So, correct me if I'm wrong here, you don't object to
the ToE, but to claims that it is scientific and undeniable
fact.
If the above is about right (please tell me if not) concerning
your view, I would like to say, for myself ::
I have never veiwed the ToE as undeniable fact, but as well supported
theory. The clue is in the name 'Theory of Evolution'
In what way is speculation an unscientific starting point for
scientific enquiry ?
Surely ALL scientific enquiry starts with someone having an
idea about some observed phenomena ... what makes the subject
scientific or not, surely, is the way that the enquiry is
approached.
You have stated that you are NOT a YEC, so could you elaborate
some of your views .. it would help debate issues. For example,
perhaps you do not hold the Bible as inerrant, or perhaps you
do but allow that it can be interpreted in different ways, or
perhaps you beleive in intelligent design, or ... etc.
Position statements should always be included early in research
work, so I think it would also benefit discussions on topics
such a this.
BTW - TC was suggesting that, from a literal Biblical interpretation
and a YEC world view, that the fossil record is due
to Flood sediments, and that the seqeunces were laid down in
ashort space of time by hydrodynamic sorting, and individual
survivability factors.
My opinion (ok so it's only an opinion, but it is grounded in logic
and reason) is that like species would have insignificant differential
masses for sorting to affect their position in such Flood sediments,
and that they would have broadly similar survivability
characteristics.
Without knowing your preferred world view this may or may not
be relevent to your objections to ToE.
Also ... when I used the word 'apparent' I was using the
'observable' branch of meanings