Why would anyone call creationism a "theory" or claim that evolution is "just a theory"?

Question

Need the definition? THEORY- 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.

Creationism does not in any way qualify as a theory, since it cannot be tested and has absolutely no verifiable evidence. Not to mention that an invisible guy that nobody has ever seen poofing it out of nothing isn't exactly the apex of logical thought.

Get A Grip: The only problem I see with that last definition (as far as creationism goes) is that it is based on LIMITED information or knowledge. Creationism isn't based on ANY verifiable information or knowledge.

~Heathen Daughter~: I know, but it gets you to show up so I can look at your pretty lil picture. Have a good evening. *bows*

Answer 1

There's this website... (can't remember the URL, I'm waiting for some fundie to link to it) that explains it all. It's dedicated to debating atheists, it's full of misundertood facts, weird semantic leaps and propaganda made to look like logic. I used to have it bookmarked for laughs... but lost it.

Anyways, it seem that when fundies don't have a real argument, they use semantics.

Belief, faith, god, theory, religion....

Those are the basic words I've come across here. They don't know that theory and theory aren't the same thing. One is an everyday word synonimous with "guess", and the other is scientific shorthand for "explanation to be tested". So if they get into a debate that's way out of their league, they just pick the wrong one and argue that.

It's the same with Belief/faith/god, for them the meaning is; trust in the supernatural. And for atheists it's believe = "I think that's true", faith = "I'm pretty sure that's true" and god = "expletive".

Again, when they think they're losing an argument, they decide to use the other definition... as in you say you have faith in the veracity of the theory of evolution.... and they go HA! so you have faith!!!! like it was proof of something.

And then there's of course the atheism is a religion argument. "You have faith there is no god, so atheism is your religion". It's semantic bullshit, that they see as proof. I guess it's true, if you look for god, you find him.... no matter how much you have to lie to yourself.


As to why... I have no idea, maybe they're a bit slow? They don't own dictionaries? Or maybe they're just not trained to think the same way... and they tend to take certain words more literally. I think it's a keyword issue, they get distracted by the familiar words and don't think it's necessary to understand the whole sentence?


Damn...I'm feeling ranty tonight.

Answer 2

Creationism seeks to explain our world, life on it and the universe as being initiated and designed by a "creator" through scientific analysis.
The scientific Law of Biogenesis states that all life comes from previous life....it is not a theory but a scientific law that is observed to be true in every instance. Therefore, for life to have begun on earth or anywhere else, it must have been created from nothing or non-living material. Science has yet to demonstrate by any tests or experiments how this is possible through purely random, naturalistic means which indicates, at least for now, a creator. Supernatural "creation" is falsifiable by any proof that this is possible by natural means yet it still would not definitively show if this is indeed what happened supposedly billions of years ago.
Evolution theory regarding the ancient history of life on our planet is "accepted" by many as fact because of all the evidence that supposedly supports it, yet it is not testable or verifiable because the developement of various life forms from other previous forms supposedly happened millions of years ago...much of the historical evidence is "inferred" to have happened...it cannot be observed directly. There is no direct proof of a common ancestor of humans and apes.
The Bible states that all animals reproduce after their "kind" or inter-fertile creatures which is what we observe....that is testable and observable. The complexity and completeness of the informational code of DNA suggest a designer or creator...how is complex information initiated or evolved through purely natural, random means?
We cannot observe or test the original creation event by God any more than we can do it with events of "evolution" millions of years ago. We can only understand it by scientifically observing and testing the world and universe we live in which is what creation scientists are attempting to do. Science is merely the pursuit and accumulation of knowledge.

Answer 3

Well to reply to those all saying there are multiple meanings>
I would say that the multiple definitions are NOT valid as we are talking science here...so you MUST use scientific nomenclature...otherwise you are just not making any sense and the models of (t)heory Creationism fits are the lay men's models...not the scientific models of (T)heory which is a separate idea.


Paul H> The Law of Biogensis actually says "all life is from an egg" and shows that life does not CURRENTLY spontaneously arise in nature in its present forms from non-life". Also Evolution has NOTHING to do with origin of life...just how life evolved/adapted to the Earth..it is VERY testable and has been done in real time with micro-organisms (hence antibiotic resistant strains of disease). Go to a biologist or pharmaceutical tech and 99.99999% out 100 will tell you there is NO DOUBT at all that Evolution is fact as it is used not only by disease to become resistant but also by medical techs to find new medicines

Answer 4

there is more than 1 definition of the word.
check the bottom definition!


1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.

2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.

3. Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.

4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.

5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.

6. contemplation or speculation.

7. guess or conjecture.

Answer 5

There are also other definitions of the word though..
way at the bottom of the list you will find this:

6. contemplation or speculation.
7. guess or conjecture.

You have it right in the second part of the question
My opinion is that they are referred to as theories because in all honesty there is no concrete evidence to prove anything either way. It is all speculation...
Psst and I agree with you about the poofin' part

Answer 6

I think they call evolution just a theory and creationism a theory because they are afraid that if they accept evolution, their faith will be diminished in some way. That's really rather sad since if they are afraid science can hurt their faith, they must not have had much to start with.

Answer 7

Theory............
1)A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
2)The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice: a fine musician who had never studied theory.
3)A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics.
4)Abstract reasoning; speculation: a decision based on experience rather than theory.
5)A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment: staked out the house on the theory that criminals usually return to the scene of the crime.
6)An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

Notice the last statement.
There are many .

Get A Grip

Answer 8

Desperation.

Answer 9

Because they have no idea what the scientific considers a theory.

Answer 10

They feel their little social club is threatened.

"The apex of logical thought." I like that.
"Acme" is a good word as well.