| Myths About Evolution |  |
Myth | Debunked |
| 1. Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution | The theory of evolution existed before Darwin, it was Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection that became widely accepted. |
| 2. Living things adapt to their environment | As a whole, living things are adapted to their environment. Individuals are unchanging, they either live or die based on the traits they are born with. |
| 3. Biologists “believe” in evolution. | Science is not based on belief. The theory of evolution provides a model for scientists to understand the relationships between organisms on the planet. |
| 4. Monkeys will eventually become human. | There are many species of primates and all are adapted to their environment. A chimpanzee would not turn into a human over time anymore than a cheetah would turn into a lion (or vice versa) |
| 5. Evolution is JUST a theory. | Saying that it is “just” a theory implies that it is a guess, or that its not well supported. There is much evidence to support the theory of evolution, as well as direct observation of species change. |
| 6. Only atheists accept the Theory of Evolution. | Scientists of many religions across the world accept evolution, and do not find it incompatible with their faith. |
| 7. If evolution is disproven, creationism must be true. | A problem with logic (disconfirming evidence). Even if you disproved evolution, you would have to develop and support another model of organism diversity. Disproving one, doesn’t prove the other. |
| 8. No one has ever seen evolution happen. | In organisms that reproduce quickly (like bacteria) changes in species can be directly observed, such as resistances to antibiotics. |
| 9. Order cannot come from disorder, so evolution is false. | Many instances in nature show molecules and substance organizing, such requires energy. The sun provides the energy that ultimately fuels all of life’s processes. |
| 10. There is evidence that dinosaurs lived with humans | There is no evidence that suggests humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time. |
| 11. Scientists regularly debate that evolution occurs. | Scientists debate elements of evolution, relationships between organisms, and fossils. The only place the evolution debate really happens is in the social settings. |
| 12. Creationism is a valid scientific theory and should be presented with evolution. | Creationism violates the scientific principle of natural causality. |
| 13. There are no transition fossils. | Museums are filled with fossils that show intermediate species. |
| 14. Carbon dating is not accurate, therefore the age of the earth cannot be determined. | Carbon dating is one of many methods used to date the earth. Taken as a whole, the evidence is overwhelming that the earth is very old. |
