So are both explanations valid for presentation in a science classroom One of the key aspects of science is it reliance on hypothesis testing using observations to falsify potential explanations a hypothesis of natural phenomena meaning the currently unfalsified hypothesis is taken as the best current explanation of phenomena The situation could give change with additional data or new hypotheses that better explain what is in question At one time in history a majority of the best scientists in the world thought that 1 The Earth is flat 2 The Sun revolves around the Earth 3 Protein is genetic material heritable information containing molecule in biological systems because DNA alphabet consisting of only 4 letters was too simple to account for observed genetic variation 4 All dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago Example of a living dinosaur 5 The universe will eventually stop expanding and then proceed to contract Expansion rate has increased instead of slowing as found in newer studies All of these hypotheses theories have been rejected or superseded by better Can supernatural explanation account for the previous 1 10 phenomena see first set of Birds hypotheses theories notes o Yes o No Can supernatural explanation be a scientific hypothesis o It can be a hypothesis but should not be taught in a science classroom setting Not to say science has proved supernatural is wrong but it is not in the same realm in which science operates and is therefore not subject to scientific So why all of the controversy regarding the teaching of evolution in science classrooms 1 Some religions views are at the root of the controversy 2 Does religion in general oppose the Evolutionary theory investigation No Many religions accept Evolution Theory Example Catholic Church The exceptions are those religions with fundamental views i e those that believe om the strict interpretation and inerrancy freedom from errors of the truth of scripture Dr Hoeh s opinions 1 Evolutionary theory is not necessarily in compatible with religion 2 Religious texts Bible etc tell us how to live rather than how the universe operates The Bible tells us how to get to heaven but not how heaven operates Roman Catholic Cardinal Caesar Baronius 16th Century Well if science is provisional rather than a provider of truth then does this imply that science is a failure and should be ignored o Au Contraire Realize 1 Science is a progressive and cumulative enterprise 2 It builds on previous knowledge and theory to gain new knowledge and to produce new better theories 3 Criteria for better theory One that is better at both explaining and predicting reality Explanations hypotheses are relatively easy to come by since many alternative hypotheses can explain the same facts However only a small subset of explanations actually predict correctly what will happen under given situations this subset of hypotheses represent the currently unfalsified explanations Example Geocentrism vs Heliocentrism o Geocentrism the Earth is at the center of the universe and the sun revolves around the Earth this could explain some phenomena but not all o Heliocentrism the Earth is revolving around the sun as well as the other planets in an elliptical trajectorial orbit This explains more than Geo and allows for more accurate predictions o Helio Geo 4 Science Works it has produced tangible innovations that have changed our lives in positive ways For example electricity computers antibiotics vaccines planes helicopters etc II Evolution Creationism 101 What is creationism 1 Originally the term referred to the idea that each human fetus s soul was specifically created 2 Lincoln ET Al 1998 definition of creationism The belief that all forms of life were created de novo from the beginning and have undergone little subsequent change fundamentalism o Given the great diversity of views within the Anti Evolution community some prefer to use the phrase those who deny evolution rather than the term creationists The Many Forms of Creationism 1 A useful classification of the positions on origins has been proposed by Eugene Scott 1997 as presented in Figure 23 1 2 In Scott s classification the major distinction is that multiple creationist views on origins are considered under either Young Earth YE or Old Earth OE headers Young Earth YE Positions 1 The most extreme of the YE positions is flat earthism This group represents a minority within the general creationist community They reject evolution believe that the Earth is 6000 years old is flat and is the center of the universe precisely as the Bible says See Daniel 4 11 and Matthew 4 8 2 Geocentrism The Earth is spherical but the Sun revolves around the Earth the latter belief comes from literal interpretation of Joshua 10 12 14 3 Young Earth Creationism Most creationists in the US are in this group as the name implies they believe in a 6000 year old Earth but deny that the Bible makes claims about either a flat Earth or Geocentrism However the fact that both Copernicus and Galileo because of their statements favoring Heliocentrism were in deep trouble potential death sentences with the Church of Rome suggests that the church leaders at the time did believe the Bible supported Geocentrism Summary so it is safe to say that there are disagreements among the various factions with the YE camp of creationism Old Earth OE Creationist Positions o Creationist who accept the scientific theory that Earth is billions of years as corroborated by geology paleontology ecology physics and astronomy 1 Gap Theorists Creationists who believe that there is actually a larger temporal time gap between the first and second chapters of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible Biblical sequences of events during creation i Genesis Chapter 1 1 Day 1 sky earth light 2 Day 2 Water of the oceans and above the sky 3 Day 3 plants 4 Day 4 sun moon stars 5 Day 5 sea monsters whales fish birds land animals 6 Day 6 Humans both sexes at the same time ii Genesis Chapter 2 1 Earth and Heavens 2 Adam first man plants 3 Animals 4 Eve from Adam s rib Therefore a literal reading of Genesis presents two distinct creation orders To account for the duality gap theory creationism postulates a pre Adamic Earth Ch 1 that was destroyed and God started over Ch 2 2 Day Age Systems a more liberal interpretation of the Bible where each day of the traditional creation story actually represents a geological age thus it took millions of years to create the Earth stars life etc which puts