Unfortunately, when someone denies evolution, it rarely has to do with their intelligence and more to do with their upbringing. I've known several biblical literalists in my life who turned out to be very well educated and/or open-minded to almost everything -but- what they determined to be contradictory to the bible.
Now, you don't have to be a biblical literalist to deny evolution, but that makes up the vast majority of anti-evolution discussion. And, when you think about it, it makes sense why it's hard for them to accept it.
A lot of people have been brought up to believe things happened another way. They've been convinced that anything contradictory to this is a "test" and they've been told that failing this test is akin to rejecting God. You've mentioned your friend practiced Judaism and, while you say he's not that religious, I find that if they're willing to practice the small stuff (separating the meat from the dairy) then, while they may not be strict practitioners, they believe everything said in the book.
If your friend is as smart as you say he is though, even if he is a creationist, it's possible to convince someone in that mindset. When I say I've known several biblical literalists, that's all past-tense. All of those friends have come to realize that they don't have to sacrifice their faith to accept science (and this was tough, one of them was a young earth creationist that believed in Noah's flood whole-heartedly).
When you find someone who's smart but shares an opinion that disagrees with science, it's never because that's their one blindspot, it's because you're dealing with years of them being taught the opposite is true. All you have to do to correct that kind of thing is to show your proof and be patient enough to address his concerns one at a time. There's a lot of concerns, it could take a while if you actually care about it. If you don't, no harm really in letting someone believe that some things are unknowable.
Now, you don't have to be a biblical literalist to deny evolution, but that makes up the vast majority of anti-evolution discussion. And, when you think about it, it makes sense why it's hard for them to accept it.
A lot of people have been brought up to believe things happened another way. They've been convinced that anything contradictory to this is a "test" and they've been told that failing this test is akin to rejecting God. You've mentioned your friend practiced Judaism and, while you say he's not that religious, I find that if they're willing to practice the small stuff (separating the meat from the dairy) then, while they may not be strict practitioners, they believe everything said in the book.
If your friend is as smart as you say he is though, even if he is a creationist, it's possible to convince someone in that mindset. When I say I've known several biblical literalists, that's all past-tense. All of those friends have come to realize that they don't have to sacrifice their faith to accept science (and this was tough, one of them was a young earth creationist that believed in Noah's flood whole-heartedly).
When you find someone who's smart but shares an opinion that disagrees with science, it's never because that's their one blindspot, it's because you're dealing with years of them being taught the opposite is true. All you have to do to correct that kind of thing is to show your proof and be patient enough to address his concerns one at a time. There's a lot of concerns, it could take a while if you actually care about it. If you don't, no harm really in letting someone believe that some things are unknowable.
