Neil, the on ly reason I used wiki was I could cut and paste that, but
since you don't like that, try this definition from one of the four printed dictionaries I have that all read similar - this one I can fit on my desk beside the keyboard and is a USA one, the big Webster's wants to tip the desk over:
Theory - systematically applied knowledge applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances, especially a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyse, predict, or otherwise explain the nature or behaviour of a given set of phenomena.
As to belief - you say it all in your statement "I don't believe in gods." Well, I do say you have to, but the fact you use the word believe means you acknowledge it's a belief and not a proven fact - which is all I was saying. It matters not what side of the issue you stand on, the stance is a belief as neither side can prove as a fact that God does or does not exist. Thus any position is a belief structure.
As to the theory of evolution - if it accounted for all aspects of evolution and all changes in every species the way most of its proponents claim, it would also explain and show how and where intelligence and self-awareness evolved to a good enough extent we could create it. Darwin's theory does explain part of the story, but not the whole story and there are a few rare cases where it doesn't fit exactly as he proposed it. Thus it's a theory and not a proven definitive fact. Which is all I said.
