Why do people have a problem with theories?

Question

Theories can be used as facts.

There's the theory of gravity. We don't know how exactly it works, but we don't doubt that it does.
Pythagoras created a theory too. It can't be proved, but it has never failed. a^2+b^2=c^2

So why do people not want the theory of evolution taught just becasue it's a theory?
"because God is real no matter what others believe and evolution is just a theory. plain and simple."

Answer 1

It isn't theories some people have a problem with, it's science itself. When science presents them with information contrary to what they believe, they need some way of rationalizing their rejection of that information. Since fundamentalist religions present their beliefs as absolute truth, it's easy for them to seize on the fact that science is a work in progress and condemn it for not having any absolute truths to give them.

They also, either maliciously or ignorantly, take theory in its colloquial sense as a guess or hypothesis, rather than its scientific sense as a coherent explanation of known facts. You can point out to them that gravity , too, is "only a theory", but rational argument does not go far with someone who thinks he'll go to hell if he listens to you.

By the way, that Pythagorean thing is a theorem, not a theory, and is quite easy to prove.

Answer 2

We don't seem to be thrown right into a certain situations however is a default option below a idiot-evidence everlasting mechanism. Until realisation there will probably be Karma, that's movement and response. After realisation there will probably be no Karma and no global. Destiny is the influence of beyond movement. It matters the frame. Let the frame act as might go well with it. Should something occur, it occurs because the influence of 1’s beyond movements, of divine will and of different elements. Free will holds the subject in arrangement with individuality. As lengthy as individuality lasts there's loose will. All the scriptures are established in this truth and so they propose directing the loose will within the correct channel. Whose will is it? So lengthy as there's the experience of doership, there's the experience of amusement and of character will. But if this feeling is misplaced via the train of Vichara (self-enquiry), the divine will will act and advisor the direction of parties. Fate is conquer by means of Jnana, Self-competencies, that's past will and destiny. There was once no different rationale as opposed to their possess Karma during which an character killed or a baby born handicapped in an average heritage.

Answer 3

I realize that these are simple blurb answers. Firstly, group A have problems with theories because they fear that they will be faced with truths that will either scare them or will make a choice that is not comfortable for them. Group B is scared of anythinng which is not materially in their own sphere. Maturity is probably lacking in B, whereas group B needs to pray for confidence in God for life's guidance. Group C has observed that many people have gotten confused and depressed when studying evolutionary theories which contradict social or religious traits of their comfort zones, the people with whom they associate.

I would not want the theory of evolution taught, but not because it is theory. It would not want it taught because, in all probably religion and faith would not have the same liberty to be used as background for discussion. That is bias.

Answer 4

Theories can be used as facts, but that doesn't mean they should. If you teach a theory, teach it as a theory along with other theories, and don't tell half-truths, causing unknowing students to believe it as fact.

Gravity is a FORCE that has been tested and, eventhough we may not know everything about it, we know more about gravity than we do evolution.

Evolution can be looked at as a myth, just like the greek and norse stories. Until there is actual PROOF of a species transitioning from one form to another, it'll be a myth. (I mean theory)

Answer 5

People do not know what "theory" means in a scientific sense, as it takes on a completely different meaning in a colloquial context.

In everyday talk, "theory" means "guess" or "opinion".
(e.g., "Okay, here's my theory on why my wife is such a b*tch.")

A theory is not a guess or conjecture. It is a well-substantiated (read: PROVEN) explanation of observed phenomena.

The only difference between a theory and a law is that a theory can be falsified, and that is how it evolves and changes as we learn more about the world around us.

Answer 6

People do not want evolution taught (or only taught as a 'theory') because it is in direct opposition to the words written down in a particular ancient bronze age text (Genesis), that they believe is the word of a deity.

Answer 7

People don't understand the meaning of a "theory" in a scientific context. And, by the by, we do know how gravity works.

Answer 8

Evolution is not a fact, in spite of what many militant evolutionists claim.

"Darwinism is a trivial idea that has been elevated to the status of the scientific theory that governs modern biology," says dissent list signer Dr. Michael Egnor. Egnor is a professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics at State University of New York, Stony Brook and an award-winning brain surgeon named one of New York's best doctors by New York Magazine.
The list of signatories includes member scientists from National Academies of Science in Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, India (Hindustan), Nigeria, Poland, and the United States. Many of the signers are professors or researchers at major universities and international research institutions such as Cambridge University, Moscow State University, Chitose Institute of Science & Technology in Japan, Ben-Gurion University in Israel, MIT, The Smithsonian and Princeton.

Answer 9

These people have missed vital understandings of how a scientific theory works. Obviously, their schools were too busy teaching other things to explain the concept of a scientitic theory to them.

They are using a colloquial form of the word theory that science doesn't....the terms are mutually incomprehensible.

Answer 10

Because the word theory in common use is a lot less definitive than its use in science, and a lot of people either don't understand that or choose to ignore it.