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Poll: Americans that believe in 'Godless evolution' are in the minority

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
June 7th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

According to a Gallup Poll released this week, only 15 percent of Americans say they believe that the human species evolved from a lower form of life - without the hand of a Divine Creator. According to the poll, 78 percent of Americans either believe that man developed over millions of years or was created on the spot, but that it was God who performed it.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Gallup asked 1,024 American adults last month: "Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin and development of human beings: 1) Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process, 2) Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process, 3) God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so?"

Forty-six percent said they believe God created human beings in their current form over the past 10,000 years. Thirty-two percent said human beings develop over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided the process.

It was only 15 percent of those polled who said they believed man developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but not by the hand of God.

Of this 15 percent, these people were found among people who seldom or never go to church and people who attended post-graduate school.

In addition, only 14 percent of American college graduates believe in Godless evolution. Twenty-nine percent of those who attended graduate school believe man evolved without any involvement by God.

Only three percent of Americans who attend church weekly believe in Godless evolution, with only 10 percent of those who attend church almost weekly or monthly. Among those who seldom or never go to church, 26 percent believed in Godless evolution.

Among Americans who attend church regularly, 67 percent believe that God created man pretty much in his present form within approximately the last 10,000 years. Fifty-five percent of Americans who attend church almost every week or monthly share that view.

According to Gallup, Democrats and Independents are more likely to believe in Godless evolution (19 percent of each group do), than Republicans, only 5 percent.

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