Poll: Evolution Yay or Nah?

[lawrie001]

I want to judge how many people on the escapist accept that evolution is fact, I myself think of it as a fact due to the amount of evidence given towards it and that there is no other viable theory on how life changes over time or how the myriad of species came about. If you have a reason why you do or don't believe in it then please express that reason, be it due to sole opinion or religious views.
I would however want one rule to be upheld on this topic, do not try to change someones views because you think they are wrong, you may express why you think your view is correct but you can not say or deem anyone else's view is wrong (within reason, sorry I am biased and if anyone here is a creationist then I myself might go bit too much against you as I will admit I am prejudice against them, not in a violent way or anything just in a 'want to make them see there wrong' way and for that I am sorry).

Edit: ok sorry for putting believe, didnt mean it to be seen as a religious or faith driven thing, just couldnt think of better wording. Couldnt put know evolution because you can know something without deeming it the truth so I thought believe was the correct wording. Also 'guided evolution' is not evolution so you should put no, 'guided evolution' is either intelligent design or Theistic 'evolution'.

 

[lacktheknack]

"Other". I believe in guided evolution.

Also, if you're FULLY AWARE that you're probably going to act like an ass to local creationists, then making this thread was irresponsible.

Also, SEARCH BAR. USE IT.

 

[Saelune]

I dont believe in evolution. Cause that means its just something I think. I have eyes and reason though, so saying I "believe" in evolution is innacurate.

Even if you believe in God, you can know evolution. But most god fearers dont understand the middle ground.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Belief and evolution should not be in the same sentence.

It makes me so sad to see the U.S. have the same evolution acceptation as Turkey.

 

[Versuvius]

I know evolution. Evolution is fact. Belief and Faith don't come into it. You can disbelieve gravity, go test how well that goes for you when you walk off a cliff.

 

[titankore]

Religion is a belief, science is made up with facts. Calling evolution a theory is just shorthand for saying "We are not sure about every minute detail yet but the general idea is correct".

It's like the theory of gravity we know gravity exists we have a basic idea on how to measure it and it's effects but we don't know EVERYTHING about it yet so it is still a theory.

 

[WhatIsThisIDontEven]

A better question is "do you understand evolution"?

Evolution has heaps of supporting evidence. Just because you're too ignorant to read the evidence doesn't make it wrong.

Science is awesome. It's correct whether you believe it or not.

 

[Kapol]

"Other". I believe in guided evolution.

Also, if you're FULLY AWARE that you're probably going to act like an ass to local creationists, then making this thread was irresponsible.

Also, SEARCH BAR. USE IT.

You see, that's an opinion I can understand a bit more then just saying "evolution isn't possible." I don't think that it was guided myself, but believing that makes more sense then some of the other options out there.

I do 'believe' in evolution just like I 'believe' in gravity myself. No offense if you don't, but I just can't understand refusing to admit it's a possibity when there's a lot of evidence.

 

[Varitel]

Of course I believe in evolution. However, I don't think that evolution precludes the existence of a god or anything.

 

[kidigus]

"Other". I believe in guided evolution.

Wait, doesn't evolution specificaly explain how life can diversify without guidence?

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

oh here we go..
anyway as has been pointed out, you dont really believe in it, you accept it as fact, I "believe" in evolution the same as i "believe" in gravity

 

[lawrie001]

Belief and evolution should not be in the same sentence.

It makes me so sad to see the U.S. have the same evolution acceptation as Turkey.

Really do not understand your post mate, the first part ive explained above but the second is confusing, im from the UK, I will agree that US are bit weird when it comes to acceptance of evolution but as long as they dont build a creation museum here im ok with it (google it if you want to see, its a whole museum depicting creatism as scientific fact).

Edit: Please people stop going on the whole 'You dont believe in evolution you know it' I didnt mean anything by it, it was just what I saw as correct wording, I meant that you accept it as fact and truth. Ive now changed the wording for you lot.

 

[David Armour]

I don't know why people are saying "believe" is a bad word to use. Some responses are even "I know evolution." That's dumb. That's like saying I know Greek mythology. Yes, I know Greek mythology but do I believe in it? No.

To answer the question, yes, I do believe in evolution. I believe that it is a fact and that there is overwhelming amounts of evidence supporting it.

 

[CplDustov]

The way I see it.

Parents pass on traits to their children through genetics.
Certain traits will give you an advantage or disadvantage depending on the circumstances of life.
If that benefits you then more of the species will pass that on to the next generation. Therefore, over time as a whole the species changes...

I haven't met anyone that has denied any of those particular parts. I don't see that God's existence or lack thereof changes the premise. Either evolution exists because of God or because it's part of the way things work regardless.

 

[lacktheknack]

"Other". I believe in guided evolution.

Wait, doesn't evolution specificaly explain how life can diversify without guidence?

Yes, but it's not necessarily unguided. The difference is that creationism MUST be guided by God (unless random quantum materialization is possible), while evolution MAY or MAY NOT be guided by God. Atheists automatically go straight for evolution because A. it doesn't require God, and B. it has a lot of usable evidence going for it.

 

[Cerrida]

Macro evolution is a theory, which means nothing can conclusively prove it. ("a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact. ")So far, all of the missing links and early humans, like Lucy, have been fake. (http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/origin_of_man_02.html) Carbon dating showing ages is unreliable.(http://www.archaeologyexpert.co.uk/radiocarbondating.html ) The embryos shown in every textbook have been proven to be inaccurate and misleading (http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/embryos/Haeckel.html) So, no, I don't believe in macro-evolution. Micro-evolution, which concerns changes in a single population, is a proven fact.

 

[BristolBerserker]

If you don't believe in evolution, then you must stop playing pokemon.

 

[AdeptaSororitas]

Yes. I do, however, not believe that evolution and religion are mutually exclusive, because I believe that's ignorant. My theory is guided evolution. *shrugs* Makes sense to me, doesn't conflict with anything. Badda-bing, badda-boom, eeeeeveryone I know bitches at me -.-'

 

[Iron Mal]

I agree with the theory evolution because it is grounded in the scientific method and because of all the opinions and theories I have heard it has the most hard evidence behind it (verified by scientists in numerous fields).

Belief doesn't really come into scientific theories because they aren't based on faith like religious explanations are. No amount of believing or faith will change the fact that rolling around in radioactive waste won't give you super powers, like most things in science, this is not up for debate and what you think or believe won't change the truth.

If you personally believe in something else and it's based on faith or religious belief then I can't and won't do anything to change that, you are free to believe what you choose, however, this doesn't mean science has to accomidate your beliefs when the evidence isn't on your side.