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Fox News host Glenn Beck has denounced the theory of evolution, saying that he knows it is false because he has never seen "a half-monkey, half-person." Beck coming out against evolution is hardly surprising, but his not-so-persuasive scientific analysis has drawn the usual round of mockery and revulsion. Scientists say that our closest living ancestors are not monkeys but apes, with which we share a common ancestor. Records of one of the most recent known common ancestors, sahelanthropus tchadensis, indicate it lived about 7 million years ago. Here is Beck's case against evolution.

How many people believe in evolution in this country? I'd like to see. I mean, I don't know why it's unreasonable to say this. I'm not God so I don't know how God creates. I don't think we came from monkeys. I think that's ridiculous. I haven't seen a half-monkey, half-person yet. Did evolution just stop? Did we all of sudden -- there's no other species that's developing into half-human?



It's like global warming. So I don't know why it is so problematic for people to just so, I don't know how God creates. I don't know how we got here. If I get to the other side and God's like, "You know what, you were a monkey once," I'll be shocked, but I'll be like, "Whatever."



They have to make you care. They have to force it down your throat. When anybody has to force it, that's a problem. You didn't have to force that the world is round. Truth is truth. You don't have to force the truth.



Talking Points Memo's Jillian Rayfield quips, "Have you ever seen a half-monkey, half-person? No? Well neither has Glenn Beck, which is how he knows evolution doesn't exist."

Libertarianism blogger Doug Mataconis sighs, "The extent to which denial of basic science is becoming de rigueur on the right is summed up in this excerpt from Glenn Beck’s radio program today. ... This is what conservatism has come to?"

Beck's statement comes one week after Tea Party star and Delaware Senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell argued that anti-evolution "creationism" theory should be taught in public schools.

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