Why do Christians use the word "theory" like it is some wild a** guess?

Question

Do any of you know what a theory is? How is it different than a hypothesis? How is it different than a Law (not the legal or religious kind)?

Why do you believe anything some preacher tells you but refuse to read and explore anything but religion on your own?

Why do you base all your "knowledge" on authors from 5000 years ago when people still thought dreams came from God?

Mark do some reading! I don't mean read your Bible some more you will not find the answer to you question there!

Answer 1

Common usage has caused the meaning of the word to degenerate to a point where the layman thinks that a theory is equivalent to a hypothesis.

Those who seek to push their religious agenda will hop on this lay definition while ignoring its meaning in a scientific context. They don't care that, in science, a theory is a well-supported concept backed by evidence that emerged from a myriad of fields.

Nope... they just care about what their little 'ole book says.

Answer 2

Theory is not fact, not proof. A hypothesis is a supposition used as a basis from which to draw conclusions, in other words, a theory. When I was in elementary school, they taught us in simpler language what a hypothesis was: an educated guess. This is far from fact, proof, or truth. We use this term when it comes to things that are actually a matter of theory, not proof. As for law, for example, the Law of Gravity is proven. If you throw yourself off of the Empire State building, you WILL fall. The Law of Lift was discovered some time later preceding aircraft technology. Laws are things that are PROVEN over and over again, through many tests. If you were really familiar with the bible, then you would know that it is not myth, but law. It is proven time and time again, despite all scoffers' best efforts to disprove it.

Answer 3

You are right the Dogma of evolution could not even be exalted to theory stautus. Thanks.



In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it often does in other contexts. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence (see scientific method). In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable. In principle, scientific theories are always tentative, and subject to corrections or inclusion in a yet wider theory. Commonly, a large number of more specific hypotheses may be logically bound together by just one or two theories. As a general rule for use of the term, theories tend to deal with much broader sets of universals than do hypotheses, which ordinarily deal with much more specific sets of phenomena or specific applications of a theory.

Answer 4

Like any believers, Christians use words without clear definitions or explanations. One well known middle-ages monk famously told: "I believe because it is irrational". There is a consistent way to explore world - it is science. A scientist from India, China, Russia, France or US can visit another scientist from totally different part of the world, and work on problems, figure out reasons and connections, without being offended or get into war with each other. Moreover, scientists have right away same language - mathematics and physics. Lawers need to re-learn their stuff, but a scientist does not need to re-learn, when coming to absolutely different country and culture. Because this is objective knowledge about the real world. Now, how about one religious fanatic coming to country of another kind?...

Answer 5

The word "theory" has a number of distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on the context and their methodologies. In common usage, people use the word "theory" to signify "conjecture", "speculation", or "opinion." In this sense, "theories" are opposed to "facts" — parts of the world, or claims about the world, that are real or true regardless of what people think.
In science, a theory is a proposed description, explanation, or model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation.


A hypothesis is a suggested explanation of a phenomenon or reasoned proposal suggesting a possible correlation between multiple phenomena. The term is derived from the ancient Greek, hypotithenai meaning "to put under" or "to suppose.


Law is a set of rules or norms of conduct which forbid, permit or mandate specified actions and relationships among people and organizations.



I do not beleave everything I am told just becaude it comes out of someone elses mouth.
I do a lot of reading on a lot of subjects, not just religion.

and as far as my knowledge it comes from personal experiances and from things i have learned and read and feel.
my personal Beliefs are mine alone and not saturated by just one thing but incompass many things.

Answer 6

I think that the inconsistent use of the word "theory" (as well as the word "law," which you yourself had to explain in greater detail) runs throughout our culture - it's not exclusive to Christians, and there's no good reason to single them out.

People use both terms in unscientific ways, and we just have to accept their usage as such. I understand a scientific theory to be a logical, coherent explanation of a set of phenomena that has withstood the rigors of experimental testing. In non-scientific terms, though, a "theory" is an explanation - even a wild-haired one - that likely has not undergone careful scrutiny.

It gets very confusing for some people when they begin to discuss scientific theories like the theory of relativity in non-scientific terms. There is a lack of understanding that such theories have undergone a great deal of examination and have been found to be worthy - they are NOT wild-haired, out-in-left-field guesses.

I encourage you, though, to make room in your head for the possibility of knowledge from sources OTHER than science. You are an intelligent enough person to recognize that science does not possess all of the answers that humankind requires in order to live well. Tap into the history of religious thought - it has served people well for millennia now, and there's no reason to believe it will not continue to do so.

Answer 7

The bible has PROPHECY it points to the future while science can only look into the past. Yet we need BOTH> civilaztion need science art religion literature etc. A theory is a Well tested hypothesis over and over again. correct> yet it is a "working idea of what might be" not an objective abstract truth> more like the best "IDea" to date.

Answer 8

because I believe "mans wisdom" in still foolishness to God ...and I dont believe everything a preacher tells me... as always being right-- they are human like everyone else... but as someone that seems somewhat educated.. a theory is just that --- a theroy-- a conjecture-- a supposition-- with some basis in fact-- like evolution--
laws are basically rules of conduct-- and there are physical laws--like gravity for example-- and there are spritual laws.. like the commandments-- if you defy a physical law such a jumping off a cliff .. u will have consquences-- if u break spiritual laws.. like murdering someone u will have consequences...
its not all rocket science--- i do not base my knowledge on authors from 5000 years ago.. i base my faith on His word... and the power of it

Answer 9

:)

A hypothesis is an educated guess.

A theory is a framework used to integrate families of hypotheses ... sometimes people say that a theory is composed of well-tested and uncontradicted hypotheses etc.

A law is a relationship between two or more physical quantities (which can be empirically tested and demonstrated reproducibly and repeatably).

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The Theory of Evolution is part scientific (Micro*evolution) and part Atheist Faith (Macro*Evolution).

It is relevant to note that there is no evidence that proves Atheistic MacroEvolution (without Intelligent Design)...

I used to believe in Evolution. However, over a period of time I have grown skeptical of the claims of Macro*Evolution... this is largely due to the weakness of the evidence for Macro*Evolution, and the fact that the evidence, rationally interpreted does not support the overarching claims made by Macro*Evolutionists...

For scientific and intellectual critiques of evolution, see http://www.godsci.org/gsi/apol/evo/00.html .

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In response to your other questions...

I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html ).

For scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God, see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm

Cordially,
John

Answer 10

A Theory is something that is unproven. Its a supposition of what can be, an idea, but, not put to the test that anyone can verify in a laboratory.

Suppositions is a case of "what if"...
What if I toss you off the cliff, will you die? live? We dont know, but it can be "done" so that you can see the results.

We base our knowledge on the LORD! What HE has handed down for us to know.

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 11

If you are referring to the "theory" of evolution it was a wild a** guess that has been shown to be wrong and admittedly so by scientists.

"A legitimate conflict between science and religion cannot exist. Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind". Albert Einstein.