Rep. Paul Broun: theories of evolution & big bang are 'lies straight from hell'

[CeeKay]

"lies straight from the pit of Hell" to be exact:

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun's view that the theories of evolution and the big bang are "lies straight from the pit of Hell" is getting more exposure than he might have expected, thanks to a video that was made at a church-sponsored banquet in Georgia and distributed by a progressive political watchdog group.

The Georgia Republican is already well-known as an outspoken conservative Christian, due in part to his unsuccessful campaign to have 2010 declared "the Year of the Bible." But the latest comments have taken on an extra dab of controversy because Broun, a medical doctor, calls himself a scientist in the video and chairs the House Science Committee's panel on investigations and oversight.

The video clip, distributed by the Bridge Project, was taken from a longer version recorded on Sept. 27 during the 2012 Sportsman's Banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Ga.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14203607-video-shows-scientist-in-congress-saying-evolution-is-from-pit-of-hell?lite&ocid=msnhp

[Scraper]

Why are so many southern conservatives so willing to be ingorant? The sad part is that the people in Georgia will easily reelect this guy. So if you're saying "Don't label all southern conservatives as willingly ignorant". Then I say at least the majority are since they elected the guy and will re-elect him knowing how ignorant the guy is. Thus continuing the cycle of ignorance.

[leo8877]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

[TiLT]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

Luckily it's mostly just the US (as in "a significant portion of the population", not "everyone") and various third-world countries that subscribe to these fundamentalist beliefs, so it's not so widespread as to be utterly destructive to our future.

[Calavera]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

Luckily it's mostly just the US (as in "a significant portion of the population", not "everyone") and various third-world countries that subscribe to these fundamentalist beliefs, so it's not so widespread as to be utterly destructive to our future.

It's not a "significant portion of the population" that believes this. It's a very vocal, very small portion that lives mainly in the deep south. Unfortunately, it hits the media as an implied "look at these idiots" and gets spread around the world. Don't worry, the average American looks at these idiots the same as a train wreck or Honey Boo Boo.

[Ironrod]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

Luckily it's mostly just the US (as in "a significant portion of the population", not "everyone") and various third-world countries that subscribe to these fundamentalist beliefs, so it's not so widespread as to be utterly destructive to our future.

It's not a "significant portion of the population" that believes this. It's a very vocal, very small portion that lives mainly in the deep south. Unfortunately, it hits the media as an implied "look at these idiots" and gets spread around the world. Don't worry, the average American looks at these idiots the same as a train wreck or Honey Boo Boo.

It only seems that way if you live in a blue state. Behold "the average American."

Nearly half of Americans believe God created mankind in a single day about 10,000 years ago, a literal interpretation of the Bible, according to a new survey that shows the view toward evolution in the United States hasn't changed in 30 years.

About 46 percent of people say creationism explains the origin of humans. Just 15 percent say humans evolved without the assistance of God, a Gallup poll finds.

The new data reveals that more Americans think President Barack Obama is a Muslim than believe in the theory of evolution. More Americans also believe in witches with magical powers, too.

[hepcat]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

Luckily it's mostly just the US (as in "a significant portion of the population", not "everyone") and various third-world countries that subscribe to these fundamentalist beliefs, so it's not so widespread as to be utterly destructive to our future.

It seems like anytime something negative about a section of our country comes up, you jump in with these sweeping generalizations that damn the larger populace.  Not sure why you have this prejudice against our country, but I'll just assume you're getting your info from some pretty biased sources.  That or you only believe the negative stuff and ignore anything else.  That's a shame.  It's like believing all Muslims want a war with all Jews and Christians.

No, there isn't a "significant portion" of the US that believes this way.  If there were, don't you think creationism would be widely taught in schools?  Heck, same sex marriage wouldn't even be up for discussion.  We have fundamentalists, yes (every country does).  But I feel safe in saying that the majority of the Christians in this country, while believing in God, also believe in science and social advancement.  They may believe that God created earth (as the polls mentioned below indicate) but that doesn't necessarily make them crazed luddites who want to drag us back to an Agrarian society that burns witches and cowers in fear during an eclipse.

[Calavera]

If only we could live long enough to see this time in history referred to as the real dark ages because of these nut fucks.

Luckily it's mostly just the US (as in "a significant portion of the population", not "everyone") and various third-world countries that subscribe to these fundamentalist beliefs, so it's not so widespread as to be utterly destructive to our future.

It's not a "significant portion of the population" that believes this. It's a very vocal, very small portion that lives mainly in the deep south. Unfortunately, it hits the media as an implied "look at these idiots" and gets spread around the world. Don't worry, the average American looks at these idiots the same as a train wreck or Honey Boo Boo.

It only seems that way if you live in a blue state. Behold "the average American."

Nearly half of Americans believe God created mankind in a single day about 10,000 years ago, a literal interpretation of the Bible, according to a new survey that shows the view toward evolution in the United States hasn't changed in 30 years.

About 46 percent of people say creationism explains the origin of humans. Just 15 percent say humans evolved without the assistance of God, a Gallup poll finds.

