Heya Cabby. Allow me to enlighten you a bit on your insistence on the word theory
.
it's as solid as the theory of gravity - both are scientific theories that have undergone peer review and are supported by mathematical models and empirical evidence.
Scientific theories are not your average who shot JFK theories. There's much more to it than that.
"I thought evolution was just a theory. Why do you call it a fact? "
Biological evolution is a change in the genetic characteristics of a population over time. That this happens is a fact. Biological evolution also refers to the common descent of living organisms from shared ancestors. The evidence for historical evolution -- genetic, fossil, anatomical, etc. -- is so overwhelming that it is also considered a fact. The theory of evolution describes the mechanisms that cause evolution. So evolution is both a fact and a theory. See the Evolution is a Fact and a Theory FAQ, the Introduction to Evolutionary Biology FAQ
and the Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution FAQ.
http://www.talkorigins.org If you do not wish to dig through all the "nonsense theory" invented for pure fun by scientists to make a name for themselves or to be blasphemous against God, the article here is well worth reading:
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-fact.html It should clear your misconceptions about evolution, scientific theories and what we humans call facts.
It should also be equally clear even to the dimmest of readers that there is a clear difference between a science class and a class on mythology - creationism belongs to the second one. While interesting reading, scientifically, it is incredibly unsound and not really an alternative.
There is the option of saying "we do not know" regarding how we got to be where we are. The problem of course is that we have ample evidence for microevolution, and lots for macroevolution.
But for a school to NOT allow a subject that has a proven scientific validity and value is a step in the wrong direction
The more one learns about evolution, the more it makes sense - it is akin to learning about computers, for instance. To me, it used to be a magic box that I could do weird things with. Then I learned about the different layers, from the gates used all the way up to high level languages.
Sometimes some things aren't intuitive. That does not mean they are nonsensical. Of course, the opposite is true as well.
As a final note, the lead singer of The Sisters of mercy is much more well read than I can ever hope to be, speaks five languages and has written some quite interesting articles. Sarcastic and arrogant, aye, but not yer average idiot with a guitar
.
Assumptions, assumptions
------------------
Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"You filthy piece of distended rectum! DIE allierte schweinhund!"
[This message has been edited by StSanta (edited 03-24-2001).]
