Iz techsas chilluns lerneng?

Oh yeah, the Texas school curriculum needs more fundie influence. I couldn't imagine raising kids with that kind of teaching going on.

Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, and more than half disagree with the theory that humans developed from earlier species of animals, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

The differences in beliefs about evolution and the length of time that living things have existed on earth are reflected in the political and religious preference of our respondents, who were asked four questions about biological history and God:

• 38 percent said human beings developed over millions of years with God guiding the process and another 12 percent said that development happened without God having any part of the process. Another 38 percent agreed with the statement "God created human beings pretty much in their present form about 10,000 years ago."

• Asked about the origin and development of life on earth without injecting humans into the discussion, and 53 percent said it evolved over time, "with a guiding hand from God." They were joined by 15 percent who agreed on the evolution part, but "with no guidance from God." About a fifth — 22 percent — said life has existed in its present form since the beginning of time.

• Most of the Texans in the survey — 51 percent — disagree with the statement, "human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals." Thirty-five percent agreed with that statement, and 15 percent said they don't know.

• Did humans live at the same time as the dinosaurs? Three in ten Texas voters agree with that statement; 41 percent disagree, and 30 percent don't know.

New Charles Darwin film is 'too controversial' for religious American audiences

We must look like the stupidest Taliban run third world country to everyone else...

A new British film about Charles Darwin has failed to land a distribution deal in the States because his theories on human evolution are too controversial for religious American audiences, according to the film's producer.

Creation follows the British naturalist's 'struggle between faith and reason' as he wrote his 1859 book, On The Origin Of The Species.

The film, directed by Jon Amielm was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has now been sold to almost every territory in the world.

But US distributors have turned down the film that could cause uproar in a country that, on the whole, dismisses scientific theories of the way we evolved.

Christian film review website Movieguide.org described Darwin as 'a racist, a bigot and a 1800s naturalist whose legacy is mass murder.'

The site also stated that his 'half-baked theory' influenced Adolf Hitler and led to 'atrocities, crimes against humanity, cloning and generic engineering.'

Jeremy Thomas, the Oscar-winning producer of Creation, said he was astonished that such attitudes exist 150 years after On The Origin of Species was published.

'That's what we're up against. In 2009. It's amazing,' he said.

On Darwin’s Birthday, Only 4 in 10 Believe in Evolution

By GottaLaff

From the Department of WTF:

These attitudes are strongly related to education and, to an even greater degree, religiosity.

It's 2009. I just know it is.

Another win for science: Evolution gets support in Texas

By GottaLaff

Sciencism comes to the Lone Star state. I can understand their hesitation, though. How can they possibly explain Bush?

A decision Thursday by the Texas State Board of Education is a big defeat for proponents of creationism and others who would like to see evolution presented in school as a weak theory that has viable competing alternatives.

The vote was a tie, 7-7, to restore a rule requiring the "strengths and weaknesses" of evolution be taught in high school science class. The tie means the measure was defeated, so evolution can continue to be taught as the very strong scientific theory that it is.

While scientific theories should be open to discussion and challenged by evidence, scientists agree that evolution is about as solid a theory as there is. [...] Importantly, no evidence exists to even mildly support any other theory to explain the diversity of life, the relationships between some species that have diverged, lineages seen in the fossil record, and even such current and obvious evolution as occurs when microbes evolve to resist drugs designed to kill them.

Welcome to the 21st century, Texas.

H/t: Eve

VIDEO: Gramm-pa McTongue's anger mismanagement

By GottaLaff

How will IWRC* Palin be able to contradict this obvious proof of the theory of evolution (h/t: AMERICABlog):

At least now we can finally understand Gramm-pa's anger issues. He simply hasn't evolved yet:


*"In What Respect, Charlie?"