From: John Beckett 

"Geo."  wrote in message
news::
> He's right, it is a theory. It will become fact like "the earth
is not flat"
> became a fact, when we can observe it for ourselves. I don't think that will
> happen until we find life elsewhere. (lots of elsewheres).

The phrase "evolution is [only] a theory" is usually intended as
an insult. If the speaker had a few clues about science they would realise
that it is no insult to be a theory! It is impossible to use another word
to describe our understanding of any complex phenomenon.

What I find really quaint is the opinion held by some that NOT believing in
evolution somehow makes a person more rational. The alternative to
evolution is that You-know-who put it all here. I don't mind the belief,
but I find it intellectually repugnant that it could be offered as an
explanation (saying "stuff is like it is because it was put here that
way" is not an explanation).

John

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