Quote Originally Posted by Thepossumdance
Fact: Knowledge or information based on real occurrences...

We are basing evolution on the real occurrences we have documented, fossils, DNA evidence they all show this phenomenon we call evolution has and is occurring. Therefore, based on the definition of the word, evolution is a fact....
the theory of evolution is based on the interpretation of the remains of real occurrences.

science is of no use if we refuse to obey its simplest laws. though evolution is the most logical and direct interpretation of the evidence, there are other possibilities that cannot be directly disproved. since there seems to be no way to come to a conclusion through direct experience, it may always be nothing more than a theory.

science is the art of questioning everything and if we are willing to blindly believe any one set of interpretations then we do science a disservice by turning it into just another sorrowfully inadequate religion. scientists are not prophets handing down the holy truth from on high. they are merely fallible men, who should be willing to question even their own conclusions and the rest of us should be just as willing to keep an open mind to all of the possibilities, tossing out only those we find to be wholly inadequate.

fact is not determined by consensus. if it were then we would probably be living on a flat earth sitting on the back of a giant turtle, while fiery chariots raced through the heavens and dragons and unicorns capered in the mist. how cool would that be?