Majority of Republicans Doubt Theory of Evolution

[Laladilya]

Doesn't surprise me. I caught all of that Republican Debate and only half of the MSNBC Democratic debate. I generally watch Keith Olbermann but it was interupted by them, or I probably would have skipped both haha.

Was funny comparing them though. Republican one was at the REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY!!!11 with an Air Force One inside the building over the audience. Arnold was in the audience with Nancy Reagan.

Democrats was held in a college in South Carolina or something. Forget where but it had a bunch of black's waving MSNBC flags in the background during tons of the before and after interviews and since it was around the time of the Imus thing it was almost like they were doing a photo-op for themselves.

[Nakilos]

I remember when I was in a Catholic high school, they absolutely taught evolution, and what they taught was that evolution was in fact compatible with creationism, the difference is just basically God made everything, and shit evolved.

Whenever I hear things about evolution from particularly religious people, I wonder why they didn't latch on to the argument that evolution was absolutely compatible. Instead, the dark ages are clearly a more appealing option.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Soriak

Outstanding cell-phone and internet service?

I hope this is sarcasm. When it comes to communications tech, specifically cell-phones and the internet, the US is in the fucking stone-age compared to countries like Japan.

[AngryGerbil]

Originally Posted by Nakilos

Whenever I hear things about evolution from particularly religious people, I wonder why they didn't latch on to the argument that evolution was absolutely compatible.

I wonder this too. Christianity has more or less embraced absolutely countless numbers of technological and scientific advances over the centuries, but somehow they always balk at biology and astronomy, and even then...not always. They embraced modern medicine and the Apollo programs, but evolution, old-earth geology, and big bang theory are somehow blasphemous?

Seriously, they should just calculate the odds. It's not hard. Odds are, one of their silly dogmas will get eviscerated by science sometime in their life. Odds are against humans figuring out the 'origins of everything' anytime soon. Why not just embrace it all for now and fall back on the whole "This is all true, but God hit the light switch that set it all in motion." thing? I mean, life would be easier for me and them and everyone.

I guess it's the thought of losing ground or 'pulling out' just sounds unmanly.

But on the bright side, most (sadly, not all) the Christians I know personally do embrace it. Some still believe that evolution is a machination of satan, but most have managed to reconcile it with their religion.

Still, it's rough to see how many Senators still don't think it's true. Not surprising for now, but I think the Right is making the same mistake right now that the Left made in the 60's. They got the emotional and political upper hand, and then went WAY too far with it and are starting to leave a sour taste with a lot of people. Inc backlash.

[The Dauntless One]

Originally Posted by Lejina Bloodbath

Hey guys, I heard that water is wet.

Chuck Norris doesn't get wet, water gets Chuck Norris.

[The Dauntless One]

Originally Posted by Sean

I hope this is sarcasm. When it comes to communications tech, specifically cell-phones and the internet, the US is in the fucking stone-age compared to countries like Japan.

After actually reading the thread, yes, places like Hong Kong and Japan are eons ahead of anywhere else in cell phone technology. Was in Hong Kong for a month from mid May - mid June. You can walk in to a 7-11 and get a SIM card that can make IDD (long distant) calls for around 3-4 cents CAD a minute. Monthly plans are 88 dollars for 1000 minutes (though some restriction applies).

EDIT:

Originally Posted by AngryGerbil

Still, it's rough to see how many Senators still don't think it's true. Not surprising for now, but I think the Right is making the same mistake right now that the Left made in the 60's. They got the emotional and political upper hand, and then went WAY too far with it and are starting to leave a sour taste with a lot of people. Inc backlash.

These are probably the same senators that blame video games for youth violence.

[Soriak]

Originally Posted by Sean

I hope this is sarcasm. When it comes to communications tech, specifically cell-phones and the internet, the US is in the fucking stone-age compared to countries like Japan.

Yeah - and not just compared to Japan... (though they really are ahead of everyone)

Originally Posted by Nakilos

Whenever I hear things about evolution from particularly religious people, I wonder why they didn't latch on to the argument that evolution was absolutely compatible. Instead, the dark ages are clearly a more appealing option.

Meet Intelligent Design. God directed Evolution, because "it couldn't happen randomly." The problem there is with people who take the bible literally. Genesis describes how god creates Adam and Eve - not how he turns two monkeys into humans. Evolution also doesn't go with young earth creationism - there's no way for that kind of evolution to take place in 6,000 years.

Then again, those same people also believe in a great flood that covered every mountain on the planet simultaneously - wonder where all that water went... or came from.


What the defenders of ID (who say evolution is impossible, because of how small the chances are for it to create human life) don't realize is that we're looking BACK at a highly improbable event. If you went back 100 million years and looked at the odds of life the way we see it today, it'd be almost impossible - you surely wouldn't bet on it. But what we do now is basically playing the lottery after the winning numbers have been announced - we know the outcome, now we just have to imagine the balls in the machine being mixed and drawn...

[Kuriin]

What I don't get is that there were many religions before Christianity (Christianity didn't officially start til the late 2nd or so century CE by Constantine) and they are all considered paganism. So, why do people so omg believe in Christianity?

