Repubs and evolution

[JackoliciousLegs]

Repubs.. please respond:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=27847">http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=27847</a><!-- m -->

The majority of Republicans in the United States do not believe the theory of evolution is true and do not believe that humans evolved over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. This suggests that when three Republican presidential candidates at a May debate stated they did not believe in evolution, they were generally in sync with the bulk of the rank-and-file Republicans whose nomination they are seeking to obtain.

[CaptainHenreh]

Respond to what? A poll that shows that (+/- 3%) half of people who identify themselves as republican "believe in" evolution? (A loaded question if there ever was one.)

Nothing to respond to.

[HAULN-SS]

I kind of have an Intelligent Design/Evolution idea of the way life happened. Too much coincidence for life to start the way it is, so perhaps the coincidences were forced..if that makes any sense.

therefore...disagreew itht hat poll,a nd count myself as a republican..mostly

[Ginger]

I don't suppose it would be too hard to make that survey say whatever you wanted.

I believe in evolution. I don't really believe in politics, though.

[Maengelito]

I believe in evolution. I don't really believe in politics, though.

couldnt have said it better myself

[ScottyB]

yeah, kind of a messed up survey.

i don't like to label myself as repub but i guess i lean that way (hate the 2 party system). i have no problem agreeing with evolution. it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive with my beliefs.

i really wish things were less polar in our world. it's like, if you believe this, this and this (check the boxes) you go stand over there with this sign over your head.

[Goodspeed]

i really wish things were less polar in our world. it's like, if you believe this, this and this (check the boxes) you go stand over there with this sign over your head.

Thats so true...I can't (and don't) consider myself a republican because the GOP consists of the religious right instead of the libertarian-style conservatism that I find more favorable. I'm not religious, so I don't get the point of their moralistic and social concerns that ultimately aren't concerned with running a nation of free people. Its like...STFU about gay marriage and denouncing evolution and get to something that matters, like health care and education. Personally I view the whole party these days to be a defiance of that whole seperation of church and state thing....

[Apoc]

Welcome to the two party system. What's that you say? There could never be a third party? That's certainly true if you continue to not "waster your vote" on other parties.

[Ginger]

And any governmental system is going to be the warm body that all the leeching special interests groups are going to cling to. It doesn't matter who is running what kind of government, things that don't really matter will always be issues plauging our beaurocrats. Either that, or they have to kill everybody. That's the nature of the beast, as it were. People see that they ca use the government to manipulate other people, their money, and their actions... so they'll abuse it.

I wonder, though, why does it matter what the politicians think about evolution? We shouldn't expect them to be the knowledge basin of life, the universe, and everything. That's like the fallacy of "common knowledge" economics that politicians have always, and will continue, to damage the economy with.

[JackoliciousLegs]

Respond to what? A poll that shows that (+/- 3%) half of people who identify themselves as republican "believe in" evolution? (A loaded question if there ever was one.)

Nothing to respond to.

Back to the original question.

That's not half.

I'm not trying to get into an all out brawl about the role of the church in politics, but we can all guess how I feel about that... Feel free to be a libertarian if that makes you feel better. My point is, for all intents and purposes, 68% (low for comparable polls) of republicans do not believe in evolution. Evolution is not a theory anymore. Evolution is a fact. There's so much horseshit swirling like the f***ing creation museum, which if you haven't looked into, is sickening. The fact that children will be exposed to this under the veil of factual evidence is outright disturbing. I felt like in this club, being that it's a motorsports club, we have tons of very smart conservatives that I'm friends with and I wanted to just ask them about what they feel like when they see a survey like this. So there's definitely something to respond to... imo :-)

Just as a parting piece on my justification for the post, here are some images from the creation museum:



Dinosaurs alongside humans.


Examples of society falling apart:

[HAULN-SS]

i really wish things were less polar in our world. it's like, if you believe this, this and this (check the boxes) you go stand over there with this sign over your head.

This is why you should vote guilliani. Of all the candidates, he's the only one that realizes his personal views and his political views need not coincide.

[.RJ]

My point is, for all intents and purposes, 68% (low for comparable polls) of republicans do not believe in evolution.

