No Referendum on Truth

(4 Minute Read. 22Sep2021)

A recent Science Daily report on a University of Michigan study proclaims, “Evolution now accepted by majority of Americans.”

“Public acceptance of evolution in the United States, 1985–2020”
was published in the journal
Public Understanding of Science on
August 16, 2021. The study authors examined a series of national public opinion surveys over a period of 35 years.

They concluded, “Public acceptance of evolution in the United States is now solidly above the halfway mark.” This conclusion was based on recent surveys reporting 54% of Americans now agree with this statement:
Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals.

I disagree with the characterization “solidly above the halfway mark.” In my opinion, “slightly above” would be more precise, and even that may not be accurate. It has been shown that some respondents to polls and surveys do not report their true beliefs, but instead give responses influenced by social pressure and political correctness.

It’s interesting that there is a political divide on the issue. As of 2019 only 34% of conservative Republicans accepted evolution while 83% of liberal Democrats did so. In other words, according to the latest surveys, 66% of conservative Republicans and 17% of liberal Democrats reject evolution.

Truth

Whether the theory of evolution is true or false is completely independent of whether a majority of people believe it or not. Truth is not determined by a majority vote. It is not even indicated by popular opinion. The history of science and humanity is full of errors of thinking and belief by the majority. Truth is independent of human opinion.

When Jesus was approaching His crucifixion, carrying out the Great Creator‘s magnificent plan to redeem mankind, a survey of even His closest followers would have shown no confidence in Christ’s mission and Messianic Kingship. He was the Way and the Truth (John 14:6), yet human opinion was overwhelmingly against Him.

These words of the prophet Isaiah portray how entirely wrong public opinion polls would have been about Jesus of Nazareth:
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face,
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:3-4)

Pondering: Creation or Evolution?

How do we determine truth? We get it from the infallible Word of the Great Creator Who is all-knowing and error-free. He tells us clearly in His Word that on Creation Day Six He created man from the dust of the ground, not from an existing animal species. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7)

Encouraging

Why do I actually find the study results very encouraging?

I’m encouraged because despite over 160 years of evolutionary indoctrination through government schools, colleges and universities, news media, and the entertainment industry, at least 46% of the American public (almost half) does NOT buy into the theory of evolution.

The incessant drumbeat of Evolutionism thunders throughout American culture. A barrage of evolutionist propaganda bombards people daily from movies, television, books, newspapers, and magazines. Ever since the 1925 Scopes Trial, evolutionists have dominated education, saturating universities and government schools with a flood of evolutionism. Government schools down to the youngest ages and even most private schools pound evolutionary propaganda into malleable minds and hearts.

We’ve had more than 160 years of evolutionary indoctrination since Charles Darwin first proposed the theory of evolution in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Yet despite all this evolutionary propaganda, about half the American public rejects human evolution. Evolutionists’ 160-year propaganda crusade to convince people of molecules-to-man evolution through random processes has not been very successful.

In spite of repeated appeals to supposed science, many people don’t accept that human beings developed from earlier species of animals. Despite the world’s evolutionistic megaphone, some people think for themselves and reject the evolutionary arguments. This is encouraging.

Why?

Why do so many people reject the theory of evolution?

Why do so many people accept the theory of evolution?

The answer to the first question is that the Great Creator has left His fingerprints all over mankind whom He created in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). People recognize that the intricate complexity of humans requires a Designer and Creator. (See Evidence for God – Design.)

Neuron Cell Diagram

This simplified diagram of a nerve cell illustrates the complexity of Creation. Scientists still don’t fully understand all the constituent parts of a nerve cell. Is it logical to conclude such integrated and operational complexity happened by chance?

Design is the reason for the failure of evolutionists to convince America, because Design is in your face all day long. It is impossible to escape the Drumbeat of Design.

The Apostle Paul described the Drumbeat of Design this way:
That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

Layer upon layer, the innumerable examples of complex design we see in nature are strong evidence for a Creator and compelling evidence against naturalistic evolution. Just as human constructions shout “Designer!” so also the marvels of nature shout the glory of their Designer. The argument is, “Design implies a Designer.”

Design is inescapable. From a cell’s intricate molecular machinery to the large-scale structure of the universe with billions of stars organized into clustered galaxies—everything shouts “Design.” From micro to macro, researchers find information-rich structures, minutely-detailed designs, and ever-increasing levels of complexity. Where did this all come from?

In all of human experience, complex information-loaded designs never happen by accident. Therefore it is more reasonable to conclude that there is a Creator for the universe than to conclude that no Creator exists.

Why do almost half of Americans still reject evolution? The “Public acceptance of evolution” study offered its answer to this question. It identified what it called “religious fundamentalism” (what I would call Biblical faith) as the primary factor causing rejection of evolution.

The study is correct. A key reason for evolutionists’ failure to convince Americans is that the theory of evolution conflicts with the record of creation in Genesis. Many dispute evolutionism simply because it contradicts the Biblical record in Genesis. They accept Genesis as the true Word of God, and this settles the Creation-Evolution issue for them.

The answer to the second question is that the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Thus it is not surprising that many people believe in the theory of evolution. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)

Even though Jesus and Paul were speaking of eternal life, the principle applies to truth in general. Satan deceives most people and the majority does not recognize truth.

Will you recognize the truth of the Great Creator, the God of the Bible? Will you acknowledge the truth of Jesus?

Questions to Ponder

1. Why do you think so many Americans believe the theory of evolution?
2. Why do you think so many Americans reject the theory of evolution?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria. Alere Flammam Veritatis.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday September 22, 2021 A.D.

“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

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