Changes

'''Evolutionism''', as opposed to [[Creationism]], is the ''advocacy of or belief in biological evolution''.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Usage+and+context+of+%22evolutionism%22 "Evolutionism"] (2009). ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language'', 4th ed. (Boston:  Houghton Mifflin).  Retrieved from The Free Dictionary on September 14, 2014.</ref> Therefore one who ''believes in or supports a [[evolution|theory of evolution]]''<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionist "Evolutionist"].  ''Random House Dictionary''.  (New York:  Random House).  Retrieved from Dictionary.com Unabridged on September 14, 2014.</ref> would be referred to as an ''evolutionist''. Evolutionism, used in a general sense, encompasses ''any'' type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.

'''Evolutionism''', as opposed to [[Creationism]], is the ''advocacy of or belief in biological evolution''.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Usage+and+context+of+%22evolutionism%22 "Evolutionism"] (2009). ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language'', 4th ed. (Boston:  Houghton Mifflin).  Retrieved from The Free Dictionary on September 14, 2014.</ref> Therefore one who ''believes in or supports a [[evolution|theory of evolution]]''<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionist "Evolutionist"].  ''Random House Dictionary''.  (New York:  Random House).  Retrieved from Dictionary.com Unabridged on September 14, 2014.</ref> would be referred to as an ''evolutionist''. Evolutionism, used in a general sense, encompasses ''any'' type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.

The term evolutionism is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] use it as a reference to what they believe is the [[world view]] or [[presupposition]] aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a world view unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other world views including [[Materialism]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]]<ref>Multiple references:

The term evolutionism is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] use it as a reference to what they believe is the [[worldview]] or [[presupposition]] aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a worldview unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other worldviews including [[Materialism]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]]<ref>Multiple references:

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA601.html "CA601: Evolution and naturalism"] (2004).  TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA601.html "CA601: Evolution and naturalism"] (2004).  TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.

*CreationWiki response:  [http://creationwiki.org/CA601 "Evolution requires naturalism (Talk.Origins)"] (2014).  CreationWiki.  Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>, and [[Humanism]] in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution have been known to be [[Atheism|atheists]] as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.

*CreationWiki response:  [http://creationwiki.org/CA601 "Evolution requires naturalism (Talk.Origins)"] (2014).  CreationWiki.  Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>, and [[Humanism]] in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution have been known to be [[Atheism|atheists]] as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.

===According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)===

===According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)===

* God exists (world view)

* God exists (worldview)

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

*** Thus science is done on the basis that "God exists"

*** Thus science is done on the basis that "God exists"

**** The Bible comes ''before'' science. The science is based on the world view.

**** The Bible comes ''before'' science. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to biblical Theistic Evolutionists (Old Earth)===

===According to biblical Theistic Evolutionists (Old Earth)===

'''Impersonal God'''

'''Impersonal God'''

* There is no personal/involved God (world view)

* There is no personal/involved God (worldview)

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

*** Thus science is done on the basis that God is not involved in His creation

*** Thus science is done on the basis that God is not involved in His creation

**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the world view.

**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Personal God'''

'''Personal God'''

* There is a personal/involved God (world view)

* There is a personal/involved God (worldview)

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

*** Thus science is done on the basis that there is a "personal God"

*** Thus science is done on the basis that there is a "personal God"

**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the world view.

**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to Atheistic Evolutionists===

===According to Atheistic Evolutionists===

Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or world view that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation.  However evolutionists who are 'strong atheists' and who make a positive assertion that there is no God, do in fact have a world view; whereas 'weak atheists', who maintain there is probably no God due to lack of any objective evidence of Him, rely on science.

Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or worldview that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation.  However evolutionists who are 'strong atheists' and who make a positive assertion that there is no God, do in fact have a worldview; whereas 'weak atheists', who maintain there is probably no God due to lack of any objective evidence of Him, rely on science.

'''Strong Atheism'''

'''Strong Atheism'''

* There is no God (world view)

* There is no God (worldview)

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"

*** Thus science is done on the basis of there being no God (i.e. [[naturalism]])

*** Thus science is done on the basis of there being no God (i.e. [[naturalism]])

**** Naturalism comes ''before'' the science. The science is based on the world view.

**** Naturalism comes ''before'' the science. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Weak Atheism'''

'''Weak Atheism'''

** Therefore, we do not need to interpret evidence to fit in with the "fact" of God's existence

** Therefore, we do not need to interpret evidence to fit in with the "fact" of God's existence

*** Thus science is not done on the basis of there being a God (i.e. [[naturalism]]) (unless His existence becomes objectively proven)

*** Thus science is not done on the basis of there being a God (i.e. [[naturalism]]) (unless His existence becomes objectively proven)

**** For [[Weak Atheism|weak atheists]], science comes before [[Naturalism]]. They (presumably) base their world view on the Science.

**** For [[Weak Atheism|weak atheists]], science comes before [[Naturalism]]. They (presumably) base their worldview on the Science.

===Comparison===

===Comparison===

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 [[worldview]]. 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 worldviews, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective worldview behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.

===Religion and Evolutionism===

===Religion and Evolutionism===

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html CA610: Evolution religious]

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html CA610: Evolution religious]

**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion CreationWiki response]

**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion CreationWiki response]

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA001.html CA001: Evolution is the foundation of an immoral world view]

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA001.html CA001: Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]

**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview CreationWiki response]

**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview CreationWiki response]

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/metaphysics.html Evolution and Philosophy: Metaphysics]

*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/metaphysics.html Evolution and Philosophy: Metaphysics]

'''EvoWiki'''

'''EvoWiki'''

*[http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview Evolution is the foundation of an immoral world view]

*[http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]

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