America is going back to the Dark Ages

**MoROmeTe** · October 30, 2005, 10:59 AM

OK, not that severe, but:

Americans at odds with evolution

Polls for many years have shown that a majority of Americans are at odds with key scientific theory. For example, as CBS poll this month found that 51 percent of respondents believed humans were created in their present form by God. A further 30 percent said their creation was guided by God. Only 15 percent thought humans evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years.

Other polls show that only around a third of American adults accept the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, even though the concept is virtually uncontested by scientists worldwide.

"When we ask people what they know about science, just under 20 percent turn out to be scientifically literate," said Jon Miller, director of the center for biomedical communication at Northwestern University.

He said science and especially mathematics were poorly taught in most U.S. schools, leading both to a shortage of good scientists and general scientific ignorance.

U.S. school students perform relatively poorly in international tests of mathematics and science. For example, in 2003 U.S. students placed 24th in an international test that measured the mathematical literacy of 15-year-olds, below many European and Asian countries.

Scientists bemoan the lack of qualified U.S. candidates for postgraduate and doctoral studies at American universities and currently fill around a third of available science and engineering slots with foreign students.

Northwestern's Miller said the insistence of a large proportion of Americans that humans were created by God as whole beings had policy implications for the future.

"The 21st century will be the century of biology and we are going to be confronted with hundreds of important public policy issues that require some understanding that all life is interconnected," he said.

What do you think?

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · October 30, 2005, 11:04 AM

It's pathetic, really. The schools are getting worse and worse in America, and if we allow crap like intelligent design (Creationism) to be taught in schools, we will forever ruin the minds of most students. As always, religion is causing massive, awful ignorance throughout the population.

**minimann** · October 30, 2005, 11:15 AM

well thats what you get for putting a comletely incompetent leader in charge he only wanted more money in his friends pockets and to finish what his dad started and yet neither did what was needed.

**~~Atheist Peace~~** · October 30, 2005, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by minimann

well thats what you get for putting a comletely incompetent leader in charge he only wanted more money in his friends pockets and to finish what his dad started and yet neither did what was needed.

This has nothing to do with the issue at hand. Although the trend of leaders like Bush being elected, who greatly help promote national ignorance, you seem to be talking about Iraq. Policies like No child left behind only impose more testing (and scores havent improved in most cases, anyway) on schools, and force the teachers to teach the test, rather than an actualy curriculum.

**Rush Limbaugh** · October 30, 2005, 11:26 AM

Polls for many years have shown that a majority of Americans are at odds with key scientific theory. For example, as CBS poll this month found that 51 percent of respondents believed humans were created in their present form by God. A further 30 percent said their creation was guided by God. Only 15 percent thought humans evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years.

How many times do we have to tell you this is a christian nation. As such is it surpising most of us think we were created by god? Also most of us think evolution is gods way of doing things. We dont say its rubbish but think the two support eachother.

Other polls show that only around a third of American adults accept the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, even though the concept is virtually uncontested by scientists worldwide

That depends on what you mean by accept. I for instance think its quite posssible but I wouldnt bet my life on it? And where did the original matter come from? Science is a religion in itself.

When we ask people what they know about science, just under 20 percent turn out to be scientifically literate," said Jon Miller, director of the center for biomedical communication at Northwestern University.

Exactly what qualifies one as scientifically literate?

U.S. school students perform relatively poorly in international tests of mathematics and science. For example, in 2003 U.S. students placed 24th in an international test that measured the mathematical literacy of 15-year-olds, below many European and Asian countries.

This is caused by a number of factors. Most of which can be blamed on 50 years of liberals running this country and infecting SCOTUS.

Scientists bemoan the lack of qualified U.S. candidates for postgraduate and doctoral studies at American universities and currently fill around a third of available science and engineering slots with foreign students.

Yup its sad.We spend more on education here thanever and yet our schools keep getting worse. I say get the government out of the education buissness like it used to be. They screw up anything they touch other than defense.

