There was a time when Christians would say that “evolution is just a theory.” Then the evolutionists decided to use a different definition for the word “theory.” The definition of the word used by those who said “evolution is just a theory” is found here, as follows: “A proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.” Now the evolutionists have decided instead to use the following definition: “A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena.”
Changing the commonly accepted definition has enabled evolutionists to stick their fingers in the eyes of creationists and essentially say, “Thanks for recognizing the scientific nature of evolution.” This is, of course, only playing with words, because no one who ever said “evolution is just a theory” actually meant to recognize evolution as even remotely scientifically valid.
I have often in the past told my classes that we need to stop making any statements about evolution being only a theory and put it in its proper place. Based on what is now being used as the definition of a theory, evolution is, at best, not a theory but only a hypothesis, and not a very good one at that. According to the same dictionary webpage, a hypothesis is “a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth.” Evolution is a “conjecture.” It is certainly nothing more than that.
I can live with that definition, but I even wonder if maybe calling evolution a “hypothesis” is giving it far too much credit. In reality, it would be more appropriate to just call it “a stupid idea."
Someone has written a brief article on this exact topic, and I am glad they did. It is on the “Answers in Genesis website and is entitled “Evolution: Not Even a Theory.” If you would like to read it, please click here.
Changing the commonly accepted definition has enabled evolutionists to stick their fingers in the eyes of creationists and essentially say, “Thanks for recognizing the scientific nature of evolution.” This is, of course, only playing with words, because no one who ever said “evolution is just a theory” actually meant to recognize evolution as even remotely scientifically valid.
I have often in the past told my classes that we need to stop making any statements about evolution being only a theory and put it in its proper place. Based on what is now being used as the definition of a theory, evolution is, at best, not a theory but only a hypothesis, and not a very good one at that. According to the same dictionary webpage, a hypothesis is “a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth.” Evolution is a “conjecture.” It is certainly nothing more than that.
I can live with that definition, but I even wonder if maybe calling evolution a “hypothesis” is giving it far too much credit. In reality, it would be more appropriate to just call it “a stupid idea."
Someone has written a brief article on this exact topic, and I am glad they did. It is on the “Answers in Genesis website and is entitled “Evolution: Not Even a Theory.” If you would like to read it, please click here.