Is evolution only " a theory"?

Answer 1

No. We have a theory *of* evolution, which predicts what we observe.

Strictly speaking, we observe evolution - that populations undergo genetic change over time, that heritable traits affect survival and reproduction, etc. We have a theory that predicts these things...

...just as we have a theory that predicts the acceleration of objects near massive bodies like the Earth (a falling apple being another example of an observation)

Answer 2

A theory is something that has "some" basis in FACT, a thing which religions often DON'T have, only "faith" and "belief". Which Believers believe is totally believable ( to them, anyway ), and not subject to challenge OR discussion.

As far as the "missing links" in the fossil records...it's an entirely plausible "theory" that optimum fossil-making conditions might NOT exist at that time period, or were somehow obscured by some force we don't understand now. I have "faith" in this theory and you non-believing Believers can't challenge it. :D

Either way, evolution is based on scientific belief and theory, whereas creation is based on a "human written record", which of course is 100% infallible ( unless, of course, God wrote it himself , NOT a proven theory! ). So, after seeing how many wars, witch hunts, and cleansings are the result of "compassionate" religions, and persecutions of scientific pursuits over the years by same, I'm skeptical that ANY religion can , with a clear conscience, claim to be "infallible" and non-challengeable in their beliefs. It has only been 500 years since the majority of the world believed the Earth was flat! And that INCLUDES all major religions, who propagated that believe as well, and punished those who proposed otherwise, so I would hold little "faith" in the infallibility of any religious belief system anywhere, as relates to science.

- The Gremlin Guy -

Answer 3

You seem to not know the true definition of theory. Its not just some unsupported "wild guess".

From Wiki:

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition.

After all, gravity is only a theory, but who (in their right mind) disputes gravity.

VVVVV Don't say evolution isn't testable (aside from the fact it is) when you cite scripture as a source. Scripture is NOT testable. Not in the least. I am a Christian, I believe in God, but there is no way I can take the Bible as a scientific source. There is nothing thay says one cannot believe evolution was driven by God. VVVVV

Answer 4

In science, a theory is an explanation that best describes the facts.

In biology we have both evolutionary facts and theory. The theory is called evolution by natural selection. The facts of evolution range from comparative morphology to immunology to biogeographical distribution to fossils to molecular genetics to mathematical algorithms to actual observed evolutionary processes.

Answer 5

The problem with your question is the word "only" as if that somehow made it more doubtful, which is what Creationists pretend. They compare it with the 3 laws of motion - laws vs theory - and think it is weaker. Ironically, the 3 laws of motion are already known to be in error at high enough speeds approaching that of light. In science, everything is subject to review and change - unlike the "inerrant" Bible. Maybe we need to call it the Rule of Evolution.

Answer 6

Evolution is ONLY an speculative theory because it is not testable like other "Theories" in physical sciences...

The thing to remember is that evolution is just an unsupported theory, a speculation, an unproven assumption....

This is because we cannot go into the past and test evolution or observe it.....it has NEVER been observed....

We have the fossil record but, contrary to popular opinion, that shows no evidence of evolution.

There is plenty of evidence AGAINST EVOLUTION:.

First, the 'Cambrian explosion'...... the millions of fossil types in Cambrian rock (oldest fossil bearing rocks) appear suddenly and fully formed and without any previous forms...IOW, there are no transitional forms.

Answer 7

Well, ya, but so are the theories of gravity, relativity, electromagnetism, atomic theory, electron theory, wave theory of light (and radio), theory of DNA transmission of genetic traits, germ theory of disease, theory of osmosis (how cells get nutrients and dispose wastes for example), Ideal gas theory (PV=nRT) and so on that are inherent to the technologies supporting your daily life.