Expert Opinion on Evolution et al

[arahant]

This has been troubling me for awhile. I accept that many, maybe most, Americans don't believe in evolution. But what i don't know is, do they understand that there is a scientific consensus on the issue, based on observations of the external world, and simply reject it? (perhaps based on arguments of 'group-think' or indoctrination). Or is the general belief that the question is disputed in scientific circles?

Unfortunately, i seem to have immersed myself in a cloistered world of evolutionists, so i can't poll personally, but perhaps i can find enough creationists/ID'ers/whatever here to satisfy my curiousity...

For the purposes of this poll, let me define 'scientific consensus' as '95% of graduate-level educated scientists in the field agree' where 'field' can be loosely interpreted here as 'Biology'

[hmkpoker]

This forum is very evolution-leaning, fyi

[Nielsio]

Ofcourse they don't know anything about scientific consensus or anything remotely relating to the mechanism.

People are traumatized through religion and educated stupid through the government.

If this about evolution already troubles you, you're in for a world of hurt (quite literally).

Check my blog for example.

[CaseS87]

its really quite incredible to me that people are treating evolution as some kind of controversy.

[FortunaMaximus]

It's not Darwinism as much as we're debating whether there's a blend of pure Darwinism, abiogenesis, and ID at work here.

But, yes, any kind of evolution is a given in a biosphere. Increases in life spans are a kind of evolution, for instance.

I believe in it, I just don't believe it's moving fast enough.

[Lestat]

I think the problem is with the gap in the fossil records (the Cambriage explosion). That and no one has ever observed a new species evolve.

I also believe it is mostly Christian fundamentalists who do not accept evolution. I can't imagine anyone who is not bogged down by religious dogma rejecting evolution in it's entirety. It's just unthinkable.

Although I will say it's not an easy subject. I certainly don't claim to have anywhere near a full grasp of it. But I do trust the scientific community. And on here, I go to Borodog.

[alphatmw]

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I think the problem is with the gap in the fossil records (the Cambriage explosion). That and no one has ever lived for millions of consecutive years staring at a population of rabbits.

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[Nielsio]

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I think the problem is with the gap in the fossil records (the Cambriage explosion). That and no one has ever observed a new species evolve.

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Define species.

[NotReady]

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I accept that many, maybe most, Americans don't believe in evolution.


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You should give a precise definition of evolution.

[FortunaMaximus]

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I think the problem is with the gap in the fossil records (the Cambriage explosion). That and no one has ever lived for millions of consecutive years staring at a population of rabbits.

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Wouldn't they eat the whole baryonic universe then...

Ah, well, tail in cotton sweaters.