Poll: Can You Believe in Darwin and God?

By William Wan

As part of the celebration of Charles Darwin's bicentenary, the British Council has released a new survey with interesting results about people's dual beliefs in Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and God.

The poll sampled more than ten thousand adults across 10 countries and asked whether people could believe in both God and Darwin's theories. In all 10 countries, more people agreed than disagreed with the statement: "It is possible to believe in a God and still hold the view that life on Earth, including human life, evolved over time as a result of natural selection". Adults in India had highest levels of agreement (85%), followed by Mexico (65%), Argentina (62%), South Africa (54%), Great Britain (54%), Russia (54%) and the U.S. (53%).

People were also asked whether they agreed with the statement that life on Earth, including human life, was created by a God and has always existed in its current form. Results? People in the U.S., South Africa and in India were most likely to agree (all at 43%).

Belief that life on Earth, including human life, evolved over time as a result of natural selection in which no God played a part was held by 67% of adults in China, 42% in Mexico, 37% in Argentina, 38% in Great Britain and Spain, and 32% in Russia. Fifty percent of adults in Egypt believed that life on Earth, including human life, evolved over time in a process guided by a God.

In several countries, the majority of adults surveyed have heard of Charles Darwin and know at least a little about his theory of evolution with the highest levels in Great Britain (71%), the U.S. (71%), Mexico (68%), Argentina (65%), China (54%) and Russia (53%). Meanwhile, 62 percent surveyed in Egypt and 73 percent in South Africa said they had never heard of Charles Darwin or his theory of evolution. Overall, the majority (70%) of adults across the 10 countries have at least heard of the British naturalist.

Read the full survey results. Crunch the numbers and see what interesting conclusions can be drawn. Or read the full press release from the council.

By William Wan  |  July 2, 2009; 9:17 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government
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