Over 40% of the respondents believe that the theory of creation or the theory of intelligent design should be taught in science classes
Just under half of Britons accept the theory of evolution as the best explanation for the development of life. This is according to a public opinion poll conducted there. Moreover, over 40% of the respondents believe that the theory of creation or the theory of intelligent design should be taught in science classes.
The survey was conducted by Ipsos-Murray for the BBC's Horizon series. The program broadcast on Thursday this week (January 26.1.2006, XNUMX) entitled "The War on Science" examined the attempts to introduce the theory of intelligent design into science classes in the USA.
Over two thousand participants took part in the survey, and were asked which Torah describes their view of the origin of life and its development. 22% answered that the Torah that reflects their opinion is the theory of creation, 17% indicated the theory of intelligent design and 48% indicated the theory of evolution. The rest did not know how to answer. The theory of intelligent design is the view that some of the traits in living things are so complex that their existence can be better explained by the involvement of intelligent beings than by natural selection.
Andrew Cohen, editor of Horizon, comments: "I believe that the survey reflects for the first time the view of the British public on these issues.
"Many of us were sure that the public supports the theory of evolution, but it seems that there are still many people who seem to believe in alternative theories for the origin of life," said Cohen.
When given the opportunity to choose as many of the alternative theories as to the origin of life, the choice was: 44% - to include creationism in science lessons, 41% in the theory of intelligent design and 69% stated that the theory of evolution should be taught (also). Participants aged 55 and over were less likely to choose evolution in this question.
"This says something about the role of scientific education in the country and requires us to ask how we teach the theory of evolution" said Cohen.
The findings caused astonishment in the scientific community. Lord Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society said: "It is surprising that many are still skeptical about Darwinian evolution. Darwin presented his theory nearly 150 years ago, and it is now supported by an overwhelming weight of evidence." Rees said, adding that "at least we are luckier than the Americans because there is no sector of religious or cultural life in Britain that is opposed to including evolution in science lessons in schools."
In the US, a federal court recently ruled that the intelligent design movement is motivated by the desire to introduce God into the classroom after parents in Pennsylvania sued the school board that determined that evolution was not taught as a fact in science classes.
For news at the BBC
