Do they get it from the pulpit or is it just a general impression?
Data from Gallup: Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design | Gallup Historical Trends
31 + 19 = 50 percent believe in evolution, possibly with God’s guidance. 42% believe that God created human beings pretty much in their present form with the last 10,000 years or so. Specific wording: Which of the following statements comes closest to yoru views on the origin and development of human beings - (human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process, human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part of this process (or) God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so)?
Ok, so about 42% of the country believe in young earth creationism. I know, I know: the question covered the creation of man and not the earth: I welcome further evidence and clarification.
I choose the Gallup survey because of its detail and the fact that they’ve asked similar questions since 1982. For example 79% report that they are either very familiar or somewhat familiar with evolution and 46% say that the theory of evolution is inconsistent with their religious beliefs. Huh. I’m most interested in, say, the 2/3 least committed of that 46%. I assume most don’t bother to buy anti-evolution books or visit talkorigins.org.
So I’m guessing that a lot of these 46% studied the theory of natural selection at some point during their schooling. But they don’t trust the overwhelming scientific consensus on this issue, though I think it’s fair to say that most will see a licensed physician when they are sick rather than a faith healer or snake handler.
Anyway, what I was wondering is whether creationism is a meme or something that is actively pushed in most non-mainline Protestant churches. And if it’s the latter (which I suspect) how does that sermon work? Nonbelievers believe the scientists? Hell and brimstone? Teach the controversy? Or what?
In the mainline church I grew up with, anti-evolution arguments never came up. My exposure to anti-evolution arguments in high school was limited to a fictional book about the Scopes monkey trials of the 1920s. It had been assigned to my brother and I had read it on my own.