Do you believe in evolution?

From the New York Times:

More here.  [Thanks to Moshe Behar.]

Also from the NYT: "How to Make Sure Children Are Scientifically Illiterate" by Lawrence Krauss.

Comments

[Asad]

Man, it must be tough to be Turkish when polls like this come out.

[John Powers]

Poll questions always irritate me, and "Do you believe in evolution?" is one which surely would. So I like the real question asked because the tallies of the answers to it do seem meaningful.

[tom s.]

Asad - You think it's difficult being Turkish, you should try being Canadian.

Maybe evolution doesn't believe in us?

[greensmile]

do you notice any correlation between the size of the "not sure" percentage and whether the country has or had religious repression or political repression for a long enough period to affect one's public demeanor in situations where the "right answer" is not clear? Or is there no pattern at all?

Danes, Belgians, Fins and Swedes all seem sure of themselves...regardless of their particular answer.

Pathetic though the showing of my countrymen is, the gap worries me just as much: whether it signifies people with some education who are nonetheless intimidated by their relgious upbringing or people confused by the contentions they hear and unable to separate a scientific claim from a religious one, it says something most uncomplimentary about US culture.

[Nadia]

Wehl, at least we beat Turkey. Hooray.

[Levi]

Anybody have any idea why Iceland has the highest percentage?

[aegean disclosure]

It's a little tough I suppose, without a strong edu system, stuff like this ends up being discussed in a rather rhetorical manner even among those not religiously inclined. I'd also be interested in the South American numbers, though.

[stuart]

Maybe the Kansass board of education was on to something!i.e. C.T. barnum was right.

[stuart]

Maybe the Kansass board of education was on to something!i.e. C.T. barnum was right.

[N N]

Interesting how the survey is about what you _believe_ (i.e. linked to somekind of faith).

An other interesting fact, I doubt there is 40-50% in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden with a strong religious belief/faith so a significant number of non-religious people don't belive in evolution.

More interesting in my view, agree if there is a creator before debating the age of the earth or how it was created.

[LIz]

Praise God we are nearly in last place! I wish the numbers were much less favorable to evolution than they are. Hopefully with more privitization of the education system, kids will be educated by their parents and not indoctrinated into evolutionary thought by our public school system.

[Biologist]

Does anyone want to know why Turkish people don't believe in evolution? If yes, I advise you to visit this website http://www.harunyahya.com/