Evolution Facts

[Tonus]

I keep saying it: Both the Creationists and we scientifically-oriented folks are mostly doing nothing but arguing from authority. We're just as human and biased as they are. We're never going to convince them any more than they're going to convince us.

Those are two very different versions of 'authority' and 'faith.'

We understand that humans are fallible, and it is normal for scientists to disagree or have their theories changed or even discarded. It's how we progress in knowledge and understanding-- we challenge what we know and when we learn something new we incorporate it into that base of knowledge. The authority of scientists is not absolute, and neither is our faith in them. We know they'll get things wrong. We count on it.

God (as worshiped by most people today) is an ultimate and absolute authority. The knowledge and understanding he provides is complete and perfect, hindered only by human limitations. There is no room for further progress through human efforts because there is no reason to turn to a fallible source when there is a perfect one. Faith in god must be complete and absolute; he does not tolerate doubters, threatening them with dire punishment. If god is wrong, the reaction must be denial or loss of faith. His followers know he cannot be wrong, they count on it.