Opinion: Darwin and unnatural disbelief

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An international poll comes along showing that although Americans are fairly knowledgeable about Charles Darwin, they don’t hold much truck with this whole theory-of-evolution business.

Some 71% of Americans know of Darwin and at least a little about his theory of natural selection, a number right up there with Great Britain, according to the poll of 10 countries conducted by the British Council, which describes itself as ‘the UK’s international body for cultural relations.’ And if 71% seems sort of low, compare it with South Africa, where 73% had never even heard of Darwin.

But knowing isn’t necessarily loving. Among those who are familiar with the author of ‘On the Origin of Species,’ only 41% of Americans agreed with the statement that ‘Enough scientific evidence exists to support Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.’ Where were the believers in evolution most likely to live? India, with 77%. And we wonder why that country is renowned for its good education, especially in the sciences--and why this country historically tests in the mediocre realm.