I wouldn't say "fall apart" so much as to say our models become inaccurate close to the beginning of time. No one in science declares answes with the same kind of certainty and authority that a pastor or rabbi does. This is not to say that scientific answers aren't authoritative, only that scientific language is always qualified. The language of faith, on the other hand, is typically absolute.
The way I see it, science fills is what we can learn, and faith helps us find those answers that we can't learn (or maybe have a hard time learning) on our own. Science is good at hows and where, while faith answers why. I don't believe there is any conflict between science and faith, because I've worked with too many scientists and engineers who have it. The theological position of the mainstream of Christianity and Judaism is that the Lord exists beyond scientific scrutiny.
One thing I've been trying to say on this thread is that it is not only the Dems that want to drive a wedge between religious conservatives and secular conservatives. There are likely elements of both that are repelling each other. I have represented myself as a libertarian for a long time on these threads, and I have often spoken of the need for fiscal and social conservatives to close ranks. The Dems want to see us tear outselves apart. (They have their own internal pressures, too, but that's for a different therad maybe.)
One of the things I've been driving at for the past couple nights is need to recognize that there are some cranks on FR who would be plenty happy to see pro-science people like me banned and gone for good. I'd like to think I am not an outsider here, but a member in good standing.
My purpose for posting has been to get Jim and other readers of this thread to realize that it is not the mainstream Christians causing problems. What we have are some cranks who believe in things like the moon landing was faked, and doctors can't cure disease, and crop circles, and alien abductions, and geocentrism, man walked with dinosaurs, oil doesn't come from fossils, the earth used to orbit Saturn, man was created on another planet, far out stuff. Once you get a couple of nutballs they attract each other like a magnet attracts iron filings. They clump together. They have cloaked themselves in the mantle of mainstream Christianity, and are leading the charge against "evilutionism" and by playing on people's religious sympathies, hope others will join in. These nuts are driving good posters out, and ultimately playing into the hands of the Dems by driving a wedge between religious conservatives and secular conservatives.