Neither do 40% of everyone else, which is still a shockingly high number.

I think the problem goes well past the republican vs. democrat party lines.

[JackoliciousLegs]

I wonder, though, why does it matter what the politicians think about evolution? We shouldn't expect them to be the knowledge basin of life, the universe, and everything. That's like the fallacy of "common knowledge" economics that politicians have always, and will continue, to damage the economy with.

This isn't about politicians necessarily. It's about the voters themselves and which candidates they'll choose. I care if my congressman thinks he was created in god's image. If he believes that, he should believe the rest of the bible, eh? If not, he's just picking and choosing, and that can be even more dangerous.

My gripe is just that it amazes me how many republicans believe this stuff. The bible can't be taken literally, and if you do take parts of it literally... say for example, the origin of life and the fallacious idea that we've evolved, then you have no reason not to trust it as truth. For that reason, I have a harder time arguing with people like this:

They believe the bible how it's intended to be believed. I don't agree when they vote like the rapture will happen next month, but at least they're not picking and choosing.

Wohhh... step back Jack... (I'm talking myself down). Religious moderation is ok... just as long as you don't try to vote along those lines. End of story.

[CaptainHenreh]

This is why you should vote guilliani. Of all the candidates, he's the only one that realizes his personal views and his political views need not coincide.

Il Duce's personal views and his political views coincide precisely.

He personally wants to limit individual freedoms on everyone but the upper class and piss on the constitution and he politically wants to limit freedoms on everyone but the upper class and piss on the constitution.

[JackoliciousLegs]

My point is, for all intents and purposes, 68% (low for comparable polls) of republicans do not believe in evolution.

Neither do 40% of everyone else, which is still a shockingly high number. I think the problem goes well past the republican vs. democrat party lines.

The thing is, those democrats aren't voting with religious intent then. Democrats support stem cell research. Democrats support gays in the military. And republicans? I'm just saying, education and healthcare are huge issues, but these are important too. I want these issues to be nonissues so that we can deal with those things that are more important.

[Ginger]

But I'm curious as to why a politician's lackluster religious pickings is all that much of a matter, anyways? I can't realistically make a blanket statement, but the vast majority of religious folk I've run into are pick & choose type people. Why should we expect our elected leaders to be different? They're really just popular versions of us.

*edit* I see what you're getting at - the religious influence in voter's heads. In which case you're irritated with conservative religion. I guess what I'm saying is - what does it matter where these people get their views? It's already evident that people are so closed minded that they'll cling to any shred of anything vaugely resembling evidence in order to feel better about what they think should be true.

If people don't vote with their religion do you really believe that they'll be all that much better by 'voting with their heads'? I don't.

I agree that it's silly that people believe that stuff, and I don't think you need to strech yourself to guess how I feel about the public school system. But what's the broader picture you're getting at? What we should/should not be allowed to teach in schools? Religiously influenced legislative minds? Just general irritation with people?

I don't know anything about that particular pole, but I feel like I should point out that manipulating it to say whatever anybody wanted wouldn't be too hard. Geographical area surveyed, age group surveyed, gender, religious orientation, special interest groups aligned with organizations closely tied to the majority of those from a specific group surveyed... you get the picture.

[.RJ]

The thing is, those democrats aren't voting with religious intent then.

Just because they said they're a Democrat :?:

I dont buy it. There are stupid people everywhere, and trying to divide them up by party lines is like pissing into the wind.

[Ginger]

I think RJ captured my paragraphs a little more concisely. Dumb people will be dumb. Good luck trying to change an ignorant, arrogant mind.

[JackoliciousLegs]

The thing is, those democrats aren't voting with religious intent then.

Just because they said they're a Democrat :?: I dont buy it. There are stupid people everywhere, and trying to divide them up by party lines is like pissing into the wind.

Democrats support stem cell research. Democrats support gays in the military. And republicans?

[JackoliciousLegs]

I think RJ captured my paragraphs a little more concisely. Dumb people will be dumb. Good luck trying to change an ignorant, arrogant mind.

Someone's got to try :?