Evidence

The Facts Concerning What is Evidence

Websters on-line dictionary defines evidence as: "something that furnishes proof". There are two very important types of evidence that will be used extensively in this paper: scientific evidence and circumstantial evidence. It is often assumed that any valid evidence should be scientific in nature. But this is certainly not the case. For if it were not for circumstantial evidence many criminals would never be prosecuted.

Scientific evidence:

This is evidence that is supported by experimentation and repetition in accordance with the scientific method. Scientific evidence can indicate past events. It can also predict future events based on present outcomes. Scientific evidence is both testable and repeatable.

Testable: Any claim of science must be able to be tested and proved true or false.

Repeatable: This testing must be able to be repeated by others under similar circumstances and with similar results.

An example of scientific evidence would be letting an apple fall. This experiment could be performed repeatedly by different individuals, in different locations and at different times. The results in all cases would be similar.

Circumstantial evidence:

This type of evidence involves observations of past events. Circumstantial evidence cannot be repeated or tested as it is associated with an event that has already occurred. There is currently no method by which past events can be re-created in the present. As a result, circumstantial evidence requires an interpretation based on current knowledge and opinion. These interpretations may be modified at any time.

An example of circumstantial evidence would be the discovery of a crime scene. Different people might interpret the findings from the crime scene in different ways. This type of evidence cannot be tested or repeated as it is a one-time event that has already occurred.

In summary:

Scientific evidence is both repeatable and testable. It is not subject to public or personal opinion. Scientific evidence can be used to explain past events and it can be used to predict future events as well. Circumstantial evidence can only explain past events. It cannot be repeated or tested. As such circumstantial evidence is often moulded by public and personal opinion and it is liable to be re-interpreted at any time. Circumstantial evidence cannot predict the outcomes of future events. Both scientific and circumstantial evidence have their place in the study of origins. Unfortunately these two very different types of evidences are often considered to be one in the same. This misconception is prevalent in many popular and scientific writings.

Observations on What Is Evidence

Explaining the origin of the universe and the origin of life is the subject of much scientific research. The problem is that the conclusions drawn from these scientific studies often go against the very evidence itself. As we shall see, the scientific evidence actually shows that this universe could not have come into existence on its own. Current scientific evidence also shows that life could never arise in the way imagined by modern science. And, the scientific evidence clearly shows that genetic mutations cannot be the source of evolutionary change as purported by modern science.

And yet for some reason much of this evidence is either misinterpreted or ignored by both the scientific establishment and the popular media. What we believe to be true regarding origins should be based on evidence. I will begin with evidence from science.

Science