Lauri Lebo, author of The Devil in Dover, has more to say on another topic I'd like to quote. Those who argue against evolution often say that it is just a theory, implying that it isn't proven, isn't the basis for much of current science. She has a couple of good quotes on that topic that might be of use if you find yourself arguing with a creationist.
From page 151: "At one point Rothschild [plaintiff's lawyer] reminded Behe [defense witness] of National Academy of Science's definition of a scientific theory: 'A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses."
From page 115: "Dr. [Ken] Miller [plaintiff witness], isn't evolution just a theory?" Walczak [plaintiff's lawyer] asked at one point in the testimony, emphasizing the word, 'just'.
Miller answered with the same patience and earnestness he might direct to a bright but confused student. 'Evolution is just a theory,' Miller said, ' in the same way that the atomic theory of matter is just a theory, the Copernican theory of the solar system is just a theory, or the germ theory of disease is just a theory. But theories...are not hunches, they're not unproven speculation. Theories are systems of explanations which are strongly supported by factual observations and which [explain] ... whole sets of facts and experimental results."
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