The Theory of Evolution is one of the principles (or laws) underlying Natural Selection. Charles Darwin observed isolated species on the island of Galapagos in the 19^th century and noted the slight adaptations they had incurred, compared to the populations on the mainland, over generations in order to survive.

In today’s scientific circles the current theory is referred to as Neo-Darwinism since science has added to the information and determined about what Darwin was and was not correct. This has been done through study of the fossil record, independent experimentation, and decades of research. The use of the word ‘theory’ is indicative of such extensive effort, not how most people are used to hearing it as a description of a guess.

An example - recently, a gastrointestinal ridge was found to have developed in a species of lizards transplanted to a new island home. In the course of four decades, over several generations, they adapted to a diet of heavier vegetation. This is evolution in action. Also, each year, we see variations in the flu virus - more evolution in action. And HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is a result of evolution as is antibiotic resistant bacteria.

The misunderstanding is seen in the famous poster where a fish jumps up on land and grows legs. It then becomes a monkey, which then becomes a human. This is a gross misrepresentation and oversimplification of evolution!

There has been evidence to indicate common ancestors for the evolution of particular species, but there is no currently accepted scientific theory that says humans came from monkeys. A hundred years ago that idea was thrown out as a misinterpretation of Darwin’s observations and it stuck. Unfortunately.

In short, the real theory of evolution is that small mutations occur over time. When observed over a long period, these mutations add up to create more visible change. The part this plays in natural selection is that some organisms are better suited to survive and reproduce in their environment, thus passing on their mutations. This eventually resulting in a noticeable change. It can be subtle and take millennia. Or sometimes it may only take decades.

Science does not attempt to explain why these changes occur in the grand scheme of things. That's what religion and spirituality are for. Science merely investigates and presents what can be observed and disproven to explain how, when, what, and where.

For further discussion see my previous blog posts on the subject or leave a comment and I’ll follow up.