[EmiliaEQ]

Originally Posted by Kuriin

What I don't get is that there were many religions before Christianity (Christianity didn't officially start til the late 2nd or so century CE by Constantine) and they are all considered paganism. So, why do people so omg believe in Christianity?

Because we live in the "western world". Go in Africa, or Asia, no one gives a shit about Jesus.
Well unless, the bible was forced down their throats (quite common).

The reason christianity is so "powerfull" it developped fast in the "strongest" countries of the "modern world".
What the fuck can a zulu tribesman and his weather god do when you have guns ?

Might makes right.. Its a simple as that.
If the Vikings had guns, we'd all be worshipping Odin & Thor.


As for the Creationism vs Darwinism its quite simple.
When you can say "Because of God" for every single questions, you are sheep.
And sheep are very easy to control.

[Dabamf]

Originally Posted by The Dauntless One

These are probably the same senators that blame video games for youth violence.

The difference is that there is significant evidence suggesting violent video games *do* tend to lead to more violent behavior.

Not to mention there are very prominent theoretical explanations for why video games would tend to cause more violent behavior, such as child modeling behavior originally shown by Bandura's bobo doll experiment, and desensitization to violence which plays a huge roll in allowing killers to do what they do, from serial murderers, to concentration camp officers, to regular military.

Obviously "blaming" video games is preposterous, it just seemed like you outright dismissed the influence.

/pointless derail

P.S. Now I want a graph showing age x evolution now so I can hope that the 20-somethings won't be *as* retarded when in power.

[Eomer]

I wonder this too. Christianity has more or less embraced absolutely countless numbers of technological and scientific advances over the centuries, but somehow they always balk at biology and astronomy, and even then...not always. They embraced modern medicine and the Apollo programs, but evolution, old-earth geology, and big bang theory are somehow blasphemous?

This recent Christianity vs. Evolution issue is an almost entirely American one, and the organization that represents most Christians around the world, the Vatican, doesn't have a problem with evolution or astronomy or cosmology. At least not recently.

[chaos]

I don't think a lot of people even know what they believe. After reading that fundie thread in SS, and knowing some people from my family who believe shit like intelligent design, I'd have to say they are mostly harmless. They marginalize themselves to the point that no one takes them seriously. I have an uncle who really believes that the bible is to be interpreted literally, word for word. I tried to reason with him, you know the bible isn't all bad, it has good moral lessons in there, but they are just parables. He'll hear none of that, after all right here in this passage it says that this book is the word of god.

The book is true because the book says it's true. No shit, he thinks that. But even his kids know he's batshit loonytunes fucked up. The only people taking people like this seriously are ther people like this.

I want to know, the nonreligious people who don't believe in evolution, wtf do they believe in?

[Lyenae]

Originally Posted by chaos

I want to know, the nonreligious people who don't believe in evolution, wtf do they believe in?

Evolution is a theory of what could have happened. Nothing more. Just like science is a set of theories as to how the world works, and nothing more. Sure, there's a lot of practicality in both, but it's impossible to be certain of anything in this world.

Some people on this thread who think they are genuinely educated and swear by evolution need to wake the fuck up and delve into some deep philosophy before they start making fun of anyone who doesn't swear by science as truth.

You are linked through the world only through your senses. Senses can and are often deceived. Your fundamental symbolic framework cannot EVER circumvent that sense link to the world. Therefore you can NEVER be sure of what is true or not, you can never be sure of what the world REALLY is, evolution or otherwise.

The only thing I'll admit to believing in is that, sorry for the cliches, there is more-than-meets-the-eye when it comes to the world. Something "fishy" is going on. I've given up on science trying to find it.

The answers lie elsewhere.

[Nakilos]

I want to know, the nonreligious people who don't believe in evolution, wtf do they believe in?

You know the two aren't really related, evolution isn't faith based. Its based on actual evidence, actual facts. The problem is a lot of religious people seem to believe evolution is in direct defiance of their belief in God, and that never made sense to me.

I really can't respect anyone who really thinks evolution doesn't exist, but those Senators saying that they don't believe in religion, I really don't think they really believe that. It is just something they say to appeal to some of our possibly mildly retarded citizens, kind of a way to say "see, I'm like you Cletus". You can't be as educated as some of these people are and think the jury is still out on this issue.

As much as I don't get people acting like global warming is a creation of fantasy, I can at least respect the debate to what degree is there. There is just no reasonable argument against evolution.

[Lanludar]

Originally Posted by Lyenae

Evolution is a theory of what could have happened. Nothing more. Just like science is a set of theories as to how the world works, and nothing more. Sure, there's a lot of practicality in both, but it's impossible to be certain of anything in this world.

Some people on this thread who think they are genuinely educated and swear by evolution need to wake the fuck up and delve into some deep philosophy before they start making fun of anyone who doesn't swear by science as truth.

You are linked through the world only through your senses. Senses can and are often deceived. Your fundamental symbolic framework cannot EVER circumvent that sense link to the world. Therefore you can NEVER be sure of what is true or not, you can never be sure of what the world REALLY is, evolution or otherwise.

The only thing I'll admit to believing in is that, sorry for the cliches, there is more-than-meets-the-eye when it comes to the world. Something "fishy" is going on. I've given up on science trying to find it.

The answers lie elsewhere.

Do you wear your tinfoil hat often?