Do you believe in evolution ?

Question

Do you believe in the Darwinian theory of the origin of species by natural selection? Please be so kind as to say what the main reason(s) are for your belief. Thank you.

Answer 1

Evolution, as a phenomenon, does occur. We've observed it in quite a few realms, including the biological realm in question. I believe it for the same reason I believe in tornadoes and olive trees and avalanches.

As a unifying theory for the origin of species, it is (like any theory) an explanation, and therefore not subject to be true or false. However, it is a very effective explanation, so far out in front of whatever is in second place that there's no reason to consider alternatives. I believe that it is the best explanation because it makes the best predictions (in terms of actually coming true) and it best accounts for the evidence that we have in hand. Again, I don't know of any remotely reasonable alternative.

As an explanation for the origin of life, it is not as complete nor well-supported, though it's still the front-runner by a wide margin.

LOL - we STILL get the "why are there still monkeys?" nonsense? How can you post without bothering to know anything at all about the topic?

Answer 2

Yes, I believe in the theory of evolution because it makes sense logically. For me, the natural selection only stands to reason. If a species don't have that certain oomph to survive, then they will cease to exist. Of course Darwins theory is more dynamic then my pithy example. But the major contention and confusing item is that many folks believe we came from apes. Not so. We share a common ancestor, and somewhere along the line the apes went one way and humans went on another path to make wars and develop taxes.

Answer 3

Yes. I haven't heard any better theories and its the only practical explanation for the world we live in here and now.

Creationist beliefs appear to be nothing more than modern mythology. Intelligent Design comes across as contrived and has no basis in scientific fact - simply created in an attempt to give a veneer of credibility to a more educated world.

The intelligent answers coming from the "yes" side, along with the generally lame one liners so far from the "nay sayers" tend to illustrate the point in this case.

grrlgenius5173 - I liked most of what you said but why must we conclude that it could only have been God that created the Universe? Why could it not have been any other sentient or omnipotent beings? If God did it...who or what created him (or her) then?

WIlliam Burroughs said...
"Once upon a time a huge giant flicked a gob of spit from his finger. That gob of spit is our Universe, falling to the ground"

May or may not be true, but it helps puts our total insignificance into perspective. We humans can be far too egocentric and put too much emphasis on our relevance and self-importance.

Answer 4

Evolution is not a matter of 'belief. I keep reading in here that "... evolution is just a theory... not a fact." That, as it turns out, is true... although the word 'just' is inappropriate, and misleading... and it indicated that people just don't understand what a scientific theory is; they seem to think that it is just an idea. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In science, a theory occupies a higher stratum of importance than a mere 'fact'. Theories EXPLAIN facts. The theory of evolution provides an explanatory framework for the OBSERVED FACT that the genetic makeup of populations of organisms changes, over time... and that over an extended period of time (hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of generations), the accumulation of those changes can result in speciation. It explains the OBSERVED FACT of transitional species found in the fossil record.

Theories live or die on the basis of their explanatory power and falsifiability. Theories, as an explanatory framework, allow one to make predictions which can be subsequently validated by way of experiments or future observations. That means that in order to be valid, a theory must be falsifiable... and all that it takes for a theory to be falsified is ONE INSTANCE where an experiment or future observation achieves a result that is CONTRARY to what the theory has predicted.

Evolution, as it turns out, has NEVER been falsified... in nearly 150 years. Further, all findings and observations to date... in molecular biology... in genetics... in paleontology... have SOLIDIFIED the explanatory power of evolution... NEVER detracted from it.

For those that say that evolution does not account for new species... horseshit. Examples abound, both in the 'world' and in the laboratory. One of the most interesting examples, and the most enlightening, has to do with a kind of bird (plovers, if my memory is correct) that occupies adjacent habitats all the way from Siberia to Britain. Because of environmental differences in these adjacent habitats, natural selection has produced genetic differences between the populations in these adjacent habitats. However, birds in adjacent habitats can still mate with each other... the genetic differences are small. However, the birds from the Eastern-most reaches of Siberia CAN NOT mate with those from Britain. Over the reach of MANY habitats, the accumulation of genetic differences essentially differentiates them as a species.

