The idea that the world was not created in seven days and then was static for er 4004 years
was refuted 1800-50 and caused much more stir
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconformity
This guy noticed a geological stratum that was T shaped
and basically everyone agreed that this was a change AFTER creation and the stratum had shifted.
and it was all done by protestant vicars at cambridge who were teaching geology ( whewell, lyell and sedgwick)
SO the Principle of Naturalism grew up - that change in the world should be explained by known physical principles. God was only involved as a last resort
Darwin came along and said - it applies to biology as well,
and as Huxley said; o god it is so obvious, I wish I had thought of that!
(these ideas are not too airy-fairy are they Nailit?)