Quote:
Originally posted by ADPi Conniebama
I am not arguing anything I am just stating for the last time. Public schools should not teach "theory" (or opinion) as FACT.
Public schools should not teach the "theory of evolution" as a scientific fact. The End.
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I don't know of any schools that are teaching "opinion" as fact; they are teaching evolution as "scientific theory," which is not the same as "opinion."
Part of the problem in the evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design battle is that many creationism/intelligent design proponents either do not know, or are exploiting the fact that their followers do not know, the meaning of "theory" in a scientific context, as KSig RC has pointed out.
In general usage, "theory" does mean "conjecture." In science, however, it doesn't. (Nor does it in music either, for that matter.
) In science, a "theory" is a generalization based on repeated observations and experiments. A scientific theory is a well-tested (and re-tested and re-re-tested), verified hypothesis that takes existing data and explains how processes or events are thought to occur. A scientific theory is based on overwhelming evidence in support of a general principle explaining the operation of certain phenomena or events that take place in the world. Theories can be modified as new information is gained.
The bottom line is that the existence of God cannot be subjected to scientific principles of testing, either to be proved or disproved (Dan Brown in "Angels and Demons" notwithstanding). "We walk by faith and not by sight." Thus, creationism and intelligent design cannot be proven scientifically. While I'm quite in agreement with the crux of intelligent design -- that the universe as a whole and life on earth in particular are simply too complex and precarious to have happened by chance, without a creator -- I don't see how that can be proven scientifically. Therefore, if ID is going to be taught, it should be taught as philosophy or theology, not as science.
Let science do what it is designed to do: answer "how" and "when" questions. The "who" and "why" certainly should be asked as well, but not in science class.