Question:
Where are questions regarding the truth of evolution supposed to be asked, if not here?
anonymous
2013-03-16 16:26:12 UTC
When someone asks proof for evolution in the R&S section, they get told to go to the biology or anthropology section(s).

but when they go there, those folks complain that evolution is an already "accepted fact in the scientific community". and that those questioning evolution are "creationist trolls"

since evolution deals with origins (species, humans..etc) why wouldn't this section be the place to ask those questions?
Eighteen answers:
?
2013-03-16 16:34:58 UTC
PLEASE, with all due respect, ASK these questions in the biology and/or anthropology sections!



I will more than gladly do my best to answer them to the best of my knowledge.



For clarification purposes, evolution only deals with the origins of species and their subsequent diversification and development.



The R&S section is filled with scientifically illiterate people, that's why.
tentofield
2013-03-16 16:40:21 UTC
Evolution is science, it is not a religion. As evolution has been observed both in the wild and in the laboratory, it is accepted fact. Evolution occurs. The Theory explains how it happens. To give an analogy, gravity is accepted fact. It is observed regularly, if you drop something, it falls to the ground. How it happens is the Theory and there are, at the moment, two theories of Gravity. Newtonian Gravity is fine for everyday use and you can send spacecraft to the planets using it, but it doesn't work at the quantum level. For that you need Einsteinian gravity or Special Relativity.



That is how science works. You collect the evidence - the observations and experiments - and propose a hypothesis as to why and how those observations are happening. You test the hypothesis against further observations and experiments and use the hypothesis to predict what you would expect to see. You also state what would falsify the hypothesis and try to show it to be wrong. When a hypothesis explains all the observations and experiments; when it makes predictions that come about; when every attempt to falsify it fails, the hypothesis achieves the status of a Theory and that is where Evolution is now.



If you can falsify evolution, show it to be wrong, there is a Nobel prize waiting for you. Remember, though, that if evolution is wrong that does not mean creationism is right, far from it. The same criteria of observation, experiment, prediction and falsification must be applied to creationism and when they are, it fails. Creationism doesn't make it past the failed hypothesis stage, Evolution is a theory - and that's as good as it gets in science.



As evolution is science, the best place to ask questions about it is in Science and Mathematics where scientists, both theist and atheist will answer them for you. The vast majority of the people in Religion and Spirituality are not scientists.
anonymous
2013-03-16 16:30:05 UTC
If you want to get a creationist question addressed sincerely, you should show at least a tiny bit of evidence that you at least understand modern evolutionary theory.



If you do not, you will be labeled a creationist troll...because you are a creationist troll. When you repeat the 'arguments' made by pastors, YouTube videos, and Chick Tracts, you're just repeating arguments that were never that valid to begin with, that are asked and refuted constantly, all day long. Repeating that argument does not engender respect.



So, try spending some serious time researching evolution.



And try an ACTUAL evolution textbook or website, not a Creationist website that tells you what you want to hear.



This way, you will have real information, and can ask a sincere, educated question.
Pyriform
2013-03-16 16:43:33 UTC
'but when they go there, those folks complain that evolution is an already "accepted fact in the scientific community". and that those questioning evolution are "creationist trolls"'

I cannot say for sure without seeing a specific example, but that sounds like a response to a question which was obviously not asked as a genuine enquiry with an attempt to learn the answer, but as a supposed 'gocha' question.
?
2013-03-16 20:26:33 UTC
The science section is the best section if you honestly want to learn more about evolution, but you ask something like 'If evolution is true then how comes there's still monkeys...herp derp?' then you are going to be called a troll.



Learn about evolution first, then ask intelligent questions in the science section and you won't be called a troll.



If you want to ask about the 'philosophical' implications of evolution/creation, then ask here or in Philosophy.



Or ask in the Pets section, I don't care.
lhvinny
2013-03-16 16:34:53 UTC
Evolution deals with the origin of species, but only species. That is because evolution explains the divergent pattern of life. Species emerge as part of that divergent pattern of life. Modern humans, being a species, is thus covered under evolution. I disagree greatly with your use of the "etc." since the implication is that evolution explains the origin of other things.



