There are lots of kinds of theories, ranging from conspiracy theories to just someone's idea about how things work. A scientific theory is different. It starts out as an hypothesis, and educated guess to try to explain observed facts. Once the hypothesis has been tested over and over, by different people in different places and at different times, then it becomes a theory and is accepted until and unless new facts come to light that cast doubt on it. There are no new facts that have come to light that don't confirm the theory of evolution, not in a century and a half of observation and research. The new field of DNA research confirms evolution beyond any reasonable doubt.
So no, a theory is not just an educated guess, and saying that evolution, the germ theory of disease, or any other scientific theory is just a theory and therefore not more credible than someone else's opinion is proof positive that the speaker does not know what a scientific theory really is.
Like it or not, the Earth really is round and life really did evolve on it.
You surprise me Skeptik. For the first time you seem close minded. You've made your mind up that evolution as you see it, is fact. That's fine for you to believe, but I don't understand why. I don't see the evidence of it the same way you seem to. All I've heard you say is that it's "scientific" which to me is a very vague term. I need more specifics before i'll accept some idea.
The raw fact is that Evolution is a theory. Scientists arrved at their theories eventually after a point, through speculation. However educated they may be, they are still speculating. Therefore it is not proof. Therefore there is reasonable doubt. There is always reasonable doubt when it comes to theories. That's why they're theories instead of laws as I said before. They are not proof because they are not repeatable.
Theories could be true but are missing a piece or many pieces of the puzzle to confirm what the truth actually is.
I explained what makes a scientific theory. The only way that a theory can be dismissed is if new facts come to light. As of now, all of the facts that have been discovered or observed have supported the theory of evolution.
It's much like the germ theory of disease that I mention. We know now that not all diseases are caused by human pathogens, but we do know that most are, and further we know which pathogens cause what diseases. To say that the germ theory of disease is "just a theory" and simply speculation is simply absurd. Are we to go back to blaming the evil eye for unknown maladies or bad air for malaria?
The problem seems to be semantics: We say that someone's idea of why something is or is not so is a "theory", but that is not a scientific theory. In order to be considered a scientific theory, and not merely an hypothesis, takes a high degree of proof, and has to be proven by different people in different places using different methods.
You don't have to question your Mormon faith to accept the theory of evolution. There are some faiths that do have to refute modern science, which simply proves them wrong.
