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'''Evolutionism''' is the idea that the various kinds of life on Earth came into being gradually over millions of years. Supporters of this idea, including scientists, are called evolutionists (see [[Theory of Evolution]]).  

[[Evolution]] is the theory that the various kinds of life on Earth came into being gradually over millions of years. Creationists, in attempt to portray this theory as a kind of religious faith, refer to it as "evolutionism" and it supporters as "evolutionists."

In the United States, 99.8% of U.S. biologists are evolutionists. <ref>"evolutionism." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 20 Mar. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionism>.</ref>

In the United States, 99.8% of U.S. biologists support evolution as the most credible theory explaining the diversity of life on earth. <ref>"evolutionism." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 20 Mar. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionism>.</ref>

The terms ''evolutionist'' and ''evolutionism'' carry a connotation of unthinking [[faith]] or [[pseudoscience]] because the suffix ''-ism'' is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion.  

The terms ''evolutionist'' and ''evolutionism'' carry a connotation of unthinking [[faith]] or [[pseudoscience]] because the suffix ''-ism'' is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion.  

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

===Offensive Terminology===

===Offensive Terminology===

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 biblical Young Earth Creationism.

''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. Scientists 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 biblical Young Earth Creationism.

===Religion and Evolutionism===

===Religion and Evolutionism===