#Comparativestudy

A global debate on teaching Darwin’s theory persists in the United States, while the United Kingdom has moved toward broader acceptance. New research suggests the divide is not only about science; religion, identity, and psychology shape beliefs about human origins. For Thai audiences, the findings offer practical lessons on communicating science with cultural sensitivity.

The controversy in the United States traces back to the 1925 Scopes trial, a symbol of a broader cultural clash over education. Recent surveys show that acceptance of evolution varies by country. In 2020, Pew Research Center found that about 64% of Americans agreed humans and other living things have evolved, 18% did not, and many were unsure. In contrast, roughly 73% of Britons accepted common ancestry. These figures reflect different social dynamics and educational contexts.

Nearly a century after a Tennessee court trial ignited a national debate over whether schools should teach Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, Americans remain deeply split on the subject—even as much of the world, including the United Kingdom, regards the issue as largely settled. Recent research, as highlighted in a July 2025 article in The Conversation, reveals that this enduring divide is less about scientific evidence and more about the complex interplay of religion, identity, and psychological factors in shaping public beliefs about human origins (theconversation.com).