It seems to me that those who reject evolution with great confidence often understand it the least. OR, it is a result of having an incorrect idea of what evolution actually is. Then there's the ideology factor - when one sees a theory that appears to contradict a deeply held ideology the theory loses out each time no matter how well supported it is. Therefore, as a consequence of reactance, any presentation of support for that theory will only serve to put the person opposing the theory on the defensive as they view their very ideology as being under attack. This also goes into the maintenance of a position against evolution even with lack of empirical support for the opposing position and massive amount of support for evolutionary theory.
I encountered such behavior, again, lately when responding to a guest column written in my hometown newspaper. The argument stuck upon radiometric dating methodology and even though I addressed the criticisms the individual had, he still had no other rebuttal other than he still disagrees and presented his criticisms again as if I had not addressed them at all.
However, I think the populace at large actually would and do have no real opposition to evolutionary theory but an objection to the distorted idea of what most think evolution is. I remember being in high school and having no real mention of evolutionary theory at all. It wasn't until I entered college that I actually held a good grasp of the theory and through further education - formal and autodidactism, I've see no reason to reject the veracity of evolutionary theory.
I, like Zen Badger, would like to hear rjh4's support for their position.
I encountered such behavior, again, lately when responding to a guest column written in my hometown newspaper. The argument stuck upon radiometric dating methodology and even though I addressed the criticisms the individual had, he still had no other rebuttal other than he still disagrees and presented his criticisms again as if I had not addressed them at all.
However, I think the populace at large actually would and do have no real opposition to evolutionary theory but an objection to the distorted idea of what most think evolution is. I remember being in high school and having no real mention of evolutionary theory at all. It wasn't until I entered college that I actually held a good grasp of the theory and through further education - formal and autodidactism, I've see no reason to reject the veracity of evolutionary theory.
I, like Zen Badger, would like to hear rjh4's support for their position.
