None of this will surprise anyone with any acquaintance with the ethos or sociology of contemporary science. Since the rise of scientific materialism during the end of the nineteenth century, many scientists have regarded it as their duty to explain all events and phenomena, even singular events such as the origin of the universe, life, or consciousness, without reference to a designing intelligence. Some have come to see their vocation as scientists as part of a long struggle against what they regard as the irrationality of religion. Thus they have vigilantly resisted considering any
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