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maynardsong September 3 2012, 19:54:07 UTC
The most recent poll showed belief in atheistic evolution was on the rise at 16%, nearly double what it had been in previous years. The poll also found 32% of respondents believe in evolution guided by God.

The last paragraph rubs me the wrong way because it makes it seem like the 32% who believe in evolution guided by God makes it seem like they're OK invoking God in the science classroom. Not true. I believe in a divine being that's had influence on the natural universe. I still want atheist evolution taught in science class. Keep religion out of public schools, etc. Separate means separate. And all that. Being religious doesn't mean you approve on "intelligent design".

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skellington1 September 3 2012, 20:55:16 UTC
Also, 'atheistic evolution' just means "We don't mention god while teaching evolution" -- which is as it should be. It's not like the science teacher is yelling "THERE IS NO GOD!" or something.

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maynardsong September 3 2012, 20:58:47 UTC
Then that reinforces my point that I may or may not have made, that I don't much care for the way that I have a hunch that the original question was worded because I'm pretty sure those 32% who believe in God still want the "atheist" version in the science class.

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skellington1 September 3 2012, 21:00:03 UTC
Sorry, yes -- I was intending to back up your point, not argue. :)

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othellia September 4 2012, 00:33:47 UTC
Pretty much. Most people taking the survey probably didn't know the dictionary definitions of the terms and instead read it as "atheist who believes in evolution" vs "theist who believes in evolution."

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thelilyqueen September 3 2012, 23:20:11 UTC
Ehh... I get what you're saying, but if a divine being had influence on the development of life it's no longer evolution driven by *natural* selection, where mutations happen randomly and can increase or decrease an organism's odds of surviving to successfully reproduce.

Perhaps I'm missing something?

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maynardsong September 3 2012, 23:40:06 UTC
God isn't heavy handed? I don't know. My point is just there are many many religious people who still want religion out of the science classroom. I'm one of them.

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blackjedii September 4 2012, 00:53:50 UTC
...Deism?

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elialshadowpine September 4 2012, 10:01:20 UTC
Teen me envisioned God as this, like, big kid setting up the science kit and standing back wondering "Okay, if I leave this alone and let it do its thing, what will THIS do?!"

>_>

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elialshadowpine September 4 2012, 10:00:33 UTC
Yeah. I was homeschooled (Bill Nye the Science Guy was actually one of the main science "homework" things I was assigned ^_^) and while my folks believe that evolution is the tool which God used to create the world -- religion and science were taught completely separately.

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