Don't religious types understand what a scientific theory is ?

Question

It is often stated that evolution is "just a theory". A scientific theory can be and usually is also a fact.

For example, the theory of electricity ( the existence of electricity is a fact )

The theory of flight ( the ability for planes to fly is a fact )

Gravitational theory ( that gravity exists is a fact )

The theory of evolution ( this is a fact in the sense that 1. The available evidence points to evolution having happened and 2. No-one has come up with a better scientific explanation to fit the evidence )

There may be minor changes to electrical, gravitational, evolution theory in the future, but the basic theories are true.

Ok why is it that SOME religious types don't understand what a scientific theory is ?

Marvellis, the flaw in your answer is that science does not and cannot address the existence or non-existence of a god or gods because god is not a natural phenomenon. He/ she / it is not amenable to scientific observation.

On the other hand, evolution, gravity, flight etc are things which can observed.

Science is based on proving something . It does not rely on accepting as fact something which can't be proven to be untrue.

Marvellis, the flaw in your answer is that science does not and cannot address the existence or non-existence of a god or gods because god is not a natural phenomenon. He/ she / it is not amenable to scientific observation.

On the other hand, evolution, gravity, flight etc are things which can observed.

Science is based on proving something . It does not rely on accepting as fact something which can't be proven to be untrue.

Marvellis, the flaw in your answer is that science does not and cannot address the existence or non-existence of a god or gods because god is not a natural phenomenon. He/ she / it is not amenable to scientific observation.

On the other hand, evolution, gravity, flight etc are things which can observed.

Science is based on proving something . It does not rely on accepting as fact something which can't be proven to be untrue.

Answer 1

I'm not exactly a "religious type", but I would call myself a seeking agnostic. The available evidence for evolution theory is BUNK. The only hard evidence for evolutionary theory is Darwin's observations on the Galapogas Islands. But the only thing that really proves is that micro-evolution exist, NOT macro-evolution. In other words, one species can not evolve into another. There can only be slight variations within a species that will react to the environment.

This is the most covered up issue in America today. The evidence for evolution that people claim is so strong, is actually pathetically weak when you really look at the data and facts.

If you don't believe me, google this: The Cambrian Explosion

This is hardcore evidence that goes directly against what Darwin said. Basically, there is a geological earth layer filled with fossils that suggest that they just "appeared" out of nowhere. There is no gradual process of evolutionary stages before this layer. It is a total mystery that we don't understand, but facts are facts, check it out. Most people never even talk about the Cambrian explosion, they just want to sweep it under the rug; but that is not true science.

Answer 2

you are contradicting yourself, a theory cannot be a fact and a fact cannot be a theory are you a bit confused? Theories are not not fact and since gravity light and electricity are proven they are not theories ! Just because some theories become fact when proven, does not automatically, mean, that all theoeries are fact al the theories you call facts, as you know we have not always had planes through out mankinds existence, just like even though electricity did exist it was not available to all humans at all times, it had not been discovered by the early times of mankind !

Answer 3

If you look at the word fact. "Knowledge or information based on real occurrences"* It something that has been proven. Electricity is a fact. It has been proven. Flight is a fact, it is proven a 1000 times a day. Gravity is a fact, just drop an egg off a building and it will go splat.

Evilution on the other hand is not a fact. The evidence is being interpreted to show evilution has happen. Not that it did happen.

As for your second thought that No-one has come up with a better explanation to fit the evidence does not make it true. Just because there is not another explanation does not make something fact.

k1

Answer 4

I think most of them don't realise that pretty much EVERYTHING in science is theory. For example; they'd accept that smoking causes lung cancer as a FACT, but in truth that's just a theory, because what if it's just a huge coincidence that people who smoke get lung cancer because of some other weird reason? But if you ask them about evolution, despite all the proof, it's not a fact, it's a just a silly little theory.

Answer 5

The processes are facts. Theories are our best understanding at any given time of how those processes work.

One complaint that's been making the rounds here lately is that science keeps changing. As if that's a bad thing. ;-) The whole point of the scientific endeavor is to improve our understanding.

Change is the basis for life. Without it, a living organism dies. It's that simple. And that's why literal interpretations of a 2000 year old book are dead as well. Religions, like organisms, need to change and renew themselves as well.

Answer 6

O.K. ones a theory has been found true it no longer is a theory it becomes fact. Not all theories become fact... Faith is a totally separate issue from science. I do not need someone to prove God exists I just simply believe... understand?

Answer 7

While many scientific theories are proven to be fact, many others have never or can never proven.

It is often said in science that theories can never be proved, only disproved. So if they can't be disproved, they must be true.

The same can be said of God, can't it? If you cannot disprove his existence, he must exist. While many people interpret evidence of Him (the Bible) in varying ways, the basics stay the same and are true among all Christians.

I believe that science and faith can exist together. As far as evolution - it is a theory, so is the Big-Bang theory - both have scientist who earnestly believe in them. Fortunately for us Americans, we can choose to believe whichever we want.

Answer 8

Wow your opening statement is very provocative, to the point that you sound like a bigot.

I guess it is your right to say so.

Why so bitter?

I forgive you brother.

By the way Mr. Science, once the theories you list are in existence, they are no longer theories...they are in practice.
Once someone can prove evolution it will be fact, but no one can prove that man evolved from apes.

Answer 9

Some of them do. Because they do, they don't get argumentative about it, and tend to go unnoticed. I really wish more of them would speak up and show people that science is not some evil demon that wants to murder their God.

Answer 10

Read something before you make a post. This is covered over and over. The quick and easy version:

MOST RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION