“Apologies (rather than apologetics) may be in order. Do the postings of the scientists you refer to establish without question Common Descent as the origin of all life?”
Absolutely and unequivocally not.
The “origin of all life” is completely outside scientific studies of the mechanisms for speciation (that’s all evolution is).
Hmmm. Apparently the big evolutionary players, like TalkOrigins and Nova, don’t agree with you. They believe Common Descent is absolutely the realm of science and anyone questioning their right to this claim are “religionists” trying to jam out-dated dogma down the public’s throat.
Check out your compatriots.
http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-evolution.html