quote:
It is also true that the more formal education (of any kind--not just science education) an American has, the less likely it is that they will believe that Creationism is valid.
While statistically speaking this is true, I'm starting to doubt that it is a causitive relationship.
I think this was a topic in another thread somewhere, but I'll repeat something that I have seen happen. A number of well... I mean VERY WELL... educated and highly intelligent scientists I have known, suddenly departed from evolutionary theory to become hardcore creationists.
It is true that their choice was based on emotions rather than facts (only later reading facts according to emotion), but it does suggest that education and intelligence may have little to do with evo-creo positions. After all they remained highly competent and highly paid scientists (one of them unbelievably in agricultural genetics: ie breeding) despite their unhinged approach to origins of speciation.
It seems like maybe degree of intellectual honesty or a lack of emotional attachment to a specific theory, is the true deciding factor where people will come down on the issue. I'd like to think formal education helps start the ball rolling in that direction, but I'm not sure if that momentum ensures anyone from rolling into a gutter.
holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)