OK, so E and I are doing an informal “read a bunch of books” thing, which more or less was my New Year’s resolution (ie. to read more and watch less TV).
I haven’t been as vigilant as I should be, but I suppose that’s beside the point. I just finished Richard Dawkins’ latest book last night, and the Appendix in it is full of a lot of frightening poll information.
First, there’s the polls that have been given intermittently since the early 1980s in the US by Gallup, which repeatedly show around 40% of Americans are creationists who believe that all life on earth was formed as it currently exists today. The shocking part about that is that it’s been consistent over 30 years. It’s never dropped below 40%. And what that shows is willful ignorance in the face of reality. Dawkins writes about school teachers who have children screaming “No!” when they’re told they’re going to be studying evolution. It’s mind-boggling to me that this should be the current state of affairs in this country, but then, I guess I’m not in the 40% creationist camp.
An equally stupefying poll showed that 19% of Britons think that it takes one month for the earth to go around the sun. Is that idiocy or did they conduct these polls before people had their coffee?
In any case, a pretty good read. I was bogged down in the middle section, but I thought his discussion of molecular evolution was excellent, as well as the chapter on vestigial wings and unintelligent design.
Next up is Chuck Klosterman. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. A little light culture reading, like an after dinner mint.
If you told me 40% belive that the hand of a god was in some way involved in creation of earth I wouldn’t be shocked… but 40% believe “life on earth was formed as it currently exists today!” That is staggering… I remember a bunch of kids getting upset in Junior High Literature class becuase they were being asked to study greek mythology. Went to the principal with parents etc…. It is very old shool religous protocal, don’t expose the children, lest they learn. The proping up of faith as a strong and noble virtue, seems the guise of a strong manipulation and control tool. Get them young… Have you seen the documentary “Jesus Camp?”
Yeah, it’s 40% believe in creationism, and then something like 30% believe that it’s God-directed evolution, and closer to 15% evolution, no God. and then a lot of people who go with the catch all “don’t know”.
As far as Jesus Camp, I haven’t seen it. Mostly due to the fact that I like my TV, and don’t want to throw something through it.
I’m pretty sure 4 in 10 people I encounter on a daily basis have a mental handicap, so I guess this isn’t much of a stretch.