One of the favorite tactics of the old earth evolutionists is to mark out their position as the only scientific one.  When a dissenting view is expressed it will likely not be received in the context of scientific discussion but rather may be relegated to the category of religion or pseudo-science.  This is so even when the subject of discussion might be focused on something that is observable, measurable and testable, such as transverse fossils.  If it challenges old earth evolutionary dogma it is usually labeled outside the realm of science.

While this strategy does much to lock out serious scientific challenges to the belief in an old earth and subsequent corollaries, it also has the effect of eroding the scientific basis its defenders seek to preserve.  By attempting to seize the arena of science as the exclusive domain of their world view they usher in the concept of doctrine.  Just as any religious denomination has certain core beliefs that are not negotiable, i.e. doctrine, so it is with the subject of age of the earth for most in the scientific community.

Under the guise of science, a dogmatic secular religious view of the world is taught to public school students.  Children are indoctrinated with the secular religion of the day, old earth evolutionism.  This approach has been so successful that the courts now refuse to allow a balanced presentation of scientific evidence which refutes an old earth, claiming that religion must not be taught in public schools.

This is truly ironic since early evolutionary challenges to the exclusive teaching of creation in public schools were based on an appeal to fairness, so that both sides could be given a chance to present their respective cases.  But now that the evolutionists have gained the upper hand the rules have changed and they shamelessly embrace the same dogmatic approach they used to object to in the very name of science.  This would not be so troubling if those who perpetrate such an injustice would be honest enough to hang up the lab coat and instead wear a cleric's collar.  They are, after all, exercising faith in the doctrine of their chosen religion.