Half of Texans Prefer Faith Over Science, According to UT/Texas Tribune Poll

[jsr]

http://www.utexas.edu/news/2012/11/02/half-of-texans-prefer-faith-over-science-ut-texas-tribune-poll/

Half of Texans Prefer Faith Over Science, According to UT/Texas Tribune Poll
Nov. 2, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — About half of Texas voters believe faith is a better guide than scientific evidence on most important questions, according to a recent University of Texas at Austin/Texas Tribune poll.

According to the poll, which surveyed Texans on a wide range of attitudes related to science and public policy, a similar proportion of voters said that “instinct and gut reactions” are just as good as the advice of scientists in most cases.

However, 66 percent of voters said politicians, when faced with a difficult decision, should follow the advice of relevant experts, even if it means going against their ideology.

“We were interested in ascertaining how Texas voters view the role of science and scientists in the public policy process,” said Daron Shaw, professor of Government at The University of Texas at Austin, who oversees the survey. “What we found is that the polarization of contemporary politics is manifest in attitudes toward scientific expertise. Many people see biases in the scientific project, especially in contentious public policy areas. I’d be somewhat surprised if people had similar thoughts in the 1940s after the Manhattan Project or in the 1960s after the moon landing.” ...

[Fresh_Start]

1. they should give up their vehicles, electronics and medicine

and pray to be transported, entertained, and healed.

[hifiguy]

12. +1. And they should do it today.

And when the sea levels rise and flood their houses due to climate change, let them take it up with Jeebus. No evil government assistance for them.

[mil_5529dem]

16. +100

they really should practice what they preach

[WotansRavens]

2. Faith and Science

Someone needs to teach Texas that faith and science aren't mutually exclusive. I think that the Greeks did quite well, and the Egyptians, and they were faithful people. Newton, another person of faith. He translated the Emerald Tablet, a Hermetic (Greek-Egyptian hybrid from Alexandria) doctrine of Universal Laws.

[Permanut]

3. So this Shaw feller..

also thinks we landed on the moon? That tells you a lot about him, right there.

[txdemsftw]

4. Well, THIS Texan

is an Atheist and believes in science.

Guess this will be another awesome TX bashing contest.

[sadbear]

5. This Texan thinks most other Texans deserve the ridicule.

Have you checked the LTTE's or message boards on your local newspaper or TV channel website? I'm ashamed of these people.

[txdemsftw]

8. ..

Do I agree with these people?? No, I don't. If I had it my way, we'd have no organized religion. But, I won't bash anyone for their beliefs.

[LondonReign2]

20. Same here sadbear

I live in Texas. It's undeniable that the stupid runs strong in many places here.

[justabob]

6. indeed

I am curious about the people surveyed. They only talked to 800 people... I wonder where those people came from around the state and other demography.

[txdemsftw]

9. Me too..

[Angry Dragon]

7. I have traveled to Texas numerous times and found the people very nice

[Ikonoklast]

27. Meh. Put enough barbecue sauce on anything, and it tastes good.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

29. I'm a Texan and I'll tell you this...

TEXAS SUCKS ASS!

Is that awesome enough "TX bashing" for you?

And it has sucked so since Ann Richards was my governor.

[txdemsftw]

30. please feel free to leave then...

Seriously.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

31. Oh, so I should give up the effort to make

Texas a better place to live?

And who are you to suggest I leave my home. Take your crap somewhere else.

[txdemsftw]

32. Oh please...

I'll stay right here, thanks.

But I'm sorry, your first post on this thread didn't exactly hint that you were out there 'fighting the good fight!'...you just wanted to talk crap and??? Just saying..if you hate it here so much, then leave. If not, whatever...doesn't make any difference to me.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

36. "if you hate it here so much, then leave"

Classic right-wing retort.

Look, you completely missed the tone of my comment. If it had been delivered audibly, it would have been accompanied by a chuckle. Guess I should have included an "LOL!" or the ROFL guy you have rolling around there.

