RedTracker

Anne is reading …

PEW Research revisits the topic of Americans’ beliefs in evolution, finding a significant drop in the number of Republicans who believe in the scientific theory of evolution. About two-third of Democrats (67%) and Independents (65%) embrace the belief that humans have evolved over time, compare to only 43% of Republicans. In fact, Republican belief in evolution has plummeted from 54% since 2009.

There is also a significant gender gap with 65% of men but only 55% of women believing in evolution. Likewise, there exists an age gap with 68% of 18-29 year olds believing in evolution, compared to 49% age 65 and older. Lastly, education is a factor with 72% of college grads embracing evolution, compared to 51% of high school grads or less.

All About Adam

The Economist weighed in on America’s evolutionary debate in late November 2013, writing that “the literalist faith is in crisis.” Citing statistics that fully half of evangelical youngsters lose their faith after hitting age 18 and especially if they enter a public university.

The Barna Group, an evangelical research firm has studied the young in large numbers, confirming yet again that millenials are “unimpressed by organised anything, let along organised religion.” The young oppose the total demonization of secular culture by their elders. Many are not anti-gay and a quarter of young told Barna Group that their churches were anti-science.

Writing for The Economist, Lexington points out the evangelical Christianity is not only fending off criticisms from its young but is also shaken by new discoveries that are part of genetic science. As science increasingly embraces the concept of several thousand “first humans” while negating the possibility that our genetic diversity can be traced back to the existence of an original man and woman — Adam and Eve, in the case of evangelicals — conservative theologians are questioning a historical Adam.

Without a historical Adam, says Michael Cromartie, an evangelical expert at the Ethics and Public Policy Centre, it follows then that “there would be no reason for Jesus to come to Earth to redeem man’s Fall.”

A flurry of academic papers on Adam and a proliferation of books are either out or in development.

Robertson: Marry ‘Em Young

After his reinstatement at A&E, new video of top-rated Duck Dynasty star and alleged religious guru Phil Robertson puts him back in the spotlight. This time Robertson preaches to a Georgia congregation about finding a good wife.

Preferably, marry them young — at 15 or 16 Robertson advises a Christian congregation in Georgia. Sharing advice he once gave a young man, the national star of the most successful cable TV show advises: “Make sure that she can cook a meal. You need to eat some meals that she cooks, check that out.”

“Make sure she carries her Bible.” Robertson continues. “That’ll save you a lot of trouble down the road. And if she picks your ducks, now, that’s a woman.”

“They got to where they’re getting hard to find, mainly because these boys are waiting till they get to be about 20 years old before they marry them,” Robertson says. “Look, you wait till they get to be 20 years old the only picking that’s going to take place is your pocket. You got to marry these girls when they are about 15 or 16. ” Recognizing that many states outlaw marrying girls that young, Robertson adds “You need to check with mom and dad about that, of course.”