Why is this thread in the Religion forum? Is this a discussion about a scientific theory, or about religious belief?
However, I wish to quote an agnostic anthropology professor of mine (Dr. J. Marino, may he rest in peace) who said something like,' Darwin's Theory is a good theory, but that is all it is - a theory !'
Right.
And Einstein's Theory of General Relativity is just a theory. And the germ theory of disease is just a theory. And Pythagoras's theorem is just a theorem. And the idea that there are atoms is just a theory. And the idea that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect is just a theory. And the idea that fire is caused when oxygen combines with other elements is just a theory (as is the idea that a gas called "oxygen" exists).
Everything of value in science is "just a theory".
You may all recall just a few years ago scientists found new proof of evolution, in the Galapagos Islands, of all places, among Darwin's finches. It seems some of the little birdies have gone right on adapting their beaks and foraging habits, and diets although they are not known to have read either The Origin of Species or Genesis.[/URL]
That's not a proof of evolution, just evidence in favour of it.
The truth of the theory of evolution, just like all good scientific theories, lies in the accumulation of evidence in support of theory and the lack of evidence against it.
I agree with Matthew809 (Um, the above poster, not the Gospel verse): "There are no facts of evolution... only facts of observed similarities between different species, and of observed variation within species. You call it facts of "evolution" because it supports your pre-indocrinated ideas about the universe."
It's perverse to deny facts in this manner.
If I can produce a certain gas reliably, and repeatably see it produce flames when combined with various other substances, and I choose to call that gas "oxygen", I may as well say that the existence of "oxygen" is a fact, not just an observed, repeatable similarity that has something to do with fire.
In principle, anybody can go out and verify for themselves the "fact" of evolution in the same way that they can go out and verify the existence of oxygen.
Again though, it all seems a matter of semantics.
Yes. It's a question of what it takes to say that something exists.
If an overwhelming amount of evidence won't do it for you, then what will?