Scientists often disagree about which theory best describes a physical event. And that disagreement is settled by experiments which demonstrate that one of them is a better match than the other. Sometimes that work takes years or decades but it gets done.

When theologians disagree about which religion is best they seem to solve those disagreements (Catholics vs Protestants, Sunis vs Shia) with swords.

It is easy for scientists, willing to accept that they don't have all the answers to compromise and, as has Stephen Hawking, acknowledge a mistake. It is far harder to do so when you've backed yourself into a corner by declaring you are speaking for an infalliable all-knowing god.

DA Morgan