JimSEA if you truly know anything regarding geology and science you ought to set BroJoeK straight regarding this statement...
“In the real world, all of science is based on certain assumptions, including naturalism and uniformitarianism.”
If that were so we would actually know much less than we do and could not truly call it science rather mere speculations.
BrandtMichaels: "If that were so we would actually know much less than we do and could not truly call it science rather mere speculations."
Michaels, your fundamental core root problem here is totally obvious: because you loathe and despise science you refuse to study it, and therefore know nothing about it.
So you concoct cockamamie nonsense.
In fact, "speculations" are a basic part of science -- because they can lead eventually to formal scientific hypotheses.
A formal hypothesis is a testable speculation, which if strongly confirmed can become a recognized theory -- that's what science is.
Further, compared to the total nature of reality, we know very little, and anyone who tells you otherwise is just exaggerating.
Science does not know the ultimate basis for what we see, it only assumes such basics as "naturalism" and "uniformitarianism" -- assumes because those ideas have been shown to work consistently in the material realm.
My point again is: science is supposed to be a humble enterprise, and where you detect scientific hubris, it's out of line and should be called out.