More Americans believe in Devil than Darwin

[JODO 2]

More Americans believe in Devil than Darwin

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.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMol...0071129?sp=true

[pedroh 21]

doesn't surprise me..

[Dan J 277]

You don't have to believe in Darwin, Evolution just happens.

[eric&gen 0]

I believe in none of the above lol.

[Drew and Tik 0]

The stupidity of many Americans doesn't even surprise me anymore, just saddens me really

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think it's so much 'stupidity' as some kind of need to fit into the universe in a more meaningful way. Allowing for the possibility that there is no 'grand plan', that there might not be anything other than what we have now seems to be something that many people just aren't happy with.

It's rather sad though, that this desire to be something more significant than the product of random chance, seems most often to create a more narrow minded individual.

Edited December 1, 2007 by Purple_Hibiscus

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I believe the devil was Darwin.

[~krakatoa~ 27]

doesn't surprise me..

Not one tiny bit.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I believe the devil was Darwin.

He is brother... and we will all burn in hell.... 'xept us chosen ones

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I believe the devil was Darwin.

He is brother... and we will all burn in hell.... 'xept us chosen ones

I'm hanging on to my 'get out of hell free' card while I type this, sis.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Way too many of my fellow citizens are idiots, what can I say?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I believe the devil was Darwin.

Exactly what I was gonna say.

Evolution or Evilution?

[GaryC 7]

Way too many of my fellow citizens are idiots, what can I say?

Come on man, don't call people idiots because they have a belief in God. That is wrong and disrespectful. You have your right to believe what you want without ridicule so give that same regard to others.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Way too many of my fellow citizens are idiots, what can I say?

Come on man, don't call people idiots because they have a belief in God. That is wrong and disrespectful. You have your right to believe what you want without ridicule so give that same regard to others.

Belief in a literal heaven and hell accompanied with a disbelief in evolution goes well beyond a mere belief in God.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Way too many of my fellow citizens are idiots, what can I say?

Come on man, don't call people idiots because they have a belief in God. That is wrong and disrespectful. You have your right to believe what you want without ridicule so give that same regard to others.

People can believe in God and evolution at the same time.