Guest Column: Definitions of theory, evolution misunderstood

Guest Column: Definitions of theory, evolution misunderstood



Lois Troxell
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 02/18/08


I read the recent article in your paper about the 80-million-year-old fossil that may be a link between pre-historic and modern crocodiles. If it lived that long ago, how can the earth be only 5,000 years old according to creationism, and how can you expect creationism's erroneous information to be taught in our science classes? Apparently, The Record expects just that you recently published an editorial praising the School Board for its "flexibility'' resolution regarding the teaching of evolution. "Flexibility'' seems to be the latest buzzword to enable fundamentalists to slip creationism into the science curriculum. Either The Record is publishing lies about evolution how about the 40,000-year-old Neanderthal tooth published on Feb. 9 or the paper doesn't believe the creationist teachings and is pandering to perceived readers.

I expect the editors of a newspaper in a rapidly growing, progressive area, such as St. Johns County, to be more knowledgeable. The same goes for the School Board. You should publish the names of those who voted to allow "flexibility'' so that voters who want quality, world-class education for their children will know who to vote against in the next elections.

The definition of theory in science is not the same as the definition that we use in everyday terminology. We handle it by learning the proper definition and when to use it. The definition of theory in science is an umbrella concept under which are thousands of facts to back it up. It is never a half-baked idea thrown out for discussion, which is often how we use it in an ordinary discussions.

Science is a fluid process, but the theory has remained relatively stable since Darwin proposed it. Francis Collins, a scientist and a true believer, who wrote "The Language of God," said that the DNA evidence for evolution is overwhelming. Chimps have 99.9 percent the same DNA as humans. Two of the chimps chromosomes are almost identical to a single-fused chromosome in us. Many of our genes that no longer perform any function are found and are functioning in lower animals.

The fear that evolution instills in some people is very puzzling. Why would anyone expect the Bible, written so long ago, to be a book of modern science? The scientific information uncovered since the Bible was written must lead thinking people to realize that efforts to turn the Bible into a book of science are doomed to failure. If we become a nation of closed-minded fundamentalists and expect religion to determine our government and our science, we are sure to become an insular, non-progressive, third-world nation. It is disappointing to see letter after letter using incorrect information about evolution. No dialogue can occur unless people are using the same definitions. The definition of theory and the word evolution are misused.

If you believe that:


mastodons and saber-toothed tigers used to roam the earth and are not here today, but elephants and tigers are here and did not used to be (there are fossils of them from the time period of the former);


the horse was once the size of a dog and gradually increased through the rock layers of time to the present-day horse (photos of these fossils have been in textbooks for years and the actual fossils can be seen in museums);


we get new vaccines and antibiotics because the organisms' species have changed;

Then you believe in evolution, no matter what else you believe. This is a marvelous beautiful plan that any Creator would be proud to own.



Lois Troxell, Ed.D., is a retired biology teacher from Palm Beach.


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