Hi RWC: Visit the site at: http://www.talkorigins.org/ It is good at presenting various views and scientific understanding of Evolution. The best challenge I have read to date regarding "evolution", with respect to its unanswered questions, is "Darwin's Black Box" by Michael Behe. He is a Biochemist who does not dispute all of evolution, nor does he push the phoney unscientific agruments of Creationists-Fundies, but he does raised good points as a matter of science. Behe does expose how some evolutionists and creationists miss the points. He shows how some in each camp fail to address science. He is not arrogant.
AlanF and JanH will do a much better job of answering your questions with greater detail. Here are my short responses to your questions:
First, just for the record, the "Theory of Evolution" does not mean that it is an unproven science waiting for answers at some future date. Comparitively, "Electrical Theory" likewise does not mean that 'electricity' or our knowledge of its laws are unproven. Rather the use of 'Theory' is to identify the working understanding of a process, from which a body of 'laws' and practical apllication is made. Theory in science does not mean unproven 'speculation' but rather the premise or basis on which we describe a process. Therefore, evolution has been established ... but like other matters of science, it is growing, evidence is continuing to mount, and revisions are being made.
Secondly, understanding and accepting 'evolution' does not require one abandon faith in God. One can believe that God designed and initiated the process of 'evolution' to achieve his physical creation of the universe and life itself. Evolution is not about proving or disproving God, since that is not possible ... rather 'evolution' is about studying evidence and how that evidence relates to all life on this planet. Evolution supports other related sciences, including the medical field ... and as our knowledge of evolution has advanced, so have related sciences.
You asked,
"1. Where did plants come from?"
They developed-evolved.
"2. Where did the DNA come from to make animals?"
DNA is part of the evolutionary development. In fact, because of our current understanding of DNA and the recent completion of the genome Project, science can now trace our origins with greater clarity and positively link us to ancestors in the animal kingdom.
"3. Why aren't molds and other simple celled life forms continuing to evolve into more complex life forms?"
Who say they are not evolving? The process of evolution often takes a long time. Also, the basis for change (another word for evolution) needs to be there. Your question could be asked about almost any life form on earth. Some evolutionary developments have been much faster and observable, especially in the world of viruses and bacteria, while others are very slow, stop, reverse, and then take off again. Some life forms simply go extinct.
"4. Why aren't entirely new creatures being evolved today from other ones that already exist?"
Who says they are not? The time clock is so slow that you wuld not notice the 'change' in you lifetime, nor in several lifetimes. But, taken snapshots over thousands and hundreds of thousands of years, and we would see "change."
"5. What is the fossil evidence to support the change from one animal to another as opposed to a different variation of the same animal?"
Fossil evidence is much stronger than many have been led to believe. But this is where I am weak on the topic. However, I understand that now science relies far less on the fossil record, and much more on other evidentiary avenues to demonstrate the workings of evolution.
You concluded:
"If there are no answers to these questions, than aren't you believing in something that you think will be figured out in the future and thus you are exhibiting faith in the unkown?"
No. There are answers now. The body of evidence is strong and continuing to mount in favor of 'evolution aka change'. And it is not something waiting to be figured out in the future. There are unanswered questions, and new questions emerge as old ones are answered or disgarded.
Evolution, unlike religion, is a field of science, based on the scientific methods of observation, measurement, testing, collection of evidence, and study. It is not about "belief" or "Faith." Our understanding of the process of 'change or evolution' will itself change over time, as evidence continues to be collected, and as science improves its ability to understand via its tools to test and measure and observe.
