Evolution - Let's discuss!! (God, Earth, science, created)

[MacAttack_]

Originally Posted by willowthewhisp

When did 'Evolution' stop being a mere theory?

Several million years ago.

In science, there's no such thing as a "mere" theory.

[ian6479]

Originally Posted by willowthewhisp

When did 'Evolution' stop being a mere theory?

In common usage the word 'theory' is used to describe opinion or speculation. In science 'theory' and 'fact' are not always different. i.e it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth, has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the 'theories' commonly used to describe and explain this behaviour are Newton's theory of universal gravitation, and general relativity.

Evolution is no less factual than relativity, or gravitation.

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by ian6479

In common usage the word 'theory' is used to describe opinion or speculation. In science 'theory' and 'fact' are not always different. i.e it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth, has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the 'theories' commonly used to describe and explain this behaviour are Newton's theory of universal gravitation, and general relativity.

Evolution is no less factual than relativity, or gravitation.

You know I recently read somewhere (I don't have the link, I'm sorry) that they're going to change the ToE to the LoE... The 'L' being "Law". Isn't that wonderful?

[MacAttack_]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

You know I recently read somewhere (I don't have the link, I'm sorry) that they're going to change the ToE to the LoE... The 'L' being "Law". Isn't that wonderful?

It's about time. It would certainly save educated folk a lot of time having to correct the misuse and abuse of the word "theory" by creationists.

[Tricky D]

Then again a law is not clear either.
Human law is a law because it is consensus; natural law however has nothing to do with consensus.
I mean we can vote to abolish or change a human law (like raise the speed limit to 90 m/h), but this would be impossible with the law of gravity.

[ian6479]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

You know I recently read somewhere (I don't have the link, I'm sorry) that they're going to change the ToE to the LoE... The 'L' being "Law". Isn't that wonderful?

Sounds great

[nvxplorer]

Originally Posted by mams1559

For the record (again) I do not dismiss sound, empirical/observational science. It was used to identify gravity, get us to the moon, develop computers and lasers, etc. What I object to is evolution as fact.

Evolution - change over time in heritable traits in a population of organisms - has been observed and tested, and shown to be factual.

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by nvxplorer

Evolution - change over time in heritable traits in a population of organisms - has been observed and tested, and shown to be factual.

Yes, and if you'll leave it there, evangelicals everywhere will climb on board the evolution train.

But you don't.

You extrapolate that definition to put my ancestors climbing out of a swamp (currently) 4.5billion years ago. And that's quite a stretch fromthe definition I just quoted.

Now's the time when someone says, "Evolution has nothing to do with life's origins."

[GCSTroop]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

Yes, and if you'll leave it there, evangelicals everywhere will climb on board the evolution train.

But you don't.

You extrapolate that definition to put my ancestors climbing out of a swamp (currently) 4.5billion years ago. And that's quite a stretch fromthe definition I just quoted.

Now's the time when someone says, "Evolution has nothing to do with life's origins."

Evolution has nothing to do with life's origins.

No, in all seriousness, is there anyone that can tell me what the inhibiting factor in genetics is that keeps repeated small changes from becoming overall big changes?

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by GCSTroop

Evolution has nothing to do with life's origins.

No, in all seriousness, is there anyone that can tell me what the inhibiting factor in genetics is that keeps repeated small changes from becoming overall big changes?

Can't answer that. But i will tell you I think humans always have been human and that we will always be human. I don't think there will ever be a time when we can't reproduce and couldn't 'retro-reproduce', if you know what I mean.

We may have had more/fewer teeth, more/less hair, shorter/taller builds, larger/smaller foreheads, but we've always been human.

Much the same way a German shepherd and a Labrador retriever are both breedable dogs. Always have been always will be. Are they different species? Sure. But man created the speciation lines, God created the creatures.