does it really matter whether the earth is old or young? so what if the earth is billions of years...

Does it Really Matter Whether the Earth is

Old or Young?

Does it Really Matter Whether the Earth is

Old or Young?

So what if the earth is billions of years old? What’s the big deal?

So what if the earth is billions of years old? What’s the big deal?

THE CLEAREST STATEMENT OF THE GOSPEL: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I

preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at

once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1 Cor. 15:1-8)

THE CLEAREST STATEMENT OF THE GOSPEL: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I

preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at

once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1 Cor. 15:1-8)

Paul’s Defense of The Gospel(1 Cor. 15)

Paul’s Defense of The Gospel(1 Cor. 15)

Some denied the Future resurrection (v. 12) - the Promise of the Gospel.

Paul’s reply (v. 17-19) - this removes our Present hope - the Power of the Gospel.

Paul’s explanation for why Jesus had to die (v. 21-22, 45): The fall of Adam in the Past shows the

Purpose of the Gospel.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (v.

21-22)And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last

Adam was made a quickening spirit. (v. 45)

Some denied the Future resurrection (v. 12) - the Promise of the Gospel.

Paul’s reply (v. 17-19) - this removes our Present hope - the Power of the Gospel.

Paul’s explanation for why Jesus had to die (v. 21-22, 45): The fall of Adam in the Past shows the

Purpose of the Gospel.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (v.

21-22)And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last

Adam was made a quickening spirit. (v. 45)

If death was here before man sinned, then Adam was a myth. If the First Adam was a myth, then what do you need a Last Adam for?

Jesus died because of something that never happened!

If death was here before man sinned, then Adam was a myth. If the First Adam was a myth, then what do you need a Last Adam for?

Jesus died because of something that never happened!

EVOLUTIONEVOLUTION

You can’t have it both ways!You can’t have it both ways!

CREATIONCREATION

Death and struggle led to the existence of man.

Man was the direct cause of death and struggle.

IF THERE WAS A PRE-ADAMIC RACE,they all died.

IF THERE WAS A PRE-ADAMIC RACE,they all died.

The Bible would be WRONG in saying “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men...” (Rom. 5:12) and “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ

shall all be made alive. “ (1 Cor 15:22).

The Bible would be WRONG in saying “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men...” (Rom. 5:12) and “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ

shall all be made alive. “ (1 Cor 15:22).

Adam could not have brought death into the world.

Adam could not have brought death into the world.

If the FIRST Adam did not bring death into hte world, then the LAST Adam died because

of something that never happened!

If the FIRST Adam did not bring death into hte world, then the LAST Adam died because

of something that never happened!

The Bible plainly states that there was no death before Adam.

Evolution and the Gap Theory plainly state that there was.

If evolution or the Gap Theory are correct, when did God quit lying

and start telling the truth?

The Bible plainly states that there was no death before Adam.

Evolution and the Gap Theory plainly state that there was.

If evolution or the Gap Theory are correct, when did God quit lying

and start telling the truth?

Historical Ideas About the Age of the EarthHistorical Ideas About the Age of the Earth

Ancient Greeks such as Aristotle: Earth is extremely old, may have existed forever.

Genesis: Earth is young.1200s - Thomas Aquinas reverts to Aristotelian logic and old

earth.1700s - Buffon proposes days of Genesis as extended periods

of time. Cuvier proposes multiple global catastrophes over millions of years.Hutton rejects catastrophes, proposes uniformitarianism.

1800s - Lyell expands on Hutton’s ideas, says earth millions of years old. Darwin builds his theory on Hutton’s and Lyell’s ideas about uniformitarianism.

1900s – Radioactivity discovered, age of earth revised to billions of years.

The Hebrew word for “day” is

(YOM).Depending on context, it can mean

1. A 24 hour day,2. The daylight portion of a day, or 3. An indefinite period of time.

Every time throughout the Old Testament that is used with a number (over 350 times outside Genesis

Chapter 1) it always means a 24 hour day. This is the way it appears in the Creation account.

God obviously intended to say that these were 24 hour days.

God obviously intended to say that these were 24 hour days.

HOW LONG ARE THE “Days” in Genesis?HOW LONG ARE THE “Days” in Genesis?

All Scripture is inspired by God...All Scripture is inspired by God...

but this Scripture was written with His own finger.but this Scripture was written with His own finger.

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is]... (Exod. 20:11)

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is]... (Exod. 20:11)

COULD THE “DAYS” HAVE BEEN MILLIONS OF YEARS?

COULD THE “DAYS” HAVE BEEN MILLIONS OF YEARS?

The sequence of events in Genesis 1:

Day 3, plants created.Day 4, sun created.

Day 5, insects created.

The sequence of events in Genesis 1:

Day 3, plants created.Day 4, sun created.

Day 5, insects created.

How many million years can most plants live without sunlight?

How many million years can they live without insects to pollinate them?

How many million years can most plants live without sunlight?

How many million years can they live without insects to pollinate them?

“When Moses writes that God created heaven and earth and whatever is in them in six days, then let this period continue

to have been six days, and do not venture to devise any comment according to

which six days were one day.

“But, if you cannot understand how this could have been done in six days, then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of being

more learned that you are.”

MARTIN LUTHER ON THE AGE OF THE EARTHMARTIN LUTHER ON THE AGE OF THE EARTH

“But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife...” (Mark 10:6-7, quoting Gen. 2:24, the creation of Eve and the origin of marriage). He didn’t say “In the last one millionth of earth’s history.”

“... he [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning...” (Jn. 8:44)He didn’t say “he became a murderer after millions of years.”

“... the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God...” (Eph. 3:10). Did God have to wait through 4.5 billion years of evolution before He could accomplish His purposes through the Church?

JESUS

PAUL

JESUS

PAUL

New Testament Clues for a Young EarthNew Testament Clues for a Young Earth

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congrega-tion, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa. 14:12-14)

HOW LUCIFER BECAME THE DEVILHOW LUCIFER BECAME THE DEVIL

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth... (Ezek 28:12-14)

Lucifer was still beautiful when he first went into Eden!

