One, is that scientists are studying purely materialistic mechanisms for the origin of life itself -- this study is called abiogenesis.
Yes, which is clearly defined as NOT evolution around here, isn't it?
If the origin of life can be explained through purely materialistic processes, then that will eliminate the need to invoke God as a cause, and some people have a problem with that.
First of all thats a pretty big IF, and secondly, this is where where the confusion begins, which is not always the same thing as controversy. Abiogenesis is , as far as I know, still very much theoretical. It isn't being observed here in front of us like electricity, gravity or biological evolution. Thirdly, it ain't under the umbrella of evolution.
And, although separate disciplines, abiogenesis and the theory of evolution as an explanation of the history of life on earth are pretty closely related (enough that I don't get too pedantic about separating them), so the two tend to get conflated.
Yep. Kinda hard to draw a line between them, isn't it?
The other problem is that people take the first two chapters of Genesis as the exact history of the earth and life on it.
Really, its not a problem for me, but i think you are adding to the confusion cause I think the first few chapters of genesis are, in fact, accurate and I see no conflict with science. I recognize that others disagree but now we are talking about interpretations, of which I am allowed my own.
And, according to those people, this forms an important part of their "world view". At least they claim that discarding a literal reading of Genesis would shatter their entire "world view" -- it sounds odd to me, too, but I have no reason to not believe them when they say this.
Ok, but this :
So it is very emotionally important to them that Genesis be promoted as literal history, and the entire fields of geology, biology, and cosmology be discarded.
seems a bit......I'm not sure how to put this....over the top. I don't think they are asking for anything to be discarded, just an other view be allowed. One you disagree with.
It wouldn't be a problem if we could just dismiss these people as nutcakes and let them whine in their churches,
Gee, ain't it a bitch to have to live in a world where people are allowed to think differently than you?
but here in the U.S. they have a lot of political clout, and tend to use the political system to piss in the trough from which we all must drink.
Oh, we should all have to drink your piss?
The years tell what the days never knew.
™ Version 4.2