Those who say "evolution is 'just' a theory, what do you really think is a theory?

Question

If gravity is 'just' a theory, why don't creationists jump off a skyscraper without a parachute?

Answer 1

In science, a 'theory' is not just 'an idea', as the scientifically ignorant seem to think, in common parlance... it is an explanatory framework for a set of observed facts... a description, or model, of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same sort, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. In the case of the 'Theory of Evolution', the OBSERVED FACTS are changes to the genetic makeup of populations of organisms, over time. The explanation is genetic drift (statistical variations in the genetic within a population) and mutations (random), operated on by natural selection (NOT random). In other words, "The non-random survival of randomly varying replicators (Richard Dawkins)." NONE of this is in dispute among scientists. It represents a consistent body of scientific fact extending back almost 150 years, which is well supported by genetics and by the fossil record. There has NEVER been anything found to refute it.

Evolution is strictly a biological science. It has nothing whatsoever to do with or to say about the origins of the universe or the world. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the origins of life. It has only to do with changes to the genetic makeup of populations of organisms, over time.

The people who vociferously dispute evolution are generally those whose livelihood depends on having large flocks of scientifically ignorant believers (sheeple) who do not question what they are told... they merely parrot it. If those sheeple were to actually begin to think for themselves, and investigate the scientific facts with an open and critical mind, they would at some point begin to realize things like "Hey... this idea that the earth and humans were created over 6 days somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago is absolute horseshit. The Universe is around 14 billion years old, and the earth is around 4.7 billion years old." Or: "Wow... look at that... there is absolutely no evidence in the geological record that there was ever a world-wide flood... and there is plenty of evidence that there was not."

Within the past few decades, astronomers have discovered unimaginally huge clouds of organic chemicals (the 'building blocks of life') in space, in the vicinity of 'stellar nurseries'. This reinforces the idea that life is ubiquitous... not a unique condition associated exclusively with our little planet. In fact, it may be that "when and how did life arise on earth?" may not even be the right question. There is a very real possibility that primitive 'life' was raining down upon the earth over the entire time that it was forming, and for hundreds of millions of years afterward. The REAL question might be "When did conditions on earth settle down enough that life was able to take hold?" Google for 'panspermia'.

Answer 2

Okay, you need the real answer. A theory has graduated from hypothesis (educated guess) because there is evidence to support it.

You know, like Gravity.

Answer 3

A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Fundamentalists think it means "guess".

Answer 4

Main Entry: the·o·ry
Pronunciation: 'thE-&-rE, 'thir-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ries
Etymology: Late Latin theoria, from Greek theOria, from theOrein
1 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another

Answer 5

It is a nice way for scientist to tell us that we must believe something despite the fact that they only have opinion to back their presuppositions.

Answer 6

gravity is 'just' a theory

Answer 7

Anything that is UNPROVED.