Lucifer was still beautiful when he first went into Eden!

YEARS SINCE CREATION (Massoretic Text) 0 500 1000 1500 2000

ADAM - 930 years ------------------------------------ SETH - 912 yrs ----------------------------- d. 1042 ENOSH - 905 yrs -------------------------- d. 1140 KENAN - 910 yrs -------------------------- d. 1235 MAHALALEL - 895 yrs ----------------- d. 1290 JARED - 962 yrs --------------------------------- d. 1422 ENOCH, 365 yrs (walked with God) METHUSALEH --------------- 969 yrs, d. 1656 LAMECH - 777 yrs --------------- d. 1652 NOAH - 950 yrs ------------------------------- d. 2006

Dea

th o

f A

dam

1656

TH

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LO

OD

Dea

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f N

oah

SHEM - 600 yrs -------- d. 2157 Arpachshad, 438 --- d. 2096 Shelah, 433 -- d. 2126 Eber, 464 ------ d. 2187 Peleg, 239 -- d. 1996 Reu, 239 ----- d. 2026 Serug, 230 - d. 2049 Nahor-- 147, d. 1997 Terah ----- 205, d. 2082 Abraham- 195, d. 2122 Isaac ---- 180, d. 2227 Jacob- 149, d. 2254

Ear

th d

ivid

ed

Tower of Babel(between 1757

and 1996)

ERA PERIOD EPOCH Appr. Beginning (Years Ago)

Cenozoic Quaternary Holocene (Recent) 10,000Pleistocene 1.8 million

Tertiary Pliocene 5.3 millionMiocene 23.8 millionOligocene 33.7 millionEocene 54.8 millionPaleocene 65 million

Mesozoic Cretaceous 144 millionJurassic 206 millionTriassic 248 million

Paleozoic Permian 290 millionPennsylvanian 323 million } CARBON-Mississippian 354 million } IFEROUSDevonian 417 millionSilurian 443 millionOrdovician 490 millionCambrian 543 million

Archaeozoic Precambrian 4.5 billion(incl. Ediacaran or Vendian, 650 million)

Compare this to The Evolutionary Time Scale.Compare this to The Evolutionary Time Scale.

Source: Univ. of Calif. Museum of PaleontologySource: Univ. of Calif. Museum of Paleontology

REASONS PEOPLE BELIEVE THE EARTH IS OLD:


1. Belief that it takes millions of years to form a fossil.

2. Radiometric dating.3. Geologic features (separation of con-

tinents, Grand Canyon, etc.) that are supposed to have taken millions of years to form.

IF THERE WAS A WORLDWIDE FLOOD, WHAT WOULD WE EXPECT TO FIND?

IF THERE WAS A WORLDWIDE FLOOD, WHAT WOULD WE EXPECT TO FIND?

Billions and billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the whole earth, even on top of

the highest mountains.

WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY FIND?WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY FIND?

Billions and billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the whole earth, even on top of

the highest mountains!

HOW DO YOU MAKE A FOSSIL?HOW DO YOU MAKE A FOSSIL?

1. Bury something quickly so it doesn’t rot.2. Make sure the right kind of minerals are in

the mud or water.3. Apply lots of heat and pressure.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

CHICKEN BONES: ?

OIL: ?

You may have heard that it takes millions of years to make a fossil. Wrong!

You may have heard that it takes millions of years to make a fossil. Wrong!

• Chicken bones have been turned into mineralized fossils in laboratories in 5 to 10 years.

• Chicken bones have been turned into mineralized fossils in laboratories in 5 to 10 years.

• Organic garbage (banana peels, etc.) has been turned into crude oil, otherwise known as “fossil fuel,” in as little as 20 minutes.

• Organic garbage (banana peels, etc.) has been turned into crude oil, otherwise known as “fossil fuel,” in as little as 20 minutes.

• Spark plugs are often used as fishing sinkers in Durban, S. Africa. The water has such a high concentration of minerals that they become coated and look like fossils in just a few years!

• Spark plugs are often used as fishing sinkers in Durban, S. Africa. The water has such a high concentration of minerals that they become coated and look like fossils in just a few years! Courtesy of Joshua GilbertCourtesy of Joshua Gilbert

Spark plugs from Durban harborSpark plugs from Durban harbor

OK, so fossils can form quickly. But how can we

tell how old they are?

OK, so fossils can form quickly. But how can we

tell how old they are?







The Geologic ColumnThe Geologic Column

Most of these ages were assigned before radioactivity was even discovered.

Most of these ages were assigned before radioactivity was even discovered.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “KNOW” SOMETHING?WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “KNOW” SOMETHING?

1. Personal Experience through the five senses. I know a bee sting hurts; I know how to ride a bike.

1. Personal Experience through the five senses. I know a bee sting hurts; I know how to ride a bike.

2. Reliance on Authority. I know the sun is 93 million miles away; Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

2. Reliance on Authority. I know the sun is 93 million miles away; Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.3. Logic.

I know 2 million + 2 million = 4 million, even though I’ve never counted that high. I know I have a brain, even though I’ve never seen it.

3. Logic. I know 2 million + 2 million = 4 million, even though I’ve never counted that high. I know I have a brain, even though I’ve never seen it.

4. Feeling or Intuition. I know she’s the one for me; I know God has called me to the ministry.

4. Feeling or Intuition. I know she’s the one for me; I know God has called me to the ministry.

5. Wishful Thinking (you really want it to be true) I just know I’m going to win the lottery!

5. Wishful Thinking (you really want it to be true) I just know I’m going to win the lottery!

6. Bluffing (lying) - you try to persuade others for an ulterior motive. You should buy these tickets from me because I know this team is going to the Super Bowl this year; I know evolution is a fact!

6. Bluffing (lying) - you try to persuade others for an ulterior motive. You should buy these tickets from me because I know this team is going to the Super Bowl this year; I know evolution is a fact!

THE PREHISTORIC PAST:THE PREHISTORIC PAST:

1. No living person has personal experience.1. No living person has personal experience.

2. There are no eyewitness accounts except the

Bible, which is unacceptable to skeptics.

