Originally posted by brightoffski
A challenge to evolution does not mean an assertion for creationalism
Doesn't it though? Either life has occured through natural or supernatural means, there is no third option. If someone disputes that things occured naturally through evolution, then they MUST be suggesting that life was created in some other way that is unnatural, and therefore, supernatural (creationism).
Evolution is not 'gospel' (inverted commas), it is not certain fact,
Since we can see evolution happening right now, it IS certain fact. We can't absolutely prove that everything on earth is a direct result of evolution, but then, we can't absolutely prove very much so this isn't saying much. But we CAN prove that evolution is something that exists cuz, just like the earth being round, we can see it right now.
it is a thereom that happens to satisfy a great number of the non-religous human race (including myself - biologically), but it is still changing.
yes, changing, not being replaced. The model is just too accurate, too precise, too observed to be disregarded (thinking practically).
Who knows what 'Evolution' will mean in another hundered years.
I know what it will mean, and I think you do too, hehe.
It was through the tone of assertions that people are stupid if they do not consider 'Evolution', as it stands now, as fact.
Yes, that's right, stupid (or perhaps merely brainwashed and blinded). Since evolution is observable right now, to deny it is just silly. Sure, we can philosophically get into all kinds of debating which focuses on the verity of truth/interpretation itself, but negating that, coming back down to earth and thinking as subjective humans, evolution is just too obvious, observable, and perfect to be placed into a "maybe" context.
Anyway, this is what I meant by it being 'convenient' to assert current Scientific thinking as 'fact'. It makes common sense FOR humans, including myself. But it is still not true fact
It is about as factual as anything can possibly be, but let's not get hung up on this word "fact" here. In the deepest sense, NOTHING is a fact, everything is ultimately speculative/interpretive and there is no way we can transcend our subjectivity really know for sure if what we are observing is accurate. But let's use the word "fact" in the more low-key everyday sense. It's a fact that insects pollenate plants and trees, we can observe this. It's a fact that bears shit in the woods, we can observer this too. Like these things, we can also observe evolution.
and I really do think this is important, scientific fact has many, sometimes fundamental generational changes.
We may discover that the processes of evolution are different, but this doesn't make it any less real. We may figure out that plants pollenate one anther in any number of other ways than by the wind and through animals, but this doesn't change the fact that plants DO have sexual reproduction. How it occurs may be altered/extended, but the fact that it does occur, just like the fact that evolution does occur and is continuing to occur, will most likely never be challenged since we can actually observe this phenomenon.
Being a bastard, and going a little off topic, I say: anyone who disregards the truth of evolution (in favour of an implausible and unnatual/supernatural explanation for the origins and continued adaptation of life), is uninformed, extensively brainwashed, just plain dumb, or most likely a combination of the three. Inversely, anyone who is informed, not brainwashed, and not dumb, will undoubtedly realize that evolution is by far the best fit to the data.
Religious dogma blinds people to reality (obviously).
Satori
