Posted on Apr 2, 2007 | by Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Roughly half of Americans reject the theory of evolution and instead believe that God created humans in their present form in the past 10,000 years, according to a new Newsweek poll.

The survey of 1,004 adults, conducted March 28-29, found that 48 percent of Americans believe God made humans "pretty much in the present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so." Another 30 percent believe humans evolved over millions of years, with God guiding the process -- a belief sometimes called theistic evolution. Only 13 percent believe in a God-less evolution.

It is but the latest poll showing that a large number of Americans discount evolution -- despite the fact it is promoted as true within the mainstream media, academia and culture at large.

Among other polls:

-- A Gallup poll of 1,002 adults last May found that 46 percent of Americans believed God created humans in their present form within the past 10,000 years. Thirty-six percent believed in theistic evolution, and 13 percent believed in evolution with God not playing a role.

-- A Harris poll of 1,000 adults in June 2005 found that 64 percent believed "human beings were created directly by God," 22 percent said humans "evolved from earlier species" and 10 percent believed humans "are so complex that they required a powerful force or intelligent being to help create them." In a separate question, only 38 percent said humans "developed from earlier species."

The Newsweek poll also found that 91 percent of Americans profess a belief in God, and only 3 percent describe themselves as an atheist.
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Compiled by Michael Foust