Okay. What is your definition of the theory of evolution?

Answer 1

The theory of evolution is the explanation of two things:
(1) How evolution occurs in nature (natural selection ... beneficial mutations propagate, harmful mutations die out ... so the population changes over time);
(2) How that evolution explains the existence of all species on the planet in terms of common ancestry from primitive life.

Note that both of these recognize the *process* of evolution (slow change over generations) as a fact ... a fact that needs explaining. #1 explains that fact. #2 recognizes the power of that fact (slow change) to explain *huge* amounts of evidence. The argument over whether "evolution" is a fact or a theory is a confusion over whether by "evolution" you mean the *process* of evolution, or the *theory* of evolution that explains that process. The first is a fact, the second is a theory ... but a theory in the scientific sense (something backed by considerable evidence) ... in fact, one of the strongest scientific theories in the history of science.

Second, note that this does not cover the *origins* of the first primitive life forms. That is not covered by the theory of evolution ... and is the separate question of abiogenesis.

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That out of the way, I have to comment strongly on sarge927's answer:

Everything after "A lot of people don't know ..." is more than just inaccurate ... it is utter, baldfaced fabrication! And I would challenge him to provide a reputable source.

This story that Darwin "recanted" his theory near the end of his life and embraced Creationism is an utterly FALSE story spread by Creationists with no integrity whatsoever. It is entirely based on a story by *one* self-claimed "witness" ... an evangelist named Lady Hope, who *claimed* to have personally visited Darwin's bedside as he was dying and personally "converted" him. No other person in the world ever confirmed her story, and in fact Darwin's family denies that Lady Hope came anywhere *near* Darwin as he was dying.

There is *nothing* in anything Darwin wrote, nothing in his books, nothing in his papers, nothing in his private notes, nothing in his private letters to close friends, no speech, no article, no other reported conversations by his wife, his family, or any of his colleagues or closest friends ... *NOTHING* that indicates that Darwin had any significant doubt about his theory ... much less a wholesale "recanting" of it and an embracing of creationism. NOTHING.

All of Charles Darwin's life achievements, years at sea on the Beagle, volumes and volumes of careful detailed writings ... all negated (in creationists' minds) by one unconfirmed "deathbed reversal" story from a single little nobody who had no contributions or achievements of her own, no other claim to fame, other than trying to plunder the name of a famous man.

And what is amazing is that it wouldn't matter if he had! Creationists are so hypnotized by "argument from authority" (which is the entire basis for opposing evolution on the grounds that it threatens biblical authority), that they feel that casting doubt on an authority on evolution casts doubt on the theory itself. It is as if they think all the world's scientists accept evolution overwhelmingly, not because of the evidence, but for the simple reason that Darwin said so ... and if the scientists just realized that Darwin "recanted", all the scientists would just abandon the theory.

At least with Galileo the religious community had the good manners to put him on trial and *compel* him to recant ... unable to do so with Darwin, they just waited until he died, and then invented a "deathbed" recantation anyway.

Creationists who repeat the "Darwin recanted" story are the lowest form of liar ... people so bereft of ideas of their own, so unable to defeat Darwin's ideas through evidence or logic, that they stoop to inventing words in the mouth of a dying man.

No shame. I believe this is what is called "lying for Jesus."

Answer 2

The theory of evolution is not a theory its a philosophy. There is absolutely not a shred of evidence that supports the evolution philosophy. Darwin invented the idea out of impulse, clearly Darwin had little common sense. Don't be scared away by scientists using high vocabulary words that are hard to refute. On a basic level, would anyone believe that a house can be built by several hurricanes blowing beams together or that a painting can be made by the mere spilling of paint on a canvas? Anyone with the slightest sense of logic would see that intelligence design must be created by someone with intelligence and the supreme design of our world must have been created by a supreme designer. All you deniers are simply suffering from a case of cognitive dissonance. Your heart wants to believe that we are here for no purpose; however, if let your mind think over your heart you can see the truth at your fingertips, literally.

Answer 3

I would say that "the theory of evolution" is an umbrella theory that covers many scientific laws and theories that explain a variety of ways that life on earth has adapted and changed over time.

Answer 4

Theory of Evolution: The process of evolution, and the mechanisms of natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift, are responsible for the variation of gene pools in the world.

Answer 5

I took a year long evolution course and it was fascinating. Basically what I learned evolution was is a change in an entire population of species through things such as sexual selection, adaptive radiation, survival of the fittest, genetic mutations, etc. over extended periods of time.

Answer 6

Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution is that virtually every form of life on the planet Earth changed over time. Basically, Darwin believed life on Earth started as very simple one-celled creatures, and over a period of millions of years these creatures changed and became more complex. As the creatures became more complex, they also developed new strains that developed to survive in their given environments. The end result is homo sapiens (human beings), whom Darwin believed are a more highly-evolved form of monkeys or apes. P.S.: A lot of people don't know that Darwin recanted his theory near the end of his life and embraced the idea of Creationism when he tried to disprove the existence of God and instead found overwhelming documentary evidence of the existence of God and the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Imagine what would happen to all the liberals that are trying to erase Christianity from this country if THAT little fact were common knowledge.

Answer 7

I believe in Creation, however, my view on Creation is this:
God created Adam and Even, wiped the land clean only leaving Noah and his descendants, and the human race was left to evolve and improve is physical and beneficiary characteristics from there. For non-human evolution, I believe that God created whichever organisms were listed in the Bible and saved from the Flood. Different species were formed due to convergent or divergent evolution between themselves, bringing forth the idea of Kingdoms, Phylum, Class, etc.

Answer 8

well they say that were made up of apes but were up of adam and eve right? right ! i really dont know but i know we are not made of apes. cause im not a monkey ohohaha i dont think so