Misunderstanding Evolution

Misconception: The theory of evolution is a theory about how life began.

Some who read the abbreviated title of Darwin's book, Origin of Species, think that it must discuss how life originally appeared on the earth. But that book does not discuss how life came about. Instead it discusses the theory that new species can originate as a result of a process Darwin termed natural selection. Consider the full title of Darwin's work: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Even the title assumes the existence of races, or species.

The study of abiogenesis, the production of living beings from nonliving matter, is separate from the study of evolution.

Misconception: There's no fossil record of transitional species.

Fact: There are plenty of transitional species in the fossil record. One (partial) list citing over a hundred transitional species can be found at http://www.holysmoke.org/tran-icr.htm.

People who disagree with evolution are rarely satisfied with such lists. Prof. David Pilbeam of Harvard is quoted as saying, "as soon as you find a missing link, you've just created two more missing links." I suppose it's natural for people to want to find a smooth unbroken chain of fossil records of slightly varying protohumans, however, even though we've found many, many fossils, only a small number of creatures that have existed ever became fossilized.

One might counter those who look for missing links by asking them to show a fossil record that provides evidence for creation. Why, for example, have we not found Adam's bones? Does that prove that Adam never existed? Of course not.

Misconception: No one's ever seen a new species come about.

Fact: Many speciation events have been reported. Of course, critics complain that they are mostly cases of plant evolution, or cases involving use of Drosophilia (fruit flies) and that these are very simple creatures, therefore these reports don't really say anything about more complex species. Because of limitations of time and expense, scientsts must use plants and animals that reproduce quickly if they are to see any sort of change in a species. More details on both the varying definitions of speciation and studies that have reported it are contained in Joseph Boxham's article Observed Instances of Speciation.

Misconception: Any theory about how different species came about is as good as any other.

Fact: Scientific theories are validated by empirical testing against physical observations. They aren't judged just on the basis of their logical compatibility with available data. A good description of the elements of scientific theory has been provided by Douglas Theobald. If there is no experiment that could disprove the theory, then it is not science. And if all the evidence bolstering a theory has been shown to be wrong, it is no longer a scientific theory. The scientist must be willing to accept a better theory, one that fits the facts better, if it should be proposed. This, more than anything else, distinguishes the scientist from the theologian. There is no situation in which the theologian must reject his own ideas about God.

Misconception: Inteligent Design is a valid scientific theory.

Fact: Every claim of Intelligent Design of which I am aware is either unverifiable or has been shown to be wrong. Natural History Magazine provided a report Intelligent Design? that refutes the most popular claims of Intelligent Design adherents. But more to the point, suppose an intelligent designer does make all that we see. What processes would such a designer use? Of course, the designer would employ those physical processes that science has identified. The existence (or lack thereof) of a designer adds nothing to our understanding of how the world about us works.