U.S. Lags World in Grasp of Genetics and Acceptance of Evolution

Re: Foxfyre (Post 3380332)

You make no sense, I never said anything about any argument being stupid in this thread. I said the people and the beliefs are stupid and that I don't want to argue with their beliefs on this thread.

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Re: Robert Gentel (Post 3380343)

Nor do I. But I guess I hoped you were attacking the argument and not the person. My mistake. Again, do have a good day.

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Re: Foxfyre (Post 3380351)

The belief is stupid and I don't want to argue it here and "attack arguments" at all, there are plenty of other threads for people to bang their heads against that brick wall of idiots. How many times are you going to exit? Probably until you get the last word about it so have at it. I'm not going to argue your beliefs with you on this thread and maybe if you get the last word in you won't have to understand that.

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Re: Robert Gentel (Post 3380092)

I couldn't find figures for Oz..has anyone seen them?

I'm obviously using wrong keywords.

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Re: dlowan (Post 3380825)

All I was able to find is this:

Quote:

...survey of 1535 people, conducted by the Australian National University...

The survey showed that about 45% of Australians doubted, or were not sure, if humans evolved via natural selection, as opposed to about 55% who thought this was definitely or probably true.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2/4340Relevance7-5-2000.asp

But I'm not sure how reliable that is. But I did find a larger image of the graph in the my first post along the way.

Should be easier to read.

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Re: dlowan (Post 3380825)

Though this looks damn bad:

Creationists and their critics in Australia: an autonomous culture or 'the USA with Kangaroos'?

Ronald L. Numbers

Abstract

No country outside the United States has given creationism a warmer reception than Australia, which has spawned an internationally successful creationist ministry and at times even welcomed creation science into the classrooms of state-supported schools. A half-century ago, however, when organized anti-evolutionism first appeared in Australia, it attracted virtually no attention, and for over three decades thereafter it remained isolated on the far margins of Australian society, too obscure and impotent to warrant public concern. As late as 1984 one of the best informed students of Australian fundamentalism predicted that `because of the different national traditions and educational systems, the [creationist] controversy is not likely to become as intense in Australia as in USA¿.The following decade proved him a false prophet. The most intense creation-evolution debates in the world have occurred on Australian soil, and Australian creationists have insinuated themselves into the religious, scientific, educational, and political life of the country. In this brief history of creationism and anti-creationism in Australia during the past half-century or so, I highlight two distinctive (though not unique) characteristics of the Australian encounter: the efforts of both sides to tar the other with a `made in America¿ brush and the contribution of anti-creationists to the success of the creationists. Paradoxically, by hounding and ridiculing creationists, the critics significantly boosted the visibility and viability of creationism in Australia.

Historical Records of Australian Science 14(1) 1 - 12

Full text doi:10.1071/HR02002

http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=HR02002

A side note:

http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/aevdnun.htm

And they're organised:

http://www.conservapedia.com/Creation_Ministries_International

I had no idea they were so powerful here.

This has been an eye-opener.

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Re: Robert Gentel (Post 3380857)

Thank you...better than I did.

And more.

http://www.csicop.org/intelligentdesignwatch/oz.html

Good grief.

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Re: dlowan (Post 3380865)

Yes, Australia became the second biggest stronghold for creationism in the 80's.

Here is a good time line:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/religion/revolution/low_bandwidth.html

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Re: Robert Gentel (Post 3380871)

I am appalled.

I knew these people existed....I have them as clients from time to time...but I suppose I thought their power confined to Queensland, which is kind of our Alabama...or is lampooned as such..like all such stereotypes it is unfair.

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Re: Robert Gentel (Post 3379121)

>U.S. Lags World in Grasp of Genetics and Acceptance of Evolution...

What about the US lagging the world in grasp of Naziism and acceptance of Aryan supremacy? Any ideas as to what to do about that or how to deal with it??

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as usual, i'm a latecomer to an interesting topic, but in the article quoted at the top of the thread, i am especially interested in the finding that Americans lag the Europeans in understanding of basic biology such as genetics, apart from uncertainty about evolution. As far as i know, creationists don't reject genetics, so religious ideology doesn't explain the gap completely.

Quote:

The researchers also single out the poor grasp of biological concepts, especially genetics, by American adults as an important contributor to the country's low confidence in evolution.

“The more you understand about genetics, the more you understand about the unity of life and the relationship humans have to other forms of life,” Miller said.

The current study also analyzed the results from a 10-country survey in which adults were tested with 10 true or false statements about basic concepts from genetics. One of the statements was "All plants and animals have DNA." Americans had a median score of 4. (The correct answer is "yes.")

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Re: yitwail (Post 3381245)

certainly an interesting thread - even though i'm taking the whole subject not overly serious .
i imagine different people/scientists will want to put their own slant on it .
perhaps a bit like political polling ; if it suits the partyline , it's given a THUMBS UP , if it doesn't , it must have some flaws .

observation : ireland and finland about equal on the scale , but finland lower than denmark-sweden-norway , certainly interesting to look at , but what now ? . (going to check what the BBC news reports from the world around us)
hbg

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Creationists interpret genetics as a static feature that signifies nothing about the interrelationships among species and higher taxa.

They can stare at genomes of humans , mice, and clams and not see the similarities and developmental potential that each genome presents.
Creationists also take basic chemical and physical features of the planet and ignore what they accurately predict.

I cant say Im sorry for the ignorant masses of the US who dont understand or refuse to understand how evolution is so eloquently underpinned. I can only hope that my students can see the accuracy of evidence and act intelligently armed with that understanding. As far as the Alabamians and the gungasnakes of the US, I hope they can say "You want fries with that?" with verve that makes us all happy.

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Re: dlowan (Post 3380883)

I'm glad you put in "or is lampooned as such"

I tried hard to fine some religious demographics by state, but the best I could do was;

"South Australia was the state with the highest rate of volunteering for religious organisations - 8.3% of the adult population"

www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/46d1bc47ac9d0c7bca256c470025ff87/0ECDDB3623373203CA2570DE00145894?opendocument

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