What is Digg?242 Comments
- alecperkins, on 10/12/2007, -20/+124Rather depressing, to say the least.
- jonathantneal, on 10/12/2007, -13/+101Let me chime in, to anyone who wants to hear the radical conservative republican's POV.
As a evangelical Christian (which basically means I'm out to live my life as constantly Christian as possible) I am baffled by the concept of many in my community that it is somehow our duty to battle science. It's bull*** (as Penn and Teller might put it). To believe in the Chrstian God is to believe in a God who created all things, and is NOT a slave to that creation. Science is the observation of actions, reactions, making connections, connecting the dots; it's QUANTITATIVE, and even if we have absolutely no scientific explanation for a given event, there is no place in science to then factor God, ever, because if God is beyond science, He cannot be factored in anyway. Faith cannot be Science because it exists IN THE INTENT and is therefore QUALITATIVE.
I'm not convinced that evolution is contradictory to my religion either. What if we find the bones of an earlier species that later became ape and man, is that a problem? Does that change the beliefs of Christianity? Last I checked, our beliefs (very summarized) are that a Monotheistic God comes as a messiah (God and man, the Son) who is crucified and resurrected, thus conquering death and sin, thus providing salvation.
(begin sarcasm) Apparently I've never been taught the part where we can't macro evolve and where the bible as we put together and as read in whatever language we speak must be regarded as historical fact and never just as spiritual guidance. Apparently God would be a liar if he inspired a story to the author that would teach a lesson and wasn't actual history, oh, except when Jesus did it. (end sarcasm)
Go evolution, my conservative values have no place in my monkey grandpa. - Elektriq, on 10/12/2007, -4/+78"We"? Why not say "Americans" in the title instead? It's not like there are only yankees on this site...
- soogy, on 10/12/2007, -10/+75@Rummy:
That's because stupidity never goes out of style. - lanemik, on 10/12/2007, -15/+61@supercarrot
Macro and micro evolution are inventions of creationists. And every fossil is a transitional fossil. - Nougat, on 10/12/2007, -4/+50jonathantneal, you rule. The problem with sensible people is that they don't make as much noise as morons, so the morons get noticed more.
Thank you for making just a little noise in the face of all the morons. - regtools, on 10/12/2007, -6/+46"it is only a meant to be a theory anyway."
See misconception #5 in http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-misconceptions.html - carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -8/+46actually supercarrot, there are many instances where once a species that fills a niche is killed off, another species will come in and take on similar adaptations in order to fill the empty niche. you can even look to different forms of locomotion such as flight, it's been developed at least 3 independent times because it's a useful trait to have.
- hankroth, on 10/12/2007, -6/+43I am not in the least bit surprised at this. the article goes on to say, "In the U.S., only 14 percent of adults thought that evolution was "definitely true," while about a third firmly rejected the idea." And Evolution is the most important understanding of life we have discovered thanks to Darwin. There is nothing more important in my mind than this.
I subscribe to the hard copy of National Geographic where this article was at and it is also interesting to me how few other people I know subscribe or when we get company how few even pick them up. As a matter of fact books are more decorations in the U.S. than real in-home libraries. We're in a bad way.
Thanks for posting the link to the article and the short summary.
Hank Roth - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37Just like the theory of gravity, right?
- gungaroo22, on 10/12/2007, -6/+39@ Supercarrot.
So it is ONLY meant to be a theory, right? Like the Theory of Gravitation. (Gravity) and the Theory of Electromagnetivity. I guess we STILL dont know why we stick to this planet, and how the hell do TVs and monitors work? And what is up with that Heliocentric Model Theory? You know, that the earth revolves around the sun? What a bunch of bull!! You are right. Evolution is retarded. It is just a theory.
"A scientific theory is a set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or natural phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena. Theories are the highest level of science."
Oh, and also, amongst evolutionist there is one theory of evolution. There aren't multiple theorys. Think before you speak. - Rummy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+35"And you know this because. . ."
There is overwhelming fossil and DNA evidence - lathesand, on 10/12/2007, -2/+33I find news like this so embarrassing as an American. It seems that organized religion (Christian Fundamentalists, in particular) have better PR to promote their idiocy and dogma than scientists do to promote human knowledge as a justified true belief.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29Failed U.S. parenting system.
- domc, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29Failed U.S. education system is all I've got to say.
- craig552uk, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27Apes are the members of the Hominoidea superfamily of primates, which includes humans.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ape - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27This is horrifying. I wish america's mindset could reverse 20 years back to sensibility. Why did I have to be born into this seething ***** soup of religion. I'm going to go cry myself to sleep, bye.
OK I'm still here.. so this ignorance is increasing rapidly in adults, and this only means that the adults are spreading this twisted knowledge to their children, which makes it all too likely that the decomposition of intelligence will increase exponentially in the coming decade.
