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Statistics on Senior Citizens
Senior Citizens Least Likely to Think Man Evolved
Almost half of Americans, most seniors believe
humans did not evolve
 May
5, 2006 – A recent Gallup Poll shows that almost half of Americans
believe that human beings did not evolve, but were created by God in
their present form within the last 10,000 years. The major difference by
age in these beliefs is among senior citizens aged 65 and older, who are
less likely to believe that humans evolved than those who are younger.
The subgroups who support the belief that God
created man "as is" – church goers, less educated, women and Republicans
tend to be heavy demographics for those over age 65, which helps
understand the results of the senior citizen opinion.
These conclusions are based on responses to a
specific Gallup Poll question that provides respondents with three
alternative explanations for 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.
|
|
Man developed,
with God guiding |
Man developed,
but God had no
part in process |
God created
man in
present form |
Other/No
opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
36 |
13 |
46 |
5 |
The most recent poll was conducted May 8-11, and is the seventh time
this question has been asked in this format, going back to 1982. There
has been surprisingly little change over the last 24 years in how
Americans respond to this question.
Detailed Subgroup Analysis
First and foremost, there is a major relationship
between religion and attitudes toward human origins. Almost two-thirds
of Americans who attend church at least once a week believe that humans
were created "as is" within the last 10,000 years or so, compared to
just 29% of those who say they never attend church.
There is a substantial relationship between one's
level of education and responses to this question. About three-quarters
of those with a post-graduate degree say that humans developed over
millions of years from less advanced forms of life, while 22% choose the
"created in present form" option.
Women -- who tend to be significantly more
religious than men -- are also more likely to believe that humans were
created in their present form and did not evolve. While 57% of men think
man developed from other life, only 44% of women agree.
Republicans attend church more frequently than
Democrats and independents, so it is not surprising to find that
Republicans are much more likely than these other two political groups
to believe than humans were created as is and did not evolve over time.
Those saying man evolved were Republicans – 41%, Independents – 58% and
Democrats – 52%.
To read the complete analysis –
click here.
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