No, I will not leave Texas. It does, nevertheless, suck for reasonable people who want to believe in science; who want to know that our text books reflect reality and not super-naturality. It sucks for people who have no problem with people of the same sex loving and marrying each other. It sucks for people who believe in the separation of church and State. It sucks for the environment and for promoting serious renewable energy initiatives. It sucks for so many issues that are only issues because of the dicks and dickettes that occupy and, for the time being control, most of this state.

So, don't think it's your business to suggest I leave because you mis-read the context of my comment. I'm staying and will continue to do the things I do (I don't follow in this regard, I am pro-active and create initiatives) to make this state a better place for my kids and grand-kids.

[txdemsftw]

39. Oh, I'm sorry I missed ALL OF THAT

in your first post. You didn't exactly say any of those things, now did you? But hey, you don't need to explain yourself...and I actually agree with a lot of the things you just said.

I just think saying 'TEXAS SUCKS...here's your TEXAS BASHING for ya!!' stuff isn't exactly doing our state any favors. And I never said this state was perfect, FARRRRR from it actually. I just hate how Texas as a whole (including us Dems) is lumped into one big hateful box.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

40. Fair enough. eom

[MagickMuffin]

10. The statewide poll conducted Oct. 15-20 surveyed 800 registered Texas voters

and has a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percentage points




WOW, "Half of Texans Prefer Faith Over Science"

I didn't realize that Texas had such a small population. Who KNEW!

I think for your statement to have ANY validity to it then perhaps the "poll" should cast a wider net!

[dmallind]

42. You cited the MOE yourself. How much larger does the sample need to be?

If you take the MOE at it's limit, does it make the results any more palatable?

[hifiguy]

11. I suspect that Texas is only slightly more extreme

than most of the rest of the country in this respect. Teh stoopid is everywhere in this country, geographically speaking, but like the smarts, it is stronger in different places.

I think there's a definite correlation to the presence of Southern Baptist churches and the other loony Protestant denominations. And sadly, there's no place in the country that is free of them.

[ceile]

13. 800 registered voters? That's all?

In a state w/ a pop of 25+million...c'mon Tribune and UT- you can do better than that...

[txdemsftw]

14. Listen,

I will be the first to say that we have some really extreme, bible-thumping loony tunes in this state. Trust me, I was forced as a child to attend a church where they cast out 'teh demons!!!!!' and spoke in 'tongues.'

But, this is a pretty damn big state with a hell of a lot of people in it. Smart, logical people who know better. We aren't all a bunch of crazy rednecks with a piece of straw in our mouths with our cowboy boots on. Very much the opposite where I live and the cities we frequent.

If this survey was conducted back in my tiny hometown where everyone (well, at least 90%) was a Repub and most went to the local First Baptist, then yeah...but 800 people surveyed hardly represents this state as a whole.

[Speck Tater]

15. Let's encourage them to secede. We'd be better off without 'em. nt

[Paladin]

19. DU Would Be Better Off Without Your Brain-Dead Texas Bashing. (nt)

[EmeraldCityGrl]

21. I have so much respect for the Texas DU community.

I always think of them as fighting on the front lines.

I think when people express frustration with TX. it's the politicians, the RW fanatics and the naive
people that believe them that they mean to target.

Because of two Bush presidencies TX. industries and businesses have been given power in some
areas that affect the entire country.

Anyone that has ever spent time down there knows how hospitable the people are. But TX. has got to
get on board with the rest of the country for what lies ahead. We really are entering a time where we
have to work together to save the planet and humankind. I know that sounds over dramatic but it
truly is not. We are in big trouble.

[Speck Tater]

22. If Texas secedes the Union will welcome you with open arms, so...

just remember, if worse comes to worse, you always have a home here among the sane.

[Paladin]

38. So If I Move Next Door To You.....

.....will you promise to heap endless amounts of condescension on me for being a fifth-generation Texan? Will you constantly remind me that Texas is a worthless, piece-of-shit, Third World hell hole, and that all my friends and family count for nothing against your established opinions? And do you faithfully promise to remind me over and over that Texas was never worth any effort whatsoever by the Democratic Party to reclaim, because all those telltale ethnic and socioeconomic trends were just so much prairie dust? Yeah, I can't to take up residence "among the sane".........

