LAUSR

For several centuries, statistical testing has been used to support evolutionary theories. Given the diverse origins and applications of these tests, it is remarkable how consistent they are. One common theme among these tests is that they appear to be founded on the logical fallacy of a false dichotomy. Is this true? It would be somewhat surprising if such diverse and historically important works are all guilty of the same naive fallacy. Here, I explore these works and their historical context. I demonstrate that they are not logically fallacious, but instead incorporate and require a religious assumption about how a Creator would act. I conclude that this religious assumption and its influence on science should be considered in models of the interaction between science and religion.