Hypothesis Testing (relevant to Evolution vs. Creation)

[Taraz]

I don't think many people understand how hypothesis testing actually works in science. You can never prove that a hypothesis is true. All you can really say is that either a hypothesis is false and we should reject it, or that the evidence we have isn't sufficient to reject. A good hypothesis must be testable, falsifiable, and must let you make predictions about the world. If we test it repeatedly, it makes useful predictions, and we don't have enough evidence to reject it, it eventually gets accepted as a theory.

You never really get proof that a hypothesis is true. You can just test it more and more and lower the statistical probability that it is false. Eventually the likelihood that a theory is false becomes incredibly low, but you haven't proven it to be true. It is simply the best explanation so far for your observations.

In terms of evolution, it is an ever-changing theory. Parts get thrown out, new hypotheses are made and tested, etc. Creationism on the other hand is not testable and does not make any predictions. It is not even a scientific hypothesis. With that said neither theory can be "proven" to be true.