http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badas ... astronomy/What I find fascinating is his long discussion about the word "evolution". Now, let me say that he makes a point when he says astronomers use the term themselves. I never deny that, of course, because I am very familiar with the term. Astronomers use the phrase stellar evolution to mean the physical changes a star undergoes as it ages. For example, a star like the Sun will eventually become a red giant when there is no longer any hydrogen in its core available for fusion. That’s one stage in its stellar evolution.
I’ll be the first to admit it’s a poor term. It was borrowed from biologists, obviously, but the meaning was changed. While biological evolution is change over time, it’s the way a species changes over time (or more accurately, the alleles in that species’ chromosomes). In astronomy the term is used for an individual star (and sometimes, but less often, for other objects like galaxies and planets). So it’s really not the best term to use for astronomy.
However, Mr. Psarris is sneaky. He says that since astronomers use the term, it’s OK to call astronomers evolutionists! But I call shenanigans on him. First, as I said, it’s clear that is not why he uses the term in the video. Second, calling astronomers evolutionists because they use the term themselves is like calling doctors "tongue depressorists" or calling carpenters "ladderists". It’s one aspect of a much larger field.
Third, (in general) creationists deny biological evolution can happen. Is he then using the term because he is saying that astronomical evolution can’t happen either? Because we do see stars exploding, and we’ve seen stars undergoing individual changes that fall under the astronomical use of the word evolution.
We also know planets change over time (even creationists have to admit that; in their mythology the Flood of Noah was a global change), as do galaxies… of course, they would deny we see galaxies change, since that takes millions of years. But we can look at millions of galaxies and see them at different stages in their lives, proving the astronomical flavor of evolution statistically. In fact, we see remnants of galaxies eaten by our Milky Way, showing it has definitely changed over time.
So by calling us evolutionists, what exactly is Mr. Psarris trying to do? I maintain my original point: despite his attempt at misdirection in his rebuttal, it’s still clear that the reason he uses that word is to generate an emotional response in his listeners. It’s as hollow and empty a use as any other political term hung by one group on an opposing group. Anti-choice, pro-abortion; neither is entirely accurate, and both clearly were coined just to elicit a visceral response, not a rational one.
Posted as a simple aid for those who keep getting hit by cretinists using Stellar Evolution and other such nonsense.
