I think this is more complicated than you suggest, but geez, fascinating post . . . but then still, evolution is compatible with faith. Indeed, in a sense it’s a vital part of actual faith – Ken Miller’s argument, sort of – the Slate article even links to him making that case!

Now that’s a twist!

” moving the Earth out of the center of the universe had severe theological repercussions”
I had assumed that this was because Ptolemy’s model had been taken onboard as a part of Christian Platonism, and fossilized into dogma, rather than any deep theological basis – contingency, one might say?

” Such beliefs revolve around giving the world meaning, and the idea that our existence is due solely to the fact that our ancestors were quite good at surviving is obviously going to conflict with them.”

Necessarily, though? I don’t see this – if it’s obvious I must be oblivious (quite possible). Why? And _solely_? Are we having that old methodological vs. metaphysical naturalism (or whatever one wants to call ‘em, I like the alliteration!) problem again?