So I personally am a geology student, and gre up in a glaciated region. (NE Kansas.) I could give you elaborate technical answers to many of your objections, but I don't actually think that's the best thing I can do right now. I don't really want to have the Internet's billionth argument about science vs religion- they drive me crazy. Rather, I think it's better to say that I genuinely don't consider geology and faith incompatible. There are a large number of quite religious geologists, including one of my earlier geology teachers, who I respect quite greatly and spent many hours discussing faith and science with. There's no denying that geology has had a certainly contentious relationship with with religion in the past, and it's reasonable to also say that a fundamentalist/ literalist reading of the bible is incompatible with geology in many ways- the Flood, the age of the Earth, etc- but the specific stories have never seemed as important to me as the deeper, underlying faith and the moral messages of the bible.
As for my own faith- well, that's in short enough supply, in fair admission. That's less, however, due to me studying geology and more due to personal difficulties accepting faith as an answer in response to the cruelties of our world. It might be telling, however, that despite my lack of faith, I still keep up many of the observances and the practices of my religion. (Judaism.)
And at least as far as geologists having agendas forced on them by the powers that be- we're a quite idosyncratic bunch, and we don't tolerate outside interference of any sort in our research well, for what that's worth.
Allright, thanks for your thoughts. I was actually trying to avoid the science vs religion polarity, it just kinda drifted there with the replies, about motive. What I would like, is a civilized discussion about the ice age theory, based on facts and accurate observations of the world around us. We're off to a good start I guess. Perhaps you could offer something in the way of proof, that there was an ice age? As a geology student, you are in a good position to do so.
I could do that, yeah! Actually, I had so much material that it makes sense to do it as a post- I'll link you to it when it's done.
Good idea, I'll be sure to check it out.