Quote by James A. Shapiro
For those scientists who take it seriously, Darwinian evolution has functioned more as a philosophical belief system than as a testable scientific hypothesis. This quasi-religious function of the theory is, I think, what lies behind many of the extreme statements that you have doubtless encountered from some scientists opposing any critical analysis of neo-Darwinism in the classroom. It is also why many scientists make public statements about the theory that they would not defend privately to other scientists like me.
Summary
The quote suggests that for certain scientists, Darwinian evolution has become more of a philosophical belief system rather than a scientifically testable hypothesis. This belief system sometimes leads to extreme statements opposing any critical analysis of neo-Darwinism and discourages open discussions or debates. The quote implies that some scientists publicly defend the theory while privately acknowledging its limitations or weaknesses. This suggests that personal beliefs and affiliations may influence the way scientists present and defend scientific theories.