American audiences can't face Evolution!

I’ve had occasion to mention on this blog before how American opinion sometimes seem out of sync with what the rest of the world takes for granted. Earlier, we had taken a look at the disbelief in climate change. Now I discover that evolution is a hot potato as well…

Jeremy Thomas’s new film “Creation” is a celebration of the life of Charles Darwin, whose struggles the movie depicts. It revolves around him questioning his faith after the demise of his daughter. The movie was showcased at the opening of the Toronto Film Festival and has spread throughout the world in every country except one – The United States. Apparently US distributors feel that the movie is too controversial.

I fail to understand how a developed country can have such an attitude in the 21st century. Apparently being developed has nothing to do with it. Evolution is accepted in every other part of the world including the poorer countries. In India (apart from hardcore Christians and Muslims,) evolution is accepted by all educated people. Yet in the US, only 39% of people believe in it! If I didn’t have the facts in front of me so starkly, I would have flat out not believed them. But it’s true!

Image Credit: PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE

Some of the attitudes towards evolution are that it’s a “half-baked theory” , “It’s never been proved” and “It’s a silly theory with a serious lack of evidence to support it despite over a century of trying.” People in the US largely believe that the earth was created in 6 days. I’m forced to wonder whether there’s any use to being educated if one still holds such medieval ideas. It seems that people feel that evolution is a “hoax” that is perpetrated on the world and they are the only ones who haven’t been taken in (just like climate change.)

Obviously there’s a pattern at work here. Most Americans disbelieve climate change. They disbelieve evolution too. My conclusion is that large sections of the American people are either brainwashed, or lack critical thinking. Since I’m sure Americans in general are as intelligent people elsewhere, I’m forced to the conclusion that they’re brainwashed. As far as climate change goes, I’m sure they’re brainwashed by the corporate campaigns against it, but who could possible want Americans not to believe in Evolution?

The answer of course is simple – the churches and evangelical movements in the US are just like big businesses with media campaigns, immense budgets, and large gatherings broadcast all over the country They employ professional marketers and employ their own “scientists” to create doubt about evolution in the minds of those who listen – and since they’ve been doing it for so long, they’ve managed to grab the mind of almost everyone.

I think it’s a clear warning that all large organizations can be dangerous. Whether they are political parties, the church, or corporations. We must look at how things have turned out elsewhere and not repeat the mistakes others have made. The only thing we can do is to be on our guard. It may be too late to do anything about the US, but we can surely protect ourselves from such manipulation in other parts of the world.