What is evolution?

So why did you immediately start talking about the "Big Band" Theory, as you call it? You have a damn cheek. What has that got to do with the ToE? Physicists do not base the Big Bang theory on biological evolution you know. This is just another example of creationist goalpost shifting and question dodging.
I also notice that you have made a reasonably long post without even once attempting to do what Subbie asked you to, namely to define the ToE for our general edification. If all you can do is quote Webster's (a lousy dictionary by the way) and whine about biogenesis, then we must assume that you are unable to define the ToE on your own merit and we can close up this thread. Don't be a child. The topic of this debate is "What is Evolution" and Subbie made it quite clear that he had the ToE and biological evolution in mind. This is the biological evolution thread. To complain that one is expected to discuss biological evolution in the biological evolution thread is ridiculous. If you want to discuss the Big Bang, you know where the appropriate thread is. That gave me a giggle. It is especially rich coming from a creationist, since we all know that there are dozens of flavours of creationism, as opposed to near universal agreement amongst biologists as to what the ToE means. Pot. Kettle. Get a grip.

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Mutate and Survive

ICANT,
I think that part of the problem here is that you are talking about evolution in a more general sense of the word, whereas this discussion is meant to be about biological evolution. Let's go back to your Webster's cite; We are only interested in the fourth sense for the purpose of this discussion.The definition of evolution you quote from RAZD in Message 20 is, of course, quite correct, but the point wasn't really to determine whether RAZD can define evolution. He has demonstrated rather thoroughly that he can.
Your definition, as given here; is somewhat scanty, but basically right. It isn't really a complete definition of evolution, but rather an over-simplification. It's incomplete, but its not wrong.

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Mutate and Survive

Hi Wumpini, I think you're splitting hairs somewhat here, but you do nonetheless have a point.Look at it this way; evolution is a fact. It has been observed both in the lab and in the field. The explanatory framework used by scientists to explain this fact is the Theory of Evolution. The theory is subject to doubt and tentativity, but the events observed are real.Also, scientists can't predict the weather because of Chaos Theory. Weather is innately unpredictable because it is an unbelievably complex and interconnected system. Chaos isn't a consideration when digging up fossils.Edited by Granny Magda, : Tidying up.

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Mutate and Survive