Thursday, February 05, 2009

Do You Doubt the Theory of Evolution?

"Christians who doubt the truth of evolution are apt to say things like "Evolution is just a theory, not a fact." Such statements betray a serious misunderstanding of the way the term "theory" is used in scientific discourse.

In science, facts must be explained with reference to other facts. These larger explanatory models are "theories." Theories make predictions and can, in principle, be tested. The phrase, "the theory of evolution" does not in the least suggest that evolution is not a fact.

One can speak about "the germ theory of disease" or "the theory of gravitation" without casting doubt upon disease or gravity as facts of nature."

—Harris, Sam, 2006, "Letter to a Christian Nation," page 69, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, a divison of Random House, Inc.

No comments: