Why do they always start with the words "probably, maybe and most likely?

Question

Everytime I have heard or read something on evelution the statements always start with the word probably, maybe and most likely. Why is that?

I have studied evolution.
And Christians do use words like"probably, maybe and most likely- thats why you have differant Christian churches that believe differant things.

How can someone say "I believe in evolution, and maybe it happened like this."? "The evidence suggest that it possibly started like this. So I'm a form believer."?

Answer 1

This is normal in most science subjects - apart from maybe physics.

The reason is that no measurement or inference is free from error or uncertainty. Proof of an inference comes from repeated independent measurements, not just a single observation. Each observation quantitatively reduces the probability that the conclusion is wrong.

So for evolution the change that the theory is wrong is about 1 in 10^34 - in other words, you would have to come up with more alternative theories than there are atoms on earth to get a better one. But the chances that a single piece of the evidence is wrong or misinterpreted is much, much higher than this, and so scientists - who typically lack the extreme arrogance of the religious - qualify their conclusions.

Answer 2

That'd be firstly... because some folks tend to be picky about where they start applying certainty and where they don't. The broad, underlying features of evolution are well-known and established... and those are fairly certain.... but some of the more particular details of the processes are still under debate... and to start speaking of them as certain runs the risk of voicing inaccuracies.... which is not something any intelligent person wants to be associated with.

Secondarily... you're wrong. They don't. Many OTHER people have no such issues with the details... usually because they're not in fact scientists and think that everything to the very last letter has been worked out already.... and THEY will voice everything in terms of certainty.


[This is all unless, of course, when you say "Evelution" you're actually talking about "Eeveelution"... i.e. the various evolutions of the Pokémon Eevee... which is another topic altogether.]

Answer 3

Evolution is a theory. A theory in science has room for more study so words like maybe ,etc. are used because scientist are always discovering and learning new things.

Answer 4

because it is science... they can say words like that.... they can prove themselves wrong later and it would be fine...

Why dosent the bible use words like "probably, maybe and most likely?" They have far too much to lose.

Edit: you said christians say probably maybe..etc however, i noted the bible... It didnt say "God maybe said 'let there be light.'

you get the various groups of christianity from the interpretation of the bible. taking things literally or as metaphors is a big part of it.

Answer 5

In all humility even if one has a pretty good understanding they don't wish to pass themsleves off as a boffin although many with nearly nill understanding ironically think they are experts and set themselves up as judges of the truth.
I like the honesty of the former.

Answer 6

As much as the evolutionist would like you to believe that we originated from single-cell organisms, they have have very little proof that this is true. They can speculate about our beginnings but in the end it is just a theory and not fact.

Answer 7

Because it's not proven yet. People who believe in evolution are reasonable enough to know that. It's the Christians that are so sure that something without a shred of proof has to be true.

Answer 8

I don't know.

But why do Christians always start with "God exists" and then don't care to support their claim with a lick of good evidence?

Answer 9

people who are really interested in knowing stuff have the humility to realise and accept that there are always other possible explanations.

people who have no interest in the truth just want to be right.

Answer 10

You haven't studied 'evelution', have you?