Since this thread started with a line I wrote, let me throw in my $.02.
I'm of both minds here. 1) We do get silly tearing apart common
language--what is the meaning of 'is' type things.
2) OTOH, Denker's comments are (unfortunately) to the point as well--saying
you 'believe' something can easily be misinterpreted.
I used 'believe in' in my original post in the way the media would pose the
question.
IMHO, a better terminology for scientist would be 'accept'. We accept
Evolution as currently the best discription of the evidence available to us.
We accept Relativity and Quantum Theory as the best, most useful, ideas that
describe nature as we observe it.
Rick
***************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
******************************
Free Physics Software
PC & Mac
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
*******************************