack in America. Many states don't allow schools to teach evolution as science. And they have the nerve to point the finger at the Taliban.

[strictlybroadband]

Sam Slater wrote:

> !laugh!
>
> [quote]If you've read Dawkins you will surely be aware of FSM,
> he frequently uses it to illustrate points.[/quote]
>
> Are you kidding, I'm from Yorkshire. It's a well documented
> fact that the FSM called the first Yorkshireman onto the Moors
> and gave him a tablet of limestone.

This is dangerous heresy. Spreading such nonsense risks a dangerous split in Pastafarianism which could split the church and lead to global war.