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Religion
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Title: Americans believe in God -- and hell, UFOs, witches, astrology: poll (and miracles - we could use one)
Source: Raw Story
URL Source: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Americ ... n_God_and_hell_U_12042007.html
Published: Dec 4, 2007
Author: AFP
Post Date: 2007-12-04 17:15:46 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 2582
Comments: 110

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God and signicant numbers also think that UFOs, the devil and ghosts exist, a poll showed Tuesday.

The survey by Harris Online showed that 82 percent of adult Americans believe in God and a slightly smaller percentage -- 79 percent -- believe in miracles.

More than 70 percent of the 2,455 adults surveyed between November 7 and 13 said they believe in heaven and angels, while more than six in 10 said they believed in hell and the devil.

Almost equal numbers said they believe in Darwin's theory of evolution (42 percent) -- the belief that populations evolve over time through natural selection -- and creationism (39 percent) -- the theory that God created mankind.

Seventy percent of Americans said they were very (21 percent) or somewhat (49 percent) religious, while around one-third of those polled also said they believe in UFOs, witches and astrology.

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The predilection toward belief in nonsense owes a great deal to both government schools and the church. Neither (especially the church) encourages critical thinking and analysis.

Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.

Alan Chapman  posted on  2007-12-04   17:33:02 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  

Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.

And yet, when CSICOP was presented with statistically significant evidence of astrology, they refused to acknowledge it and half the board members quit in a huff.

Skeptics are just a different type of fanatic.

Indrid Cold  posted on  2007-12-04   17:55:12 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  

Skeptics count the misses in addition to the hits. They don't count only the hits, discard the misses, and then conclude that the hits constitute compelling evidence. Skeptics use double-blind tests to validate claims.

Confusing correlation with causation is a common mistake. For example, take the claim that "strange behavior" takes place during a full moon. It certainly does, but it also takes place when there is no full moon. BTW, there is no statistical evidence than more strange behavior takes place during a full moon. People simply tend to notice it more because they expect to see it.

Statistically significant evidence of astrology? Let's see it.

Alan Chapman  posted on  2007-12-04   18:52:46 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  

BTW, there is no statistical evidence than more strange behavior takes place during a full moon.

My mother worked in an ER for 20 years. I once asked her and a nurse there if there was any difference in patients during a full moon. Both said yes, the nuts came out.

BTW, the most humorless fanatics I have never met in my life are people who believe in evolution.

YertleTurtle  posted on  2007-12-04   21:16:01 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  

My mother worked in an ER for 20 years. I once asked her and a nurse there if there was any difference in patients during a full moon. Both said yes, the nuts came out.

Are you sure they weren't simply repeating what they've heard others say, or maybe perpetuating an urban legend, or were they speaking from personal observation? Also, did they take an accounting of odd behavior on nights when there wasn't a full moon or did they only seem to notice when there was a full moon?

...the most humorless fanatics I have never met in my life are people who believe in evolution.

That's perfectly understandable. A child observing a conversation between adults might make the same observation.

Alan Chapman  posted on  2007-12-04   23:39:35 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  

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