2. There are no eyewitness accounts except the

Bible, which is unacceptable to skeptics.

SO HOW DO WE “KNOW” ABOUT THE BEGINNING? Through LOGIC ONLY.

SO HOW DO WE “KNOW” ABOUT THE BEGINNING? Through LOGIC ONLY.

Both sides look at the same evidence…

Both sides look at the same evidence…

- We just start with different premises to interpret it.

- We just start with different premises to interpret it.

BASIC PREMISES OF EVOLUTION AND CREATIONBASIC PREMISES OF EVOLUTION AND CREATION

LIKE THE POSTULATES OF GEOMETRY, NEITHER SET OF PREMISES CAN BE PROVEN. THEY MUST BE ACCEPTED BY FAITH AS SELF-EVIDENT.


2. Since there could be no other natural processes besides evolution, evolution is the only possibility.

2. God is powerful enough to use any method he chooses, including instantaneous creation.

3. Since evolution has never been seen in human history, it must be very slow. The universe and earth have to be billions of years old.

3. Creation does not automatically require a specific age. a. Recent Creation: The earth is probably less than 10,000 years old. b. Gap Theory & Progressive Creation: Because evolutionists must know what they are talking about, the earth has to be billions of years old.

1. Everything must be explainable by purely natural processes.

a. Atheistic evolution: There is no God. b. Theistic evolution: Since the Big Bang,

God has had little involvement with nature.

1. A supernatural intelligence created the universe. Though most things are explainable by natural processes, some things may not be.

CREATION:CREATION:EVOLUTION:EVOLUTION:

BASIC PREMISES OF EVOLUTION AND CREATIONBASIC PREMISES OF EVOLUTION AND CREATION



4. Because a worldwide flood would cut billions of years off the time needed to produce the fossil record, there can never have been a worldwide flood.

4. The Flood. a. Recent Creation: One worldwide flood. b. Gap Theory: Two worldwide floods. c. Progressive Creation: No worldwide flood.

CREATION:CREATION:EVOLUTION:EVOLUTION:

THE FOUNDATION OF EVOLUTION:Uniformitarianism.

THE FOUNDATION OF EVOLUTION:Uniformitarianism.

The Bible warns us: First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. (2 Peter 3:3-7 RSV)

This is the UNPROVABLE geological doctrine that everything happens by slow, gradual, uniform processes. (“The present is the key to the past.”)

There can never have been a worldwide flood.

This is the UNPROVABLE geological doctrine that everything happens by slow, gradual, uniform processes. (“The present is the key to the past.”)

There can never have been a worldwide flood.







The Geologic ColumnThe Geologic Column

These ages are based on the assumption that there was never a worldwide flood.

These ages are based on the assumption that there was never a worldwide flood.

Evolutionists believe that the first living things evolved somewhere around sea level, because they needed to take in energy and atmospheric

gases.

So how did the “oldest” fossils get all the way down to the bottom of the ocean, then start

evolving their way back up toward the surface?

The general order of fossils from bottom to top is The general order of fossils from bottom to top is what we would expect if ecological communities what we would expect if ecological communities

were buried in sequence from the bottom of were buried in sequence from the bottom of the ocean toward sea level and beyond.the ocean toward sea level and beyond.

Basic Fossil Predictions of Creation vs. Evolution:Basic Fossil Predictions of Creation vs. Evolution:

CREATION (Complex to Simple)

1. Strata represent ecological communities. There should be a pattern of clearly defined fossil communities around the world.

2. Catastrophism.3. Many higher taxa (kingdom,

phylum, class, order) should appear at the beginning. The number should decrease through time.

4. Sudden appearance of each basic type.

5. Stasis (resistance to basic change).

EVOLUTION (Simple to Complex)

1. Strata represent time periods. There should be a continual overlap of life forms with no consistent worldwide patterns.

2. Uniformitarianism.3. Few higher taxa should be

represented in the earliest fossil-bearing rocks. The number should increase through time.

4. Gradual development of new basic types.

5. Continual gradual change.

SUITES OF FOSSILSSUITES OF FOSSILSRather than using radioactive dating, geologists

identify each rock layer (Cambrian, Ordivician, Devonian, etc.) by a clearly defined community or

suite of fossils that is essentially the same no matter where in the world we find it.

If evolution occurred, different types from amoebas to humans would have had to evolve

at different rates in different places at different times.

There should be no worldwide pattern of clearly defined communities of fossils.

Yet this is precisely how we identify rocks.

EVOLUTION IS CLEARLY WRONG.EVOLUTION IS CLEARLY WRONG.

PROBLEMS IN THE GEOLOGIC COLUMNPROBLEMS IN THE GEOLOGIC COLUMNIn general, the earth’s rock layers contain fossils that seem

to increase in complexity from bottom to top. However, there are hundreds of exceptions where individual fossils or entire

strata are in the wrong order.

In general, the earth’s rock layers contain fossils that seem to increase in complexity from bottom to top. However, there are hundreds of exceptions where individual fossils or entire

strata are in the wrong order.

CREATION SAYS:

Suites of fossils represent ecological communities which fit their

environment. Those near the bottom of the ocean have shapes appropriate

to their habitat and only appear simpler.

Misplaced fossils and strata are probably the result of hydraulic flood

action moving them out of their normal habitat, or deformation while

the sediment was still soft.

EVOLUTION SAYS:

Suites of fossils represent time periods. Those near the bottom look simpler because they evolved first

and are simpler.

Misplaced fossils and strata are the result of geologic processes such as faulting and overthrusting, millions

of years after the rocks had fully hardened.

Deformation of Sedimentary LayersDeformation of Sedimentary Layers

Which makes more sense?Which makes more sense?

Evolutionists believe that bending of

rocks occurred millions of years

after the sedi-ment hardened

into rock. Creationists

believe the sedi-ments were bent while still soft.

Evolutionists believe that bending of

rocks occurred millions of years

after the sedi-ment hardened

into rock. Creationists

believe the sedi-ments were bent while still soft.

