Four in ten Americans don't believe in Darwin's theory of evolution

Washington, Feb. 12 (ANI): Only 39 percent Americans believe in the Darwin's 'theory of evolution' and just 24 percent of those who attend church weekly believe in his explanation for the 'origin of life', a poll released on Charles Darwin's 200th birthday reveals.

The Gallup survey found that 25 percent respondents did not believe in evolution, while 36 percent didn't have any opinion on the subject, Fox News reported.

A total of 1,018 Americans were surveyed and it was found that there was close correlation between education level and belief in the theory.

"Among those with high-school educations or less who have an opinion on Darwin's theory, more say they do not believe in evolution than say they believe in it. For all other groups, and in particular those who have at least a college degree, belief is significantly higher than non-belief," the Gallup survey found.

Just 21 percent of respondents who had up to a high school level of education believe in evolution, compared with 74 percent of those with postgraduate degrees.

But their opinions were even more shaped by their religions.

"Previous Gallup research shows that the rate of church attendance is fairly constant across educational groups, suggesting that this relationship is not owing to an underlying educational difference but instead reflects a direct influence of religious beliefs on belief in evolution," Frank Newport, Gallup's editor in chief said.

Among the regular churchgoers, only 24 percent said they believe in evolution, while 41 percent do not and 35 percent have no opinion.

Fifty five percent non or infrequent churchgoers expressed belief in evolution, against the 11 percent who didn't.

It's well known fact that Charles Darwin's revolutionary theory of evolution infuriated many Christians as it contradicted the Biblical view of creation. (ANI)