Some questions about your experiences with evolution...

gnostic · Mar 27, 2013

Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.

How old were you when you learned of evolution?

Did you learn evolution in school or university?

If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Please, explain your experience.

LuisDantas · Mar 27, 2013

How old were you when you learned of evolution? Did you learn evolution in school or university?

About eight or nine IIRC. It was mentioned in school, perhaps a bit too timidly, but I had already learned the basics by that time.

If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution? If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

I believe there were some mentions in religion classes and the like, but yes, biology was the main venue.

However, I had learned of it so much sooner that to this day it surprises the heck out of me that not everyone accepts Evolution.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc? What other books have you read (on evolution)?

No, I haven't read more than glimpses of Darwin's books. It is my understanding that no more than the general thrust of them is still valid at this point in time. We have learned a lot since.

I have read some of Richard Dawkin's books on biological evolution, though.

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

No, not at all.

Terrywoodenpic · Mar 27, 2013

I can not remember a time when I did not know about evolution.
It may have been from a family member or it might have been in school.
It was taught in general science at prep school and in Biology and Geography at senior school.
I read the necessary school science books not the original text.
It was never taught in a religious context. But then neither were those aspects of creation.
I always thought that the creation story was an ancient myth.

9Westy9 · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

It was probably around when I started GCSE's so 14/15

gnostic said:
Did you learn evolution in school or university? If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

School and in biology

gnostic said:
Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

Nope

gnostic said:
What other books have you read (on evolution)?

I've read a bit of "The greatest show on earth" by Richards Dawkins but nothing else

gnostic said:
Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

No to both

gnostic said:
Please, explain your experience.

Lacking. As I was a Christian when I learned about evolution I didn't really take much in and I haven't really read up on it much since leaving education and Christianity

InformedIgnorance · Mar 27, 2013

I was probably 10-12 or so; in a general science class at the time. I have never read any entire books on the subject, but I have read numerous scientific articles and papers.

To be honest, despite coming from a quite devout catholic family, I never considered evolution controversial when I heard about it, it seemed completely reasonable and actually explained things to me rather than simply asserting it happened - some of the finer points of the mechanism have at times confused me but certainly nothing would make me consider the basic premise to be untenable. Actually I had never even imagined that educated people might debate it's existence (the precise details and implications perhaps) until I was in my early twenties and found out about the american 'debate' on the issue. When I first heard about it I assumed that it was some sort of joke -a comedy sketch or something.

fantome profane · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

Did you learn evolution in school or university?
If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Please, explain your experience.

I don't remember not knowing about evolution, so was probably quite young, maybe 5 or 6.

I studied anthropology in university.

I have read origin of species, but not descent of man. I have read dozens of books on the topic, kind of a hobby of mine.

I am not a biologist, nor did I pursue anthropology past university (B.A.) and I am not working in any related field.

Cassiopia · Mar 27, 2013

How old were you when you learned of evolution?
Probably about 7 or 8.

Did you learn evolution in school or university?
In school and university.

If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?
We learned about evolution in General Science, Biology and later in History, Geology and Social Studies.

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)
Of course I learned about evolution outside of school as well, in books, on TV and even in Sunday School.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?
Not all the way through to be honest, but I have read passages.

What other books have you read (on evolution)?
It has probably been referenced in hundreds of books I have read.

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?
No

Please, explain your experience.
I am fairly well read and have quite a good education. I have learned about evolution in and out of organised education throughout my life. I have also learned about alternative theories and come to my own conclusions. I think evolution is the best theory we have as yet to account for the way life began and developed.

outis · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

5 or 6 I guess.

gnostic said:
Did you learn evolution in school or university? If yes, was it in biology?

Not sure. It can't have been dealt with extensively. I do recall that at some point some stuff was discussed in biology that wouldn't make much sense without evolution. But it might have been simply assumed everyone was familiar with the idea.

gnostic said:
If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

A museum or a family member I guess... a family member while visiting a museum would make sense. A book perhaps. TV or a magazine possibly.
I don't recall the first time I heard about it but I certainly heard about evolution from all of these and more before I was old enough to hear about it at school.

gnostic said:
Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books

No. Whatever for? They're historical documents now.
I recally briefly reading about Darwin and his observations as a little kid though.

gnostic said:
What other books have you read (on evolution)?

