Evolution

Myth 1: “Evolution is just a theory”

Although some people have attacked evolution as “just a theory,” that would be raising Darwin’s idea to a level it doesn’t deserve.

A theory has its genesis in a hypothesis, which is a working assumption as to why we observe something—an educated guess. To test this assumption, scientists conduct experiments that either disprove or correlate with the hypothesis. Over time, if a hypothesis continues to stand up to scrutiny and many different experiments, the scientific community may begin referring to it as a “theory.” In essence, this means that because the hypothesis has not been disproved over many years and no other known hypothesis works, then we can be reasonably sure that it’s accurate. Theories, however, are not imperishable. If new technology allows better experimentation, for example, a theory may need to be discarded.

Two problems prevent anyone from legitimately calling evolution a theory. First, there’s no direct, observable experiment that can ever be performed. Scientists can measure bones, study mutations, decode DNA, and notice similarities in morphology (the form and structure of animals and plants), but they can never test evolutionary events in the past. Some point to natural selection as a form of “evolution in action,” but natural selection can only act upon the genetic potential that already exists. What we do observe from natural selection fits perfectly with a recent creation and does not point to common descent. Secondly, and related to the above, evolution misses the mark as a theory because all the supposed “tests” to confirm Darwinism do not necessarily and distinctively correspond to the idea. In other words, each has an alternate and equally viable explanation. A theory requires that the confirming experiments correspond to one specific hypothesis. Otherwise, the experiment cannot establish legitimacy. Evolution has no such legitimacy.

Myth 2: “Evolution is unscientific because it is not testable or falsifiable. It makes claims about events that were not observed and can never be re-created.”

Science is a systematic study of natural phenomena based on observations, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation.

Nature of True Science

• Has integrity - is dependable, reliable and trustworthy
• Testable - can it be measured and verified
• Repeatable - should be able to duplicate

Evolution does not fit the strict definition of science. It cannot be or measured. To observe evolution in the past is extremely difficult because of the unknown variables that may have been present in the past.

Myth 3: “Evolution follows a preordained, straight path (or if human evolved from apes, why are there still apes?)”

“If evolution were true, then modern humans descended from apes. (After all, we’ve seen many scientific charts showing apes as man’s ancestors). So, since apes still exist, they didn’t turn into humans, and evolutionists are being silly when they say apes evolved into humans. Case closed!”

Myth 4: “Evolution produces perfectly adapted creatures.”

Biological evolution is the supposed process by which the first cell evolved into the diversity of life we see today. Natural selection and mutations are considered its driving force; however, evolution has never been observed despite numerous protestations to the contrary. Natural selection and mutations cannot add the information necessary to change one kind of organism into another. And it doesn’t take a science degree to understand why molecules-to-man evolution is impossible.

Myth 5: “Species are immutable.”

The fossil record shows an explosion of new forms of life in the Cambrian period but shows no trace of their supposed evolutionary precursors. Further, the abrupt appearance of new biological forms is a recurring phenomenon throughout the history of life. The fossil record repeatedly documents sudden arrivals of new life forms. For more on this, see “The Fossil Record and Universal Common Ancestry,” an article by Günter Bechly and Stephen Meyer that documents 19 explosions or abrupt appearances of new biological forms in the fossil record. (from the book Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique).

Myth 6: “The use or disuse of a structure during one’s lifetime, could be inherited by its offspring and lead to a change in a species”

Modifications in an individual caused by its environment, in other words, the use or disuse of a structure during its lifetime, could be inherited by its offspring and, thus, bring about change in a species.