In the beginning....
Since this topic is all about beginnings, perhps it would be a good idea to research the beginnings of Darwin's theory, "The Voyage of the Beagle."
This treatise contains a concise and accurate description of the credentials of Darwin and his "colleagues", most of whom were not scientists at all!
Which just goes to show that many good and valid scientific boons can come from very bad beginnings. How many better and more valid scientific boons might, then, come from good beginnings?
It further illustrates my point that when theories become dogma, science suffers.
This treatise is by a Christian writer, who gives some Christian opinions, but the facts of the history are concise and correct.
http://www.online-literature.com/darwin/voyage_beagle/