Do you believe in Evolution because . . .?

Question

A) You are afraid not to, after all, you're entire life, you've been told that "all smart people do" or
B) You have seen actual irrefutable evidence that suggests that evolution is real or
C) You don't know, you just do or
D) Other (you explain)

Answer 1

A.C....you've always been polite and respectful to everyone here...so I'm going to try and keep this the same way....

Evolution isn't a belief, it isn't a theory, it's not something that might be true.

Evolution is real. It happens. We've seen numerous species evolve over the last century.

It's a documented, observable, fact.

Moths in England evolved during the Industrial revolution from primarily grey to primarily black because they better blended with pollution. The moths outside of the area did not change. It was a slow, studied, proccess.

The human body is evolving....we're losing wisdom teeth....we're losing the pinky toe of the foot...the appendix is a vestigal organ now....

We've watched evolution happen A.C. It's a fact....HARD fact. There is no debating that it happens from a logical perspective.

If you want to argue that we don't understand exactly how or why it occurs...that's ok...you can do that.

You can say God causes evolution. You can say god causes mutations. You can say God designed DNA.

But evolution happens A.C. It's a fact. Debating evolution is exactly the same as saying the earth is the center of the solar system.

There is absolutely no question...none...that humans and other mammals have common ancestors. That isn't a theory. It's a proven fact.

Answer 2

D)

Its not A) - I've never been one for the "argument from authority"
Its not C) - I have thought this through

B)? - I don't believe ANYTHING because of irrefutable evidence because irrefutable evidence is unobtainable. Never-the-less I believe a lot of stuff. I believe that there is going to be hot water in the tap for a shave, I believe my clothes are in the wardrobe, I believe the train will take me to work etc etc etc. I believe in various scientific theories: the universal law of gravity for example, I have never seen "actual irrefutable evidence" of gravity but I'm not going to walk off the top of a building anytime soon! We are all in the situation where we cannot prove anything but must judge the truth of various things. How should we do it? Well in the case of evolution I think it is a better theory than any of the others on offer:
- it fits and explains the facts
- there are key facts that support the theory
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aso331Q3mU69vOpplsYlMgXsy6IX?qid=20070213072123AAZYGm2&show=7#profile-info-cYQPT1ddaa
- there are no scientific facts that support young earth creationism (this is specifically admited by "Answers in Genesis" http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v22/i1/creation.asp
- The central tenet of Behe's "intelligent design" has been shown to be false
http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/design1/article.html
- Other forms of Intelligent Design actually fail to say anything meaningful

So I will go with evolution until someone comes up with a theory that:
1. Has evidence refuting Evolution
2. Contains all of those predicitions of evolution that are correct

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/popper.htm (when its back online)

Answer 3

regrettably, confident. i don't comprehend the way they'd cope with the cognitive dissonance. you're no longer properly-knowledgeable given which you do no longer know that concept is the utmost point in technology. it is not a wager. that's ignorant to declare "in trouble-free terms a theory". the uncomplicated ancestor of all apes (which contains people and chimps) is a monkey and which would be shown on your satisfaction. It does not matter on the belief of evolution. that's a reality. Theories have not got info which in trouble-free terms applies in arithmetic. Theories have info. there is not any info of a god of any style. Theories are falsifiable. that's a function, no longer a malicious program. If info is produced that shows yet another theory or this one desires exchange, then we found out something and are grateful for it. faith does not have that function. And that's requred. So creation via a god isn't able to being a theory. via fact the invention of mitochodrial DNA ancestry would be desperate via genetic mapping and we don't choose bones to make specific the belief. Theories make predictions and can be utilized to enhance different theories and open up fullyyt new lines of inquiry. the belief of evolution is sensible via fact is works, no longer unavoidably provided that's reality. Evolution is reality yet organic selection is a theory. base line is that it works. God as a proof does not paintings for us and is not any longer probable an answer in that regard. Its an excuse to no longer think of roughly it.

Answer 4

B--Here is my list. There is more, I just tried to stick with the easy to understand ones.

* Fossils - the order can be determined by stratification alone (no radiological dating) it is unarguable and life started simple and got more complex. Here is a simple chart to show what I mean: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/fossils/succession.html
* Anatomical similarities between species.
* Chemical similarities between species.
* Mitochondrial DNA regressive studies. - This comes only from your mother and the only changes to it are through mutations. These mutations occur at a known rate, and converge world wide 150,000 years ago give or take. If Eve (6000 years ago) was the only female, it would be almost identical world wide. It is not. The flood gives a second bottleneck that matches the facts even less well.
* Geographic distribution of related species. Meaning related species are usually near each other.
* Wisdom Teeth - there isn't room on your jaw for them anymore.
* Your little toe - totally useless. Nice intellegent design here.
* Your appendix - totally useless now but it does digest cellulose in other species.
* Your inner eyelids - They don't even work now, but they do for lots of other animals like house cats. Bet you didn't even know you had 'em.
* Vestigial DNA - meaning chromosomes that we have but don't use, but that used in other species. We have several that other primates use but are totally useless to us.
* The fact that we share so much DNA among species
* There are no wild cows. They evolved through artificial selection and are totally man made.
* Different breeds of dogs, cats, livestock.
* Viruses and bacteria evolve quickly and you can actually see it. This is why you need a new flu shot every year.
* Your tail bone. It is even not that uncommon to be born with a tail.
* Goosebumps - this would be useful if we had fur because it fluffs it and make more insulation. For us it is worthless.
* The hair standing up on your neck when you are frightened. Animals use this to make themselves look bigger. Doesn't work when you walk upright and don't have fur.
* The fact that humans have gotten measurably and heritablely taller since the 1600s
* The fact that humans jaw have gotten measurably and heritablely smaller since the 1600s
* The fact that humans little toes have gotten measurably and heritablely smaller since the 1600s
* Human lower back problems. Your back is intelligently designed to have support from your shoulders.
* Transitional fossils - here is a list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_transitional_fossils

Answer 5

Not a matter of believing. Evolution is the only rational, logical, provable theory that we currently have in place. Will we ever know all of the pieces? Probably not all but we know enough already to announce evolution as fact.

Answer 6

B) Evolution is a fact. Even the Bible supports it.

"Let the earth bring forth the creatures of the sea."

Answer 7

Technically I haven't actually seen evolution, but several really creditable people have supported, I suppose if I really wanted to be sure I have to confirm their claims with my own research.

Answer 8

B) It has been thoroughly documented. Evolution is fact. Wake me up when America gets out of the dark ages.

Answer 9

D - It's the best explanation. Same as the theory of gravity and aerodymanics :)

Answer 10

B B B B B B B B B.....silly little Air Conditioning.....silly silly silly.

hahahahahaha.

Hearts.