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Tuesday, December 26, 2006

A Challenge to Denyse O'Leary

 
Denyse O'Leary writes in Thoughts on recent books on the intelligent design controversy: Some ways to spend your holiday cash.
Case in point: North American mainstream media report that the vast majority of Americans do not believe Darwinism, with the clear implication that there must be something wrong with them. It is almost inconceivable that media boffins, for whom materialism is the normal way of thinking, would actually be interested in knowing why so many who are at liberty to doubt take up that option. And the media boffins are not likely to change. The media they govern are more likely to simply decline in importance as a source of information.
Denyse, you claim to be a journalist. I challenge you to come up with a reasonable explanation. Keep in mind that you also have to explain one additional fact; the majority of Canadians and Europeans believe in evolution and they have just as much freedom to doubt as Americans. Possibly, more.

So, give it your best shot. If you think the "media" aren't interested in knowing why so many Americans are fooled by the IDiots then here's your chance to get them interested. More importantly, here's your big chance to do what nobody else has been able to do—explain why so many people in the USA are anti-science. You could be famous.

P.S. Why are you still using the term "Darwinism" to describe acceptance of the scientific facts of evolution? You haven't been paying attention, have you?

4 comments :

Larry Fafarman said...

Larry Moran said,

>>>>> Denyse, you claim to be a journalist. I challenge you to come up with a reasonable explanation. Keep in mind that you also have to explain one additional fact; the majority of Canadians and Europeans believe in evolution and they have just as much freedom to doubt as Americans. Possibly, more. <<<<<<

You are stereotyping. A recent international public opinion poll showed that while public acceptance of evolution theory is lower in the US than in European countries, skepticism of evolution is by no means uncommon in most of Europe (Canada was not included in the poll). The poll also showed that acceptance of evolution tends to be stronger in Western Europe and Scandinavia than in Eastern Europe. Also, according to the poll results, even in the USA only a minority rejects evolution theory -- the rest either accept it or are not sure. This poll is discussed in an article on my blog.

Larry Moran said...

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 45% of Americans believe that God created the universe in six days and God created humans in their present form only 10,000 years ago [Reading the Polls on Evolution and Creationism]. The numbers are much lower in Europe and Japan.

If you ask about evolution, the number who accept it in Europe and Japan is far higher than in America, your spin notwithstanding. [Chart].

There are very few civilized countries who are attempting to suppress the teaching of evolution and there are very few countries where rejection of evolution by leading policiticans would be a badge of honor.

My challenge to Denyse stands. If you (Larry Fafarman) would like to take up the challenge, be my guest. It doesn't look like Denyse is capable.

Unknown said...

"...the majority of Canadians and Europeans believe in evolution and they have just as much freedom to doubt as Americans. Possibly, more."

I am from Germany, so I have to know (in addition I have to have a terrible English - I am sorry...)...

First: In Europe 40% don't believe in naturalistic evolution and DO think, that there IS some kind of a creator. After all, 20% belive in the creation of the bible.

But back to your question:
Most of Europeans are theists who don't have a deistic point of view. In combination with scientific data, that means, that most of Europeans should be IDists...

Well, I have already shown, that SOME of these guys have recognized, that ID is the only acceptable conclusion if they don't want to give up their theistic standpoint. The others aren't thinking consequently - something we have to change.

Anonymous said...

Quoting Denyse: North American mainstream media report that the vast majority of Americans do not believe Darwinism, with the clear implication that there must be something wrong with them.

There is something wrong. It's called "lack of education" coupled with inncessant mindwashing by IDiot creationists and politicians who seem to get unlimited media coverage.

The American public schools pay scant attention to evolution, often relegating it to a brief mention in a single high-school biology class. There may be many reasons for this, but the result is an incredibly miseducated and gullible public.

The media bemoans the fact that "Johnny can't read," or do simple arithmetic, let alone basic math. So why should we expect Johnny or Joannie to be competent in basic evolution theory or logic?

Still, I'm perplexed by the entire situation. Unlike many, I do not believe that a basic understanding of evolution requires much in the way of complex explanations or lengthy classroom time.

If my 6th grade friends and I could grasp the basics waaaay back when, then I don't see any reason why young people could not gain a proper insight today. So I've concluded that evolution simply is not taught in any noticable way in many school districts.