<p>I could buy that. I wouldn’t say I “believe in” evolution. I guess I’d be part of the group that didn’t care either way. Most people don’t feel very passionately about stuff like this.</p>
<p>I’m a graduate student in biology, and I find it frustrating and a little perplexing that the majority of Americans don’t believe we’ve adequately supported the central theory of my field. I mean, go pick on somebody else for a change.</p>
<p>I really dislike the way it’s always phrased as “believe in evolution”. That just makes people think that it’s a faith belief. It’s a scientific theory. It’s a well-supported explanation for some sort of natural phenomena, like the theory of gravity. It’s based on observations and other evidence, and it makes predictions that can be tested (and some major ones have). Its details are still being investigated and debated. I accept the theory of evolution, based on the overwhelming evidence for it. “Believe” puts it on the same ground as creationism.</p>
<p>Edited to add: Oh, and I am not at all surprised by the results of the poll.</p>
<p>Probably not (though I like that wording! :)). But the one they have now contributes to the widespread idea that evolution is a matter of faith.</p>
<p>Yep the wording is bad:
“Do you, personally, believe in the theory of evolution, do you not believe in evolution, or don’t you have an opinion either way?”
Is sounds very “religious”.<br>
Regardless, it does demonstrate the sad state of science education.</p>
<p>Having been to the Galapagos last summer, I can say I BELIEVE in evolution . . . and I think every “non-believer” should be dragged there by their hair to see it in living action.</p>
<p>I agree, it’s all in how the question is phrased but around here - a VERY red, heavily evangelical state - there ARE lots of people, some who are otherwise intelligent beings, who do not believe in evolution. Somehow, in there minds, God snapped his fingers and everything appeared as is. I call it the Flintstones version of natural history . . . they believe the dinosaurs roamed the earth with modern-day man*. Yabba Dabba Doo!!!</p>
<p>Well, nobody argues that the theory of gravitation is wrong, or “just a theory”. I assume most people believe the Earth is round and that the Earth isn’t the center of the Universe.</p>
<p>The difference? We can test these theories in a very concrete way… you can drop something and see it fall, or sail / fly around the world and see that it’s round, or you can fly out into outer space and see that the Earth orbits the Sun.</p>
<p>How can you test macroevolution? I understand that there is evidence for it, and this is enough for science… but people want to see it happen before their eyes. Unless I am mistaken, it would take a long time for a fish to evolve into a mammal, or even into a different fish for that matter.</p>
<p>So, in a certain sense, it is a matter of faith… to a point. It explains what we see, but we can’t hold it in our hands and show them.</p>
<p>Given this, is it not natural for some to doubt it, especially when it contradicts another theory which you have previously chosen to believe in?</p>
<p>Not only do I “believe” in the theory of evolution, I also “believe” in the theory of gravity, the theory of electricity and magnetism, and the theory of quantum mechanics. It’s always a sad disappointment that pollsters don’t ask how people feel about those theories, as well.</p>
<p>For those interested, there will be a Darwin birthday celebration and lecture on Feb 22( 2:00pm) at Cal Tech. It should be great! Information at
[Skeptic:</a> Home: The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine](<a href=“http://www.skeptic.com%5DSkeptic:”>http://www.skeptic.com) . Ive gone to these skeptic society lectures before and they are very entertaining.</p>
<p>“Not only do I “believe” in the theory of evolution, I also “believe” in the theory of gravity, the theory of electricity and magnetism, and the theory of quantum mechanics. It’s always a sad disappointment that pollsters don’t ask how people feel about those theories, as well”.</p>
<p>Wait, you put together theories and laws. They belong in different categories. There are proven laws and there are theories that are supported by some evidence and contradicted by others. There is no theory of electricity, there are laws with mathematical formulas attached to them that mankind is actually using to develop a lot of technology.</p>
<p>I should have more accurately said theory of electromagnetism. But yes, it is indeed a scientific theory. The mathematical formulae are representations of that theory, but are not in and of themselves laws. There are also mathematical formulae that describe gravity, which are also used to develop technology. And the theory of evolution is used to develop and evaluate experiments which also are used for practical purposes.</p>
<p>To paraphrase Ken Miller of Brown University, co-author of the most popular high school biology text, one does not “believe” in evolution, but rather, one “accepts” evolution as the most logical explanation of how and why organisms change over time.</p>
<p>Religion deals with belief. Science does not.</p>
<p>As a quibbler, I’m not sure either what “believe in evolution” means. Does it mean believing that human development is fully explained by evolutionary theory, without any kind of divine involvement? There are plenty of people who don’t believe that, but who do believe that evolution occurred. In other words, does a person who adopts the philosophical position of Intelligent Design believe in evolution? Well, sort of. So how do they answer this poll?</p>
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