The Theory of Relativity will forever remain a theory, much like the Theory of Evolution, Atomic Theory or Game Theory.
The reason is that 'Theory' in the scientific sense does not mean the same thing as 'theory' used in the colloquial sense.
Here's a definition of what constitutes a Theory:
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A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers. One scientist cannot create a theory; he can only create a hypothesis.
In general, both a scientific theory and a scientific law are accepted to be true by the scientific community as a whole. Both are used to make predictions of events. Both are used to advance technology.
In fact, some laws, such as the law of gravity, can also be theories when taken more generally. The law of gravity is expressed as a single mathematical expression and is presumed to be true all over the universe and all through time. Without such an assumption, we can do no science based on gravity's effects. But from the law, we derived Einstein's General [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Theory [COLOR=blue! important]of [/COLOR][COLOR=blue! important]Relativity[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] in which gravity plays a crucial role. The basic law is intact, but the theory expands it to include various and complex situations involving space and time. The biggest difference between a law and a theory is that a theory is much more complex and dynamic. A law governs a single action, whereas a theory explains an entire group of related phenomena.
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