As a science teacher, how would you respond to some who tells you they do not believe in biological evolution?

Question

This a question put before me in environmemtal scienc class. Again the question is, "as a science teacher, how would you respond to someone who tells you they do not believe in biologocial evolutionbecause it is a theory?

Answer 1

just tell them that is their choice, however, this is a theory that they need to learn to get out of your class..sure, there was no one there to witness it, but there was no one there to witness ANYTHING from thousands of years ago, so they just need to bite the bullet and learn it.

Answer 2

"how would you respond to someone who tells you they do not believe in biologocial evolutionbecause it is a theory?"

Oof. There's a student who doesn't understand science at all ... let alone evolution.

As a science teacher you would explain that *everything* in science is a "theory." From the germ theory of disease, the atomic theory of matter, the plate tectonic theory of geology, the acretion disk theory of the solar system, the Newtonian theory of gravity, Einstein's theories of relativity, quantum theory, etc. etc. It's ALL "theory."

As a science teacher you would explain what the word "theory" means to a scientist. In everyday language it can mean "just a wild guess with or without any evidence" ... as in when you say "I have a theory about where I lost my car keys."

But in science, the word "theory" has a very specific meaning. It is basically a "hypothesis + evidence". In other words, it is an explanation for something that has some evidence supporting it. Once a theory, it never graduates to any "higher" form of truth ... it is forever a theory. It becomes a stronger and stronger theory the more evidence you have (as in the case of evolution) ... but it is always and forever will be a "theory."

(asternight: A theory doesn't become a law when there is enough evidence. A theory is always a theory. A law is always a law. A theory and law are two different kinds of statements. A theory *explains* something. A law *describes* someting.)

So calling it a "theory" doesn't mean we have no confidence in its truth. In the case of evolution, we have HUGE confidence in its truth. It is one of the more well documented theories in the history of science.

In other words, saying that something is a "theory" is insufficient reason to reject it.

The problem here is not the failure to believe evolution. The failure is a complete lack of understanding of WHAT SCIENCE IS.

This is precisely the problem with creationism. In its efforts to discredit evolution, they have to throw the baby out with the bathwater ... they have to undermine and unravel the teaching of ALL SCIENCE ... right down to the basics of what the word "theory" means. In short, creationism has to unravel the teaching of science itself.

Make no mistake about it. While it sounds like creationism is attacking only evolution ... they end up having to attack ALL OF SCIENCE in the process. Any science teacher worth his or her profession, should be alarmed ... and put down the books (whatever class it is), and re-explain the BASICS of science!

This is NOT just about evolution! It is about science itself.

Answer 3

It would depend on the age of the student. Basically, I would explain the difference between faith-based understanding and scientific understanding.

Evolution is a product of science and is not something one can believe or not believe. The evidence supporting the fact of evolution (that species have changed over time) is available for anyone to see and to understand. The Theory of Evolution (as opposed to the fact of evolution) is science's best explanation of how and why the change in species over time occurs. This theory (as any other scientific theory) compiles and explains a whole host of evidence into an explanation that is consistent with that evidence and which allows predictions to be made and tested.

I would try to show them as much evidence I could that supports the idea that species do evolve, and to show them that an alternative explanation (like biblical creation) is not science.

Saying that you don't believe in biological evolution is like saying you don't believe in atoms or in gravity.

Answer 4

Most of the time, when it comes to the theory of evolution, there are only two plausible causes that any one person can argue.
Biological Evolution and Godly Miracle.
In response to someone who decides to not believe in the biological side, the only noteworthy alternative is the biblical side.
Which, in that case, cannot be related to each other in the first place.
Scientific fact and theory are in a completely different spectrum than biblical fiction and story.
You can argue that any other form of explanation for evolution as a whole is nothing more than theory since there is no concrete evidence for anything on that matter.

Answer 5

I had this a lot..the most extreme person literally put their head on their book for the entire time.

When I was at school, I didn;t believe in evolution, but after seeing evidence etc I changed my mind. I had the feeling I was forced to beleive something I didn;t want to know, so now I always say that ....I am not going to force you to beleive this, yes it is a theory,but I am going to give you the evidence for it and ask you to have an open mind and listen to it. If after you have seen the actualy evidence for it, then you can chose whether or not to believe it or not AFTER.

I also tell them, in tests DO NOT write I don;'t belive it and thats it...ANSWER the question, as the marker will not accept "I don;t believe it" without evidence (so go and find out about all the evidence agianst it to back up any statement you make).
I have also made them do a debate, with students anti evolution made to do the FOR evolution and those for evolution AGAINST it....it forces them too see the other person's perspective.

Answer 6

Tell them they don't really have to believe it. Anyway it's only a theory, not a law. Evidences were not that sufficient enough to turn it to a law. But, still it must be studied so that this theory might be proved to be right or wrong as this is passed on to generations to be scrutinized and studied. Also, you could tell them that skepticism could really help a lot in the field of science and that his questioning could be really something if he could be really working on to answer his questions.

Answer 7

if you interfere with someone's religion as a teacher, then you possibly could loose your credential. If you force biological evolution on somebody, and tell them that this is true, when it doesn't agree with their religion, and then they make a big fuss, you might be in a lot of trouble. Instead, tell them that you respect their beliefs and explain to them that they don't have to believe it, but they have to know it to pass the class. Also explain to them that they are respecting their beliefs, and the least they could do is respect yours. Be very gentle and don't be harsh. Don't make them feel attacked

Answer 8

A) tell them to suitable analyze the definition of theory in a clinical context till you could now have an smart conversation. No "theory" ever shows up interior the 1st place with out a minimum of a single actuality to initiaite it. undergo in recommendations that "theory" and "theology" share a similar root be conscious. B) in accordance to organic decision, this is lots greater in all probability that pollutants will favorably elect for organisms which could already metabolize or proceed to exist in pollutants. this is amazingly, very no longer likely that human beings will basically strengthen pollutants-chuffed lungs. this concept belies a intense fake impact of the techniques that evolution describes.

Answer 9

Everyone has the privilege of believing as they wish. Creationism is a theory as well. Don't waste your time.

Answer 10

Ask them why they do not believe in biological evolution.