On 5/25/07, Anne M. Nagrant <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Kristine Zickuhr wrote:
> "For the record, I personally believe in evolution. And yes I said "believe".
> Let's not forget that it's still only a theory."
>
> ...and will remain so, until somebody observes a living species evolve into an entirely new species of living things. Please fill me in if this has been done. (I'm not talking about adaptation to environment, either. I'm talking about a different species. The fact is that the fossil record has tons of holes in it, which leave room for interpretation--interpretation that requires *gasp!* faith that something occured in the meantime for which we have no record.)

Okay, everyone on this list needs STOP and go read this article on the
definition of the word "theory". http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1531.htm

An excerpt is below:

The classical dictionary definition says that a theory is a mental
plan or a systematic set of principles. A theory, unlike a hypothesis,
has been verified. It has been shown to fit the facts, and it has
stood up against attempts to prove it false. The atomic theory of
matter and Einstein's Theory of Relativity are good examples. All the
older dictionaries tell us that we're talking slang when we use the
word theory for a hunch or a guess.
-----

Deb

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