In spite of Jeffrey Engel’s claim to “get this straight,” his Feb. 22 letter to the editor demonstrates a common misunderstanding about the meaning of the word “theory” as it is used in science. In contrast to Engel’s definition as an “educated guess,” in science, the word “theory” means a comprehensive explanation for natural phenomena that is supported by so much evidence it might be considered a natural “law,” such as the law of gravity.
Any scientific theory or hypothesis is capable of being supported or disproven by new evidence, which distinguishes science from religious beliefs such as creationism, which is a matter of faith and cannot be tested using scientific methods. People’s religious beliefs should be respected, but they should not be confused with science.
