What is evolution?
The word "evolution" in science has more than one definition. But as a general rule, it simply means "change."
- Micro-evolution: Small changes in a particular species of animals through mutations. "Micro" changes, usually with a deleterious effect to the organism, or no effect at all.
- Macro-evolution: Means large scale changes in organisms over massive amounts of time, which would, for example, transform an ape-like creature into a human-being. This is the type of change generally referred to when people speak of evolution in conversation.
Macro-evolution works off of an assumed premise. It is not something that was arrived at through conclusive evidence, but through unreasonable interpretations of certain facts; such as similarity. It is assumed that all life has a common ancestor. This assumption is based largely on the fact that all organisms have certain biological similarities (known as homology). All evidence is automatically interpreted to fit this assumption. So, in short, the (macro)evolutionists assume something about the history of the world, and then apply science within the parameters they have restricted themselves to. This is exactly what Creationists do, except that their assumption is not that macro-evolution is true, but that the Bible and all of its history is true and correct. Creationists then apply science within these historical parameters.
Do you see the primary difference between Creationists and (macro)evolutionists? It's all about what they assume happened in the past. Contrary to what many evolutionists claim, their macro-evolutionary assumptions are based on assumptions, not purely evidence.
NOTES:
1. "Macro" simply implies "big change" in an organism, and "Micro" implies "small change."
2. This site will regularly use the term "evolution" as meaning macro-evolution, as is common.
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