Poll: Majority Of Republicans Don't Believe In Evolution

WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) – One in three Americans say they don't believe in the theory of evolution and instead believe humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time, according to a new Pew Research poll.

The Pew poll found that 33 percent of Americans don't believe in evolution compared to 60 percent who do. The poll said white evangelical Protestants are most likely to believe humans haven't evolved (64 percent) along with half of all black Protestants.

The numbers differed amongst political parties as conservatives have waged war against science in recent years. According to Pew, 43 percent of Republicans believe in evolution compared to 67 percent of Democrats. Approximately 65 percent of independents believe in evolution.

The 24-point gap has increased from 10 points just five years ago.

Pew said that differences in the racial and ethnic composition of Democrats and Republicans or differences "in their levels of religious commitment do not wholly explain partisan differences in beliefs about evolution. Indeed the partisan differences remain even when taking these other characteristics into account."