For instance, when a layman hears the word "theory" they think of a guess or an assumption or something like that. But to a scientist, a theory is extremely important. Theories form from doing research on a given subject over and over again. Scientists don't just sit in a room and say "I think this is true. Let's call it a theory!" Do you think anti-evolutionists are confusing the words "theory" and "hypothesis"?
2007-09-29 11:27:22 · 25 answers · asked by Two quarters & a heart down 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yep. Evolution is a scientific theory because it was tested over and over and over again and never refuted. It is explained by natural selection and, more broadly, by modern evolutionary theory including sexual selection, and Mendelian and molecular genetics. It is the unifying principle of modern biology.
People who believe in creationism were taught it in a young age and were taught anti-evolution propaganda along side it. So you can't really blame them.
2007-09-29 11:31:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Excellent question. As far as evolution goes, this has followed it around since the information became known about Darwin's theory. At least it is never called a 'conspiracy' against religion. Or, is it called that in certain circles?
It happens all the time, especially with the subject of 9-11 truth.
Theory, or hypothesis? It always comes down to truth, now doesn't it.
Too many call the 9-11 truth movement a conspiracy 'theory', when really they are looking for facts. And they are finding them.
People who argue against evolution theory do not ususally possess any facts, only beliefs. They do not accept science as being as valid as 'belief'. Woe to the world.
Arguing helps you learn. It's a wonderful place, this Internet...
2007-09-29 18:52:49 · answer #2 · answered by MsW 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, they are. I've been pretty involved in this over the years, and I think the biggest reason for people not accepting evolution (after not wanting to, of course) would be that they simply have no idea how science works, or what the differences between a scientific theory and the colloquial usage of theory are. Look up the colloquial use of fact and what a scientific theory is, and you'll see that they are essentially the same thing. The trouble here is, for most Americans, it's will-full ignorance.
2007-09-29 18:33:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Physical theories are not "proven" or "disproved". They apply, or do not apply, to some set of observations. The measure is: Does "evolution" explain many of the observations of the genetic relation between species. Some scientists believe it does, and have experimental data to support their observations and the limits of their observations . Scientists who advocate "creationism" and/or "intelligent design", on the other hand, think that the evidence is showing that here is no evidence of natural processes spontaneously producing the complex specified information we find in living systems.
2007-09-29 18:52:49 · answer #4 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe people who refuse to accept evolution don't want to know how science works. Maybe they see it as an insult to their religion, culture, etc, and they are willfully ignorant.
That's the way i am. I accept that the theory exists, but as for truly believing it, I simply choose not to. I'm not bashing the hard-working scientists that came up with it, I just choose not to follow their answer versus something that has been beaten into my head since I was born and that can untimately help save my soul. Go-figure
2007-09-29 18:42:40 · answer #5 · answered by Pink_lemur 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Theory" never means "guess" in the English language. Just think about a mystery novel, when the hero says he has a theory, he doesn't mean he is randomly guessing. He means that he has gathered the evidence, tested it, and formed a hypothesis. At best, "theory" means the best possible of educated guesses.
2007-09-29 18:33:04 · answer #6 · answered by atheist 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, that's part of it.
The main thing is that they're just getting "tripped up" by the complete lack of desire to learn anything at all about what the theory of evolution actually says.
2007-09-29 20:27:02 · answer #7 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe, I believe God is a scientist and any serious study of the natural world brings me closer to the divine, I feel a little sorry for those who reject new ideas in a kneejerk from indoctrination into a religious dogma.
2007-09-29 18:36:04 · answer #8 · answered by Princessa Macha Venial 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
While some may be confusing the two, I don't believe that life arose from non-life, that complex DNA codes arose by chance with natural selection canceling out all of the mistakes, that all of the wonderfully complex and marvelous life forms here on earth are the product of natural forces with no intelligence responsible for their existence.
A scientist digs up a triangular rock with sharpened edges made of obsidian or flint and says "Aha! An arrowhead produced by a primitive human hunter".
The same scientist digs up a bone that was just one part of a complex organic creature, that contains a DNA code in each cell far more complex than the software running on our computers, and says "Oh, a product of random chance operated upon by naturalistic forces".
Does that make sense to you? It sure doesn't make sense to me.
2007-09-29 18:39:10 · answer #9 · answered by Martin S 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
The theory of evolution is far more certain scientifically speaking than the current theory of gravitation, actually.
2007-09-29 18:31:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