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To: trubolotta
Evolution is a theory, not a law. Creationism is a theory, not a law.

Your first sentence is true. The second is not. This may help:

The scientific method is the best way yet discovered for winnowing the truth from lies and delusion. The simple version looks something like this:
* 1. Observe some aspect of the universe.
* 2. Invent a tentative description, called a hypothesis, that is consistent with what you have observed.
* 3. Use the hypothesis to make predictions.
* 4. Test those predictions by experiments or further observations and modify the hypothesis in the light of your results.
* 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there are no discrepancies between theory and experiment and/or observation.
When consistency is obtained the hypothesis becomes a theory and provides a coherent set of propositions which explain a class of phenomena. A theory is then a framework within which observations are explained and predictions are made.
source: What is the ``scientific method''?
49 posted on 09/07/2004 1:49:56 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
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To: PatrickHenry

The second sentence is correct based on the observation of the complexity of life itself, suggesting a design, and the fact there are no observations of spontaneous creation of any forms, complex or simple.

And it is because of that very same scientifc method that evolution is not a law. The observations required to confirm its predictions are missing.


53 posted on 09/07/2004 2:00:56 PM PDT by trubolotta
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To: PatrickHenry

>* 1. Observe some aspect of the universe.

The complexity and variety of life on this planet.

>* 2. Invent a tentative description, called a hypothesis, that is consistent with what you have observed.

Life had a creator and designer.

>* 3. Use the hypothesis to make predictions.

It was a one time event. Life does not arise spontaneously from inert materials. One species does not transform into another or multiple other species.

* 4. Test those predictions by experiments or further observations and modify the hypothesis in the light of your results.

This is where it becomes inductive - demonstrate that the hypothesis is not true. Produce life from inert materials or show that one species definitely turned into another - i.e. produce the transitional forms. Obviously we can't recreate the Big Bang or any of the physical laws that existed just before the Big Bang - but some people accept it as a theory. Actually, its a theory based on a theory, but certainly nothing more than that.

>* 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until there are no discrepancies between theory and experiment and/or observation.

This is required for a law, not a theory. This is why Relativity remains a theory, and evolution is not a law.


76 posted on 09/07/2004 2:58:16 PM PDT by trubolotta
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