Every new fact that comes to light - even something as fundamental as the discovery of Noah's Ark - will be interpreted in such a way that it reinforces their theory.
It is, properly speaking, a pseudo-science with heavy bleed over into philosophy, bearing many of the the marks of a religion as you astutely observe. Its perceived veracity rests heavily on the logical fallacy of the argumentum ad populum: "No true scientist rejects evolution", the smug implication being that one must accept (on faith) the circular arguments and twisted interpretation of fact that enforces the historical science (i.e. not measurable, observable, or repeatable in controlled conditions) in order to perform regular observational science. That distinction between historical science (origins) and observational science is critical - and apparently not widely understood.
Thanks for your additional comments. I like the way you addressed the issue with them.
This, “No true scientist rejects... (evolution)” matra, is an interesting parallel with theories Stephen Hawking and other Theoretical Physicists differ on.
For decades a certain theory will hold sway. Those who are not quite comfortable, but can’t prove their point may spend decades being known as heretics, as “no Theoretical Physicist worth their salt agrees with them.” And then it happens.
One Theoretical Physicist will come up with a method to prove what they thought was more correct during that period, and a certain aspect of Theoretical Physics will be turned on it’s head. Then the people on the outs are in, and the others have pie on their face.
Science is often times not as settled as people think it is.
I have a suspicion that carbon dating at some point in time may be found to not be quite the be all end all of measuring elapsed time, that some folks today are convinced it is.
There are things about evolution, massive periods of time, even the age of the universe, that I read with some interest, but only consider them today’s accepted truth, and not anywhere near the rock solid science some folks think they are.
We make jokes about the flat earth, but the age of the universe is revised from time to time. Who knows what portions of today’s rock solid science will be overturned by new discoveries in coming years.
When it comes to the issues we’re discussing here, it’s silly to act as if you have all the answers. God is the only being that has them all.
He must get a real chuckle watching humans.