Some Pastors Preach Evolution, but Americans Are as Anti-Darwin as Ever
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
NPR religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Haggerty has a wonderful story up about Evolution Weekend, an annual worldwide event in which pro-Darwin religious leaders speak from the pulpit about what they say is the compatibility between evolution and religion. More than 1,000 congregations are participating this year.
The one problem with the NPR piece is that it implies there's a shift toward acceptance of evolution among religious folks, with lines like this:
Tim Bagwell, pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Macon, Ga., says that even in the Bible Belt there's a quiet shift away from literalism.
Actually, no. Americans' rejection of Darwin's ideas have remained remarkably constant over time.
A new Pew report shows that in 1982, 9 percent of Americans believed in an evolutionary process in which God played no role, 38 percent believed in God-guided evolution, and 44 percent believed that God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years or so.
Today, the numbers are almost identical. According to a Pew poll last year, 14 percent of Americans believe in an evolutionary process in which God played no role, 36 percent believe in God-guided evolution, and 44 percent believe God created humans as-is within the course of recent history. There was a jump in supporters of evolution without God's guidance, but I'm guessing those aren't the religious folks.
- Read more by Dan Gilgoff.
- Read more about religion.
Tags: religion | polls | evolution
Tools: 
Share
|
| Comments (23) | Print
Reader Comments
Dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago
Creationists are able to believe the biggest lies told in Scripture. They believe humans lived in the era of dinosaurs, 65 million years ago. They have to believe that because they believe "God created everything in seven days." Brontosaurs are just one kind of enormous dinosaurs. If a pair of them were on the Ark, it would sink from their weight. Imagine trying to get all different kinds of dinosaur on the Ark, They believe a man could be made of mud and a woman could be a recycled bone. Scripture was written to create the category of paid preachers.
"Souls and sins" were invented so preachers could get money for "saving souls and forgiving sins." Ban paid preaching and churches will go out of business.
Thanks Luke John, for excellent comment
This week, a celebrity described years of having expensive psychiatric treatment. The doctor said patients seem to feel good that they can AFFORD to spend lots of money for psychiatry. Maybe paid preachers are like costly "shrinks." They do tell people with "sin sick" souls that there is a way out of "this vale of tears." Believers are always depressed that they're "separated from God" unless they regularly join their kind in worship; They long to "return to their protective Father God." They go to church and are glad their seat mates know they can AFFORD to give lots of money. Catholic Churches give pontifical awards to members who give millions of dollars for new cathedrals. Neurotic believers, for a lot of money, can have preachers "give the communion, the flesh and blood of Christ," a very costly meal when repeated often as is the habit. Ten percent of lifetime earnings can be a lot even if a believer makes $40,000 a year. After 40 years, it can be $160,000. Add to that fees for special rites of weddings, baptisms, confirmations, church school and funerals. And all to make believers glad to have "God lug them over hard spots," and be assured of free food in an afterlife. How sad but what a scam is religion.
America's Falling Behind
As other countries move into the wisdom provided by education and discovery, sadly some communities are bound by strait jackets and are fearful of change. Who promotes the fear and control of minds. Look at the results of the survey on acceptance that evolution has some value as an idea. The answers are plain to see.
While Americans are busy proving their beliefs in various documents held by churches. they seem blind to being ripped off and kept in relative ignorance from within, yes within - not by some idealogical enemy abroad.
It is sad to see the former great country now curbing a new hope away from the control by big money and churches who appear to be in cahoots. As much as the warmongers have authored a shocking history of political and military intervention abroad for profit of a small greed driven sector. the common people has a vote to exercise against such tyranny. Who is it that stops them thinking? The survey certainly shows churches are the culprits. Where does the profit go?
You don't have to be a non conformist but why let your mind and country be taken over. Your vote is secret.
advertisement
