In advance of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday on Feb. 12, 2009, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life recently released a research package exploring the evolution controversy in the U.S. The Pew Forum’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey found that views on evolution differ widely across religious groups.

Evolution
Source: Pew Forum U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted in 2007, released in 2008
For question wording, refer to the PDF of the full report.

In this research package

The Conflict Between Religion and Evolution
An overview of the American debate over evolution.

Social and Legal Dimensions
The battle over evolution has been largely fought in courtrooms.

Darwin and His Theory of Evolution
At first glance, Charles Darwin seems an unlikely revolutionary.

Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Evolution
A breakdown of 13 major religious groups’ views on evolution.

Evolution: A Timeline
This timeline highlights key events in the debate surrounding evolution.

Religious Differences on the Question of Evolution
The Pew Forum’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey found that views on evolution differ widely across religious groups.

Fighting Over Darwin, State by State
A review of battles over whether – or how – public school students should learn about evolution and the origins of life.