Barking Up the Wrong Poll

Now that some of the hubbub surrounding the Creation Museum opening has died down (Well, okay - I guess it really hasn't), I thought I would comment on why of all the topics in science this is the one everyone cares about.

My colleagues and fellow bloggers love to quote polls about just how stupid Americans are when it comes to science. Since we are soooo stupid with science, the media makes it easy for us. As far as the newspapers are concerned, its either A or B. Take for example the recent USA Today/Gallup poll about evolution and creationism. If you bothered to go to the source, it would probably take you 5 minutes just to figure out what the questioners were asking. Then when you consider the results, you would discover that:

Two-thirds in the poll said creationism, the idea that God created humans in their present form within the past 10,000 years, is definitely or probably true. More than half, 53%, said evolution, the idea that humans evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years, is definitely or probably true. All told, 25% say that both creationism and evolution are definitely or probably true.

Wait a minute... a majority believe in Young Earth Creationism and a majority believe in evolution over millions of years. The media has done it again. A complex issue for which people think they know more than they do is boiled down into cold, hard data. This time, however, everybody wins. Except that no one does. We are left with less information than we has to start with.

Michael Patrick Leahy has offered suggested questions that could actually set the record straight. So for all of you quoting how stupid Americans are, you will need to wait until this survey is taken before you can speak on evolutionary illiteracy.

On the topic of evolution and creation, which of the following schools of thought best represent your views:

1. Atheistic evolution, in which the earth is 4.5 billion years old, man evolved over millions of years and God played no part in it.

2.Theistic evolution, in which the earth is 4.5 billion years old, man evolved over millions of years and God had a hand in it.

3. Intelligent Design, in which the earth is 4.5 billion years old, and the development of species over time are the results of the design of an intelligent agent, which may or may not be God.

4. Old Earth Creationism, in which the earth is 4.5 billion years old, and man was created fully formed by God within the last 50,000 years.

5. Young Earth Creationism, in which God created the universe, the earth, and man in one week 6,000 years ago.

6. I’m not sure and I don’t care

7. I’m not sure, but I think God played a role.

8. I’m not sure, and I don’t think God played a role.

Make sure you know what you think on this issue before Gallup calls you!