But, I have a tiny ounce of hope that the youth will break away and form their own set thoughts like I did - you CAN have religion without ignoring the world. It is possible; I grew up in my Jewish family and although I still consider myself Jewish, I believe in science and cognitive thinking first and foremost at the age of 17. - lanemik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25How unbelievably sad. What's worse, you get people in here saying "well it is just a theory." Freaking idiots.
- carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27you know what else is just a theory? that there's an invisible, unprovable man shaped being in the sky who decided in his infinite ability to go make some imperfect copies of himself, get mad at them for being imperfect, then make himself an perfected imperfect being, and get himself killed to make him forgive us for what he started... yeah, evolution, what an unlikely fairy tale....
- theoallardyce, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23@Rummy
"It is depressing, but just to point out, this isn't a problem specific to the US. It seems to be fairly trendy in Britain now too."
Wait wasn't Britain near the top of that list and America near the bottom? - craig552uk, on 10/12/2007, -6/+25Stuff like this really winds me up.
I'm sorry but I really cannot understand anyone who thinks evolution is false, It's just blind ignorance.
Grrr...
I've made myself angry now. I'm going for a walk... - diggduggjoe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23Evolution is so obvious, but many people use religion to boost their morale. They are not animals, but handcrafted by God in God's workshop. They have a place in heaven and will soon be beamed off the planet to be with their god.
Evolution does not prohibit God. It is so beautiful, it could be a religion all in itself. Being an animal does not make me insignificant, but makes me a brother to all life on this rock. Many would rather we have "dominion" over everything and being justified in raping the planet. It doesn't matter for the above mentioned beam off.
Religion is very dangerous. - smcgrath, on 10/12/2007, -14/+32The article itself exposes one of the problems. The theory is that we came from a common descendant as apes; we did not evolve from them.
- fearlessfrog, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22'The Government of the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion.' - John Adams, 2nd President of the United States.
'The United States is a Christian nation founded upon Christian principles and beliefs.' - George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States.
That more or less sums up the problem... - skywake, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21i read "we" and thought.. that's a bit dodgy, a bit arrogant thinking that one "western country" is universally known as "we".. must be about America.. :P
- motherdigital, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21its unfortunate that a large proportion of americans continue to prove that they are way behind the rest of the world in matters of science and evolution.
also that the countries with very high belief in evolution are also some of the countries with the highest standards of living, highest taxes and highest levels of personal wealth and happiness.
personally, my australian view is that it is only a matter of time before america catches up and when this happens it will be better for not just america but the whole world. we are all getting pretty sick of the american stereo type religious freak with a couple of guns in the closet and a low IQ. - SmokedL, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16"Perhaps we reject evolution because we are not (yet) a Post-Christian Godless society like many of these other Western Countries."
I'd say that's true enough. Like most religions Christianity requires that you suspend your critical faculties and replace them with Faith, in order to be able to accept the irrational and contradictory teachings of a church. Note that I say a church, not The Bible. The Bible is vague and self contradictory to the point that it can be, and is, interpreted in infinite different ways. For some reason, the interpretation often seems to be beneficial to the interpreter.
The combination of unquestioning obedience and an infinitely malleable set of rules has brought us such horrors as the crusades, the witch burnings, and a large part of the African population dying in AIDS, while the Catholic Church vocally forbids the use of condoms. I invite anyone who believes that you should unquestioningly follow your church to think about that. - carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19living in the southern US, that stereotype does get pretty to the mark with more people that you'd expect unfortunatly...
- Shivetya, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22As a Catholic I believe in evolution as well.
It is not contrary to my faith and the teachings of the Church. Things evolve. There is quite a bit of evidence to support evolution in many specie on the Earth and even leaders in my church acknowledge such (Pope Pius XII and even Pope John Paul II). While they place qualifications on which theories they accept it still is acknowledgment.
People love to claim the Church (and other religions) are ignorant of science but mankind has been ignorant of a great many things for a long time. Knowledge is accepted, sometimes not a pace others want, but religions do not stand the test of time by being reactionary. Stability and surety are key elements. Change will occur, but it must be at a pace to where acceptance is not disruptive.
I would like to see similar surveys done on countries other than those define as Western as well. Of interest is Turkey which is barely "Western" in many books. The United States is also more diversified than many of the nations listed.
One other angle to consider beyond the typical religious one, people of the US are also less likely to take for granted what officials in government and other institutions tell them. We are a country formed of people who wanted to leave behind the state. While it was good in the beginning we unfortunately are moving to become what we were founded not to be. - barsanuphe, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18I am French and lived in Chicago for several years. I was amazed there -- and still am -- that Americans still hold on to creationism/intelligent design. Now that I have moved back to France, when I talk about that issue to friends, they are reluctant to believe me.
