Why is evolution only opposed by a significant amount of people in the US?

[Panda]

Well why is the US the only place where this debate still rages? In most other western country's it was settled years ago. In the UK if someone said they didn't believe in evolution they would most likely be laughed at. Something like ID would never hold here, I think if someone in a position of power suggested it they wouldn't be in their job much longer or they would at least lose all credibility.

[Reverend Rick]

I guess Americans are entitled to their opinion without consequences.

[Panda]

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

I guess Americans are entitled to their opinion without consequences.

No you are missing the point. Everywhere else evolution is accepted in the same way that gravity is.

[Dunemeister]

It has a lot to do with a combination of a fundamentalist religious tradition combined with a romantic, anti-intellectual success myth.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by Panda

Well why is the US the only place where this debate still rages? In most other western country's it was settled years ago. In the UK if someone said they didn't believe in evolution they would most likely be laughed at. Something like ID would never hold here, I think if someone in a position of power suggested it they wouldn't be in their job much longer or they would at least lose all credibility.

I don't think it is as large of a difference as it seems. I think, in reality, it is closer to there being a fairly small group who do not believe in evolution but are also extremely vocal and get lots of attention. I have yet to meet a single person in my life who did not believe in evolution.

[Seyorni]

I think that, except in rural backwaters, evolution was generally accepted 50 - 100 years ago. Schoolbooks, at least in northern states, covered what was then known fairly thoroughly and did not discuss magic as an alternate scheme.

This resurgence of Christian fundamentalism, with it's disparagement of science and reason, is something new, and the fundies have been pushing their agenda very aggressively to legislators and school boards.
I think there's been a decline of scientific literacy, of late. School boards are cravenly abandoning fact-based cirricula and caving to religious pressure.
The general principles of evolution theory are fairly simple and easily grasped. If an eighth-grader can sort out English spelling and elementary algebra, evolution should be duck soup.

[Reverend Rick]

Originally Posted by Panda

No you are missing the point. Everywhere else evolution is accepted in the same way that gravity is.

[Father Heathen]

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

That's the most substantial counter-argument I've seen from you, yet.

[rojse]

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

I guess Americans are entitled to their opinion without consequences.

But in other places where people are entitled to their opinion without consequences, there is no significant opposition to evolution.