Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds

[Playinghardball]

This chart depicts the public acceptance of evolution theory in 34 countries in 2005. Adults were asked to respond to the statement: "Human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals." The percentage of respondents who believed this to be true is marked in blue; those who believed it to be false, in red; and those who were not sure, in yellow.

A study of several such surveys taken since 1985 has found that the United States ranks next to last in acceptance of evolution theory among nations polled. Researchers point out that the number of Americans who are uncertain about the theory's validity has increased over the past 20 years.

Chart courtesy Jon Miller, et al./Science

Full Story at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html

[Silent3]

1. If only ignorance were a profitable export

We could wipe out the national debt.

[hunter]

5. Who say's it's not profitable?

Sadly, the only thing this ignorance is wiping out is our natural environment and then our civilization.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Depressing.

And we wonder why we're losing high tech jobs.

[Zoeisright]

3. Yep, lots of stupid people in this country.

Sad to say, but it's true.

[longship]

4. Old news. This same demographic goes back decades.

I was fortunate to be in 10th grade biology in 1964 when amongst the first BSCS high school biology textbooks were in the classroom (BSCS = Biological Sciences Curriculum Study -- they were born out of the Sputnik launch, but are still active BSCS).

My teacher was wonderful, and was the only black teacher in the school. It was my favorite class in high school. Mr. Lockett was one of those teachers who would change people's lives. He did for me. I didn't go into biology; I went into physics. But Mr. Lockett was my first exposure to real science, and it was a revelation.

[sakabatou]

6. We're idiots!

But this is some old data.

[eltopomaravilloso]

7. As an atheist, this saddens but doesn't surprise me.

And I wish I could move to one of the enlightened countries at the top.

[smirkymonkey]

8. Wow! We are so dumb.

I guess I am not that surprised.

[octoberlib]

9. This is embarrassing. nt