Angus Reid: Canadians and Britons strongly believe in evolution, Americans not

[Tender Branson]

Britons and Canadians More Likely to Endorse Evolution than Americans

A majority of respondents in the United States believe God created human beings in their present form.

CANADA

61% Human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years
22% God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years

UK

69% Human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years
17% God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years

USA

30% Human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years
51% God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years

...

Regional Breakdowns

In the United States, respondents in the Northeast are more likely to think human beings evolved (37%) than residents of the South (24%). The proportion of Americans who endorse evolution shifts with age, from a high of 35 per cent for respondents aged 18-to-34 to a low of 23 per cent for those over the age of 55.

In Canada, Quebecers are the most likely to endorse evolution (71%), while Albertans (48%) are the least likely.

In Britain, respondents in the South of England (15%) are the least likely to believe in creationism, compared to 23 per cent for Londoners.

...

Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among:

- 1,002 American adults who are Springboard America panelists, from September 4 to September 5, 2012.

- 2,010 British adults who are Springboard UK panelists, from August 30 to August 31, 2012.

- 1,510 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, from August 30 to August 31, 2012.

http://www.angus-reid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2012.09.05_CreEvo.pdf

[a Person]

*sigh*

[bore]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

[Supersonic]

In Britain, respondents in the South of England (15%) are the least likely to believe in creationism, compared to 23 per cent for Londoners.

Interesting.

[So rightwing that I broke the Political Compass!]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

But the point is, it's a scientific fact and the fact that a majority of Americans don't believe it is troubling.

[Sibboleth]

It's not uncommon for surveys on this subject to show alarmingly low numbers for Britain; I suppose the issue is always how the question is phrased.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

But the point is, it's a scientific fact and the fact that a majority of Americans don't believe it is troubling.

"Fact" is a bit strong.

[後援会]

Evolution is a total scam. Everyone knows that a Pikachu with a held light ball is far more effective than a equally-leveled Raichu with equal EV and IVs. It's just another cheap marketing ploy from the sagging evolution stone industry.

[Tender Branson]

In Britain, respondents in the South of England (15%) are the least likely to believe in creationism, compared to 23 per cent for Londoners.

Interesting.

Easy to explain:

London has many immigrants from a lot of "backwards" countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh etc., which still tend to be rather poor, uneducated, religious and socially conservative relative to the home-born British population.

[Holmes]

Evolution is a total scam. Everyone knows that a Pikachu with a held light ball is far more effective than a equally-leveled Raichu with equal EV and IVs. It's just another cheap marketing ploy from the sagging evolution stone industry.

Raichu's base stats are higher though...

[afleitch]

In Britain, respondents in the South of England (15%) are the least likely to believe in creationism, compared to 23 per cent for Londoners.

Interesting.

Easy to explain:

London has many immigrants from a lot of "backwards" countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh etc., which still tend to be rather poor, uneducated, religious and socially conservative relative to the home-born British population.

I've been working on something the past week. I was looking at trends in support for gay rights in the British Social Attitudes Survey. The most positive/progressive part of the UK from the 80's through to the early 2000's was London. Now London has flat lined over the surveys from 2005-2010 and now trails most parts of the country. Sub-sample stuff of course but interesting.

[asexual trans victimologist]

For some form of creationism, fine, but I refuse to believe that half my countrymen are some flavor of young-earther. Admittedly mainly because I don't want to believe it.

[IDS Judicial Overlord John Dibble]

"Fact" is a bit strong.

No, it isn't. Evolution is supported by mountains of evidence and is one of the strongest ideas science has ever produced.

[Emperor SJoyce]

Americans tend to believe what they want to believe regardless of the facts, and then the people who ignore the facts try to meddle with education and make it so people are taught falsehoods. Not really news.

[A cowboy always follows his beard]

Duh. America is the most religious country in the First World. The regional split is no suprise, New England is known for being the most secular part of the nation, and the South oppositly. (Is that a word?).

What exactly are they concidering "South" though? Again,how the question was raised is a big part of it.

Now what do my fellow atlasians think?

[Vosem]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

But the point is, it's a scientific fact and the fact that a majority of Americans don't believe it is troubling.

"Fact" is a bit strong.

It is not. Evolution is an observable fact.

[President Marokai]

Hate to agree with Vosem, but.. yeah.

[Vosem]

Hate to agree with Vosem, but...yeah.

Sigged. Also, because I don't discuss it as often as economic issues or the horse-race itself, forum members forget I am quite 'socially liberal' on some issues...though this one shouldn't be an issue at all.

[Frodo]

It is a pity there isn't a breakdown by faith. Would I be correct in asserting that Catholics believe in the theory of evolution, but Protestants (particularly of the evangelical variety) emphatically do not?  

[Supersonic]

It is a pity there isn't a breakdown by faith. Would I be correct in asserting that Catholics believe in the theory of evolution, but Protestants (particularly of the evangelical variety) emphatically do not? 

It's probably the other way around in the UK.

[後援会]

Evolution is a total scam. Everyone knows that a Pikachu with a held light ball is far more effective than a equally-leveled Raichu with equal EV and IVs. It's just another cheap marketing ploy from the sagging evolution stone industry.

Raichu's base stats are higher though...

Alright, whatever Lt. Surge. Yeah, maybe without held items, but with max EVs, Pikachu becomes the dominant electric type in the UU tier of the competitive Pokemon battling scene. A Pikachu with a held light ball even hits harder than a Raichu holding a zap plate. Stop shilling for the big evolution stone corporations. It's all a scam, man.

[Harry]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

But the point is, it's a scientific fact and the fact that a majority of Americans don't believe it is troubling.

"Fact" is a bit strong.

It is not. Evolution is an observable fact.

Exactly.  There was an experiment that lasted decades with hundreds of thousands of generations of bacteria in which macroevolution was observed.  Creationists have no choice but to pretend it didn't happen.

[IDS Judicial Overlord John Dibble]

There is something horribly wrong with an education system which leds people to think this, its the equivalent of 50% of americans coming out of maths thinking 2+2=5.

Not really. Failing to understand evolution is far less likely to inconvenience you personally or professionally. From a purely utilitarian perspective understanding evolution is of little significance outside of a few professions.

But the point is, it's a scientific fact and the fact that a majority of Americans don't believe it is troubling.

"Fact" is a bit strong.

It is not. Evolution is an observable fact.

Exactly.  There was an experiment that lasted decades with hundreds of thousands of generations of bacteria in which macroevolution was observed.  Creationists have no choice but to pretend it didn't happen.

There is no macroevolution - there is only evolution. The micro/macro distinction is something creationists made up because the evidence for evolution was too strong to deny completely.

[Simfan34]

What?