Acceptance of evolution

{{evolution}}
'''Acceptance of evolution''', of course, refers to the number of people, or the type of people who accept that the diversity of [[life]] can be explained by [[evolution]] by [[natural selection]]. Some people sometimes say that they "believe" in evolution, but generally this isn't the right word; belief implies [[faith]], which implies a lack of [[evidence]]. And despite what [[creationist]]s claim, there is ''plenty'' of evidence for evolution. Thus, it would be better to say that one "accepts evolution as [[fact]]."

==Damned lies and statistics==
While trying to get a handle on the demographics of [[Religion|religious]] [[belief]] can be difficult (people who declare themselves "[[spiritual but not religious]]", because they think it's more open minded than "[[atheist]]", confuse the matter seriously), it's easier to get an idea on how many people accept the [[science]] of evolution. Acceptance of evolution is notably interesting because such "controversies" don't exist with other [[Theory|theories]] and observations made by science, such as [[relativity]] or [[gravity]]. Although there are some people out there who are so detached from reality as to deny the [[Heliocentrism|location of the Sun]], and [[9-11 conspiracy theories|recent]] and [[Holocaust denial|not-so-recent recent historical events]].

Some random facts about the acceptance of evolution:

#"[A]dults with some understanding of [[genetics]] are more likely to have a positive attitude toward evolution."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170505152634/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds] ''National Geographic News'' 10 August 2006 (Archived from the original on 5 May 2017)</ref>
#97.3% of [[Biology|Biological Sciences]] department heads accept there is no scientific [[Origins debate|controversy over evolution]].<ref>[https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/turn-out-the-lights-the-teach-the-controversy-partys-over/ Turn out the lights, the “Teach the controversy” party’s over] ''Skeptical Inquirer'' 25 February 2006</ref>
#Only 700 out of 480,000 earth and life scientists (0.14%) subscribe to [[Biblical literalism|literal biblical]] [[creationism]].<ref>"Keeping God Out of the Classroom", ''Newsweek'', June 29, 17, pp. 23.</ref>
#Acceptance of evolution tends to increase with level of education.<ref>[https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/1811/23026/1/V084N5_218 University Student Understanding of Evolutionary Biology's Place in the Creation/Evolution Theory] ''The Ohio Journal of Science'' v84, n5 (December, 1984), 218-228</ref><ref name="Praise">[https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2009/07/09/section-5-evolution-climate-change-and-other-issues/ Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media - Section 5: Evolution, Climate Change and Other Issues] ''Pew Research Center'' 9 July 2009</ref>
#It's not limited to the non-religious, see [[Theistic evolution]]. Over 14,000 [[United States|U.S.]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Clergy Letter Project|clergy accept evolution]].<ref>[https://www.theclergyletterproject.org/ The Clergy Letter Project]</ref>
#The first known case of science-based evolution acceptance dates back to [[Charles Darwin]]'s explication of natural selection in 1837.<ref>Herbert, S. ed. 10. [http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=text&itemID=F1583e&pageseq=1 The red notebook of Charles Darwin.] ''Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)'' Historical Series 7 (24 April): 1-164.</ref>
#According to the Pew Research Center, about 62% of Americans accept the theory of evolution while 34% of Americans deny the theory of evolution.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/10/darwin-day/ For Darwin Day, 6 facts about the evolution debate] ''Pew Research Center'' 11 February 2019</ref><ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/12/30/publics-views-on-human-evolution/ Public’s Views on Human Evolution] ''Pew Research Center'' 30 December 2013</ref>
#About 97% of American scientists accept the theory of evolution and only 2% deny the theory of evolution.<ref name="Praise"/>
#The religion [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] has the lowest percentage of acceptance of evolution of any other religion in America; merely 8% in 2009 and 20% in 2016 accept evolution according to the Pew Research Center.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2009/02/04/religious-differences-on-the-question-of-evolution/ Religious Differences on the Question of Evolution] ''Pew Research Center'' 4 February 2009</ref>
#According to the Gallup survey in 2017, 38% of Americans now accept [[creationism]] and more than 50% now accept the theory of evolution.<ref>[http://news.gallup.com/poll/210956/belief-creationist-view-humans-new-low.aspx In U.S., Belief in Creationist View of Humans at New Low] ''Gallup'' 22 May 2017</ref>
#The theory of evolution is a 'hard sell' in schools in [[Israel]]. More than half of Israeli [[Jews]] accept the theory of evolution while more than 40% deny evolution.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2016/03/08/education-values-and-science/pf_2016-03-08_israel-08-03 About half of Israeli Jews believe in evolution] ''Pew Research Center'' 3 March 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/evolution-a-hard-sell-among-israeli-jews-pew-study-finds/ Evolution a hard sell among Israeli Jews, Pew study finds] ''The Times of Israel'' 8 March 2016</ref>
#According to the poll that is taken in Eastern Europe by the Pew Research Center, [[Czechia]] has the highest acceptance of evolution (83%), and [[Armenia]] has the lowest acceptance of evolution, where only 34% accept evolution and 56% deny it.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/science-and-religion/ Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe - 6. Science and religion] ''Pew Research Center'' 10 May 2017</ref>
#According to the poll that is taken in Latin America by the Pew Research Center, [[Uruguay]] has the highest acceptance of evolution (74%), and the Dominican Republic has the lowest acceptance of evolution, where only 41% accept evolution and 56% deny evolution.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/chapter-8-religion-and-science/ Religion in Latin America - Chapter 8: Religion and Science] ''Pew Research Center'' 13 November 2014</ref>
#Acceptance of evolution varies per state in America. [[Vermont]] has the highest acceptance of evolution (79%) and [[Mississippi]] has the lowest acceptance of evolution, where only 43% accept evolution and 53% percent deny it.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/compare/views-about-human-evolution/by/state/ Views about human evolution by state] ''Pew Research Center'' 2014</ref>
#According to the poll that is taken in Muslim Countries by the Pew Research Center, [[Kazakhstan]] has the highest acceptance of evolution of all Islamic countries (79%), and [[Afghanistan]] has the lowest acceptance of evolution, where only 26% accept evolution and 62% deny it.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-science-and-popular-culture/ The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society - Chapter 7: Religion, Science and Popular Culture] ''Pew Research Center'' 30 April 2013</ref>
Basically, anyone who has ''really'' looked at the evidence for evolution, including the [[fossil record]] and [[DNA]], is likely to disbelieve any religious tradition regarding the origin of [[species]] and life. People who are [[Homeschooling|indoctrinated early in life]] and kept away from scientific knowledge are less likely to accept evolution. Go figure.

==See also==
*[[Clergy Letter Project]]
*[[Common descent]]
*[[Open mind]]
*[[Pithecophobia]]
*[[Richard Dawkins]]
*[[Scientific theory]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[category:Evolution]]


{{Evonav}}
{{keyword|evokey= Acceptance}}

Categories: Evolution