Answer 5

Evolution (macro-evolution, that is) is already a dead pseudo-science. It is a religious belief as it goes against the laws of empirical science. In 50 years, people will marvel at how such a baseless theory, rooted in faith alone, was accepted by so many as even remotely possible.

Don't be duped!!

By the way, don't let someone confuse you by saying natural selection is the same as, or consistent with, macro-evolution.

Answer 6

regrettably, specific. i do no longer understand the way they could cope with the cognitive dissonance. you're no longer nicely-knowledgeable considering the fact which you do no longer know that concept is the optimum point in technology. it is not a wager. it extremely is ignorant to declare "basically an concept". the subject-unfastened ancestor of all apes (which is composed of people and chimps) is a monkey and that could be shown on your delight. It does no longer count on the concept of evolution. it extremely is a fact. Theories don't have evidence which in elementary terms applies in arithmetic. Theories have information. there isn't any information of a god of any form. Theories are falsifiable. that's a function, no longer a malicious program. If information is produced that shows yet another concept or this one desires replace, then we found out something and are grateful for it. faith does no longer have that function. And it extremely is requred. So advent by utilising a god isn't able to being an concept. as a results of fact the invention of mitochodrial DNA ancestry could be desperate by utilising genetic mapping and we don't desire bones to make optimistic the concept. Theories make predictions and could be used to advance different theories and open up completely new strains of inquiry. the concept of evolution is functional as a results of fact is works, no longer unavoidably as a results of fact it extremely is fact. Evolution is fact yet organic determination is an concept. base line is that it works. God as a proof would not paintings for us and isn't any longer probable an answer in that regard. Its an excuse to no longer think of roughly it.

Answer 7

Yes. It is the best (but not perfect) scientific theory out there. Science is about coming up with a theory that can be proven wrong by coming up with evidence to the contrary. Creationism isn't a theory, because it cannot be proven wrong. Intelligent Design is laughable as a theory, because it clearly contradicts a mountain of evidence.

Answer 8

Yes, but I see no reason why religion and evolutionists have to be on opposing sides. Supposing one decides for themself that the theroies of evolution are correct as far as our scientific abilities and understanding seem to proove, we still in the end come back to the one endurring question with only one perfect answer:
"IF we evolved, if the universe was created with an explosion of atoms and subatomic particles - IF all of this is true, then who made it happen?"
The only answer you can conclude is God!

I think it is highly possible, being that our concept of time is linear and God's more than likely is not, that why couldn't evolution be of God's doing. Why can't human evolution be God achieving the pinacle of his creation with all other life forms doing the same as well with the constant evolving of each species to become more perfect or more useful? I don't think this makes us any less special, we are still a creation of God's. I just think it's quite possible that as the book of Genesis goes on to say, "and then God made.....and on the next day......" etc. how do we not know that each stage of evolution is not what Genesis is declaring with each passing "day".

The theroy of Darwinian evolution is at work all around us every day. Don't we as humans look for mates with the best qualities for our potential off-spring? For example, don't laugh this is true, the average womans bust size has increased over the past several decades. Obviously men are choosing larger breasts as a particular trait that is desirable. That is not to say there will not still be variety and variables on either side of the norm, but that the genetic marker for breast size could eventually reach a point in which what one might view as average now becomes the new small.
This same type of mating habbit occurs in all types of life, male peacocks with the most vibrant spread of feathers - the one that is not as flamboyant will probably not be chosen to carry on his less desirable genes; plants that are more resistant to weather extremes in their region of origin will survive and procreate passing along their hardiness as the weaker plants die out and eventually a less hardy plant is no longer in the gene pool. I think the idea of God's original creations being 'programed' to reach their highest potential or die trying is one of supreme genius!

Answer 9

I believe in evolution because there's no better theory to explain the diversity of life on Earth.

Answer 10

Yes I do. The physical evidence is overwhelming that life on this planet has evolved over millions of years. No other explanation ever given has even come close to explaning this obvious fact.