If the Catholic Church accepts Evolution, why do only 33% of Catholics believe in it?

Question

Interesting Pew Forum survey that recently came out:
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=472

33% of Catholics believe humans "evolved over time due to natural processes", whereas 27% believe humans "have existed in their present form since the beginning of time."

Interestingly, 87% of scientists believe in Evolution...

Additional Details

@ Jack: Click on that link above and read the article.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The Roman Catholic church teaches it both ways. They allow (not require) belief in evolution. At the same time Catholic doctrine requires belief that Adam & Eve were created as in the Genesis story which effectively rules out evolution.

Bottom line - Catholics can believe in evolution but their doctrine makes evolution impossible. No wonder people are confused. The current Catholic position would bewilder Solomon.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you!
Only 8% of scientists mistakenly believe that Evolution has a "divine force" behind it, so it's not really evolution either

Answer 2

Lack of education?

What about the other 43%!!?

Answer 3

Because not all Catholics believe in the infallibility of the Roman Bishop.

Answer 4

It would be interesting to know exactly how many Catholics are on birth control and how many have had abortions, but it is likely that you'll never have one definitive answer to those questions, either.

Answer 5

Because they are the 33% who haven't yet become "fact-impervious".

Most religious people who don't believe in the scientific fact of evolution, don't believe it because the question has been framed for them by their masters in terms that will not ever accept, or discuss, in terms of rational thinking.

These types of discussions, having been brought down to the level of rant, are now "fact-proof" and are a waste of time.

Abortion, health care--these are other issues that are now beyond rational discourse in America.

Answer 6

Evolution is a theory. Even if the Catholic church accepts it as a theory, that doesn't mean the people in the church have to think it's a true one. It just means they can if they want to, and it won't conflict with their spiritual beliefs.

Plus, a lot of Catholics are fine with microevolution, but have problems with macroevolution. There are a lot more factors in play than a simple "yes" or "no" can answer.

Answer 7

I don't know where you're getting your statistics from. Wikipedia says that 59% of Catholics accept evolution. The Vatical officially accepts it.

edit: Ah, I see, you misconstrued the results. The rest of the Catholics said they believed in evolution guided by a supreme being. Good job trying to distort the facts.

edit: Boba Fett, you're totally wrong. Most Catholics don't take the Adam and Eve story literally. The Pope officially accepts evolution. Get your facts straight!

Answer 8

just give the vatican more time to delusion their followers further, afterall they have already convinced 33%,the problem with the catholic's is they have their own "religion", it does not adhere to God's Truth but "man's" pagan/heathen ideals, traditions and rituals, Constantine actually "mixed" the two (Paganism & Christianity) together, and the results are herendous, ask any priest or Theologian to confirm what I've just said...it is the truth, actually the papal powers state everything in their catechism & their catholic encyclopedia also, they hide or deny nothing....so I truly do not understand the confusions of the catholic peoples other than the fact that their clergy do not allow them to Seek God's Truth for themselves and they are taught to obey "man", not God, I find that astounding....kind of an "insurance" to keep control over their followers and their monies...but it is up to the followers to wake up for the papal powers do not hold anything back, they have not lied, they openly state why they do the things they do....God Bless and Keep You

Source(s):

not PeRfEct/Just Forgiven
SDA
former catholic

Answer 9

Faulty stats. And in addition, you're going to hell for questioning the church. AMURIKA!! FUDGE YEAH!!

Answer 10

it is not an infallible teaching of the church, so we are free to believe or disbelieve in evolution.
most catholics believe rugby is better than soccer, but hey, each to their own

Answer 11

Religion is religion whether it has a catholic label or a evolution label

Answer 12

I think you are misleading people, and I think you are doing it intentionally to make Catholics look bad. 65% of Catholics surveyed accept that human beings evolved, which is a higher percentage than the general public (61%).

Answer 13

Lack of education. You have to remember that much of the catholic countries are in poor places. Like Guatemala, Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, etc. So while the church may be supportive of evolution it doesn't mean that every one of its adherents are going to accept that. Mainly, these people are traditional and do not understand the concept of the evolution theory. The stance of the church is that is a personal choice it's not going to force one to accept evolution or not. It's not seen as a big deal. So there hasn't been a big push on the church's behalf to educate its members about evolution.

At least it's better than the results of evangelicals and their belief in evolution. I can bet that it's way lower and sadly many of them live in post-industrialized nations.

Source(s):

atheist

Answer 14

Just remember: Most people don't pay attention in High School, and then that's all the education they ever get on the subject.
How many people believe in evolution but have no idea how it works, or any of the basic concepts?
How many people still believe people thought the World was flat before Columbus? How many people think the Moon Landing was a hoax? How many people think Lincoln actually freed the slaves directly? How many people think seasons are caused by the Earth's proximity to the Sun? How many people can't name more than five US Presidents (in America)? How many people think Edison invented the light bulb? It goes on and on, because people have no interest to learn, and that has only a tiny bit to do with religion.

Answer 15

You do not tell the whole story:

33% of Catholics think humans evolved over time due to natural processes
25% of Catholics think humans evolved over time guided by a supreme being
7% of Catholics think humans evolved over time, but don't know how

That means 65% of Catholics believe in evolution.

With love in Christ.