What do you think of evolution as fact and as a theory ?

Question

The following is a summary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_as_theory_and_fact

For those believing in creation/young earth, what do you think of the current scientific theories, and the facts that are behind them ?

Evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape-like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered

( I claim guilty to copy/paste, sorry )

What do you think cannot be explained by mere "physical laws" and require "the hand of god" ?
Consciousness ?

Answer 1

I believe it's pretty close to fact. Obviously we don't have the whole thing right yet.

Answer 2

Just because some people keep yelling that molecules-to-man evolution is a fact, that doesn't mean it is.

As T. Wallace has said, “A major reason why evolutionist arguments can sound so persuasive is because they often combine assertive dogma with intimidating, dismissive ridicule towards anyone who dares to disagree with them. Evolutionists wrongly believe that their views are validated by persuasive presentations invoking scientific terminology and allusions to a presumed monopoly of scientific knowledge and understanding on their part. But they haven’t come close to demonstrating evolutionism to be more than an ever-changing theory with a highly questionable and unscientific basis. (The situation isn’t helped by poor science education generally. Even advanced college biology students often understand little more than the dogma of evolutionary theory, and few have the time [or the guts] to question its scientific validity.)”

And as Dr. Michael Houts said, “This illustrates another key (non-scientific) feature of the theory of evolution. The theory is constructed in such a way that no matter what the evidence, evolutionists can claim it supports their religion. If a bird is brightly colored, it evolved vivid feathers to attract a mate. If a bird’s plumage is drab, it evolved that drabness to provide camouflage. If similar structures are derived from similar gene sequences, it is because the two species share a common ancestor. If similar structures occur in species that are genetically quite different, it is because of 'convergent evolution.' No matter what the evidence, in the eye of the believer, evolution is true.

One criterion for determining if a theory is scientific is if it is falsifiable. In other words, the theory must be constructed in a way that an experiment could be devised to prove it false. In the discussion of similarities between organisms, the theory of evolution is purposely constructed so that no experiment can prove it false."

As Dr. Jonathan Sarfati says, we need to quit calling evolution a theory; that is giving it too much credit. “Goo to you” evolution is an unsubstantiated hypothesis or conjecture, not a theory.

Swedish biologist Soren Lovtrup made an interesting statement: “I suppose that nobody will deny that it is a great misfortune if an entire branch of science becomes addicted to a false theory. But this is what has happened in biology...I believe that one day the Darwinian myth will be ranked the greatest deceit in the history of science. When this happens, many people will pose the question: How did this ever happen?”

The real "facts" fit just fine within a creationist worldview.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v22/i1/creation.asp

Answer 3

Like any scientific theory, it is a theory because it is supported by facts. If a new theory comes along that better explains speciation (supported by testable evidence/facts), then evolution would be replaced. However, evolution is stronger as a theory each day as new evidence arrives from the various disciplines biology spawned in evolution's wake.

"Einstein's Theory of Gravitation replaced Newton's, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air pending the outcome". - Stephen Jay Gould

Answer 4

Charles Darwin (the 'father' of evolution) best described the 'evolutionary' process when he said, "mutation is evident but not transmutation." (The Origin of the Species)
Science has proven this. That an animal adapts (mutates) over a period of time to the environment it finds itself. Also that one species cannot procreate with another species and produce fertile offspring (transmutate).
So where did all the different species come from?
They were created by another being, Almighty God.
This, of course, does not sit well with those who feel that if, by being created, there is some sort of responsibility to the Creator. Do not be fooled into the belief that "there is no god."
You are right. Evolution is a theory because if it were proven then it wouldn't be a theory any more.

Answer 5

Both.

Evolution as a process, formation of variations and their selection, is an observed process). This is like saying gravity is a fact. Drop a hammer, it falls.

Evolution as the explanation of all life on Earth by common descent is a theory. We don't know all the mechanisms, but we know some. We use the same word, but understanding of the great systems of gravity -- is called gravitation. There are theories of gravitation.

Answer 6

a scientific theory is of a different breed than the ordinary use of the word . It is based on facts and scrutinized to death still leaving room for any possible correction if new evidence is found . scientific explanation of these facts follows very stringent rules of logic and reason before it becomes an acceptable and useful theory in the scientific community .
However it is always possible to find a few less honest and less expert scientists who refute accepted theories based on fallacious unaccepted faulty reasoning .these pseudo scientific thinkers are a shame and an embarrassment to the scientific community in general . they are sometimes seeking less than scrupulous advantages much like the snake salesmen of the old west .Beware of whether you are reading mainline scientifically accepted believes or quackery when investigating any science or medical advise .

Answer 7

When it comes to science, the word "theory" doesn't mean "just a guess," as it does to the layperson. It means that idea is a fact as far as science is concerned. There is enough evidence for a hypothesis to be a fact, so it is called a theory.

Therefore, evolution is scientifically accepted as factual truth with the evidence we currently have at hand.

Answer 8

Evolution is a Scientific Theory. This means that as a model or description it fits all the known facts. This makes it different from the layman's use of the word "theory" and basically means that it is a fact

Answer 9

Wow. The copy/pasters are out in force today!

Young Earthers are ignorant of much of the body of scientific work of the last century. They are not scientists. Their ideas are laughable, incorrect, and possibly dangerous.

Name me a scientific group who has killed someone for claiming the earth was flat.

Now try naming a religious group who has killed someone for claiming it was round. Or moved around the sun.

Creationists (young earth or not) belong to the same family as the folks who put scientists to death for telling the truth. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Answer 10

It's a theory based on scientific facts and testable evidence, and it's the best answer that we have so far, even though it's not complete.

Creationism is just made up.