Changes

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

===Usage of terminology===

===Usage of terminology===

The term ''evolutionism'' uses the suffix ''-ism'', which is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion, and some people who support evolution prefer to use other terms. Others are happy to call themselves evolutionists, and the terms have been in common use for a century. For example, the most popular American proponent of evolution called himself an evolutionist,<ref>"I count myself among the evolutionists", Gould, Stephen J. (May 1981). [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html "Evolution as Fact and Theory"], ''Discover'', vol. 2, pp. 34-37.  Retrieved from the Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive on September 14, 2014.  Also "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory".</ref> and his obituary read "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead".<ref>Davidson, Keay (May 21, 2002).  [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/21/MN175165.DTL "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead / Paleontologist proposed punctuated equilibrium theory"].  ''San Francisco Chronicle''.  Retrieved from SFGate on September 14, 2014.</ref> This is all part of the controversy over evolution itself (see [[Origins debate]]).  

The term ''evolutionism'' uses the suffix ''-ism'', which is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion, and some people who support evolution prefer to use other terms. Others are happy to call themselves evolutionists, and the terms have been in common use for a century. For example, the most popular American proponent of evolution called himself an evolutionist,<ref>"I count myself among the evolutionists", Gould, Stephen J. (May 1981). [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html "Evolution as fact and theory"], ''Discover'', vol. 2, pp. 34-37.  Retrieved from the Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive on September 14, 2014.  Also "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory".</ref> and his obituary read "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead".<ref>Davidson, Keay (May 21, 2002).  [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/21/MN175165.DTL "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead / Paleontologist proposed punctuated equilibrium theory"].  ''San Francisco Chronicle''.  Retrieved from SFGate on September 14, 2014.</ref> This is all part of the controversy over evolution itself (see [[Origins debate]]).  

Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term ''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a [[philosophy]] or [[world view]]. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of world views, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective world view behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.

Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term ''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a [[philosophy]] or [[world view]]. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of world views, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective world view behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.