As for the proof, consider the numerous ring species which are, if isolation continues, the budding points of speciation. Consider the hundreds of documented cases of speciation in the scientific literature. Consider, even within humans such as the Tibetan populations verses their Han Chinese neighbors, the variances in allele frequencies under selective pressure over time that lead to environment-specific advantages. Consider that your own family tree shows how certain traits get passed on to future generations and others do not. What more could you possibly want that is within the realm of reasonable?
anonymous
2013-03-17 03:44:51 UTC
anthropology if you're asking about the natural history pertaining to the origins of humanity and civilization, and biology if you wish to leanr about the phyologenetic tree and all kinds of species that are related to each other.



I agree that it's kind of nit picky to say that you can't ask question regarding origins of species, life, or the universe in general on this board.mainly b/c religion AND spirituality pertain to why we're here and how we got here to begin with.



and evolution (although doesn't seek to explain "why") it seeks to explain how and that can come into contact with certain religious explanations. so it's easy to see why people would ask questions like that here.



technically though if you're asking abou the "truth" of evolution, those 2 sections would be the best place to go. and if you wanted to throw in the BB and the origins of the universe I'd like to add physics and astronomy section(s) too.



I would say it depedns what you're specifically asking about evolution. if your question is "how can evolution be true if such & such_____?", I'd say it belongs in one of the science forums. if you're question is something like "doesn't evolution prove there's a creator?" or something like that, It could be posted here or in philosophy section.
MCSHughes
2013-03-16 16:41:59 UTC
Not really.



Only Christianity deals with origins. It only makes sense when looking through a Christian world view.



While evolution does have the tenets of a religion, it's a secular worldview. Those in Biology/Anthropology should be able to explain why they believe what they believe. Of course they can't. They have to make baseless presuppositions such as, "accepted fact..." which it is very clearly not. "Accepted facts..." should be defensible.



Evolution doesn't make sense in any worldview and only when looking at origins through the view of the Bible does it all make sense.



Good question!
Daken
2013-03-16 16:32:07 UTC
Perhaps those who wish to criticize evolution should learn what the theory of evolution actually is. It does not deal with the origins of life or species, it deals with how life adapts over time. That is all. It is not a philosophy, it is not a belief system, it is a scientific theory. That means that we have evidence that the process happens, but we don't fully understand it yet and so cannot make it a law. For another example of this definition of the word, "theory," please check out the theory of gravity.
?
2016-10-08 06:35:08 UTC
nicely, in my very own opinion if there ever be a fact to that fact approximately evolution, what's important is that the top result replaced into solid. If humanity is a results of evolution , atleast the top section is solid. Humanity...... they only have an excellent style of individual modifications that is very goodm, or undesirable. yet they have the intelligence different species would possibly not very own.. in spite of the undeniable fact that, if we got here from one race and variations the complexion , height , style, etc. as a results of fact of temperature or environment..... that continues to be to be a question and the respond is yet unknown.....
Plato is the Prophet of Flatland
2013-03-16 16:33:13 UTC
School, and academic texts would be the BEST place to read up on it to form an opinion. Second best is other internet sources such as the science section here on yahoo or elsewhere.



Usually people who ask these questions won't understand the discussion if they haven't done an independent investigation. It doesn't help. My only conclusion is if you choose to ask the question on the internet as opposed to SEARCHING the internet you likely aren't looking for actual information but just a confirmation of your beliefs.
anonymous
2013-03-16 16:28:02 UTC
I agree. If creationist trolls can't post on R&S, where can they post?



What? Evolution does deal with origins--with the origins of species of animals. No one said the origin of life itself. He actually said the very opposite.
Danny
2013-03-16 16:32:29 UTC
Evolution is a scientific theory. Creationism is something made up to explain something that was, at the time, not explainable. Therefore, it belongs in the science section.
?
2013-03-16 16:27:28 UTC
"since evolution deals with origins"



wrong sir, wrong



evolution DOES NOT address origin, when you claim it does, that is why you get labeled as a troll



evolution explains why species change over time, fundamentally due to genetic variation, not how life was created
anonymous
2013-03-16 16:33:52 UTC
The only people who think Evolution is a matter of theological concern are American creationists - and they obsess about it. Perhaps they should try talking about something else for a change. You know, Jesus Christ perhaps.
?
2013-03-16 16:29:24 UTC
Go to talkorigins.org....lots of easy to understand info regarding evolution
Chris Ancor
2013-03-16 16:28:08 UTC
You can ask here but that doesn't change the fact that evolution is accepted.
?
2013-03-16 16:28:54 UTC
shifting goal post

no one even knows what evolution is


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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