According to a recent...

...Gallup poll*, most Republicans (58 percent) believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years.

To give you some perspective on that, imagine assembling a typical group of Republicans like the one above. (And they do look like Republicans, don't they?) Six out of those ten individuals would believe in the Biblical story of creation.

And that highlights the main difference that I see between the two parties and something I've been meaning to write about since the election.

While Democrats are the party of science, reason and policy, Republicans have become the party of belief. It doesn't matter whether it's political or economic ideology, or religion; everything has become an article of faith with them. Unlike Democrats, Republicans believe what they believe because they believe it.

And this, to me, is what is going to hold the GOP back for a long time. You can talk all you want about how moderates like Jeb Bush or Chris Christie are going to take back the Republican Party in 2016, but they still have to win the support of the base to get the nomination. And I just don't see that happening yet.

* Hat tip: Charles Blow.