reedmcneal
Thursday, August 17th, 2006, 9:07 PM
QUOTE (Sluggo @ Thursday, August 17th, 2006, 5:27 PM)

None of this changes the truth of evolution. I was merely curious. Upon more research, I found one theory that proposes brains are like peacock tails. Humor ties right into it.
Evolution is a religious idea because it splits sects. Jesus was an organism with chemical processes inside his cells, but that doesn't mean he isn't central to Christianity and Islam. I would argue his importance is religious, not scientific.
If we are arguing what is religious and what is scientific, the answer is simple.
sci·ence (n.)
1.
- 1. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.
- 2. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena.
- 3. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study.
2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study: I've got packing a suitcase down to a science.
3. An activity that appears to require study and method: the science of purchasing.
4. Knowledge, especially that gained through experience.
re·li·gion (n.)
1.
- 1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
- 2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
The key difference is science involves observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation. This would include observations of fossilized organisms and genetics which leads many people to support the theory of evolution.
Religion does not use the scientific method to test hypotheses, and therefore the burden is on the individual to either believe or have faith in the religions teachings.
Calling evolution a religious belief is untrue, because it has been under the scrutiny of the scientific community for nearly 200 years. While a scientist cannot physically perform an experiment to prove that evolution has taken place, they can take into account physical evidence that either supports or rejects the claims of Darwin. Up until this point the scientific community has overwhelmingly supported the theory of evolution.
Now you will probably still reject the idea that evolution is scientifically based, but I will ask you this: Do you have a thorough enough understanding of biology to retort the claims of thousands of experts who have spent their entire lives in labs scrutinizing the very principles of evolution?
I doubt it.