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Do you accept evolution as a valid scientific theory?
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Entertaining_Angels
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Yes, I accept microevolution as fact. My gratuate-level thesis revolved around microevolution.
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seebs
God Made Me A Skeptic
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fwiwwl said:It seems the evidence is in! Either re-write the theory to something more verifiable or give it up. How many years has it been a theory!?
Er.
You do know, don't you, that "theory" is what we call a working model that's doing well? Gravity is a "theory". So is Newtonian mechanics.
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tommiegrant
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The problem with that is the evolution is not working well when all the evidence is really considered the whole thing does not even make a good hypothis. Tom
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Dragons87
The regal Oriental kind; not evil princess-napper
I actually wouldn't call Evolution-as-the-theory-that-explains-the-beginning-and-development-of-life as science.
Neither would I do it for Creation. Heck, Creation isn't even religion!
Neither is science. What are they? They are different interpretations of a historical event.
Neither would I do it for Creation. Heck, Creation isn't even religion!
Neither is science. What are they? They are different interpretations of a historical event.
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- Aug 6, 2005
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To the question of the thread...
I'm VIOLATING one of my self-imposed rules NOT to discuss science at a Christian website and not to discuss theology at a science website. But, I'll slap my hand and BRIEFLY made one point (as a Christian who is a Physics major)...
Many misunderstand "theory." To be brief and to way oversimplify, a "theory" is an explaination that appears to work. It explains what is observed and adequately predicts what is discovered. Whether it is "true" or not is a question we scientists leave to the long-haired, sandal-wearing, bearded guys over in the Philosophy Department. Science is INTENSIVE pragmatic; if it works good enough, we're as happy as can be. BUT, that does not suggest that it's just one model as good as any other! It's a model that works, it "fits" what is currently observed. Theories can attain a status almost like doctrine - a status where it's not seriously questioned anymore, it's called a "law." Probably evolution has attained that status. But laws are not assumed to be FACT or TRUE in some absolute or philosophical sense, they just work so well that we aren't spending much focus on examining them anymore. Examples of this include gravity (actually, there are several theories of gravity - none proven), electromagnetism, etc. Laws CAN be discovered to be wrong (poor, poor Newton!).
Although evolution belongs to a branch of science I know nearly NOTHING about and so should keep my ignorant mouth shut, it does seem that it IS a theory of biology. Any other conclusion seems odd to me; it IS a theory of that branch of science. Whether it's TRUE or not is a question I don't think any biologist are even asking - at least in the abstract, philosophical sense in which Christians tend to mean it.
No offense meant...
Peace be with you!
- Josiah
.
I'm VIOLATING one of my self-imposed rules NOT to discuss science at a Christian website and not to discuss theology at a science website. But, I'll slap my hand and BRIEFLY made one point (as a Christian who is a Physics major)...
Many misunderstand "theory." To be brief and to way oversimplify, a "theory" is an explaination that appears to work. It explains what is observed and adequately predicts what is discovered. Whether it is "true" or not is a question we scientists leave to the long-haired, sandal-wearing, bearded guys over in the Philosophy Department. Science is INTENSIVE pragmatic; if it works good enough, we're as happy as can be. BUT, that does not suggest that it's just one model as good as any other! It's a model that works, it "fits" what is currently observed. Theories can attain a status almost like doctrine - a status where it's not seriously questioned anymore, it's called a "law." Probably evolution has attained that status. But laws are not assumed to be FACT or TRUE in some absolute or philosophical sense, they just work so well that we aren't spending much focus on examining them anymore. Examples of this include gravity (actually, there are several theories of gravity - none proven), electromagnetism, etc. Laws CAN be discovered to be wrong (poor, poor Newton!).
Although evolution belongs to a branch of science I know nearly NOTHING about and so should keep my ignorant mouth shut, it does seem that it IS a theory of biology. Any other conclusion seems odd to me; it IS a theory of that branch of science. Whether it's TRUE or not is a question I don't think any biologist are even asking - at least in the abstract, philosophical sense in which Christians tend to mean it.
No offense meant...
Peace be with you!
- Josiah
.
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InnerPhyre
Well-Known Member
tommiegrant said:
How does it not work? Animals with certain traits reproduce...the traits that help the animal survive are passed on....those with traits that hinder the animal's survival cause that animal to die and fewer animals with those traits survive to pass on their genes...rinse...repeat....add some genetic variation...the species begins to change over the millenia. Hard to explain environmental adaptation without it...unless you contend that the world was created as-is a few thousand years ago, and if that is what you propose, then we need not talk about what is a valid scientific theory and what is not, because a 6000 year old earth has been disproven time and time again.
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graysparrow
My life is for the kids who have it rough
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Yes I accept it as a valid scientific theory, the problem is where is God in all this? and more decisive...
Scientific Theories are always changing... how can I put my faith in that? Do I need a new theological theory every time a scientist discovers something new?
Scientific Theories are always changing... how can I put my faith in that? Do I need a new theological theory every time a scientist discovers something new?
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DaveS
Veteran
I chose Doesn't matter myself.
However, I myself am a theistic evolutionist/old earth creationist as I simply believe it to be the most likely at the moment although changing my stance isn't really a 'big' enough thing for me to say I care. All I need to know is that God did it some way that we ultimately will never agree on.
However, the guinness devolution advert is a good enough reason for me to know that God had a hand in it:
http://www.whizzvidshosting.com/noitulove/BWread.html
(does it work for you?)
Dave
However, I myself am a theistic evolutionist/old earth creationist as I simply believe it to be the most likely at the moment although changing my stance isn't really a 'big' enough thing for me to say I care. All I need to know is that God did it some way that we ultimately will never agree on.
However, the guinness devolution advert is a good enough reason for me to know that God had a hand in it:
http://www.whizzvidshosting.com/noitulove/BWread.html
(does it work for you?)
Dave
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DaveS
Veteran
Well.. actually I read an interesting article the other day (will try to find - obscure website) which actually suggests that science is (finally) finding God and that all recent discoveries do actually point towards God. It was very interesting.
Take the origins of the universe, quantum theory, evolution, the beginnings of life, maths etc. etc. and it all points to one thing... GOD!
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graysparrow
My life is for the kids who have it rough
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Dear Dave
May I play adult for you? May I? May I? Please... please...
... I've been hearing that from a long time from some kind of people... and exactly the oppostie from other kind of people...
May I play adult for you? May I? May I? Please... please...
... I've been hearing that from a long time from some kind of people... and exactly the oppostie from other kind of people...
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