Dana Millbank, writing in the Washington Post, reports on a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center. The poll shows that 48% of Republicans believe that humans were created at the same time as the planet; 43% believe we have evolved, with or without divine assistance. Four years ago 54% said they believed in evolution. This drop in belief in science seems to be a function of the sort of people who now identify themselves as Republicans, rather than an actual increase in the number of Darwinian rejectionists.

It is not the job of this blog to comment on people’s personal beliefs; after all, there may be people out there that believe that followers of Epicurus are dangerous lunatics (and maybe we are).

However, the huge rejection of carefully established scientific fact and the total misunderstanding of the word “theory” points to a severe problem in the educational system. Drive through remote country areas (as I have just done) and the number of churches almost equals the number of houses. Christian colleges sprout everywhere, presumably teaching what the tribe wishes to believe. Were I living in these parts of the country I would be desperate for education and solid information that did not derive from ancient texts written by bronze age man. Anti-Darwinism thrives, along with the belief that scientific data on global warming is a liberal fabrication. What is the future for a country that allows this nonsense?

Epicurus would, were he with us, support more money for actual education, better informed and paid teachers and the restriction of folk tales and guesses about the origin of the universe to the pulpit.