The evidence that you claim is missing for genetic mutations increasing complexity over long-time frames is simply not supported by the wealth of evidence from multi different disciplines. I'm sure Dr. John Sanford is quite persuasive, but the words of one individual do not refute the decades and centuries of evidence that dispute this.
It is indeed thought terminating to continue to hold a belief if it is not supported by evidence. The idea that organisms were formed more or less as they are, and that natural selection is only capable of minor adjustments is something that is empirically testable by observing genetic lineage, and the fossil record. But the hypothesis fails under the weight of our observations. It does really appear that organisms have a direct lineage all the way back to the most primitive forms of life. In light of this, we must reject the hypothesis and accept what the evidence tells us. To do otherwise is allow dogma to cloud our judgement.
I know I said this already, but I'd like to repeat my opinion on the intersection between religion and science: I do not believe that the creator of the universe would want us to reject the tools that they have given us to understand their universe. To do so would be to dismiss and condescend their achievement. So why do you choose to do this with evolution? Despite it being one of the most well-supported scientific theories we have? As you mentioned, you accept natural selection, so clearly you accept aspects of the theory despite it contradicting your theology. I'm sure your beliefs contradict your theology all the time across many aspects of your life. Surely you accept that a text from the bronze-age written by fallible humans and influenced by the ideas of the very specific culture that produced it is not literally 100% true?
It is indeed thought terminating to continue to hold a belief if it is not supported by evidence. The idea that organisms were formed more or less as they are, and that natural selection is only capable of minor adjustments is something that is empirically testable by observing genetic lineage, and the fossil record. But the hypothesis fails under the weight of our observations. It does really appear that organisms have a direct lineage all the way back to the most primitive forms of life. In light of this, we must reject the hypothesis and accept what the evidence tells us. To do otherwise is allow dogma to cloud our judgement.
I know I said this already, but I'd like to repeat my opinion on the intersection between religion and science: I do not believe that the creator of the universe would want us to reject the tools that they have given us to understand their universe. To do so would be to dismiss and condescend their achievement. So why do you choose to do this with evolution? Despite it being one of the most well-supported scientific theories we have? As you mentioned, you accept natural selection, so clearly you accept aspects of the theory despite it contradicting your theology. I'm sure your beliefs contradict your theology all the time across many aspects of your life. Surely you accept that a text from the bronze-age written by fallible humans and influenced by the ideas of the very specific culture that produced it is not literally 100% true?