Do "Young Earth Creationists" actually still exist?

[technodad]

I am interested to know if Young Earth Creationists (who believe that the Earth is only 6000 years old and that evolution did not happen) actually still exist, despite the overwhelming scientfic evidence to the contrary?

Seriously!

I'm afraid so. The National Trust is now in league with the Caleb Foundation.

I dislike all this reference to "belief" in evolution. Evolution is not a religion or some kind of belief system.

I don't believe in evolution.

I accept it as the best theory to explain the evidence we have so far. Should another theory be put forward which appears to offer further or better explanation, then I will examine it and possibly accept it. I will not convert

I agree. Maybe the debate shouldn't be framed in terms of "I believe in evolution" but, rather, "I understand evolution".

The problem is, many people don't understand it, or try to understand it!

I disagree Technodad, I think that most people do understand evolution.

I don't have any statistics on it (so I can't prove either way), but I often hear people who think they understand evolution asking questions like: "Will humans use of technology make them evolve, e.g. their use of thumbs because of text messaging". Which shows a complete lack of understanding in how evolution works.

Evolution is not rocket science. Anyone with half a brain could get it.
I think when people say they believe in evolution, it's usually in response to someone else saying they don't believe in it.
As in, sitting at the table in MIL's kitchen with the French student who was staying there for the summer and MIL talking about evolution and asking us "You don't believe in that, do you?" She was offended at the idea of sharing a common ancestor with an ape.
And we both said "Yes, we do believe in it" in the same way as if we would have agreed that we believed in the kitchen table.

Yes, I have some relatives who are creationists, and a work colleague.

I heard Ben Elton (I'm not generally a fan) say something like this: Thinking about childbirth ... if we were created couldn't there be a better way? if we evolved randomly isn't it more amazing?

I agree with technodad, the majority of people around me seem to think that evolution/natural selection (which most of them accept, I only know a few creationists) involves some sort of deliberate breeding in of desired characteristics.

Having said that (and the common misconceptions do annoy me), personally, I accept evolution only because it seems to be accepted by the vast majority of respected scientists. I make no claims to understand it and I've not got a vast amount personally invested in it - if scientists were to turn around and agree on a different explanation I'd probably go with that.

Fink

Regarding your second post - so would I.

"Will humans use of technology make them evolve, e.g. their use of thumbs because of text messaging". - It could ... If humans texted for thousands of years and being good at texting conferred a breeding advantage. Neither being particularly likely.

I hope we won't be limited to 160 chapters in 1000 years!

Chapters!? Blimey Techno, your texts must go on a bit!

"Home education should be made illegal?"

Interesting question and the answer isn't that easy.

There are places where elementary school education (in schools) is mandatory in order to ensure that girls get sent to school as well as boys I can't say that is a bad idea.

I thought education in the UK was compulsory. When you take your child out of school to say you are homeschooling, does anyone check if you are actually schooling him? Do they have to take (and presumably pass) certain tests?

"Thinking about childbirth ... if we were created couldn't there be a better way? if we evolved randomly isn't it more amazing?"

Childbirth as it is was fine back when our heads/brains were smaller. It's getting problematic because we are getting smarter.

I could ask another question: Thinking of how we eat & breathe... if we were created, couldn't there be a better way of adjusting it all without putting windpipe right next to larynx?

How many children die every year because they choke? It doesn't seem to the work of a clever deity.

Can't link, but the Creation Museum in Kentucky has a charming set of exhibits showing cavemen riding on dinosaurs etc. It makes me laugh, but only so I don't cry.

New Scientist found a dinosaur wallchart on sale in the US which had left the dates blank so you could fill it in according to your family's personal belief set .

bloody autocorrect!

techno, remind me not to follow you on Twitter!

just in reference to the posts about childbirth, etc. I can't help feeling that a god could have done something better than periods! And yes, Cote, it's far too easy to choke and surely a clever deity could have made it possible for us to teleport, it would be really handy and save us from polluting the enviornment

But it isn't. Sure, there's a hell of a lot of fabulously complex and intricate processes involved. But there is also a huge amount of bits that are often hugely problematic as a result of our evolutionary path - wisdom teeth (teeth in general, in fact - why only two sets?), spinal problems as a result of us only being upright relatively late, hip problems for much the same reason and so on and so forth.

Kentucky, but still...

enough said!

My DH is not a young-earther, but he is a Creationist. And he's very well educated actually.