Re: paleonet Genesis

[Peter Smolka <smolka@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Blake wrote:
> 
> I am not sure how often other countries run such surveys but I remember
> reading once that a UK survey returned a result of about 5%.
> 
> However, as others have noted, the way the question is phrased can affect
> how people will answer, but that won't stop people using the 48% figure.  I
> regularly read about creationists addressing education committees claiming
> that if they do not include creationism in their science ciriculum then the
> committee is ignoring the wishes of about 50% of the American people.

Dear Paul,

when they claim such figures either in discussions with you or in
written
oral and written statements in committees and panels:

Just ask them to present the database of such figures as:

How many people
Which type of education (e.g. primary school, secondary school, study,
field),
Regional distribution
Age groups
Of course WHEN the survey was made (1780 vs. 2002)

AND the questions itsself.

A question "do you think the Genesis book of the bible might have a
relation
to objective facts?"

Can be widely interpreted and thus benevolently answered:

The one person might think: "Had there been migrations of people
some thousand years between Egypt amd Israel". Many, thinking this way,
might answer: OK, migrations happened frequently in the Holocene,
so why not answering with yes.

Other might misinterpret this in terms of "age of the earth"

(4+ Ga vs. 6+ ka).

etc.

Thus asking these people to present the database might help.

Referring to critical thinking:

It appears common among political-thinking people to formulate questions
and statements, including characterizations of persons,
according to their intentions, sometimes independent of observations
(which I learned late).

"Do you support being more responsible" can often be found (many answer
with yes).

"Do you prefer getting social security widely reduced"
(as is often meant with above) is not asked this directly (not too
many might answer with yes).

Thus asking kindly and friendly in panel discussions to outline
the data to understand the wishes of citizens well (the people
panel-members serve) is a desire also strongly religious-thinking
people might not reject.
> 
> Regards
> Paul Blake

Best regards, Peter Smolka
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Soren Jensen" <treptichnus@yahoo.com>
> To: <PaleoNet@nhm.ac.uk>
> Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 11:19 PM
> Subject: paleonet Genesis
> 
> > Hello,
> >
> > So 48% of Americans find the Book of Genesis a handy
> > guide to explaining a thing or two.
> >
> > Sounds rather high, but the again perhaps it would be
> > easier to put in perspective if there were comparative
> > stats. for other regions/countries. Anyone?
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Sören Jensen
> > Badajoz, Spain
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!
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> >

-- 
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Dr. Peter P. Smolka
Geological Institute
University Muenster
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D-48149 Muenster
Tel+Fax: +49(0)251/833-3989
Tel+Fax: +49(0)2533/4401
E-Mail: smolka@uni-muenster.de
        PSmolka@T-Online.de
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