Why is evolution accepted as fact?

Question

No scientific evidence or proof. If you say there is, be prepared to show me.

David Spohnner - No one can prove a negative. A smart atheist like you should know that.

Answer 1

Was not aware it was accepted as "fact"

Answer 2

You're right that there is no proof of evolution. But then again, there's no proof that a ball will fall to the ground each time I drop it either. Just a basic and simple idea and great deal of evidence supporting the idea.

The concept behind evolution through natural selection is amazingly, beautifully simple and runs something like this. Organisms that are good at surviving and making copies of themselves (reproducing) have a better chance of surviving than organisms that are bad at surviving and reproducing. This is pretty much self evident and should go without saying. All that need be explained now is *how* and *why* some organisms are better at surviving than others, that's where the interesting stuff comes in, such as genetics, principals of inheritance, and so on.

Now that you see how bloody simple and elegant the whole thing is, feel free to message me with any questions you might have about the theory, and I'll do my utmost to try and clear things up for you.

Edit: It appears that very few creationists in here understand the idea of a scientific theory. A theory is, in essence, a description, or model, of how something in the natural world works. All theories are tailor made to fit the facts, and usually explain the same phenomenon equally well. the only way to tell if a theory is 'good' or not is by subjecting it to the scientific method.

The scientific method is simply the formulating of an experiment or prediction to test a model, then making observations to test its accuracy. The more accurate the model's predictions and the more successful its experiments, the more the model becomes accept as the best explanation of the phenomena in question.

That said, it is easy to see why pretty much all scientists accept the theory of evolution as 'fact', or, at the very least, the best model out there. The theory simply makes the most accurate predictions and explains the greatest number of phenomena with the least amount of assumptions of all the models ever conceived. While creationism, on the other hand, makes no predictions, makes huge assumptions about the nature of reality, and generally has no way of accurately testing it. It is for this reason that virtually all scientists reject the theory as pseudo-science.

Edit #2: I apologize for the lack of clarity in my post, but I am astoundingly tired tonight. If nothing I said made any sense, just message me and I'll try and straighten it out for you.

Answer 3

The consensus about science has and continues to be that science is whatever the consensus of the scientific community says it is.

Historically, the consensus in the scientific community has turned out to be absolutely wrong (ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THEORIES)!

Every time the consensus of the scientific community has predicted a disaster . . .wrong!

Every time the consensus of the scientific community has declared something to be impossible, impractical, non-productive, too costly, ridiculous, unmarketable, etc. . . wrong!

When people start to learn from history rather than being doomed to repeat it, they will come to the conclusion that just because "most scientists" believe something, that does not make it so.

Science cannot be determined by a democratic vote or consensus. Just because most scientists (the motivation for the overwhelming majority being money and ego) agree is not a good reason to accept that agreement as fact.

Many scientists, since the beginning of time, have rejected the obvious just because it's obvious. The consensus of the scientific community has rejected every major innovation, invention or discovery since scientists came into existence.

The scientific community proves over and over again that living things do not evolve. Try to learn form history. Stop repeating it. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Answer 4

Go to any natural history museum and you'll find proof of evolution.
Different religions have offered different explanations of the creation of the world. Every ancient culture had a version of creation. But these were groups of people who wanted, needed an explanation of how and why they were here. The Jewish / Christian religion teaches us that God created the universe and all that is in it in six days. The explanation had to be kept simple, because people didn't have the information they do now. People's lives were shorter, but time must have passed very slowly for them. A God capable of creating everything that exists in six days was truly awe inspiring.
But we have to keep in mind that God is eternal. God had no beginning and has no end. Time is meaningless to God. God has had all of eternity to create the universe. He's not in a hurry. It is we humans that are always in a hurry, impatient. Maybe that's because we know our time on this earth could run out at any moment.

Answer 5

Belief in evolution is an act of faith. The alternative is belief in God. There are some people who will believe anything so long as they don't have to acknowledge a Creator.

What I don't understand is people who claim to be Christians, and believe in evolution. The only reason anyone would believe in evolution is to explain creation without a Creator.

Science does not prove evolution, in fact, science doesn't even suggest evolution. It's just something that some people want to believe, like the tooth fairy.

Answer 6

It isn't really taken as facts in some standards. Some will tell you that is is exactly that. A Theory. But as far as I know the debate over evolution has broadened over the course of years. Been reading this book about it. It gives you a slight view from both sides and the issues.

Answer 7

Evolution is a theory that best explains the appearance of different species. Evolution is proved by the similarities in structure (bones in forearms are similar in humans, dogs, whales, etc) similarity in mitochondrial DNA, and fossil records that show links in evolutionary history. There are many other reasons to believe in evolution if you simply do your research.

Answer 8

It is a sad reflection on the US when it is estimated that over 60% of the public really believes in the reality of Adam and Eve, 6-Day Creation, Tower of Babel and Noah's Ark. Throw in a 1st century jewish troublemaker, and it gets worse.

Why can't people understand these are quaint, but very old fables attempting to explain the inexplicable? Use the brain God or the FSM gave you to figure things out.

Answer 9

It's not accepted as a fact. As a matter of fact it is just that true scientific observations are placed in a preconceived theoretical pattern for which there are no scientific proofs. These semi-scientific conclusions are presented (or understood) as scientific proofs. Still, if you try to see things from another point of view (creation/cathastrophe) you are ridiculed. And nobody wants to be ridiculed, so the vast majority stay with the theory of evolution.

Answer 10

Firstly, it has been routinely used by scientists for a hundred years to make correct predictions about biological phenomena; as a result, no educated person has any doubts that it is correct. Secondly, unlike most scientific theories, evolution is provably correct, and I have done so (details on request). Read any issue of any of the technical scientific journals for applications of evolution.

Answer 11

Because the scientific evidence, such as fossil records and carbon dating, overwhelmingly support it. Do you think all those books written on the subject are mere lies? Let me guess: you think God created all the animals and they didn't change. By the way, have you read anything at all about the link of birds to dinosaurs (the latest being enzymes found in the muscles of T-rex's and chickens)? I didn't think so.