I may not have read a single book that was directly on the topic. I read lots of stuff that referenced it.
The one publication I recall that focused on the topic was more like a thick brochure. It was creationist propaganda aimed at children. When I realized it made no sense and had nothing interesting to show or to say, I was so disappointed to have picked it up based on its deceptive cover. I think I asked adults something like: who are these nutjobs and how are they allowed to print stuff with color pictures when I'm not?

gnostic said:
Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

No and no.

gnostic · Mar 27, 2013

Here is my own experience.

I didn't know anything about evolution (or Darwin's Natural Selection) until after high school...don't know when exactly (so after 17).

I did know of the term "survival of the fittest" in high school, but didn't know it had anything to do with natural selection.

In high school, between Year 7 and Year 10, there were subject called SCIENCE, covering physics, chemistry and biology, but there were no separate subjects of physics, chemistry and biology, until Year 11 and 12. And I didn't do Year 11 or 12 biology. I was always a more physics-type of guy.

In my high school SCIENCE subject, I did learn some basic biology, some about plants and some about animals, especially the human body. I did learn about genetics, but evolution was never mentioned in these classes.

I was very interested in dinosaurs, and I have seen the chart on geochronology, but never really understood during that time, or how evolution is involved in these eras and periods of time. This understanding came much later.

Like I said, I was physics-type of guy, so in universities I was more into applied science, so it was mainly physics and maths, because first I was into Civil Engineering course, and later took Computer Science course, which don't require biology.

I really can't tell you when I had first learn of natural selection or evolution, but it is only in the last 10 years that I had shown real interests in evolution, and attempt to understand it.

Breathe · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

I don't know of a time I didn't accept evolution. I have, however, trolled and Poed people. Most of them figured out I was joking... some of them, I guess, weren't too bright.

I used to collect WildLife Fact Files (I love animals and nature), and I loved books and toys on dinosaurs, etc, as a wee bear, so it's always been something I've known about, even if it was only a brief explanation as a kid.

Did you learn evolution in school or university?

TBH Not really; I don't remember learning about it. I asked my wife and she doesn't remember it either.

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

Commonly accepted by society, and reading up on things.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

A little bit of Origin of Species. Not all of it.

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

I can't recall any directly on evolution off-hand, but it's been referenced in a lot of books.

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Nope.

Please, explain your experience.

Ironically, it was actually when I was flicking through the channels and ended up on one of the American Christian TV Programmes, "The Way of the Master", that I decided to go and research evolution more so I could give reasons why they were bunk. Before that, I'd never heard of creationism as something people believed.

The Sum of Awe · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

I was about 13 when I first heard about it and got the main idea of it, but 16 until I actually LEARNED about it and got a lot more information out of that

Did you learn evolution in school or university?
If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

In Biology class 10th grade

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Please, explain your experience.

Nope.

Me Myself · Mar 27, 2013

Dont remember, i think school but maybe highschool I knew since early earth was 6000 years o,d that for sure cause I loved dinasours.

I dont remember ever having thought evolution didnt make sense or something . It actually made very good sense to me.

outis · Mar 27, 2013

gnostic said:
I was very interested in dinosaurs, and I have seen the chart on geochronology, but never really understood during that time, or how evolution is involved in these eras and periods of time. This understanding came much later.

Interesting.
How did you make sense of natural history then?

Quintessence · Mar 27, 2013

How old were you when you learned of evolution?
I honestly have no idea. I was an insufferable nerd as a child as much as I am now. Doubtless I encountered the idea at some point in elementary school when I was reading nothing but non-fiction. In terms of formal education, I don't think I was introduced to it until high school, however.

Did you learn evolution in school or university? If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution? If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)
I can't recall the exact context in high school I learned about it. I know for sure it was in the AP biology course I took, but I'm unsure it was included in the general biology coursework everyone had to take. Regardless, one of my majors in undergrad was biology, so I got a thorough dose in undergrad anyway. It was a requirement of the biology program to take one full course in evolution since it is so foundational to the discipline. Since then I've expanded my knowledge by reading things here and there by pertinent scientists in the field.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?
No. Some of the students in our dedicated evolution class in undergrad asked why we weren't reading them. The reason was simple: they're outdated, and the class was intended to educate us on contemporary evolutionary theory with only a minor focus on its history. We read excerpts here and there, and the instructor was careful to point out where ideas have since been refined and revised.

