So, the good news is that the number of Americans taking a strict creationist view has dropped seven percent. The bad news is that this means only 40% of Americans believe that the Earth was created some 2500 years AFTER we know (not think but know) that the Babylonians learned to brew beer.
"A small minority of Americans hold the "secular evolution" view that humans evolved with no influence from God -- but the number has risen from 9% in 1982 to 16% today. At the same time, the 40% of Americans who hold the "creationist" view that God created humans as is 10,000 years ago is the lowest in Gallup's history of asking this question, and down from a high point of 47% in 1993 and 1999. There has been little change over the years in the percentage holding the "theistic evolution" view that humans evolved under God's guidance.
Americans' views on human origins vary significantly by level of education and religiosity. Those who are less educated are more likely to hold a creationist view. Those with college degrees and postgraduate education are more likely to hold one of the two viewpoints involving evolution."
http://www.gallup.com/poll/145286/fo...eationism.aspx
This might seem a relatively trivial issue but it actually is quite important. This effect science education (particularly the teaching of biology) in drastic ways. What's more many of the deliberately dishonest tactics one sees deployed on the right come from the creationist movement. (And yes, I have debated enough creationists to know of what I speak.)
Cheers
Aj