Evolution: Theory or Fact?

Question

Hi,
Is Evolution a proven theory which makes it factual or just a theory??? I would like to know this, because I am taking Biology right now. It seems that the information being presented during the lectures along with the notes I've taken seem to indicate that Evolution is indeed factual. For example, during the lab for this topic we are introduced with million year old fossils and something i don't understand (mitochondrial dna or genetic dna--something along those lines) Could somebody please clarify for me some on this topic? Is Evolution for real b/c wouldn't that debunk and discredit the core of Christian's beliefs?

Answer 1

Sort of an 19th Century theory, but with the 21th century advancements in science and technologies, its pretty much debunked.

It's been up graded to a full blown religion.

Answer 2

Evolution is both fact and theory, as a few have said before me. I'll leave my citations after the >>...

1) The fact of evolution is that it has been observed and continues to occur all the time. Biological evolution is just a change in an group of organisms over a period of time. It has been observed in both the lab and in nature.

>>Weinberg, J.R., V.R. Starczak, and D. Jorg, 1992, "Evidence for rapid speciation following a founder event in the laboratory." Evolution 46: 1214-1220

2) The theory of evolution is the best explanation of how the fact of evolution occurs. It relies on three things: a) that organisms are capable of reproduction; b) that the genetic material of organisms can mutate; and c) that the frequency of these mutations are passed through a species by various events brought about by the environment (natural selection). Theories in science are a group of hypotheses that converge to support some larger scientific idea or set of observations, and can be used to make predictions about the large idea into the future. A scientific hypothesis is an attempt to explain one small or basic observation or interaction, and is testable through experimentation or other scientific method (observation, field studies, etc.)

>>myself...I'm a biology teacher

3) The only thing that the theory of evolution calls under question is the strict literalism (seen primarily in fundamentalists) of the Bible. The majority of Christians accept the theory of evolution as the best explanation of the number and variety of life on Earth. When I say majority, I mean: a) the Catholic Church, which makes up more than half of all Christians, has accepted it; b) the Clergy Letter Project has over 11,000 signatures and is growing all the time (follow the link below to read more about it); c) one of the smallest (but, I'm sorry to say, loudest) Christian groups are the fundamentalists (of various denominations), who are the only ones that really have a problem with it; d) the problem is primarily American fundamentalists--this volume of vocal dissonance against evolution isn't heard anywhere else in the world (except in the Middle East, where it is Islamic fundamentalists doing the yelling).

>>http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/clergy_project.htm

Hope this helps clear things up a bit.

Answer 3

Many people learned in elementary school that a theory falls in the middle of a hierarchy of certainty--above a mere hypothesis but below a law. Scientists do not use the terms that way, however. According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a scientific theory is "a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses." No amount of validation changes a theory into a law, which is a descriptive generalization about nature. So when scientists talk about the theory of evolution--or the atomic theory or the theory of relativity, for that matter--they are not expressing reservations about its truth.

In addition to the theory of evolution, meaning the idea of descent with modification, one may also speak of the fact of evolution. The NAS defines a fact as "an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed and for all practical purposes is accepted as 'true.'" The fossil record and abundant other evidence testify that organisms have evolved through time. Although no one observed those transformations, the indirect evidence is clear, unambiguous and compelling.

All sciences frequently rely on indirect evidence. Physicists cannot see subatomic particles directly, for instance, so they verify their existence by watching for telltale tracks that the particles leave in cloud chambers. The absence of direct observation does not make physicists' conclusions less certain.

Answer 4

So I think your question can be broken down a bit. First of all, Evolution is a theory just like the theory of relativity and the theory of plate tectonics. In science, a theory is the second strongest scientific claim, short of a law. The most famous laws we have are the laws of thermodynamics. Laws are typically only given after every aspect of what the law is describing has been explored and it's nearly impossible to disprove. That being said, in science nothing is fact. Science can never ever claim something as proven or factual. Don't let anybody tell you that they proved something, that makes them a bad science. The number one rule of science, is that a hypothesis, claim, rule, law, or theory can always be proven wrong. This very reason is why Intelligent Design or Creationism isn't taught in science, it can't be proven wrong. This rule was created because of people who answered everything with God (or any form of higher being) did it. The theory of evolution is a theory, a very strong theory, that has over 100 years gained continual support and further evidence. It is not proven, as nothing in science can be proven, and it's not just a theory, because in science, a theory is an extremely strong statement. The conclusion is, the theory of evolution is the strongest and most supported idea that humans have created to explain the current status of species diversity that we see on our planet today. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

I'm not sure what you mean by the "core of christian beliefs". I confess, I'm not a christian, although not because of evolution. Anyway, yes, evolution is a fact, about as certain as anything can be in science. It's about as certain as the fact that the earth moves around the sun.

There are Christians who actually accept evolution, and take the book of Genesis as an allegorical book of spiritual messages. Whether or not that seems reasonable to you, there's just way too much evidence for any rational person to deny evolution, and so a literal interpretation is not an option. (Unfortunately, there are many who are not rational.)

Answer 6

Evolution is a theory that currently best accounts for the facts. Much of biological knowledge as well as applications today is derived from this theory. Even geologic, chemical, and physical findings support it.

A Theory in science is not a mere guess, unlike those who read the Bible like a manual believe. And the core of Christian beliefs is LOVE, not the technicalities of how the world came to be. Otherwise, that's just shallow...

Answer 7

Technically everything is a theory. Gravity is a theory. Electromagnetic equations are theories.

Practically speaking, scientists consider some things facts. In the case of evolution in biology, scientists consider it a fact. The details are always being further fleshed out, and that makes our understanding of evolution even more solid.

When Christians reject evolution on the basis that it is "only a theory", they might as well trash every aspect of science. There are few things that are more studied than evolution. Nearly all earth & life sciences overlap into evolutionary theory - it is very solid, and very well established.

Answer 8

Evolution is a fact, as is gravity. There are also theories of both. The theory of evolution consists of the scientifically validated explanations of how evolution happens.

While "theory" is often used casually to mean speculative thinking, the scientific usage is the older meaning of a systematic body of knowledge that explains the observed facts and predicts behavior.

Many religious people believe God had more important things to do than design fruit flies and so created a universe that takes care of the details for Him.

Answer 9

Evolution is scientific theory, which means it is as factual as anything gets.

Christianity is not threatened by evolution, and most Christians accept evolution as the best explaination for how life came to be as it now is.

Evolution only threatens literalist Christians, which is a rather recent heresy in most respects.

Answer 10

http://science.kennesaw.edu/~rmatson/Biol%203380/3380theory.html

If you read this, you will see that a scientific theory is not "just a theory". It is an explanation for an observation or series of observations that is substantiated by a considerable body of evidence.

Yes, the fossils that are millions of years old do tend to discredit the creation story in the Bible. That is why some will stop at nothing (even lying) to try and discredit their significance.

Answer 11

Theory, of course. The Theory of Evolution is just like the Theory of Gravity and the Theory of Relativity.