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(This is an inquiry that I wrote for a high school composition class - use it
for reference, but I wouldn't recommend or appreciate it being submitted into a
proffesor.) The merits of the arguments between the theory of evolution and the
belief in creationism is a topic that has bestirred an interest in me for
several years. I think that most people have an opinion on the topic or are
trying to form one. An example of this is the Christian fish that emphasizes a
creationist view found on the back of many cars. In contradiction, there is a
growing response to this emblem by people who publicize their evolutionist views
by posting a fish with “Darwin” written on the inside and feet on the bottom.
This strikes me as an interesting controversy that everyone can and should know
more about.
I have acquired basic opinions on the topic that have come from both
viewpoints which leaves me with the struggle of establishing my own belief.
Sources that have influenced me before I began investigating the topic include
Christian religion, school, my parents, media, and my peers. When I began
investigating the subject, I found extensive information full of particular
evidence. However, the viewpoints are generally conservative and are strictly
either for evolution or for creationism. This inquiry will hopefully illustrate
an overview of the ongoing debate. Most people view the theory of evolution as
being a feasible explanation of how life became what is today. Evolution is a
theory that the various organisms are descended from others that lived in
earlier times and that the differences are due to inherited changes that
occurred over many generations.
It must be realized that evolution is a theory and cannot be considered a
fact. Even though it’s roots are from Greek anatomists, the theory of evolution
came to light in 1859 when Charles Darwin published his book The Origin of
Species, which dealt with natural selection. Since then, scientists have been
continually searching for proof for the theory through research and
experimentation. Some of the topics that are associated with proving the theory
are fossil records, carbon-14 dating, and DNA testing.
These are also noted as part of phylogenetic systematics, which is the term
used for classifying and understanding the relationships and history among
species of the past and present. Natural selection, or “survival of the
fittest”, is the mechanics of evolution. Natural selection deals with the dying
of weaker offspring of an organism, and the survival of the stronger offspring.
When a strong organism survives, its dominent genes are passed on to its
offspring. Over time, these genes will lead to mutations, which allow a species
to adapt as they slowly move to different environments or other natural change.
This is a broad interpretation of how evolutionists explain, for instance, sea
creatures becoming land creatures. Evolutionists believe that life began on
earth when chemicals combined to produce the first cell.
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