1984 & A/S/K revisited

[downbeatplumb]

False. Evolution was not the first theory of its kind, there were previous presuppositions about a lack of evolution that were blown out of the water.

Could you elaborate, please? Hard examples?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamarckism

This was the theory that what a parent did in life effected its offspring.

Giraffes stretching their necks to reach leaves high in trees (especially Acacias), strengthen and gradually lengthen their necks. These giraffes have offspring with slightly longer necks (also known as "soft inheritance").
A blacksmith, through his work, strengthens the muscles in his arms. His sons will have similar muscular development when they mature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catastrophism

This held that there have been violent and sudden natural catastrophes such as great floods and the rapid formation of major mountain chains. Plants and animals living in those parts of the world where such events occurred were often killed off, according to the 19th-century French scientist Georges Cuvier. Then new life forms moved in from other areas. As a result, the fossil record for a region shows abrupt changes in species. Cuvier's explanation relied solely on scientific evidence rather than biblical interpretation.