February 15, 2009

Come On, Utah, Shape Up!

According to the Pew Study, only 22% of Mormons accept evolution as the best explanation for the origins of human life on Earth.

Now, I think we can at least in part blame the way the question was phrased. (Evolution has nothing to do with the origin of life, just the diversity of life.) That said, I find it ironic that a church that would help create one of the top 20% biology programs in the nation has a membership where 4 out of 5 members deny the very keystone science associated with it.

But I guess it shouldn't surprise me. The position of the LDS church has been quite clear...

"Diversity of opinion does not necessitate intolerance of spirit, nor should it embitter or set rational beings against each other... Our religion is not hostile to real science. That which is demonstrated, we accept with joy; but vain philosophy, human theory and mere speculations of men, we do not accept nor do we adopt anything contrary to divine revelation or to good common sense."*

No further official statement has been made by the church since then. Essentially, they are saying that where the word of God is silent, the church will accept anything, but anything that potentially conflicts with the "word" shall not be accepted.

It's sad when Texas, even with the massive SBOE debacle, is still more sane than my home state...

* First Presidency (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund), "Words in Season from the First Presidency", Deseret Evening News, 1910-12-17, sec. 1, p. 3.

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