That's stupid. 'Evolutionism' lacks ritual, moral precepts, an organization...one might as well claim physics is a religion.
one might as well claim physics is a religion.
That's basically the goal. The strategy is to create a religious umbrella that covers all hard science. Evolution is the beachhead.
Ritual: calling ID folks stupid. :)
Evolutionists have rituals. They go to conventions and deliver pious papers. They scoff at any challenge to evolution. They perform experiments according to a sacred format. They do so in utter faith that their theory is correct, even though it is, by definition, impossible to completely prove and by the rules of science, only valid as long as it best describes the evidence.
Evolutionists have moral precepts: Thou shalt not admit any science but evolution. Thou shalt not admit students into the field of biology who profess to hold non-evolutionary beliefs. Thou shalt define all of life in deterministic themes, and support them by finding "gay genes" and "fat genes." Thou shalt profess that evolution is capable of answering every question about the development of life in the natural universe. Though shalt not speak of the 'supernatural'--because evolution says so.
Evolutionist have organization. Just refer to the numerous letters signed by hundreds of evolutionists denouncing ID.
one might as well claim physics is a religion.
If physicists behaved the way evolutionists did, I would claim it was a religion. The difference is that many physicists have retained the humble nature of a true scientist who admits there are questions he may not have the theory or ability to answer. Evolutionists don't. It is by their faith that you will know them.