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His (Einstein) theory was scoffed at at the time. It was the result of studies and scientific investigation that eventually confirmed his theory and thus accepted in the absence of an alternative theory.

Given the development and research into this, the development of 'Gravity Lenses' I think you are going to struggle with your argument that this is simply 'refraction'. Physicists don't just accept a theory without testing it and many theorys exist simply because there is no alternative at the time - Quantum theory, Domain Theory, etc.