Are Scientists Really Split on Evolution? By Austin Fischer

Last updated on: June 2, 2015 at 12:02 am by Scot McKnight

Are Scientists Really Split on Evolution? By Austin Fischer 2015-05-28T11:23:59-05:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Evangelicals, Scientists, and the “Evolution Split” (by Austin Fischer)

As a pastor in the heart of the evangelical south, few topics are more difficult and divisive to address than those surrounding evolution. Those of us committed to the idea that there is no fundamental conflict between honest faith and honest science (and how could there be?) finds ourselves tiptoeing through a minefield, staying faithful to Scripture while interacting with a rapidly changing world. And of course the only thing more difficult than tiptoeing through the minefield is leading a whole community of people through the minefield with you.

In my tiptoeing, I’ve come to a realization that might be helpful for others doing their own.

In the minds of many of our people, scientists are, more or less, split over the theory of evolution (by which I mean the general theory that humans have evolved over time and didn’t instantly appear as is 6000 or so years ago). They probably couldn’t assign any percentages to what they think the split is and probably haven’t thought about it that much. Rather, they vaguely perceive that some scientists believe in evolution and some don’t.

There are numerous reasons for that perception, but I won’t examine them here except to note that a benefit of thinking that way is you feel you don’t really have to take evolution seriously because “lots” of scientists don’t.

What I want to briefly focus on is the reality of the situation in regards to what scientists think about evolution. Surveys on such things are notoriously difficult because there is so much nuance surveys simply cannot take into account. For example, which scientists do we survey? All scientists? Do we survey meteorologists? If so, why? That’s not their field and so surveying them in regards to evolution is about as helpful (maybe less) as surveying a Hebrew scholar as to his beliefs on modern ecclesiology.[1]

But setting that aside, most surveys I have seen—no matter which scientists are polled and what the exact question is—put the percentage of scientists who affirm evolution hovering around 90 to 99%. [For example, there was a poll in 1987 in which only 700 out of 480,000 US earth and life scientists gave credence to rejection of evolution.[2] Or there was a 1991 Gallup poll in which 5% of US scientists affirmed creationism.[3] A 2009 Pew poll found that 97% of scientists believe humans evolved over time.[4] The recent Pew poll has 98% of AAAS scientists affirming humans evolved over time.[5]]

But here’s where it gets interesting. According to a recent Pew survey, only about 65% of the general US public understands that.[6] In other words, around 30% of the public thinks scientists are “split” over evolution. There is a popular misconception that scientists are split over evolution. I could not find a place where the survey examined this constituency, but I would venture that a high percentage of these people are evangelical.

This raises a difficult ethical dilemma.

Suspending all judgment on what we should think about evolution, how should we (pastors) handle the widespread misconception among our people that scientists are split on evolution? What is our responsibility? What serves our people best? Do we continue to let them hold to the misconception (or maybe even encourage it) if we feel it bolsters our position? I see that happening a lot.

I can’t help but feel that no matter where we fall on evolution, we are doing a great disservice to our people when we perpetuate the myth that scientists are split on evolution. We are building a house of cards. Scientists are not split on evolution. You can massage the numbers all you want but you can never in good conscience call it a split.

Where do we go from there?

These are delicate matters and much can hang in the balance. But Jesus said he was the truth and so I don’t think perpetuating well-intentioned urban myths in the name of faith is a viable strategy. If you want to go the route of radical scientific skepticism and suggest a conspiracy among scientists to subvert religion with evolution, that’s fine (I’ve heard crazier). If you must, call scientists conspirators and enemies of the faith.

But don’t say they’re split on evolution.

[1] And on this point, most surveys show that support for evolution is higher among those who specialize in fields that would make them “experts” on the issue.

[2] Martz, Larry; McDaniel, Ann (1987). “Keeping God Out of Class (Washington and bureau reports)”. Newsweek (Newsweek Inc.) CIX (26): 22–23.

[3] http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm

[4] http://www.people-press.org/2009/07/09/section-5-evolution-climate-change-and-other-issues/

[5] http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/chapter-3-attitudes-and-beliefs-on-science-and-technology-topics/

[6] http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 1, 2015

Pope Francis: I have a question for you.

Next Post

June 2, 2015 Not Paradise Lost, But Paradise Ungained (RJS)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the Bible (Protestant version)?

Select your answer to see how you score.

12 40 66 73