when debating creationist, do they know better, or is it intentional? as atheist we know a scientific theory is not a guess. yet creationist still misuse the term theory. my favorite is the if we came from monkeys why are there still monkeys.
I think it's a way for them to project their own holy book's many shortcomings by saying "well, evolution is just a theory", like it's some pseudo philosophical attempt to say " we can't prove one way or another".
For starters, they don't know the proper definition of the word "theory". I tell them, so is gravity. Do you want to test it?
They're too stupid to know the difference between a hypothesis and a theory. The word 'theory' is used loosely in everyday conversation and many people look at it as just an idea instead of fact. They also think that because the theory is constantly updated due to new discoveries that this debunks evolution when in fact it further supports it when missing links are found. There's also a big amount of misinformation about evolution, and the uneducated believe that it means we evolved directly from monkeys. This is what happens when schools don't teach evolution.
Semantics?
I think for most creationists, misusing the word 'theory' is intentional, it's been pointed out too many times for them to have not heard the explanations of the proper use of the word.
As far as the monkey question goes, We have Kirk Cameron and his pals like Ray Comfort to thank for getting idiotic ideas like that off the ground.
What a shame, and I had such a crush on Kirk back in the day- what a waste.
@LoveThyDog Awww.