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“Theory”

You wrote: ” …theories do not represent solidly established fact.” Saying that puts you solidly in the camp of those who believe that creationism/intelligent design should be taught in public schools as an alternative explanation for species diversity because “Evolution is only a theory.”

To correct your misperceptions I have gathered some information for you.

From The Oxford English Dictionary, a definition for you:

“Theory: A scheme or system of ideas or statements held as an explanation or account of a group of facts or phenomena; a hypothesis that has been confirmed or established by observation or experiment, and is propounded or accepted as accounting for the known facts; a statement of what are held to be the general laws, principles, or causes of something known or observed.”

A Theory, in Science, is different from an unconfirmed hypothesis, a guess, a conjecture or a speculation. Theories, in the Scientific sense, are not facts as laypeople think of facts. Instead, Theories are based on facts, explain facts and synthesize facts. Thus, Theories occupy a higher level of Scientific thought than facts. A ball thrown into the air falls to earth – that is a fact. The Theory of Gravity explains why it falls. Evolution – change over time – is a fact. The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection explains that fact and explains that fact so well that the Theory of Evolution has been accepted for more than a century. Scientists have heated debates over specific mechanisms, but there is no doubt about the Theory itself.

These statements are not an attack on anyone’s religious beliefs. They are facts based on evidence.

If someone’s religious beliefs are in conflict with Scientific fact and/or Theory, that’s their problem. They have to deal with it. The natural world will not change to fit someone’s doctrine and doesn’t care if someone is offended by it’s reality.

I respect everyone’s right to freedom of conscience and belief, but I will fight them with all my strength if they try to bring their religious beliefs into public schools and/or into government policy. I will not sit silent when someone trashes Science from their religious perspective. Unfortunately for us, there exists a vocal minority who think that if Science conflicts with their beliefs, whether it’s Evolution or Anthropogenic Global Climate Change, Science is wrong and Science must change. They also try to rewrite the definition of Science to fit their religious doctrine. If they succeed, America will lose it’s Scientific and technological supremacy and the people of the world and the planet itself will suffer.

The Big Bang Theory doesn’t make sense to you? I’m sure you know that your lack of understanding has nothing to do with it’s validity and acceptance by world-wide Scientific consensus. I don’t understand how music comes out of thin 4 1/2 ” diameter discs either but I love the sounds. Get a copy of Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time.” By the time you get done reading it, you will understand The Big bang Theory.