**jimbob01000** · December 21, 2007, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Rush Limbaugh

How many times do we have to tell you this is a christian nation. As such is it surpising most of us think we were created by god? Also most of us think evolution is gods way of doing things. We dont say its rubbish but think the two support eachother.

europes christian - we still believe in evolution

That depends on what you mean by accept. I for instance think its quite posssible but I wouldnt bet my life on it? And where did the original matter come from? Science is a religion in itself.

no it isnt - science is fact , religion is opinion

This is caused by a number of factors. Most of which can be blamed on 50 years of liberals running this country and infecting SCOTUS.

yes because the republicans have done such a great job at ruling...

Yup its sad.We spend more on education here thanever and yet our schools keep getting worse. I say get the government out of the education buissness like it used to be. They screw up anything they touch other than defense.

nope the y screw that up as well

**Tankbuster** · December 21, 2007, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by jimbob01000

europes christian - we still believe in evolution

European countries are secular. And how many people still believe in evolution? Most die-hard religious people I know (you know, the ones who still go to church), do not. It's logical to some extent. You can't be theistic and believe in Darwin's evolution theory. It's a contradictio in terminis.
In a lot of countries where there are heavy discussions whether are not we should implement intelligent design in school. Let me say that again, INTELLIGENT DESIGN AT SCHOOL.
Promoting intelligent design is just like promoting negationism: it's based on ignorance.

Originally Posted by jimbob01000

science is fact , religion is opinion

Correct. But 90% of people don't really get that. For them, religion is a tool to ignore some scientific facts. They use religion in order to not change their opinions about universe, evolution...
And religious leaders don't get it either. Imams say that all scientific facts are in the Koran: anything that's not in the Koran is a lie.
And Christians have opposed many scientific facts...

**HorseArcher** · December 21, 2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by jimbob01000

europes christian - we still believe in evolution

no it isnt - science is fact , religion is opinion

yes because the republicans have done such a great job at ruling...

nope the y screw that up as well

**danzig** · October 30, 2005, 11:30 AM

Perfect example why public education system needs to be dismantled, lower level schools should have to compete for students so they actually put effort into teaching kids and not simply baby sitting them. Need stricter requirements for teachers, for schools etc and we need school choice. I spent 2 years in public school system here in NYC before going back to private, looking back now the difference is an outright disgrace. The system is broken, too many political activist with their hand in the cookie jar whether its ID people or various politically correct groups...it took a massive fight here in NYC for our mayor to sieze control of public school system and its going to take forever to fix the damage done. So much focus on nonsense crap while important subjects like math and science are ignored so someone can get their gay tolerance education program included in the school or removal of a book from a class because it pisses off a Jesus freak.

Everyone wants their art and music class and sports program, all of which is fine and good but shouldnt be the focus of the school. Kids who are intelligent get stuck in a school that doesnt challenge them so they sit there bored along side of kids who are undisciplined and since you have to teach to the lowest level of the class it seems you have bright students basically wasting away unless their parents can afford a private school. Meanwhlle you have the bulk of average students caught who are bright but need to be taught well and the teacher cant do that either because 1) the teacher is a complete moron who wouldnt be qualified to teach a rat to run a maze 2) the teacher is too busy babysitting the kids who have crappy parents or 3) the teacher is told he/she has to focus on teaching that just because little Susie has two mommies doesnt make her different and that an invisible man created humans.

well thats what you get for putting a comletely incompetent leader in charge he only wanted more money in his friends pockets and to finish what his dad started and yet neither did what was needed.

With a comment like that you must be a product of NYC public school system....the problem schools face have existed long before GWB was president and has little to do with who is in the white house.

f our education sucks so bad, why are so many foreigners coming to the United States for education? Granted our K-12 system sucks badly and our lower level education system produces poor test results, but at the higher levels we attract many students from all over the world.

You answered it yourself, our university/college level education isnt the problem its the lower level schools. The question should be why arent we producing more of our own young people to take advantage of this. Lower education system is the key, our kids simply arent being taught right

**JP226** · October 30, 2005, 11:17 AM

yea, let's scrap educational liberities and it's George bush's fault...

