But why are people so easily led to believe their preacher is right when he jolly sings “I don’t believe in evolution”? Must it not respond to something within themselves?
I think there are several answers. One is that unfortunately, the US population in general is pretty poorly educated. This is particularly true when it comes to the sciences.
Second, the people selling the Biblical Creationism are good, very good. The general pastor or preacherman in the pulpit or on the dais is generally a great, well trained speaker. They are masters of emotion and manipulation.
When you put those two together, a basically uneducated audience and a masterful salesman, the result is what we see in the US today. We see programs like 60 Minutes touted as NEWS programs, we see indepth investigation being a 60 second spot instead of a 30 second one. We see absolutely masterful conmen like Ken Hamm, Duane Gish, Kent Hovind, Ron Wyatt, Gene Scott, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the medium that allows them to reach broad audiences.
Do not underestimate either side of the equation. The audience is uneducated. The salesmen are VERY good. Add in the profit motive and you get Trinity Broadcasting or Sky Angel.
It is a good life.
Aslan is not a
Tame Lion