[Marxism] 50% of Britain doesn't believe in evolution

[Jeffrey Thomas Piercy]

I was previously given the impression that only the US was this 
backwards on science among advanced imperialist nations. Further, only 
25% think evolution is "definitely true" while the other 25% of 
believers think it's "probably true". Though there are probably people 
in Britain who, like me, are nervous about saying anything is 
"definitely" true (I would have gone with the word "certainly").


http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/feb/01/evolution-darwin-survey-creationism
==Half of Britons do not believe in evolution, survey finds==
More than one-fifth prefer creationism or intelligent design, while many 
others are confused about Darwin's theory

Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 1 February 2009 13.52 GMT

Half of British adults do not believe in evolution, with at least 22% 
preferring the theories of creationism or intelligent design to explain 
how the world came about, according to a survey.

The poll found that 25% of Britons believe Charles Darwin's theory of 
evolution is "definitely true", with another quarter saying it is 
"probably true". Half of the 2,060 people questioned were either 
strongly opposed to the theory or confused about it.

The Rescuing Darwin survey, published to coincide with the 200th 
anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the 
publication of On the Origin of ­Species, found that around 10% of 
people chose young Earth creationism – the belief that God created the 
world some time in the last 10,000 years – over evolution.

About 12% preferred intelligent design, the idea that evolution alone is 
not enough to explain the structures of living organisms. The remainder 
were unsure, often mixing evolution, intelligent design and creationism 
together. The survey was conducted by the polling agency ComRes on 
behalf of the Theos thinktank.

A spokesman for Sense about Science, an independent charitable trust, 
said it was important for scientists and educators to disentangle 
religious belief from evidence.

James Williams, a lecturer at Sussex University, said: "Creationists ask 
if ­people believe in evolution. Evolution is a theory and a fact. You 
accept it because of the evidence. What the creationists have done is 
put a cloak of pseudo-science to wrap up their religious belief."

Later this month scientists and academics from across Europe will meet 
in Dortmund, Germany, to discuss evolution and creationism. It will be 
the first European conference of its kind to deal with different aspects 
of attitudes and knowledge related to evolution. They will discuss 
specific difficulties regarding the acceptance of evolution theory in 
their home countries.

Williams, who will give a paper presenting a British perspective on 
evolution and creationism in school science, said: "Evolution is very 
badly taught in schools so the results of the survey don't surprise me. 
On the other hand, creationism has traditionally been an issue in North 
America and there is a big problem in Australia and Turkey. It matters 
if people don't understand how science works."

The Rescuing Darwin project includes the launch of Darwin and God, a new 
book on the naturalist's religious beliefs, at Westminster Abbey, where 
he is buried, and a debate about evolution and religion. Participants 
will include Dr Denis Alexander, Lord Robert Winston, Professor Steve 
Jones and Professor Nancy Rothwell.

Events celebrating Darwin's achievements are taking place throughout the 
year. Cambridge University is hosting a festival to unravel themes of 
science, society, literature, philosophy, theology and music arising 
from his writings, life and times.

The Natural History Museum, in London, is exhibiting previously unseen 
specimens and artefacts, while Darwin's home in Kent, Down House, opens 
to the public from 13 February.

-- 
Human: An animal so lost in loathing contemplation of what it thinks it 
is as to overlook what it ought to be.