What can we do to fight the ignorance so many have regarding science, especially EVOLUTION?

Question

It is almost embarrassing everytime I read a question or answer that shows a complete lack of knowledge in evolution. For instance:

1. Thinking evolution clashes with faith of a God (usually from Fundamentalists who think the Bible was meant to be interpreted literally)

2. Thinking evolution implies progress

3. Thinking evolution has stopped

4. Not understanding the meaning of deep time

5. Giving credit to pseudotheories that "deserve equal footing," when they have no base in evidence and have nothing to do with science

6. Discrediting evolution because the current theory is not perfect. This is science... with more evidence and time we will continue to modify it.

Why is there so much ignorance? How can we begin to end it?

Answer 1

Don't forget that they think evolution is directional, meaning the newer species is the better species and thinking man is not an animal and is better.

I think all we can do is provide info when appropriate and try to get people to get a better education.

Anyway, we should just be proud of the fact that we have a good education and enjoy learning new things and testing new concepts.

Answer 2

My biggest irritation seems to be at those that support evolution because it seems to me they do so in a very ineffective way usually.  I don't believe the theory of evolution is an imperfect theory.  The understanding is imperfect and with some it is downright pathetic.  Some (most) people seem to be stuck in the middle ages and don't really understand the most basic principles of evolution.  I think much of the ignorance is on purpose.  They put their fingers in their ears and humm Amazing Grace.

Answer 3

Most people that debate this issue - proof of creation vs. proof of evolution - TOTALLY ignore the fact that the Biblical record says that the world was destroyed by a world-wide flood. So the question then becomes, did the flood happen?  

You can't prove creation using the fossil record.  You can't prove evolution that way either.  There is a ton of proof of a world-wide flood however:  wooly mammoth fossils found in the polar ice cap with green vegetation still in their mouths, human footprints found in the same layer of bedrock as dinosaur footprints in Glenrose TX,  the Grand Canyon could not have been carved from the Colorado River because it's spring head is at the bottom of the canyon (it also has dinosaur fossils in the embankments), not to mention the actual discovery of the Ark on Mt. Ararat in Turkey (BTW, Ararat means "village of 8" - there were 8 people on the ark), in 275 BC Borosis (a Babylonian historian) spoke of eyewitness accounts of the ark, the list goes on and on and on.

So if there was a flood, and the Biblical account is accurate, then how can you throw the rest of it out?  How do you decide which parts to throw out vs. keep?  The Bible says that in the "end times" people will be "willingly ignorant" of the flood (2 Peter 3).  THIS is why there's so much ignorance.

There is also proof of creation outside the fossil record.  Here are just a few points to ponder...The big bang espouses that a spinning mass exploded and created the heavenly bodies.  BUT, a key law of physics (the conservation of angular momentum) states that when a spinning body breaks apart, the pieces spin in the same direction.  Our sun rotates clockwise, the planets orbit the sun counter-clockwise, 6 planets rotate one way and the others rotate the other way, there are 34 known moons in our solar system - 23 spin clockwise and 11 spin counterclockwise.  How do you explain all that if the creation account is not true?  

The second law of thermodynamics - entropy - everything tends toward disorder - is in direct contrast to the concept of evolution.

The sun is shrinking at a rate of five feet per hour.  Why hasn't it gone away if our universe is billions of years old?

NASA built the Apollo spacecraft landing pads based on an estimated 5 billion years of dust accumulation (the dust accumulates at a rate of 1 inch per 10,000 years).  When they landed, they discovered 3/4" of dust.  

The oldest reef is the Great Barrier Reef.  It grows an estimated 6/10 of an inch every year.  It's estimated to be 4200 years old.  

Niagra falls moves 5 feet a year.  Why is is still in the same place (roughly) if the earth is so old?

Feeling "willingly ignorant"?  What proof do you have, my friend?

