Why do people refuse to trust evolution?

Question

I hear quite often that evolution is only a theory. But its not. It is both a fact and a theory. The fact is that evolution happens. There is no denying or argument over that in the scientific community. However, HOW it happens is the theory, and is still up for debate. So why is it that people refuse the believe the FACT of evolution, and only focus on the THEORY of evolution to try and discredit the idea?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution#Distinctions_between_theory_and_fact

p.s. For anyone who wants to discredit evolution, please post links which can support your stance.

Answer 1

There is a different between adaptation and evolution. Evolution has too many holes in it. By scientific empirical standards, any other theorem that has been eighty per cent discredited by the scientific community would have been thrown out. Science does not hold Evolution up to its usual standards. It created a theory then produced evidence, some of which has been categorically debunked. In most sciences, first comes the evidence, then the theory.

Answer 2

You can't quite say that evolution is a fact (although I believe that it is). It is a scientific theory (a hypothesis that has been advanced by thousands of scientists, and not disproved, and then accepted as the best model) and is the current prevailing one. It is a very strong theory, just like gravity. You can't quite prove it as you can't prove anything other than maths, just provide the best possible explanation, which is what evolution is.

Ignorance and childhood brainwashing are the two most important factors as to why people don't believe it in my opinion. People who are too scared to face a debate that threatens their dubious beliefs will inherently debunk a massive amount of scientific evidence as rubbish, 'because God just exists, so there'. When you are a child, you believe what your parents teach you, this is a Darwinian principle, as believing your parents is a good advantage in life, they may tell you to 'not cross the road when there are cars coming'. This is helpful, so you believe it. Somewhere down the road, years ago religion was brought into this cycle, and this is passed on through the generations, and people who are not intelligent enough or informed enough will stick to it. This results in the large amounts of ignorance observable in many many people.

Answer 3

They don't focus on the theory. They muddle words and ideas. There are components of evolution that are fact; they call it "only a theory". There are well characterized aspects that are still open for debate; they call it "only a theory". There are ideas such as abiogenesis, which is only tangential to evolution, or the big bang, which is unrelated; they lump them in and call it "only a theory". From context, they muddle the words "fact", "theory", and "hypothesis" together, and then use an alternate definition of the word "theory" to mean "guess". They then promote Creationism from hypothesis (an explanation of the data) to theory (a tested and demonstrated hypothesis) without testing or demonstration. This is empty rhetoric.

I beg to differ that the "HOW" of evolution is clearly (but not completely) demonstrated at the molecular level. It is "WHY" that remains and will remain unanswered by science.

Answer 4

What gets me is what people think a scientific theory is, it is not how it used in the general community. Evolution has been proven.

And it was not just Darwin who made the discovery, there was around 10 scientists finding the exact same thing at the time he brought forth the theory, and one of them actually got co-credit along with Darwin. It is known as Darwin's theory because he was the first to publish a comprehensive book about it.

Answer 5

Because it forces them to realize that much of their religion is bunk. And you are correct, evolution is a fact. Natural Selection is a theory of how evolution works. It just happens to be the best theory so far. If another one were to come along and better explain evolution, then it will be ditched for the better theory. But, we've observed evolution in our lifetime, there is no question that it is real. Those that try to deny it are simply putting their fingers in their ears and say, "nah nah nah nah, I'm not listening"

Answer 6

their abilities of biology and scientific therapies might be more likely to obsolete... so on the very least I'd search a referral or moment opinion. the folks announcing that a man or woman's opinion of evolution does not have an effect on their potential to be a scientific practitioner, do not realise how a lot modern-day treatment is stimulated by means of evolutionary biology. if you do not be given that organisms difference over the years (by no means brain truthfully retaining monitor of HOW and WHEN) how can they be anticipated to preserve up with what medicines are now not potent towards what? the modernity of treatment is the one purpose it really works... it is like watching for a general practitioner to provide you leaches or blood letting due to the fact that you've got neck soreness... Edit: A lot of folks are complicated "health practitioner" for "general practitioner" While it is real that there is not any truly ought to realise, a lot much less be given evolutionary technological know-how to take away and appendix or set a damaged bone... ANY cure or antibiotic founded cure (the whole thing from the typical bloodless to melanoma and HIV) is founded squarely inside an know-how of the way those illnesses difference...

Answer 7

What is not to understand? They have a monopoly on truth based on a book written long ago by men who thought the world was flat and disease is caused by demons. Not only that, they believe it is a violation of their rights if they are denied the opportunity to use the coercive power of the state to shove their superstitious beliefs down every ones throat. We just have to marginalize them, which may mean an all out war against institutionalized stupidity.

Answer 8

I think its pretty obvious just from this site that people who don't accept evolution have learned a false strawman version of it and don't understand it at all. What amazes me is some of these people actually managed to graduate high school. How does one graduate high school in this country when one obviously slept through biology class.

Answer 9

They do it out of fear. Many people are too weak to live without their religion and feel that evolution throws their religion into doubt. So they deny it vehemently.

Answer 10

People who are not believers in evolution should not be here because they are denying their roots and thei ancestors of millions of years.