What a massive failure in education though.
I was a little surprised to see that some people in France did not believe in evolution, as it clearly stopped being a debate for decades and decades. Probably religious types. - penno, on 10/12/2007, -10/+24There's so much I don't get about Christianity. Like the resurrection.
What would we say about a human parent that, of their own design and will, required the death of one of their children in order to be able to reach out and forgive the others? We would say that parent is either mentally ill or has no morals, and would rightly insist that the legal system remove this person from society. We would call that person evil. But because it's God arrangin' the killin' somehow it's a loving act. wtf? How is that not plainly absurd?? - LotusWishes, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17I'm an American and it is quite embarassing how overwhelmingly STUPID most of my fellow citizens are. It's stupidity and arrogance as illustrated here that the whole world is finally waking up to. The U.S. is not what it is portrayed to be (democratic, land of milk and honey) but rather a place filled with greed, ignorance and apathy. I'm seriously considering a move to another country. Any suggestions?
- modhran, on 10/12/2007, -8/+22I think that people who don't believe in science shouldn't be able to bennefit from it.
Don't believe in evolution? Then you can't believe in biological science. No more medicine for you. - Akyan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18"In science, a theory is a proposed description, explanation, or model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition."
Also
"In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it often does in other contexts. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence." - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+26It's your own fault for letting such religious idiots open their mouths and run the country. You'll get no sympathy here
- sheffield, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13"Ever noticed that people who believe in Creationism look really unevolved?" - Bill Hicks
- SimonGray, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13You mean DISCOVERED, not invented.
And who really cares if it was discovered by a Brit in this context? No need to be nationalist. - diggduggjoe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Religion, as defined as the bobble head response to the "knowledgeable" theologian,.is dangerous. I know many religious people who do question their faith. That is a good thing. However, too many never question and any debate regarding their faith threatens the very fabric of their minds. That is unhealthy.
- carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14please don't digg me down, i'm not trying to flame, i'm just saying that from my personal experience (even among some of my family members) the US unfortunatly has a large amount of people who play right into the stereotype described above.
- carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13very true. i'm from the states and still see this as being a bad title, it's not like we don't have aussies, brits, and canuks on digg (as well as all those other english speaking people, just trying to cover large bases)
- warmonger48, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11funk:
The most repressed group of people throughout history is the Atheists. They are so afraid of persecution they remain silent. It is such a powerful statement to "there is no god" that it sends shock waves through the believers. It is even more powerful than saying "i believe in a different god". There are A LOT of religious nut jobs that would kill Atheists if they we open in their feelings, I personally think that they would be shunned and persecuted more than the *****. - japface, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14people like tom cruise and george bush are at the top of the food chain in the united states. its no wonder the majority of the population is "insane". :P
the problem really is that it's generational brain washing. most often, uneducated parents will pass on their beliefs to their children at a young age which become ingrained into their minds. it becomes fact and often enough the children become uneducated parents that pass it on to their children. Now, this is a huge generalization, but i have noticed it with people i know. - gcube9x, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Religion should be about personal spirituality, not blind faith and mob rule.
- BobbyOnions, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Note also it's digg.com, not digg.us. The latter would narrow the scope for the reader and "we" would become more contextual.
"We" in a single room (pub setting in England) has a much narrower scope and less ambiguous context that "we" on a globally-available .com forum. - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Sorry, I meant to say "critical thinking", ..not cognitive.
- carpespasm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12*****, i love NG, i have a hardbound collection of about half the issues from the late 1910's to current someone was otherwise gonna chunk. made a nice bookshelf just to house them too.
- GhostFreeman, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13I'm at a loss for words here. Are we really *that* stupid?
- stomicron, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13@supercarrot
"And it is not a sign that people aren't thinking, but a sign that people have their own minds and just don't take what they have been told anymore."
Funny, because the Bible has been telling people what to believe for millenia. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14@Carpe:
Hell, I will stand by you on that one. I have lived in the South most of my life. ALL my family is from the South. And, if anything, the groups pushing creationism and ID have been getting BIGGER over the last 10 - 15 years.
The South is becoming so stupid that it will never rise again. - germanSauron, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13I live in Germany ... and I don't know ONE person who does not "believe" in Darwin. We observe the US-american fanatism against it with a little smirk (well, as long as you don't start a war because of Darwin, of course ... I would not be surprised ...). I am quite sure, those listed as "false" in the graphic under Germany have not the slightest idea who or what Darwin is (We DO have a huge educational problem these years here).
No offense meant, but ... Are there other US-believes which were lost in the middle ages here in "old"-europe? Like witch-burning or indulgence-selling? :-) -
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