In Reply to: Re: Can't make a monkee out of Me posted by Butterbox on July 28, 2005 at 08:40:02:

Evolution is a theory in scientific terms - as bowser has explained it is backed up by plenty of evidence and is testable. From a non-scientist point of view the word theory is often used less stringently, as just an idea that is not based on any evidence. This is where the Intelligent Design proponents really play on the usage of the word, exploiting the general publics lack of knowledge with regard to the two different usages of the word. If only they taught this in science in school rather than the nitty gritty details of some of the stuff they do teach the general public would be much better equiped to see Intelligent Design and the like for what they really are.

Evolution is a scientific theory (scientific theories are often regarded by the general public as fact) whereas ID cannot be backed up by any evidence, is not testable and does not qualify as a scientific theory only as a theory in the lay person's usage of the word.