Photos by the author

Right: Meteor Cra-ter in Arizona. Evo-

lutionists believe the meteor blasted through hardened rock; creationists

note that the crater looks very much

like the impact of a bullet in soft mud.

Above and right: Deformed strata in

the Swartberg Mountains of S.

Africa.

South of Cuba are the Grand Cayman islands, where four distinct ecological communities thrive at the same time and place.

0-200 ft: The Reef. Thousands of typical shallow water species: Coral, barracuda, stingray, eels, etc.

200-600 ft: The Wall. “Sponge belt.” Lots of various types of sponges. Worms, crustaceans.

600-1000 ft: The Haystacks. (Lots of de-bris broken off from above.) Sharks, star-fish, sea whip corals, sea urchins, etc.

1000+ ft: The Deep. (Totally dark.) Cookie-cutter shark, coffin fish, tripod fish, spidery-armed jellyfish, sea cucumbers, etc.

The Grand Cayman Islands: A Natural Demonstration Project

The Grand Cayman Islands: A Natural Demonstration Project

If we could instantly freeze the area, it would look just like the suites of fossils in the fossil record.

If we could instantly freeze the area, it would look just like the suites of fossils in the fossil record.

Ecological Communities Around the WorldEcological Communities Around the WorldAnimals and plants live in interdependent communities, or biomes.

These vary with climate, elevation above or below sea level, etc.

Shown are two of the ecosystems

found in Colorado. The same is true

worldwide.

(Denver Museum of Natural History – photos by the

author)

HOW EVOLUTIONISTS DATE ROCKSHOW EVOLUTIONISTS DATE ROCKSASSUME EVOLUTION

IS CORRECTASSUME EVOLUTION

IS CORRECT

C I RC U L A R

C I RC U L A R

R E A S O N I N G

R E A S O N I N G

Fossils must show pro-

gression from simple to

complex

Arrangestrata on a chart in “correct” order

Explain away out-of-order fossils and strata

Look for “tie-points” where radiometric ages match previously assigned age; reject ages that don’t fit (almost all!)

Geologic timetable and “correct” order of strata verified - Evolution Proved!

RADIOMETRIC “TIE-POINTS”RADIOMETRIC “TIE-POINTS”IF stratigraphic ages are really correct, andIF radiometric dating is reliable, Then we should be able to find a multitude of “tie-points” --

igneous (volcanic) rocks that match the assigned stratigraphic ages of each sedimentary layer containing fossils.

However, evolutionists do not depend on tie-points because there are so few of them.

A search of the literature reveals that In the entire world, only a hundred or so individual rocks (tie-points) have been found that match their assigned ages. The thousands of others (the vast majority) that don’t match the age that evolution says they should be are DISCARDED.

Instead of discarding the theory when it doesn’t match the data, evolutionists DISCARD THE DATA because it doesn’t match the theory!

HOW AGES WERE ORIGINALLY ASSIGNEDHOW AGES WERE ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED1. If a new fossil was previously unknown, it would be compared

to the rocks where it was found to see if they contained a known suite of fossils (Cambrian, Devonian, etc.). If so, the new one was assigned the same age as that suite.

2. Even if there was not a full suite, the discoverer would look for individual fossils found nearby. If any of them were defined as “index fossils,” he simply used their previously assigned age for the new type.

3. If none of the other fossils had been assigned an age, he would decide how highly evolved the new organism was and assign an age based on the assumption that evolution had taken billions of years.

4. Finally, if the new fossil was found in only one suite, then it could be used as an index fossil and its assigned age used anywhere that suite was found. Any new fossils found in the same layer would automatically be assigned the same age.

What About Radioactive Dating?What About Radioactive Dating?

Electrons (-) are in or- bitals around the nucleus, which is composed of protons (+) and neutrons (neutral, shown in blue).

Number of neutrons deter-mines the isotope of the element.

Number of protons is the atomic number. This determines what element the atom is.

+ -

-

-

-

-

-

++++

Number of protons plus number of neutrons determines the mass number of the element.

-

Since protons are positively charged, they repel each other. Thus, every atom in the universe that has more than one proton should fly apart.

However, if certain numbers of neutrons are present, the protons stay together. Scientists call the force that keeps them together the

“Strong Nuclear Force,” but have no idea why it exists.

Since protons are positively charged, they repel each other. Thus, every atom in the universe that has more than one proton should fly apart.

However, if certain numbers of neutrons are present, the protons stay together. Scientists call the force that keeps them together the

“Strong Nuclear Force,” but have no idea why it exists.

WHAT IS RADIOACTIVITY? WHAT IS RADIOACTIVITY?

+ -

-

-

-

-

-

++++

-

An atom with an unstable nucleus (too many or too few neutrons for the number of protons) tries to re-lease excess poten-tial energy by emit- ting various particles, or releasing gamma radiation.

The radioactive atom starts out as one element called the parent and decays into a different element called the radiogenic daughter.

The daughter may or may not be radioactive. If the daughter is radioactive, it may in turn become the parent

element of another radiogenic daughter.

The radioactive atom starts out as one element called the parent and decays into a different element called the radiogenic daughter.

The daughter may or may not be radioactive. If the daughter is radioactive, it may in turn become the parent

element of another radiogenic daughter.

In Alpha () decay, thenucleus ejects two pro-tons and two neutrons at the same time. This lowers the atomic number by two and the mass number by four.

In Beta () decay, one of the neutrons in the nucleus breaks apart. It ejects a high-energy electron, leaving a proton in place of the neutron. This actually increases the atomic number by one, but leaves the mass number unchanged.

RADIOACTIVE DECAY RATESRADIOACTIVE DECAY RATES

Some radioactive “parents” decay

into their final “daughter” in one step, e.g. Carbon-14 to Nitrogen-14. Others go through

many intermedi-ates, e.g. Uranium-238 goes through

14 steps as it turns into Lead-206.

However, we do not know what

causes one atom to decay while

the one next to it does not, so we cannot predict

which individual atoms will decay.

