Britons losing faith in evolution

Over 50 per cent of Britons do not accept the theory of evolution, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos MORI for the BBC’s Horizon television series.

Moreover, over 40 per cent of those questioned believe that creationism or intelligent design should be taught in science lessons in school.
 
Intelligent design theory claims that certain features of living things are so complex that their existence is better explained by an intelligent creation process rather than natural selection.
 
The 2,000 people surveyed were asked what best described their view of the origin and development of life and 22 per cent chose creationism, 17 per cent selected intelligent design, 48 per cent opted for the evolution theory and the remaining people did not know.
 
The latest Horizon programme, A War on Science, looked into the introduction of intelligent design into US science classes.
 
The editor of Horizon, Andrew Cohen, told the BBC online: “I think that this poll represents our first introduction to the British public's views on this issue.
 
“Most people would have expected the public to go for evolution theory, but it seems there are lots of people who appear to believe in an alternative theory for life's origins.”
 
The survey also showed that 44 per cent thought that creationism should be taught in schools, followed by 41 per cent who thought intelligent design should be included, and 69 per cent still wanted evolution in the curriculum.
 
Participants over 55 were more likely to choose evolution over other groups while those under 25 mostly chose intelligent design.
 
Cohen added: “This really says something about the role of science education in this country and begs us to question how we are teaching evolutionary theory.”
 
This survey follows the high profile US court case that ruled intelligent design shouldn't be taught in classrooms after parents in Pennsylvania took a school board to court for treating evolution as fact in biology classes.

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