In science, the word "theory" doesn't mean the same thing it does when we use it in everyday life. (I have a theory on who raided the cookie jar.; It was a good idea in theory but not in reality.; The media offered multiple theories as to who was to blame for the slow response to the hurricane victims.)
When you make a guess that hasn't been tested, that's an hypothesis. A theory has been widely tested and explains a group of facts or phenomena.
The other day I as flipping through the channels on the TV and saw a show where some men were claiming to discuss ID. It was really a dressed-up version of creationism. If that's what they're passing off as intelligent design, then I'm not having any, thank you.
That doesn't mean that I reject the idea that God was the initial creative force of the universe and of life itself. But that is a matter of faith, not science. It does bother me that people on both sides seem to want us to make an "either/or" choice.
I have one question for the newspapers - How can you print articles that mock people for their lack of an understanding of science and their faith in God when you continue to print a daily horoscope section? I must have missed the memo with the scientific proof of astrology.
Posted by marybeth at November 12, 2005 12:54 PM Science