Americans less likely to understand evolution
Surveys by a Michigan State University researcher
find that about one-third of the American population does not believe in
evolution, a figure which is much higher than those found in similar surveys in
European nations and Japan.
Courtesy of Church of the FSM
Surveys by a Michigan State University researcher find that about one-third of the American population does not believe in evolution, a figure which is much higher than those found in similar surveys in European nations and Japan.
The research of Jon D. Miller, MSU Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies, is published in the Aug. 11 issue of the journal Science.
For example, in Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and France, 80 percent or more of adults accepted the concept of evolution, as did 78 percent of Japanese adults.
Only adults in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, were less likely to accept the concept of evolution than American adults.
There were several reasons for these inflated U.S. numbers. Miller said the most significant factor was the influence of fundamentalist religions.
Any good reason why some religions dedicate so much energy to holding back knowledge and education — and others don’t?
Posted: Wed - August 16, 2006 at 07:07 AM