Quote Originally Posted by jcd View Post
This is an equivocation on the word "theory", born out of scientific illiteracy. Coincidentally, this is seen as a valid argument by creationists.

A microsite for a very quick explanation:

Evolution is Not Just a Theory: home


Okay, heres some raw data they have found in regards to evolution:




The scientists involved are overjoyed! Look! It's as clear as day what the evidence is saying! We draw a line through these datapoints, and viola!


Easy as pie! There's you indisputible proof of our claims! A clear progression from one form to another.












However, the original graph that I took those datapoints from was a polynomial:


Wait just a moment! We had assumed linear, when it actualy was polynomial! So long, grant money!




Just an overly simplistic example of what can happen, even to scientists, when assumptions are made first.