Young Earth Creationists often express shock and amazement that fellow Christians might accept evolution and an old earth. It is as if they think theistic evolution is a fringe element of compromising Christians, not mainstream Christianity. Here are some numbers:
Here is a poll of Americans in general (the formatting wouldn't hold, so you will have to match them up):
1. Creationist view 2.Theistic evolution 3. Naturalistic Evolution
Everyone 47% 40% 9%
Men 39% 45% 11.5%
Women 53% 36% 6.6%
College graduates 25% 54% 16.5%
No high school diploma 65% 23% 4.6%
Income over $50,000 29% 50% 17%
Income under $20,000 59% 28% 6.5%
Caucasians 46% 40% 9%
Afro-Americans 53% 41% 4%
In 1999-NOV, Focus on the Family, a Fundamentalist Christian agency, concluded a poll of their web site visitors concerning their beliefs about creation and evolution. Results were:
God created the universe, but I don't know when: 46%
God created the universe thousands of years ago: 43%
God created the universe billions of years ago: 10%
Life came into being and evolved on its own: 1%
I don't have a clue: 0.4%
Now, when you look at this more closely, you will notice that the first category in effect denies that a literal reading of Genesis (genealogies, etc) is absolutely required, since they are open to other possibilities. Basically, less than half of these fundamentalists were committed to a YEC viewpoint. It is unfortunate that they worded the poll so poorly, since it has three options dealing with the age of the earth and one dealing with evolution. Also, even though this was an internet poll, this ministry is mostly US-based.
As for outside the US:
A British survey of 103 Roman Catholic priests, Anglican bishops and Protestant ministers/pastors showed that:
97% do not believe the world was created in six days.
80% do not believe in the existence of Adam and Eve.
Now, someone will say "origins is not a popularity contest" or "the majority is not always right", and I would agree. My point is that here in the US, if you are raised in a YEC teaching household and church, it is easy to come to the conclusion that YEC is the mainstream Christian viewpoint.
Here is a poll of Americans in general (the formatting wouldn't hold, so you will have to match them up):
1. Creationist view 2.Theistic evolution 3. Naturalistic Evolution
Everyone 47% 40% 9%
Men 39% 45% 11.5%
Women 53% 36% 6.6%
College graduates 25% 54% 16.5%
No high school diploma 65% 23% 4.6%
Income over $50,000 29% 50% 17%
Income under $20,000 59% 28% 6.5%
Caucasians 46% 40% 9%
Afro-Americans 53% 41% 4%
In 1999-NOV, Focus on the Family, a Fundamentalist Christian agency, concluded a poll of their web site visitors concerning their beliefs about creation and evolution. Results were:
God created the universe, but I don't know when: 46%
God created the universe thousands of years ago: 43%
God created the universe billions of years ago: 10%
Life came into being and evolved on its own: 1%
I don't have a clue: 0.4%
Now, when you look at this more closely, you will notice that the first category in effect denies that a literal reading of Genesis (genealogies, etc) is absolutely required, since they are open to other possibilities. Basically, less than half of these fundamentalists were committed to a YEC viewpoint. It is unfortunate that they worded the poll so poorly, since it has three options dealing with the age of the earth and one dealing with evolution. Also, even though this was an internet poll, this ministry is mostly US-based.
As for outside the US:
A British survey of 103 Roman Catholic priests, Anglican bishops and Protestant ministers/pastors showed that:
97% do not believe the world was created in six days.
80% do not believe in the existence of Adam and Eve.
Now, someone will say "origins is not a popularity contest" or "the majority is not always right", and I would agree. My point is that here in the US, if you are raised in a YEC teaching household and church, it is easy to come to the conclusion that YEC is the mainstream Christian viewpoint.
