factual beliefs, i think not

Fellow blogger pointed me in this direction, but I felt it required some illuminating points.

"an ABC news poll was cited, indicating that despite educators' criticisms, a majority of the American public would agree with the Creation Museum. In the poll, it was stated that 60% of Americans believe that "God created the world in six days."^[48] In a March 2007 Newsweek poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, 48% of respondents agreed with the statement "God created humans pretty much in the present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so"

This is from wiki's article on the creationism museum not far from where I'm entrenched at the moment. A comedy show would provide me with cheaper and less depressing commentaries on the state of human thought (what with all the jokes about being stoned or drinking). People who back such thinking as to believe that since most Americans agree, it must be right or true, do not understand basic logic or the fundamental roots of science. As evidenced by the funding and creation of the museum in the first place despite several hundred years of scientific thought refuting any validity and even advancing church dogma which separates itself from mythology. The point of science or even the understanding of so called objective knowledge is that it doesn't matter how many people believe one thing or another, but it matters what the facts say. There are no facts in religion. Only beliefs.

The Bible, particularly the old testament, is very shaky on any level of valid facts it includes. It can be an inspiring work of fiction based on some events which may or may not have happened in some form (certainly not in the mythological sense that the story would have us believe). But mostly it is a religious or spiritual interpretation that matters. It is not to be taken literally because it has no shred of evidence in it's support. Appropriate use of church beliefs and dogma aligns itself not with spinning tales about natural history but in aligning people with each other as respectful individuals. Obviously most churches fail miserably at this second level evidenced by the volumes of church-going people who were suspicious of Romney on the basis of him being a Mormon. I had valid reasons to be suspicious of him, but that was not one of them. Being a Mormon was in fact statistically less valuable than being black, traditionally a group many Americans have trouble with and have a basic inherent mistrust built up on (mostly built upon misconceptions). It still outweighed being a Muslim or especially being an atheist, but suffices to say, religious people tend to be among the most bigoted despite the teachings to be tolerant.

In any case, the fact that 60% of Americans believe the 6 day story from the bible (especially since it is highly doubtful 60% of Americans have read it for themselves), is a discouraging bit of evidence. And not something that any organization should be proud of posting as a supporting document_ Were it not so profitable and an environment at least hospitable to being capitalistic, I should think I need to move before this country becomes a theocracy of idiots. As it stands, it looks like I'll try to make my money first, then get out.