Actually continental drift is a fact and plate tectonics is an explanatory theory.
I happen to have taken geology just a few years before plate tectonics was accepted. I can assure you that continental drift was taken quite seriously. Several days of freshman geology was devoted to the supporting evidence, even though there was no known mechanism to make it possible.
Again, you have mistaken the fact that continents move for the theory that explains the movement.
There is a parallel in evolution. Successive replacement of species was widely accepted long before Darwin. What Darwin offered was not the fact of change in species, but an explanatory theory.
Good points. IIRC, part of the evidence that Africa and S. America split apart was the distribution of plants and animals on either side, as well as the way the rocks match up.
With all due respect, for scientists the reading skills as exhibited here are certainly poor. I started off saying in post 257 that scientists have set agendas, just as everyone else does. Now people would like me to explain black holes, quantum tunneling, and continental drifts. Honestly.
If one would take the time to read my post, these are NOT my example in regards to continental drifts. Rather, they are references from the research of Thomas Kuhn and detailed in his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions on scientific consensus and minority opinion. I cannot vouch for continental drifts nor have I read Dr. Kuhn's book. However, I'm sure Dr. Kuhn could provide you with further information if you believe him to be at odds with the scientific community. I would also recommend writing Wikipedia and have the reference pulled.
Dr. Kuhn seems to support my statement and I stand by that statement until scientifically proven otherwise.