CBS Poll: Creationism Trumps Evolution

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by Thucydides
Can you realistically name any place outside of Bob Jones University where a higher education causes even more belief in creationism? I think education almost universally increases acceptance of evolution. This of course is not because evolution is a bias but because evolution is the reasoned position on the processes of life. For something to be bias it would have to be unreasoned, which would preclude evolution.

Well, let's put it this way:

Let's see. It takes about 700 people to get a scientific result in a poll, right? Beyond that, there is not much room for any statistical differences.

If someone were to take three groups of 700 people each (that's 2100 people altogether), one group would be all creationists, one group would be all evolutionists and the other was all theistic evolutionists.

Now, let's suppose that the IQs of those 2100 people were tested. I bet that if the IQs in each group of people were averaged together you would find that they are the same for each group.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by Thucydides
I know your just joking, but it's interesting to look at the stats anyway. Check out http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/atheism1.htm

I am not going to believe something from an atheist website. That information would be undoubtedly biased. You best stick with third-party sources.

[Nostromo]

On the topic of bright people who are religious, here is the testimony of the philosopher Hilary Putnam, who's IQ is sky high:

Those who know my writings from that period may wonder how I reconciled my religious streak, which existed to some extent even back then, and my general scientific materialist worldview at the time. The answer is that I didn't reconcile them. I was a thoroughgoing atheist, and I was a believer. I simply kept these two parts of myself separate.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy
Bottom line: Creationists and Evolutionists are equally intelligent on average. We are all human and we all have the same capacity for learning. What makes the difference is our upbringing and where we get our education. This has the greatest influence on what we believe.

If you are intelligent you can overcome your education/religious brainwashing and come to a more reasonable opinion.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy


Yes, I know one. The pastor of my church has a PhD.

Doctorate of Divinity doesn't count.

[Asher]

Philosopher. :q;

[Arrian]

Originally posted by nostromo
On the topic of bright people who are religious, here is the testimony of the philosopher Hilary Putnam, who's IQ is sky high:

Heh. Yeah, that's another option. Just ignore the inconsistencies.

I'd wager, however, that such a person isn't the sort to go off on and damn fool crusades in the name of God.

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by nostromo
On the topic of bright people who are religious, here is the testimony of the philosopher Hilary Putnam, who's IQ is sky high:

All the quote says is that he's good at maintaining two completely contradictory worldviews by ignoring the contradictions. He's in denial.

[Thucydides]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy


Well, let's put it this way:

Let's see. It takes about 700 people to get a scientific result in a poll, right? Beyond that, there is not much room for any statistical differences.

If someone were to take three groups of 700 people each (that's 2100 people altogether), one group would be all creationists, one group would be all evolutionists and the other was all theistic evolutionists.

Now, let's suppose that the IQs of those 2100 people were tested. I bet that if the IQs in each group of people were averaged together you would find that they are the same for each group.

I'm not disagreeing with that, (at least until I find a scientific survey that shows otherwise). Education and IQ are only weakly correlated. However, in general the more educated the person is the more likely he'll believe in evolution. Instead of saying that this a bias of education, I think it's indicative of the fact evolution is the correct theory as far as science is concerned. University aren't suppose to be "neutral" when it comes to how science works. It suppose to what theorys work in explaining natural phenomenon and if it has time teach a little on what other theories were discarded and why.

[Thucydides]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy


I am not going to believe something from an atheist website. That information would be undoubtedly biased. You best stick with third-party sources.

The survey was originally published in the magazine Nature, and I've read about it elsewhere as well, I believe Scientific American had an article on it. I'll try to find another reference to the survey from elsewhere if you don't believe that one.

[Nubclear]

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Doctorate of Divinity doesn't count.

A Doctorate's of Divinity is just as difficult to get as any other degree and it takes an intelligent person to get one, too, so yes it does count.

And this pastor that I know, my pastor, he is so smart he could be the chief executive of a business. Yes, he is that intelligent.

[Nubclear]

Intelligence is ungodly. Thinking is a sin.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Mr. Nice Guy
A Doctorate's of Divinity is just as difficult to get as any other degree and it takes an intelligent person to get one, too, so yes it does count.

It takes an intelligent person not to pursue such a silly degree.

And this pastor that I know, my pastor, he is so smart he could be the chief executive of a business. Yes, he is that intelligent.

Wow! He could get a business degee?

[Thucydides]

Ok, how this site which mentions the same survey. There were plenty others, but most of the others you would have dismissed as being "biased"

http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/56/religion.html