I ask again, what proof do you have?  You can easily speak in generalites, but good luck disproving anything I listed above.  Give me some specifics... what have I listed that's inaccurate?  Can't do it - willingly ignorant.

khard you still haven't answered my question.  What have I said here that's inaccurate?  Any one else want to dispute my facts?  Do you know why you believe in evolution?  Are you just believing what someone else has told you to believe?  Do you just believe it because it's easier and you don't have to be accountable to your creator?  I haven't always believed the way I do.  Only after lots of study and critical thinking - a skill that we are obviously lacking in this thread - did I change my mind about evolution.  It's easy to cut and paste a few links in and speak in generalities, but I haven't read anything in the thread that's a convincing argument for evolution.  If you can't tell me why you believe what you believe, why should I listen to you?  If you're really so concerned about evolution vs. creation and you're so sure you're right, you must have reasons.  If you've really looked at the issue and done your own research, it seems as if you'd be able to identify the tipping point in your own quest for the truth.  Maybe the ignorance around you is coming from within??

Answer 4

you ignore the ignorant people

creationism is a PR stunt.

Creatinist are people who could not succeed in either religion or science,  so they start talking about wild theories just to get attention they crave.

And you give them attention.

Creationism is basically in the same league with conspiracy theories and holocaust denial. So just let it be.

Answer 5

It's too bad that science doesn't back up evolution.  With all the false facts brought about to try to prove the theory of evolution.  Not even the big bang theory of the universe proves evolution, there still had to be an energy source.  Ignorance comes from being closed minded, and thinking that only your way is the true way.

Answer 6

Ignorance you say? It seems to me that the ignoring of facts is on the evolutionists side not the creationist.

The bottom line here is that if there is a God - then we have someone to answer to. If I am wrong then I have wasted a lifetime. If you are right - then you have wasted an eternity.

Answer 7

People learn only when they are motivated to learn.  You've heard that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.  Parents and teachers well know that we cannot cram knowledge and understanding down the throats of resistant kids.  People have to want it.  So what would motivate someone to want to understand a concept like evolution?  If you can answer that, you'll have a better chance of finding a hearing ear and an open mind.  Until then, just like parents and teachers, you be patient and try not to strangle anyone.  If you find another way, would you please come back and post it because so many people would like to know this too.

Answer 8

Number 3. Thinking evolution has stopped. I think this is social science confusion, here, but it may be the misunderstanding of evolutionary theory in general by the left. Many, for ideological reasons, do not want to deal with the implications of evolutionary theory; that we are evolved animals. These people are more dangerous than any fundie, as they are entrenched in academia and give rise to many who in an evolutionarily uninformed fashion set public policy. I think the fundies will burn themselves out, but the post- modern and humanities scholars, plus those in social science who remain uninformed of evolutionary implications are much more dangerous to science.

Answer 9

Stop talking, that may keep us quite. Huum, ya ever think if as much time, money,and resources were devoted to Creation science as there is for evolution  that maybe there would be way more overwhelming evidence for God. Don't think so highly of yourself, it makes you sound almost as smart as your grandpa (the monkey).

Answer 10

Its very difficult to reeducate somebody that was teach wrongly... You know you can impress a mind lacking educations, but it is much more difficult to impress a mind that has already seen wrong concepts, as the world they have built use all those wronged conceptions... In other words, they are living in an illusory perception that what they know is right, because it looks like working from their point of views...

When you get good education, you can agree to revised some previous informations, because you know that science evolves over time... But those, don't even know what is real sciences...

I called those peoples improvised prophets...

Answer 11

Like others have said, you ignore the ignorant people and let them believe what they want. In the past, I've tried to teach people about evolution and the evidence behind it; it just ends up being a waste of my time. Humans tend to be creatures of habit and will continue to believe what is ingrained in their mind. Also, you have to remember that not everyone is of the same caliber of intelligence. Therefore, if someone doesn't understand something they tend to take the simpler route such as "It's because God made it that way."  More evidence is found everyday that supports evolution and with evolution being taught at a younger age in science classes, it's just a matter of time before people wake up and realize that the fictional bible stories are nothing more than an escape from the reality that surrounds us. In the end, it all comes down to education and supporting/encouraging child education.

Answer 12

I have a solution.  We make everyone sign a paper saying they accept evolution before they receive treatments.  Medical treatments, like vaccines and treatment for TB are based on evolution.  So we only let those who accept it have those treatments.  After all, if you don't accept evolution, you don't accept the basis of those treatments, right?  That should provide an unnatural evolution in which stupid people die off easier.

Answer 13

All you can do is be patient, continue to explain the facts of science, explain theory, testing and how it works.  You will never be able to convince everyone, but by providing intelligent and well thought out answers to questions, you can hope to educate some.