"Belief and understanding in this instance are antithetical concepts."

No... they are not- unless that's another swipe at Pete. It is quite possible to understand another's position without agreeing with him...... in fact, you cannot adequately argue with him unless you make the effort to comprehend his position & reasoning.

   One reason Pete & I go over the same ground again & again is that he really does not...by his own admission... understand the technical points. He repeats HIS reasoning, and makes links to Creationist reasoning, and he is satisfied to stay where he is.... and that's fine for private beliefs. I merely feel obligated to lay out stuff *I* have studied in detail when confronted by certain assertions in a (this in particular) public forum.