To measure decay rates we average together large numbers of atoms in a statistical analysis called a “half-life,” the amount of time it takes for half of a sample to decay. After one half-life 1/2 remains; after two

half-lives, 1/4; after three, 1/8; after four, 1/16, and so forth.

To measure decay rates we average together large numbers of atoms in a statistical analysis called a “half-life,” the amount of time it takes for half of a sample to decay. After one half-life 1/2 remains; after two

half-lives, 1/4; after three, 1/8; after four, 1/16, and so forth.

RADIOACTIVE DECAY RATESRADIOACTIVE DECAY RATES

COMMONLY USED RADIOACTIVE DATING METHODSCOMMONLY USED RADIOACTIVE DATING METHODS

Half-lives range from microseconds to (supposedly) billions of years.

Since radioactivity was only discovered about a century ago, there is no way to verify these long half-lives.

Half-lives range from microseconds to (supposedly) billions of years.

Since radioactivity was only discovered about a century ago, there is no way to verify these long half-lives.

PARENT DAUGHTER HALF-LIFECarbon-14 Nitrogen-14 5730 yearsPotassium-40 Argon-40 1.3 billion yearsUranium-235 Lead-207 713 million yearsUranium-238 Lead-206 4.51 billion yearsRubidium-87 Strontium-87 47 billion years

Since we can’t be sure of any of these for any “clock” in nature, we should use many different methods to determine a maximum possible age.

Out of all the dating methods, less than 10% point toward a maximum of billions of years. The rest point toward millions or even thousands.

Since we can’t be sure of any of these for any “clock” in nature, we should use many different methods to determine a maximum possible age.

Out of all the dating methods, less than 10% point toward a maximum of billions of years. The rest point toward millions or even thousands.

Characteristics of an Accurate ClockCharacteristics of an Accurate Clock

1. Initial conditions known.What time did the clock say when it was wound up?

2. Known rate of change.The clock need not always run at the same rate, but if it changes we must know when and by how much.

3. Closed system. The clock must not have been reset or tampered with.

Conditions for Accurate Radiometric DatingConditions for Accurate Radiometric Dating

1. Initial percentage of parent and daughter in the rock must be known.We have no way to know this.The radioactive parents came from somewhere. According to evolution, the daughters could have been present to use as building blocks in making the parents in the first place. There would automatically have been a mix of daughter and parent from the beginning of the earth. We have no way to know what that mix was. This renders radioactive dating unreliable.

Most rocks contain a mixture of elements. Many include a radioactive “parent” and a radiogenic “daughter.”


1 2

HYDROGEN HELIUM 1 43 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

LITHIUM BERYLLIUM BORON CARBON NITROGEN OXYGEN FLUORINE NEON 7 9 11 12 14 16 19 2011 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

SODIUM MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICON PHOSPHOROUS SULPHUR CHLORINE ARGON 23 24 27 28 31 32 35 4019 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

POTASSIUM CALCIUM SCANDIUM TITANIUM VANADIUM CHROMIUM MANGANESE IRON COBALT NICKEL COPPER ZINC GALLIUM GERMANIUM ARSENIC SELENIUM BROMINE KRYPTON 39 40 45 48 51 51 55 56 58 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 8437 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

RUBIDIUM STRONTIUM YTTRIUM ZIRCONIUM NIOBIUM MOLYBDENUM TECHNETIUM RUTHENIUM RHODIUM PALLADIUM SILVER CADMIUM INDIUM TIN ANTIMONY TELLURIUM IODINE XENON 85 88 89 91 93 96 99 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 126 127 13155 56 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

CESIUM BARIUM HAFNIUM TANTALUM TUNGSTEN RHENIUM OSMIUM IRIDIUM PLATINUM GOLD MERCURY THALLIUM LEAD BISMUTH POLONIUM ASTATINE RADON 133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 210 219 22287 88 104 105 106 107 108 109

FRANCIUM RADIUM RUTHERFORD- DUBNIUM SEABORGIUM BOHRIUM HASSIUM MEITNERIUM 223 226 IUM 261 262 263 264 265 268

Periodic Table of the ElementsPeriodic Table of the Elements H He

Li Be B C N O F Ne

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe

Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn

Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt etc.

Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho E Tm Yb Lu

Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71

CERIUM PRASEODYM- NEODYMIUM PROMETHEUM SAMARIUM EUROPIUM GADOLINIUM TERBIUM DYSPROSIUM HOLMIUM ERBIUM THULIUM YTTERBIUM LUTETIUM 140 IUM 141 144 147 147 152 157 159 162 165 167 169 173 17590 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

THORIUM PROTACTIN- URANIUM NEPTUNIUM PLUTONIUM AMERICIUM CURIUM BERKELIUM CALIFORNIUM EINSTEINIUM FERMIUM MENDELEV- NOBELIUM LAWRENCIUM 232 IUM 231 238 237 244 243 247 247 251 252 257 IUM 258 259 260

57

LANTHANUM 13989

ACTINIUM 227

La

Ac

La-Lu57- 71

Ac-Lr89-103

La-Lu57- 71

Ac-Lr89-103

90 elements are known to occur on earth. Elements 43, 61, and 93 and above (shown in red) are known only in artificially manufactured form, though #43 is seen in some stars.

According to evolution, the 90 naturally occurring elements (shown in white) must have come from lighter “building blocks.”

90 elements are known to occur on earth. Elements 43, 61, and 93 and above (shown in red) are known only in artificially manufactured form, though #43 is seen in some stars.

According to evolution, the 90 naturally occurring elements (shown in white) must have come from lighter “building blocks.”

Conditions for Accurate Radiometric DatingConditions for Accurate Radiometric Dating

1. Initial percentage of parent and daughter in the rock must be known.We have no way to know this.

2. Rate of change must have been constant the entire time.We’ve been watching for less than 100 years, but we have seen half-lives change by up to a billion times as fast.



Changes in Radioactive Decay RatesChanges in Radioactive Decay Rates• Published decay rates are averages of experimental

values. Some are a little lower, some are a little higher.• Decay rates have been determined over less than 100

years but are applied to 4.5 billion years! This is like watching a jet fly past for one second then guessing how fast it has been flying for the last 522 days.

