Questions on Evolution.

Well, we don't get completely sure in science, because that precludes any ability to change your mind, later. We're still not completely sure that germs cause disease, or that matter is made of atoms, or that gravity is actually universal for all matter. But we're as sure about evolution as we are about those other things, which are still theories too.I don't see any faith involved. Evolution explains the evidence and makes predictions that have been successfully tested. Where're the faith, then, in saying "evolution is the best explanation for the history of life on Earth that we have?"

Well, there have been several. For instance, Lamarkianism, or Lysenkoism. The fact that you have never heard of them is a testament to the degree to which evolution is better than all the other competing theories. It's simply the best explanation for the history of life on Earth that we have, and, to date, nobody has come up with a better one. But maybe somebody will. Maybe you will. Yes, that's true. But every organism is basically guaranteed to have somewhere between 5 and 50 mutations (that's a very rough, imprecise ballpark estimate). So, per generation, that's millions of mutations, several (say, less than 10) of which will probably be beneficial.You're right that a beneficial mutation isn't likely. But there are so many muations per new generation that benefical mutations are a certainty.

What a great post. It's like "Rrhain's Greatest Hits."