The new data reveals that more Americans think President Barack Obama is a Muslim than believe in the theory of evolution. More Americans also believe in witches with magical powers, too.

I believe you left out the best part of that link!

More Americans also believe in witches, 21 percent, according to a separate Gallup poll. Three quarters said they believed in some kind of supernatural or paranormal activity.

[hepcat]

I believe you left out the best part of that link!

More Americans also believe in witches, 21 percent, according to a separate Gallup poll. Three quarters said they believed in some kind of supernatural or paranormal activity.

That would be bored housewives in middle to upper class households.

There's a coffee shop near my apartment that I sometimes go to.  On more than one occasion I've been seated behind a couple of middle aged house fraus discussing how they really believe they have psychic abilities or how they recently had an amazing encounter with a fortune teller. 

[TiLT]

It seems like anytime something negative about a section of our country comes up, you jump in with these sweeping generalizations that damn the larger populace.  Not sure why you have this prejudice against our country, but I'll just assume you're getting your info from some pretty biased sources.  That or you only believe the negative stuff and ignore anything else.  That's a shame.  It's like believing all Muslims want a war with all Jews and Christians.

Your post has a bit less impact coming directly after Ironrod's. His data is the same I used to form my opinion. 

No, there isn't a "significant portion" of the US that believes this way.  

Yes there is. See above. "Significant portion" doesn't mean "majority". It just means a large enough amount with enough influence to have an impact on national politics. Can you honestly say that these people we're talking about don't qualify for that?

If there were, don't you think creationism would be widely taught in schools?

If they were a majority, sure! You're already seeing creationism being taught as a respectable alternative to evolution in certain public schools in the US, though not in a widespread format. Name another first-world country where this happens. Just one. I'm not picky.

Heck, same sex marriage wouldn't even be up for discussion.  We have fundamentalists, yes (every country does).  But I feel safe in saying that the majority of the Christians in this country, while believing in God, also believe in science and social advancement.  They may believe that God created earth (as the polls mentioned below indicate) but that doesn't necessarily make them crazed luddites who want to drag us back to an Agrarian society that burns witches and cowers in fear during an eclipse.

Sure, but again, I'm not talking about the majority. I'm talking about a significant portion of the population. It doesn't help that one of the US' two major political parties pander to this portion as well, granting them some semblance of undeserved respectability.

[hepcat]

So, it comes down to you defining significant portion to be whatever suits you?  Good to know.  Can't really argue against that as it's not really an argument to begin with.   Also, your original statement indicated that a significant portion of the United States had the same believes as the subject of this post (Sen. Paul Broun).  Now you're trying to tie his form of extremism to simply believing in a God, or that God created the Earth.  

Until you actually spend some time learning about the world around you, you'll maintain these small minded and bigoted beliefs, I suppose.  I hope someday you rise above them, though.  In the end, I feel kind of sorry for you.

[Purge]

I like both Big Bang Theory. Is Evolution any good?

[hepcat]

If a "significant portion" of the US was like Paul Broun, how did a show like that even make it to television?   

[TiLT]

So, it comes down to you defining significant portion to be whatever suits you?  Good to know.  

Here, this may help. I'm not making up definitions. You are.

[Mystic95Z]

He can "believe" all he wants... He'll be right there with all the rest of us when it ends...

[Ironrod]

So, it comes down to you defining significant portion to be whatever suits you?  

"Nearly half of Americans believe God created mankind in a single day about 10,000 years ago...About 46 percent of people say creationism explains the origin of humans."

How is that not a significant portion?

[Calavera]

So, it comes down to you defining significant portion to be whatever suits you?  

"Nearly half of Americans believe God created mankind in a single day about 10,000 years ago...About 46 percent of people say creationism explains the origin of humans."

How is that not a significant portion?

They called ~ 1000 people for this survey. Critically, however, there is no breakdown by state. As a result, the poll is treating the whole country as homogeneous with respect to these answers.
The results are about as accurate as an internet poll of "random" people (that is, not very). It's meant to be a throw away poll for soundbites, not a rigorous study that could be peer reviewed.

With a higher sample size distributed among the states evenly, I'd wager you would get a drastically different result.

[Ironrod]

So, it comes down to you defining significant portion to be whatever suits you?  

"Nearly half of Americans believe God created mankind in a single day about 10,000 years ago...About 46 percent of people say creationism explains the origin of humans."

How is that not a significant portion?

They called ~ 1000 people for this survey. Critically, however, there is no breakdown by state. As a result, the poll is treating the whole country as homogeneous with respect to these answers.
The results are about as accurate as an internet poll of "random" people (that is, not very). It's meant to be a throw away poll for soundbites, not a rigorous study that could be peer reviewed.

With a higher sample size distributed among the states evenly, I'd wager you would get a drastically different result.

Well, I hope your hunch is right, but it would be nice to have something stronger than a hunch to go on. There are exactly zero creationists among my small circle of friends and family, and probably not many more than that among my neighbors here in the bluest of blue states where we are all secular humanists...even my Republican in-laws.

If everybody in the red states is a mouth-breathing knuckle dragger, then the poll results of "almost half" would probably be about right. 'Course, it's probably a little more complicated than that.