• Many believe the decay of individual atoms is purely random, but others believe there is some as-yet-unknown cause such as neutrino density.

• Experiments have produced changes in decay rates of at least 14 different elements.

• Under plasma conditions (all electrons removed), decay rates have been accelerated up to a billion times as fast.

Evolutionists (and some creationists) believe the earth began in plasma conditions.

This would render radiometric dating totally unreliable.

Evolutionists (and some creationists) believe the earth began in plasma conditions.

This would render radiometric dating totally unreliable.

Changes in Radioactive Decay RatesChanges in Radioactive Decay RatesRecent studies at Purdue and Stanford Universities have revealed several anomalies in radioactive decay rates that

seem to depend on the sun.

The sun seems to be doing something that affects decay rates – perhaps by producing an as yet undetected

particle that makes nuclei decay faster.

1. The decay rates go through a 33 day cycle from fastest to slowest – believed to be the rotation rate of the sun’s core.

2. Decay rates speed up slightly in the winter when we are closer to the sun, and slow down slightly in the summer when we are farther away.

3. Decay rates slow down just before solar flares.

Whatever the cause, we can say with certainty that radioactive decay rates do change. This renders radiometric dating unreliable.

Whatever the cause, we can say with certainty that radioactive decay rates do change. This renders radiometric dating unreliable.

Source: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/august/sun-082310.htmlSource: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/august/sun-082310.html

Conditions for Accurate Radiometric DatingConditions for Accurate Radiometric DatingMost rocks contain a mixture of elements. Many include a

radioactive “parent” and a radiogenic “daughter.”Most rocks contain a mixture of elements. Many include a

radioactive “parent” and a radiogenic “daughter.”

3. None of the parent or daughter can have been added or removed the entire time.Is there any rock that has never gotten wet?

2. Rate of change must have been constant the entire time.We’ve been watching for less than 100 years, but we have seen half-lives change by up to a billion times as fast.

1. Initial percentage of parent and daughter in the rock must be known.We have no way to know this.

There is no way to be sure of any of these factors, let alone all of them.

There is no way to be sure of any of these factors, let alone all of them.

HOW ABOUT CARBON DATING?HOW ABOUT CARBON DATING?

1. Cosmic radiation in the upper atmosphere strikes Nitrogen-14,

turning it into the unstable isotope Carbon-14.

2. Plants use the C-12 and C-14

in the air to build up their

cell structures.

3. The carbon becomes

part of the animals that eat

the plants.

4. When a plant or animal dies it stops taking in carbon. The C-12 does not change but the C-14 decays back to N-14 (with a half-life of 5730 years). By measuring the ratio of C-14 to C-12 in the carcass as compared to the atmosphere, we estimate how long ago it died.

PROBLEMS WITH CARBON DATINGPROBLEMS WITH CARBON DATING1. The carbon in many fossils has been replaced by other

minerals.You can’t carbon date something that doesn’t contain carbon.

2. If the animal or plant’s environment was low in C-14 it will give a false reading much higher than the real age.This happens frequently in sea creatures.

3. The ratio of C-14 to C-12 in the atmosphere keeps increasing. The older something is, the less C-14 was available and the less reliable the carbon date is. “Old” dates need to be adjusted accordingly.

4. Because of its short half-life, carbon dating works for ages of only a few thousand years.Since most fossils are supposed to be millions of years old, evolutionists don’t even try to carbon date them.

5. External factors can add or remove carbon or nitrogen.6. Some plants are able to exclude C-14 from their structures.

They, or anything that eats them, would automatically show a false age.

Reasons Fossils are not Dated by Other Radiometric Methods

Reasons Fossils are not Dated by Other Radiometric Methods

1. A good size sample of radioactive material is needed to perform radiometric dating tests. The particles in most sediments are too finely divided for reliable testing.

2. The only kind of radioactive material that can be directly dated is igneous (volcanic) rock. It would have been so hot when it was laid down that it would have destroyed any living thing in its path, rather than preserving it as a fossil.

Examples of Erroneous Radiometric Dates Examples of Erroneous Radiometric Dates• Checkurovka Mammoth: Hair carbon dated at 26,000 years, but soil dated

only 5,600 years.• Living Nevada snails carbon dated at 27,000 years.• Living mollusk dated by carbon-14 at over 2,300 years.• Two different C-14 ages 15,000 years apart from same block of peat in New

Zealand • Dried seal carcasses less than 30 years old carbon dated as old as 4,600

years.• Blood of seal freshly killed at McMurdo Sound in Antarctic carbon dated at

1,300 years• Rocks containing “Nutcracker Man” potassium-argon dated at 1.75 million

years. Bones found lower (should be older) carbon dated at 10,000 years.• Lava rocks from Hualalei in Hawaii potassium-argon dated at almost 3

billion years. Rocks less than 200 years old - formed when volcano erupted in 1801.

• Other new Hawaiian rocks from eruption of Kilauea potassium-argon dated at 22 million years.

• Moon rocks dated by various techniques show inconsistent ages ranging from 700 million to 28 billion years. (Moon supposed to be 4.5 billion years old.)

RECENT CARBON DATING RESULTSRECENT CARBON DATING RESULTSRecently developed tests for Carbon-14 using accelerator mass spectrometry are able to detect the presence of C-14 at 100,000

times lower concentration than previous methods.

Out of thousands of supposedly multimillion year samples tested, all but two contained measurable amounts of C-14.

Radioactive elements disappear within about 10 half-lives. Even if we are generous and stretch the limit out to 40 half-lives,

within about 250,000 years all the C-14 should be gone.

IT IS NOT.The “multimillion year” fossils must be

less than 250,000 years old!In fact, in most cases, they point to something less than 90,000 years (before correction for lower atmospheric C-14 in the past).

The Cardeñas

Basalt at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is

supposed to be about a

billion years old.

The Cardeñas

Basalt at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is

supposed to be about a

billion years old.

The Uinkaret Plateau at the top is only sup-posed to be about a million.