What other books have you read (on evolution)?
Off the top of my head, I know we read one of Dawkin's books in that course on evolution. I think it was "The Ancestor's Tale." We also read the "Beak of the Finch." Those two books were rather lengthy, so they were the only ones we focused on, supplemented by some peer reviewed articles here and there.

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?
Yes. As mentioned, one of my majors in undergrad was biology and I hold a master's degree in a biological science as well. I'm trying to work it as a profession, but honestly, my job search has been going awful and I have been variously underemployed or unemployed since finishing my master's. My focus is in natural resources, ecology, and conservation. On a day to day basis, evolutionary theory isn't especially important for the kind of work and studies that I focus on, but it's not irrelevant either. I know enough to be competent in evolutionary theory, but I do not keep up on the latest developments in the peer reviewed literature. I can easily address general questions about the theory, but if people want to know the cutting edge developments and controversies within the field, I wouldn't be the one to ask.

dust1n · Mar 28, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.

How old were you when you learned of evolution?

I never really thought about it before, but it was a long, long time ago. It definitely precedes cogent long-term memories. My dad was a biologist and an atheist, and we never went to church or anything, so I just kind of picked up. I think my earliest conceptions though were based on my understanding of phenotypes and genotypes. I understood taxonomy. And I understand that Earth and Universe were really old and that there were animals that proceeded humans.

methylatedghosts · Mar 28, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.

How old were you when you learned of evolution?

Did you learn evolution in school or university?
If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

I remember the first time I was introduced to evolution. It was in bio class at age 14. I remember being confused about how one thing could suddenly change into another. I was quickly informed by the rest of the class, and also informed by the teacher that my listening skills could do with some improvement as she'd explained that bit not 2 mins before.
(I was listening...just not to her...)

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

Other than the texts we used at school? Nada. I have a firm grasp on the theory, as it was well taught in school (which was a catholic school, btw) and in university first year. Though, I don't really remember it getting covered at university, it may have just been assumed you already knew it

I feel like I should point out though, that I read a fair few sciency articles, and watch videos online, so don't assume I don't know things. I love science!

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Nope.

painted wolf · Mar 28, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.

How old were you when you learned of evolution?

I can't remember, but I think it was around middle school.

Did you learn evolution in school or university?

Yes... I studied biology in university.

If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

I had dedicated classes in evolution, genetics, ecology, physiology and morphology. Although evolution was obviously part of every biology course due to it's central role in the discipline.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

Only in part. It's kind of a bear to read.

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

I don't think listing every title would be a good idea. But I will some of the authors I've enjoyed on the subject.
Carl Zimmer, Stephen J. Gould, Jerry A. Coyne, Neil Shubin, Sean B. Carrol, Ernst Mayer, Xiaoming Wang, Richard Tedford, Robbert Bakker, David Rains Wallace, Donald Prothero, Richard Fortey and several others but you get the idea.

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?
Please, explain your experience.

I have my BA in biology and if accepted will be attaining my Masters in Conservation Biology over the next couple of years.
I work in a science lab currently but not in the field of biology exclusively.

Evolution remains a passion of mine and I hope to attain my PhD in some manner of it's study. Preferably in morphology/paleontology.

wa:do

Big_TJ · Mar 28, 2013

when you learned of evolution?

About 13. My parent (single parent home) was JW, so I first heard about this "Evolution" in a bashing sense. My parent and the good "church" members always dismiss "evolution" with the question: Where did the first cell came from?" For years, I accepted that this was an unanswered question so, like my "church" I dismiss this "Evolution" nonsense.

Did you learn evolution in school or university?

No; in fact, I can't remember this ever mentioned even in my science/biology classes then.

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

It's kinda a strange story for me. Once, i noticed that the face of a rat and a dog really don't look all that different, and also noticed that a bear and a dog doesnt look all that different too. So I hit the internet to see if anyone else had this strange view. That was my introduction to the concept of Evolution. Incidently, I started fully accepting Evolution after coming on THIS board and ask the "where the original came from" question and get the understanding that this has noting to do with Evolution; it's abiogenesis. I started doing other research on the matter.

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

Yes I have. Other than that though, no other book; mainly watched debates on youtube to get the contrasting views, but quickly noticed the nonsense that most "anti-evolution" persons were saying. Incidentally it was Kent Hovind's nonsenses that convinced me that most who doesnt accept biological evolution have absolutely no idea what it is!

