Similarly for the evolution side, it appears that evolution is being argued as a monolith represented by the scientific mainstream. Though I do not know the field, any scientific field has many variations and competing models, ones that arise from new work in teh field and old ones that no longer fully fit the physical evidence available with which to test its theories and hypotheses.
That's been my point all along. Evolution
is a monolith of mainstream science! And there
are various approaches and models 2 explain and understand it. And very likely some of those models will fall by the wayside as they're replaced by better models. Heck, maybe ALL our current models for evolution will be replaced at some point.
Very much the same thing: The Earth is a monolith as well, but not just of mainstream science, but most of humanity as well. We pretty much all agree that the Earth is a planet and that we're all standing on it. Not everyone, though (e.g., the "Flat Earthers") And, similarly, science has all kinds of models 2 explain its composition, how it got here and when, what exogenic and endogenic process are acting on it, and how it might "evolve" over time.
In the case of evolution, the monolith isn't as apparent in our everyday lives (unless we're looking for it) as the Earth itself is (because we're all standing on it, although I suppose there might still be many who go through large blocks of time not thinking about it). But it's no less "real" (it was discovered by examining the Earth after all).
But for some (still inexplicable 2 me) reason, some concepts are perceived as in direct conflict with spiri2al or religious beliefs, whereas others may not be.
At present, I don't know of any religions that might feel "threatened" by scientists studying the Earth - the very place they conduct their religious practices - and calling it a planet (thank the Lord we don't live on Pluto!). But someday? What if we
do find life on Mars, albeit likely microbial life? What if we find intelligent life elsewhere in our galaxy? What if we find life somewhere that's a whole lot smarter than we are? I suppose it'll all depend on what they believe are the fundamental 2uestions. (sorry, that was a DJ).
-ol' 2long