The Uinkaret Plateau at the top is only sup-posed to be about a million.

Rubidium-Strontium dating showed an age of about 1.07 billion years for the Cardeñas, as expected.

Exactly the same technique was applied to the Uinkaret, which showed an age of 1.34 billion years -- a thousand times too old,

and 270 million years older than the rocks at the bottom.

Isochron Dating and the Grand CanyonIsochron Dating and the Grand Canyon

EIther the technique is faulty, or else the Grand Canyon is upside down!EIther the technique is faulty, or else the Grand Canyon is upside down!

We’ve seen that the first two are not reliable. Now let’s look at some arguments based on geology.

We’ve seen that the first two are not reliable. Now let’s look at some arguments based on geology.






FOSSIL PREDICTIONS OF CREATION AND EVOLUTIONFOSSIL PREDICTIONS OF

CREATION AND EVOLUTIONEVOLUTION:

Uniformitarianism. “The present is the key to the past” -- a doctrinal statement

accepted without proof.

Presently observed processes should be sufficient to explain

the earth’s geologic record.There has never been a

worldwide flood.

CREATION:Catastrophism.

Everyday processes do not have nearly so much effect on

the earth as catastrophic events (volcanos, hurricanes,

earthquakes, etc.) The present is NOT the key to the past.

There should be evidence in the geologic record pointing toward

past catastrophic events.

PLATE TECTONICSPLATE TECTONICSGenesis 1:9-10 says that there was originally one landmass. On this, evolutionists agree. (They call itPangaea.) Evolution- ists believe it broke up over hundreds of millions of years.

By contrast, young- earth creationists believe the split took place rapidly, during and after Noah’s Flood.

Animation from Univ. of Calif. Museum of Paleon-tology website http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu

Geologists around the world use a computer program called “Terra” to model the motion of the continental plates.

Few realize that it was written by a young-earth creationist geophysicist, Dr. John Baumgardner.

The program works much better if the continents were moving rapidly for a short time rather than slowly for millions of years.

Geologists around the world use a computer program called “Terra” to model the motion of the continental plates.

Few realize that it was written by a young-earth creationist geophysicist, Dr. John Baumgardner.

The program works much better if the continents were moving rapidly for a short time rather than slowly for millions of years.

THE GRAND CANYONTHE GRAND CANYON

The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, eight miles across, and over 200 miles long.

Evolutionists claim that the Colorado River would have taken millions of years to erode

the Canyon.Is there any evidence that the assumption

of uniformitarianism is wrong, and that large scale erosion can occur quickly?

The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, eight miles across, and over 200 miles long.

Evolutionists claim that the Colorado River would have taken millions of years to erode

the Canyon.Is there any evidence that the assumption

of uniformitarianism is wrong, and that large scale erosion can occur quickly?

Mount St. HelensMount St. Helens

A classic snow-capped mountain in southwest Washington State, before its eruption in 1980

A classic snow-capped mountain in southwest Washington State, before its eruption in 1980

Photo courtesy of Raymond Fleshman (www.creationism.org/sthelens/fleshman/index.htm)

The View From Spirit LakeThe View From Spirit Lake

U.S. Geologic Survey photos from www.creationism.org/sthelens/USGS1250/index.htm

Mount St. Helens before Mount St. Helens afterMount St. Helens before Mount St. Helens after

Effects of the Volcano on TreesEffects of the Volcano on TreesMillions of trees were knocked down by the initial steam blast.

1/8 of a cubic mile of rock from the top of the volcano crashed into Spirit Lake, creating a wave hundreds of feet high that swept down millions more trees. Shown

above are not islands, but floating log rafts.

(Photo courtesy of Raymond Fleshman)

USGS Photo

Mount St. Helens During the EruptionMount St. Helens During the EruptionAsh from Mt. St. Helens completely circled the globe.Ash from Mt. St. Helens completely circled the globe.

Energy released from this medium-sized volcano was estimated to be the equivalent of one Hiroshima-size atomic bomb per second for nine hours.Energy released from this medium-sized volcano was estimated to be the equivalent of one Hiroshima-size atomic bomb per second for nine hours.

U.S. Geologic Survey photos from www.creationism.org/sthelens/USGS1250/index.htm

Mount St. Helens and the Toutle RiverMount St. Helens and the Toutle River

• The eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 deposited hundreds of feet of finely laminated sediment into the North Fork of the Toutle River in just a few days.

• The sediment was so hot that it quickly turned into rock, damming up the river.

• 20 months later, a new mudflow broke through the new rocks and carved out a canyon about 1/35 as deep as the Grand Canyon in ONE DAY.

The Toutle River didn’t carve the canyon; it just drains it.

(Just like the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon!)

The Toutle River didn’t carve the canyon; it just drains it.

(Just like the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon!)

Sediment Deposits at Mount St. HelensSediment Deposits at Mount St. HelensP

ho

tos

co

urte

sy

of R

ay

mo

nd

Fle

sh

ma

n

The eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 deposited hundreds of feet of finely laminated sediment into the North Fork of the Toutle River

in just a few days.

Soft Rock Erosion at Mount St. HelensSoft Rock Erosion at Mount St. Helens

A second eruption in January 1982 sent more superheated mud blasting through the new sedimentary rock, forming a network of canyons up

to 160 feet deep (1/35 as deep as the Grand Canyon) in one day. The Toutle didn’t carve the canyons -- it just drains them.

Photo by the author

-- viewed

from two

miles away

The 1980 eruption filled the Toutle River valley with hundreds of feet of superheated mud, which rapidly hardened into rock.

Hard Rock Erosion at Mount St. HelensHard Rock Erosion at Mount St. Helens

Hard rock erosion is thought to take thousands of years, at least. Yet the steam blast during the eruption of Mt. St. Helens carved out a 700 foot deep canyon through the solid granite of the

“Goat Rocks” in less than one afternoon.

Photo by the author

-- viewed

from three miles away

Back to the Grand Canyon – could it be the Result of Slow Erosion?

Back to the Grand Canyon – could it be the Result of Slow Erosion?