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Nope; I hate science subjects but LOVE the scientific method:yes:

Alceste · Mar 28, 2013

gnostic said:
Here are number of questions I would like to you about evolution, natural selection, or anything relating to evolution, but more specifically about your experiences in evolution.
How old were you when you learned of evolution?

Did you learn evolution in school or university?
If yes, was it in biology? If not in biology, in which subject did learn about evolution?

If no, where did you learn about evolution? (Private reading or research?)

Have you ever read any of Charles Darwin's books, like On Origin Of Species, Descent of Man, etc?

What other books have you read (on evolution)?

Are you qualified biologist? Or do you work as a biologist as a profession?

Please, explain your experience.

I don't recall ever not accepting or understanding evolution. My dad is a science nut, so whatever questions I had about the world from the time I had the wit and words to ask them were always answered through that perspective, and quite a lot of additional "interesting science stuff" was volunteered.

I think my public school education in evolution was lacking. I don't remember it coming up, but I didn't exactly miss it either. I didn't understand it could be a controversial issue until much, much later in life. In retrospect, it's possible that the biology curriculum was intentionally gutted of substance and context to appease religious folks in my conservative home town.

I've read some SJ Gould and Dawkins "Greatest Show On Earth", and I listen to Quirks and Quarks, which often interviews biologists. I read science news occasionally. I tried Darwin's book but it's a clunker, and not as relevant, informative and interesting as modern biology.

I am not a biologist but I have been known to hunt dinosaur bones from time to time with my mom, who is a very keen amateur paleontologist. Her basement is full of fossils.

gnostic · Mar 30, 2013

outis said:
Interesting.
How did you make sense of natural history then?

You have to understand.

I didn't learn about dinosaurs from actual teaching in science classroom but a few from tv, but most of them school library books and because they didn't teach evolution in high school, from year 7 to 10 (which would mean when I was age 12 to 15), I was at a disadvantage when I was reading any book on dinosaurs.

And since I did take year 11 or 12 biology, it is most likely missed out the topic on evolution.

I don't know why, but when I first looked at geochronological table, I had assume that they were correct with years and dating techniques on rocks, sentiments and fossils, so I never questioned any book, about the age of the earth, or age of dinosaurs, or of primitive humans. I didn't know how evolution help us understand all these things. At that time the chart showed that the Earth was 4.4 billion years old. The number of years are staggering for a young teenager, but nevertheless, I accepted the numbers as they were.

When my older sister joined a church, and introduce me the Bible, around mid-teen, I didn't question the biblical stories like creation, flood, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus - even though I had never baptised and become a convert. (I nearly did join my sister's church, but that's a different story.) At that time, I never knew some Christians and Jews had already calculated the age of the "created" world.

I didn't know that some Christian and Jewish scholars (independently, from each other) had calculated the creation of man to be less than 6000 years, until I was 19.

I remembered I was 19 (still not knowing about evolution), because I had nearly join a church - another church, which was different *from my sister's church.I got into some arguments with pastor, who was attending the same college I was attending (though not the same course). I met him last year and I was interested in joining his church at that time.

One particular argument was about dinosaurs and the creation being 6000 ago. I had only just found that the estimated age of the world according to the time given in the bible was 6000 years. But if dinosaurs being around from about 230 million years ago to about 65 million years ago, then it is not possible for the world being "created" 6000 years ago.

All of this, occurred before I even knew or heard of evolution.

It was not worse argument I had with pastor, which made me not join his church. The worse argument was because of the Gospel of Thomas (GoT). I had only known about GoT for just a short time. I didn't know that the GoT was a gnostic literature, and I didn't know or hear about Gnosticism until years later. Apparently he knew that the GoT was a gnostic text, but I didn't.

My argument was why the Gospel of Thomas was not part of the bible. The argument got heated, that eventually he told me I would burn in hell for allowing heretical thoughts. That made me angry enough not join his church, and couple years later, I lost interested in looking for a church to join and in reading the bible.

Anyway, getting back to the "evolution" thing...I didn't know of evolution until few years later, and didn't really understand evolution until I was 30, when I actually decided to see what evolution is really about.

Oh, I heard of "survival of the fittest" when I was in high school, but I didn't know it was related to natural selection, because I thought it only meant in the anthropological term, not a biological one.

Some questions about your experiences with evolution...

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