Gallup asks Americans their thoughts on evolution every year. This year 46 percent agree that "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so" -- the same percentage as 2006. In 1993 and 1999 it was 47 percent. When it was first asked in 1982, it was 44 percent.
Another 32 percent of Americans in this year's survey believe in theistic evolution, agreeing that "human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided the process." Another 15 percent believe in evolution and say God played no role.
"Despite the many changes that have taken place in American society and culture over the past 30 years, including new discoveries in biological and social science, there has been virtually no sustained change in Americans' views of the origin of the human species since 1982," Gallup's Frank Newport wrote in an analysis. "The 46 percent of Americans who today believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years is little changed from the 44 percent who believed this 30 years ago, when Gallup first asked the question.
"More broadly," Newport added, "some 78 percent of Americans today believe that God had a hand in the development of humans in some way, just slightly less than the percentage who felt this way 30 years ago. All in all, there is no evidence in this trend of a substantial movement toward a secular viewpoint on human origins."
The 2012 Gallup survey on human origins was conducted May 10-13 among 1,012 adults.
Compiled by Michael Foust, associate editor of Baptist Press. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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