LifeWay Research released the results of their latest poll of Protestant pastors earlier this week. The 1000 participants “overwhelmingly believe that God did not use evolution to create humans and think Adam and Eve were literal people.” More specifically,
- “I believe God used evolution to create people” – 73% of pastors disagree
- “I believe Adam and Eve were literal people” – 74% of pastors agree
So What?
Thankfully the article does note that this pastoral group’s beliefs are more conservative than the American population at large, based on the latest research by Gallup. And, it also notes that pastors who are mainline, have attained graduate degrees, and/or serve larger congregations are far more likely to hold the minority viewpoint on these issues.
- Are you surprised to learn that roughly 3 in 4 American Protestant pastors think Adam and Eve were literal people and do not believe in evolution? Why or why not?
- Are your congregation’s clergy in the majority or minority on each of these matters? Does your own view match that of your parish’s pastor(s)?