Why do so many Americans deny evolution?
Friday, July 13, 2012 8:52 AM
In connection with the forthcoming launch of Evolution's Purpose, I'm working on a variety of articles that connect with contemporary issues. Here's a synopsis of the first one:
According to a recent Gallup Poll, 61% of Americans say they
don’t believe in evolution. Yet I suspect there is more to
this than simply evangelicalism or
Biblical literalism. A significant number of these respondents are rejecting
the contemporary philosophy of evolution,
more than the science of evolution itself.
For many in our culture, the science of evolution is seen as
inextricably bound up with a mechanistic philosophy that asserts that life and
the universe are purposeless accidents. So If we want to promote public
literacy in science, we need to better recognize the ways in which science is
used frequently and illegitimately as a weapon against spirituality.
Discarding superstition and mythic beliefs is certainly an
important part of our maturation as a society. But a more nuanced understanding
of these poll numbers reveals that Americans are smarter about evolution than
we may think. That is, Americans know, even if only intuitively, that
scientific materialism is itself a myth and that the facts of evolution
actually point to a spiritual universe of progress and purpose.
Properly understood, science is not at odds with
spirituality, and the numbers show that a large portion of the educated public
is looking for a way to reconcile the two. This reconciliation is found within
the scientific facts themselves, which show how evolution generates increasing
intrinsic value and creativity in its unfolding. Indeed, evolution's underlying
purpose can be felt within each person as the impulse to grow toward
ever-widening realizations of beauty, truth, and goodness.
