A Scientific Theory is a Model that is testible, repeatable and continues to explain all the FACTS! Evolution is a FACT, Evolution by natural selection is the Theory. When they use the word theory, what they mean to say is hypothesis, conjecture or opinion which has limited or no explanatory power. They have a "Theory" that "Jesus Lived, was crucified,died, was buried and rose again on the third day, yet they don't have one verifiable Fact about is life, deeds, acts while he was alive. Talk about a "Theory" that explains nothing.

One of the biggest problems with scientific theories lately is that theists have used the "Big Bang theory" as "proof of God".

There are two words with near-opposite alternate definitions that are problematic in discussion with theists.

Theory: (colloquial) my speculative pet idea that I'm just throwing out there

Theory: (scientific) an explanatory framework that represents the highest level of proven fact based on scientific observation and verification

Faith: (colloquial) trust based on experience

Faith: (religious) belief in asserted / claimed truth without a requirement of evidence or subtantiation -- and often, without the POSSIBILITY of substantiation, given that religious faith is generally about un-falsifiable propositions.

Biblical literlists are always tring to pull DOWN the Theory of Evolution by falsely equating it to the coloquial definition of "theory" and they are always trying to pull UP religious faith by falsely equating it with experience-validated trust.

Now ... does each and every Christian apologist consciously lie for Jesus? I wouldn't assert that. I think these false equivalencies are just very easy to see as valid because they need them to be valid. But the minute I confront them with the correct meanings / definitions and they ignore that and insist on their alternate definitions anyway, then they no longer have any benefit of the doubt from me.

I tend to get the feeling that they refuse to understand the differences; seeing as it wouldn't got their agenda.

This needs to be explained in schools, in all countries, as soon as a child starts learning about science, and the school should then adhere to a strict policy of using the term 'theory' only when referring to a scientific theory, and using 'hypothesis' for anything that a layperson would term a theory.

This needs to be explained in ALL schools, in ALL countries, as soon as a child starts learning about science, and the school should then adhere to a strict policy of using the term 'theory' only when referring to a scientific theory, and using 'hypothesis' for anything that a layperson would term a theory.

This should solve the problem within a generation.

If we can also get the media to do likewise it would help. Perhaps restrict the hiring of science commentators to include only science graduates for example, I.e. someone who will know what they are talking about.

Perhaps then people would stop listening to / voting for science deniers. Having heads of state that do not believe in evolution, vaccines or climate change, but DO believe the world is only 6000 years old is a scary prospect.

A Theory....... any explaination postulating that an Idea or asumption has a high degree of possibility to fit all the known facts of a particular query.......... The best explaination to date, until a stage is reached where proof prevails, whereapon the theory is abandond.........An idea to explain.......until something is proven beyond doubt.

Jesus is a theory. If we found proof of him and anyone could verify it's veracity, then he'd be a scientific theory. Te he he

I think not understanding science is a plus if you're a christian and a requirement if you're a creationist.

I've even heard christians referring to the story of how god made Eve and say that's why men have one less rib than women. How hard can it be to research that bit of insight?

Yeah...
And it's the ones that will argue their point of it being "just a theory" that I try my best to not lose my temper with and tear them apart with knowledge bombs. The reason why is because they usually play the victim card.

(No joke: I've had one call me an angry atheist and that I was attacking him because of his beliefs. No, I attacked because of the stupid shit he was saying like evolution was a lie, gravity was a theory, etc)