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[[Materialism|Materialistic]] views are many and various.

[[Materialism|Materialistic]] views are many and various.

The prevailing contemporary view in the natural [[science|sciences]] (i.e., [[astronomy]], [[geology]] and [[biology]]) among those who hold to a materialist [[worldview]] is that the [[Big Bang]] theory explains cosmic origins and the [[Theory of Evolution]] (in this case necessarily including [[abiogenesis]]) explains the emergence of plants, animals and people.

The prevailing contemporary view in the natural [[science]]s (i.e., [[astronomy]], [[geology]] and [[biology]]) among those who hold to a materialist [[worldview]] is that the [[Big Bang]] theory explains cosmic origins and the [[Theory of Evolution]] (in this case necessarily including [[abiogenesis]]) explains the emergence of plants, animals and people.

[[Teleology|Teleological]] views of origins recognize purpose and therefore design in nature and are not in general in conflict with [[science]]; rather they are in conflict with any [[worldview]] that posits that no references to a creator, purpose, or design is necessary.  

[[Teleology|Teleological]] views of origins recognize purpose and therefore design in nature and are not in general in conflict with [[science]]; rather they are in conflict with any [[worldview]] that posits that no references to a creator, purpose, or design is necessary.  

There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between the materialist views and the [[creationism|creationist]] views. Some would hold, though, that a viable middle position could be found if both sides recognized how miraculous any theory of creation is, whether it is perfect conditions for development or a Prime Mover such as God.

There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between the materialist views and the [[creationism|creationist]] views. Some would hold, though, that a viable middle position could be found if both sides recognized how miraculous any theory of creation is, whether it is perfect conditions for development or a Prime Mover such as God.

A 2001 Gallup poll showed that 37% of Americans believed that human beings "evolved" in a process guided by God, 45% believed God created human beings in roughly their present form, and 12% believed a process of natural selection over millions of years developed humans completely independent of God. <ref>[http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/current/creation/evol-poll.htm] </ref>

A 2001 Gallup poll showed that 37% of Americans believed that human beings "evolved" in a process guided by God, 45% believed God created human beings in roughly their present form, and 12% believed a process of natural selection over millions of years developed humans completely independent of God.<ref>[http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/current/creation/evol-poll.htm]</ref>

<!-- If anyone can find a more recent poll, that would be good.  This data is 7 years old. -->

<!-- If anyone can find a more recent poll, that would be good.  This data is 7 years old. -->

== Acceptance ==

== Acceptance ==

Surveys show differing distributions of origin belief in the USA.  Some surveys indicate that about 15% of American adults are [[evolutionists]], 40% are [[Old Earth creationists]], and 45% are [[Young Earth creationists]].  Other surveys show similar figures, such as 13%, 27% and 55%, and 10%, 39% and 49% respectively.<ref>Religious Tolerance.org, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, About origins: Results of public opinion polls on evolution and creation science [http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm]</ref>  However, the basic fact remains that roughly half of all Americans currently believe God created Man in his current form within the last 10,000 years.  From an international perspective, America is unusual in this level of belief in Theistic Origin, with five times fewer people in the UK, for example, believing in such origins.  In a survey of 34 countries  in 2005, the only country that had more widely held Theistic Origin beliefs was Turkey.  In the US, this belief has increased in the last 20 years. <ref>Owen, James, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds]  ''National Geographic News'', 10th August, 2006.</ref>

Surveys show differing distributions of origin belief in the USA.  Some surveys indicate that about 15% of American adults are [[evolutionists]], 40% are [[Old Earth creationists]], and 45% are [[Young Earth creationists]].  Other surveys show similar figures, such as 13%, 27% and 55%, and 10%, 39% and 49% respectively.<ref>Religious Tolerance.org, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, About origins: Results of public opinion polls on evolution and creation science [http://www.religioustolerance.org/ev_publi.htm]</ref>  However, the basic fact remains that roughly half of all Americans currently believe God created Man in his current form within the last 10,000 years.  From an international perspective, America is unusual in this level of belief in Theistic Origin, with five times fewer people in the UK, for example, believing in such origins.  In a survey of 34 countries  in 2005, the only country that had more widely held Theistic Origin beliefs was Turkey.  In the US, this belief has increased in the last 20 years.<ref>Owen, James, [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds]  ''National Geographic News'', 10th August, 2006.</ref>

==The fossil record==

==The fossil record==

:" Theories of evolution which ... consider the mind as emerging from the forces of living matter, or as a mere epiphenomenon of this matter, are incompatible with the truth about man."<ref name="RC" />

:" Theories of evolution which ... consider the mind as emerging from the forces of living matter, or as a mere epiphenomenon of this matter, are incompatible with the truth about man."<ref name="RC" />

== Reference ==

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Evolution]]

[[Category:Evolution]]

[[Category:Origins Debate]]

[[Category:Origins Debate]]