When pastors use the word ‘theory’, you talk about it like the way you might say, “I have this theory about why the Grizwald’s aren’t donating to the church this year.”  Or “I have this theory about what’s gonna happen in American Idol” this season.

But a scientific theory is not something that somebody dreamed up over a twelve-pack of Pabst last night.  In science, theories are not hunches, but rather they are working frameworks of all pertinent sets of observations.  In science, nothing is ever shelved as simply a fact.  In science, doubt reigns; everything is tentative, awaiting refinement. 

With that said, a theory like evolution is about the closest science can get to a fact.  Evolution is the foundation for the modern biological sciences. You called it a ‘theory in crisis,’ and yet, nothing could be further from the truth.  In biology, there is no debate about the theory of evolution.  In fact, every day, the theory is becoming more powerful.  When you use the term, ‘crisis in theory’, it’s not a phrase that you just decided to use today.  It’s a well known creationist phrase, designed to confuse the public.  To say that evolution is a theory in crisis is an extremely intellectually dishonest statement.  It is equivalent to saying that the mathematical process of addition is outdated.

Now Pastor, you won’t like what I just said, I know that.  I expect you to try to call me out on this.  You’ll cite ‘brilliant scientists’ who in fact support the idea that the world is 10,000 years old. 

In our conversations, you wrote, “You may wish to examine the works of Dr. Mel Mulder on the issue.  He is a brilliant scientist and addresses this issue at the deepest level both scientifically and theologically.”

Whenever I talk with creationists and proponents of intelligent design, I get that same sort of comment.  You mention an obscure name, and trump it as a great scientist who has clearly denounced science and proven it all wrong.