Tad DeLay Philosophy & Theology

One of my top posts last year was about why the debate about Adam and Eve has nothing to do with Adam and Eve.  I look forward to the day when we, as an educated society, no longer have to deal with this question.

Lifeway results on belief in evolution among Protestant pastors.  Sad, but hardly suprising.

• Pastors in the Northeast are more likely than their counterparts in any other region to strongly agree that God used evolution to create people. While 25 percent of Northeastern pastors strongly agree, only 13 percent in the West, 12 percent in the Midwest and 8 percent in the South feel similarly.
• Pastors of larger churches are less likely to believe in evolution than those in smaller congregations. Only 4 percent of pastors in churches with 250 or more in attendance strongly agree that God used evolution to create humans. In comparison, 13 percent in churches with attendance of 0-49, 14 percent with 50-99 and 12 percent with 100-249 feel the same.
• Pastors who consider themselves Mainline are more likely than Evangelicals to believe in evolution. Among those identifying themselves as Mainline, 25 percent strongly agree that God used evolution to create humans. Only 8 percent of Evangelicals strongly agree.
• Pastors who indicate they are Evangelical are more likely than their Mainline colleagues to strongly agree that Adam and Eve were literal people (82 percent vs. 50 percent).
• Pastors with graduate degrees are more likely to strongly disagree that Adam and Eve were literal people than those whose highest level of education is a bachelor’s degree (16 percent vs. 2 percent).
• Pastors in the South are most likely to strongly disagree that most of their congregation believes in evolution.
• Younger pastors are the least likely age bracket to strongly disagree that the earth is 6,000 years old.

Gallup 2010 survey on American beliefs.  That’s 4 in 10 that reject evolution altogether

Related posts:

1. The debate about Adam and Eve has nothing to do with Adam and Eve
2. Links (Ramadan christians, capital punishment vs. pro-life, evolution of gods, jon stewart vs. religious Right, etc.)
3. how much money does your pastor make?
4. barna research: the books that pastors are reading