**Peachy Carnehan** · October 30, 2005, 11:23 AM

Hmm...

Scientist: Science can only explain by natural laws.

Dissenter: Hm. Well, I disagree.

Scientist: That’s because you’re a total idiot.

Dissenter: Oops -- forgot about that. How silly of me. Now I agree with you.

**Empyrean** · October 30, 2005, 11:27 AM

What do you think?

I think you're missing something pretty important:

Scientists bemoan the lack of qualified U.S. candidates for postgraduate and doctoral studies at American universities and currently fill around a third of available science and engineering slots with foreign students.

If our education sucks so bad, why are so many foreigners coming to the United States for education? Granted our K-12 system sucks badly and our lower level education system produces poor test results, but at the higher levels we attract many students from all over the world. The ratio of foreign to domestic "slots" means nothing at all, because that is ratio of foreign students to domestic ones, rather than some absolute measurement of postgraduate attendance by Americans.

If we had 100% of our slots filled with domestic students, it would likely mean two things. First, that nobody from outside the country thought our schools were worth attending. Second, that there are probably not enough "slots" to handle the demand. Neither of those happen to be the case in the United States. If you want a better measurement of how educated the US population is, look at it in absolute terms (average level of education per person) rather than looking at 15 year olds or comparing the ratio of seats with foreign asses in them to seats with American ones.

**Mack Daddy** · October 30, 2005, 11:30 AM

I admit i dislike bush, but how is it his fault that more than 50% of Americans believe in Creationism?

**Rowan11088** · October 30, 2005, 11:37 AM

I won't address the entire topic here, but be aware that CBS polls are often "call-in" type polls, which produce VERY skewed results, namely that creationists would be much more likely to call in and voice their opinion. No one calls in to say "eh..." to a news poll, only people who really care about an issue do.

**Templedog** · October 30, 2005, 11:49 AM

it is the republican party teaming up with the religious right.... and the old fashion way of spreading the "word"

**SovietDoom** · October 30, 2005, 11:53 AM

We should revamp our education system to be more like the French system.

**Lee1026** · October 30, 2005, 12:04 PM

How many times do we have to tell you this is a christian nation. As such is it surpising most of us think we were created by god? Also most of us think evolution is gods way of doing things. We dont say its rubbish but think the two support eachother.

George Washington disagree with you:

The government of the United States is in no sense founded on the Christian religion.

direct quote.

For additional proof that this is not a Christian nation, read the bill of rights.

**Drexxus Maximus** · October 30, 2005, 12:22 PM

Christians like to think it's a christian nation but it's not and never has been. It's getting to the point where I'm embarrassed to be an American, the whole world is laughing at us because of ignorant religious BS like this. We as a country ARE going back in time with this kind of crap. If even 20% said they believed in creationism it would scare the hell outta me. Why is the idea of teaching creationism in school even being entertained?! Are we really that stupid?Cant people see how slimy they are getting with this? Now they just change the name to "Intelligent Design" because they decided the word "creationism" just wasnt working for them. It should be laughed at and disregarded as lunacy, but alas it seems the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

I call shenanigans!!!

**RZZZA** · October 30, 2005, 12:36 PM

Last I heard, something like 46% of the people polled in the U.S. said they didn't believe in evolution. America is a VERY stupid country and I believe we ARE regressing back even further. However, America has always had and will continue to have an elite group of people who like to call our "smart ones"...the scientists who dreamed up the manhattan project...the doctors who cured polio...America has a huge gap between the dumbest people and the smartest people and to this day I believe we have some of the best and most numerous "smart people", like the donald trumps and the bill gates. However I think the so called "red states" and the so called "South" should be re-examined because I think it contributes a lot to the countries ignorance as a whole. The entire bible belt for example needs to be re-educated. I'm not a nazi and usually I'm not much for book burning but I feel if every person in this country collectively threw their bibles in a big bonfire and forget about it, we would be a better country for it.