[Speck Tater]

44. Good heavens no!

If you move next door all will be forgiven and we can sit on the front porch together poking fun at South Carolina!

[Paladin]

50. OK, You've Got A Deal. ;)

[Comatose Sphagetti]

17. The whole execution thing in texas

makes me so angry I cannot hold a rational conversation with anyone on any topic having to deal with texas.

[txdemsftw]

18. Well, that's unfortunate

because there are a lot of good people here.

Oh well.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

23. Agreed

My anger clouds my judgment... I refuse to eat at texas roadhouse; I instinctively go into one-finger-salute mode whenever I see Perry or Bush; I won't watch any television show filmed in texas. I know my anger against ALL things texas is bullshit, bigoted, and indefensible, i.e., the same qualities I despise in others.

But I'm working on it, my friend!

[txdemsftw]

24. Hey, we have a lot of those things in common!

I give both Bush-heads and Perry the one-finger salute too! I have stood in front of the Capital 3 times with my "Perry needs to GO!" signs and you have NO idea how much support I received out there doing so by fellow Texans.

Just know that there ARE a lot of really good folks here trying to do the right thing. We know we have a long way to go, but we'll get there!

[sadbear]

25. To defend movies filmed in Texas

a lot of them are filmed in Austin, which can compete with any other blue city in the country. Most Texas republicans talk about Austin the way national republicans talk about San Francisco.

[txdemsftw]

26. Austin is my home away from home..

LOVE it there and plan to move there in the next 2 years to be with 'my peoples.'

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. "Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things:

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock

[Indpndnt]

49. That is HILARIOUS!

[BainsBane]

33. Why posit such a question?

One does not need to choose between faith and science. They are separate and have different roles in society and one's life. Part of what Vatican II did was to set aside conflict between scientific knowledge and the Church. The problem, it seems to me, is in positing a contradiction between science and faith, as though one has to forsake a belief in God to accept the laws of science. That is not at all the case.

[Hugabear]

35. Try telling that to people who think faith should be the foundation for public policy

People who believe in faith over science want to force creationism to be taught in schools

People who believe in faith over science think God is in control of the planet, so we don't need to do anything about climate change

People who believe in faith over science think that everything that happens is God's will - ie rape

People who believe in faith over science think that homosexuality is simply a lifestyle, something one chooses. Therefore, efforts to "convert" gays are perfectly acceptable, as is discrimination and punishment for homosexuality.

[BainsBane]

37. Yes, I understand that

But designing polls like the one apparently referenced assume such a conflict a priori. Certainly many on the far right see it that way, but others don't.

[hifiguy]

41. That may be true insofar as Catholics go.

Your argument is complete anathema - literally - to the Southern Baptists and anyone to their theological right, which includes all of the really crackpot evangelical dingbats who handle snakes, believe in witchcraft, demons and dog knows what crazy shit. It's the dimbulb mossback protestants who are the most devoutly anti-science, anti-education, anti-everything group in this country. They're the US equivalent of the Taliban: the buybull and nothing else.

[BainsBane]

34. In addition

Islam in the Golden Age had no such tension between faith and science. The leading scientists of the Islamic world--who were centuries ahead of their Western couterparts--were also philosophers and theologians. They saw no tension between the various forms of knowledge. Why should we?

[mr blur]

43. Evolution in action.

The dumb will die out, to avoid watering down the gene pool.

[BOG PERSON]

45. no surprise

texas is proof hell is a real place where bad people go and if you are not careful you will wind up there.

[sadbear]

46. Hell's got nothing on Texas in the middle of the summer.

Here's a picture of me from last July:
And here's a picture of me now:

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. Yeah, no kidding! It's like the ninth circle of Hell...summer in Tx.

And it's getting worse. I have got to get out of here!

Trying to sell the house and plan to move to the Oregon coast.

[Mr.Bill]

48. The other half threatened to shoot the pollsters.

[treestar]

51. Then turn over the advanced hospital equipment

and close the airports.

What dumbasses.