In order for the Colorado River to have carved the Canyon, it would have had to flow a mile uphill for millions of years.

The Grand Canyon is a mile deep, 8 mile wide, 216 mile long gash through an uplifted area of the Colorado Plateau in north Arizona.

The Kaibab Monocline, a mile-high upwarped formation at the east end of the Grand CanyonU

.S.

go

ve

rnm

en

t s

ate

llit

e i

ma

ge

Impossible. Gravity works in Arizona just like anywhere else!Impossible. Gravity works in Arizona just like anywhere else!

The Grand Canyon is

missing over 1000 cubic

miles of sediment, enough to

make a good size mountain

range. Yet it has a normal-

size delta composed of

soft, relatively recent

sediment.

NASA satellite photo of the Colorado River delta at the Gulf of California

THE MISSING DELTATHE MISSING DELTA

If the Colorado River carved the Canyon over millions of years, where is the sediment?

If the Colorado River carved the Canyon over millions of years, where is the sediment?

The Colorado River: Not Enough Water!The Colorado River: Not Enough Water!Throughout the Grand Canyon are many mesas and

buttes where the Colorado River does not flow.

There had to be a much larger quantity of water at some time in the past in order to scour them out.

Photo by the author

Nautiloid Mass Burial at Grand CanyonNautiloid Mass Burial at Grand Canyon

Uniformi-tarian geo-logy says the Redwall Limestone was depos-ited slowly over hun-dreds of millions of years.

In 2002, geologist Dr. Steve Austin stunned the Geological Society of America with the discovery of billions of nautiloid fossils preserved in a 2-

meter thick layer of the Redwall Limestone. Nautiloids have soft bodies inside a shell. The bodies decay quickly.

The shells all point in the same direction. This indicates thatthey were deposited by a massive sediment flow over

a few days, not millions of years.

Grand Canyon photo by the author; Nautiloid photos by USGS

The Redwall Limestone is a layer of the Grand Canyon several hundred feet thick, spread over thousands of square miles.

THE PETRIFIED FORESTTHE PETRIFIED FOREST

Not far from the Grand Canyon -- not really a forest, but tens of thousands of trees and tree fragments lying on

the ground, stripped of roots and limbs. Most geologists believe they are allochthonous – that is,

they floated into the area from someplace else.That’s a lot of water!

The Grand The Grand Canyon Canyon and the and the

FloodFlood

The Grand The Grand Canyon Canyon and the and the

FloodFlood

The Kaibab Monocline

would have served as a natural dam

holding back four states

worth of water at the end of

the Flood, until something

caused a split. The Colorado

didn’t carve the Canyon; it just

drains it.

The Colorado Plateau east of the Grand Canyon includes many parts of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico higher than the Kaibab Monocline.

(U.S. government satellite image)

The Failure of UniformitarianismThe Failure of UniformitarianismUniformitarianism is based on the belief that “The Present is the Key to the Past.” Even according to evolution, though, many things have obviously not always happened in the

same way and at the same rate.

Uniformitarianism is based on the belief that “The Present is the Key to the Past.” Even according to evolution, though, many things have obviously not always happened in the

same way and at the same rate.

• The hypothetical “big bang”• Initial formation of the earth

and solar system• Initial separation of the

continents• Supposed reversal of motion

of the continental plates• Well-known catastrophes

such as Washington Scab-lands, meteor impacts,

major volcanic eruptions• Reversals of the earth’s

magnetic field• Clearly defined boundaries

between strata worldwide (e.g., K-T Boundary)• Enormous fossil graveyards• Many other examples

“Methodological uniformitarianism was useful only when science was debating the status of the supernatural in its realm.”

- Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould

“Methodological uniformitarianism was useful only when science was debating the status of the supernatural in its realm.”

- Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould






None of these is a compelling argument.

None of these is a compelling argument.

So far, this is just showing what’s wrong with the

evolutionary time scale.

Are there any positive indications that the earth might be much younger than billions

of years old?

So far, this is just showing what’s wrong with the

evolutionary time scale.

Are there any positive indications that the earth might be much younger than billions

of years old?

Maximum Ages Given by a Number of “Clocks”Maximum Ages Given by a Number of “Clocks”

INDICATOR MAX. AGE

1. Recession of the Moon 1,370,000,0002. Breakup of Galaxy Clusters 1,000,000,0003. Spiral Galaxies 1,000,000,0004. Influx of salt (NaCl) to the oceans 100,000,0005. Thickness and temperature gradient of earth’s crust 45,000,0006. Atmospheric helium 4,000,0007. Instability of Saturn’s rings 1,000,0008. Volcanic activity on Io 1,000,0009. Poynting-Robertson Effect on space dust 200,00010. High pressure oil & gas wells 100,00011. Thickness of Nile sediment 30,00012. Atmospheric C-14 30,00013. Influx of salt to the Dead Sea 13,00014. Short-period comets 10,00015. Decay in strength of earth’s magnetic field 10,00016. Influx of Uranium to the oceans 10,000 and many others.

The true age could be anything less.The true age could be anything less.

THE MISSING HELIUMTHE MISSING HELIUM

Several radio-active decay

series release alpha particles, or

Helium-4 nuclei. These quickly

capture two elec-trons from their

surroundings and become Helium

atoms.

If every bit of the helium in the atmosphere came only from the radioactive decay we are aware of, there is less than 4 million years accumulation.

There is no way known for helium-4 to escape from the atmosphere.

1. If there was any helium at the beginning, or 2. If there is more radioactivity than we know of, or 3. If there is another helium source besides radioactivity (there is!),

The atmosphere could be any age less.

There is no way known for helium-4 to escape from the atmosphere.

1. If there was any helium at the beginning, or 2. If there is more radioactivity than we know of, or 3. If there is another helium source besides radioactivity (there is!),

The atmosphere could be any age less.

CARBON-14 DECAYCARBON-14 DECAYCosmic radiation strikes Nitrogen-14 in the upper atmosphere,

turning it into C-14. The C-14 begins to turn back to N-14.

Direct measurements show C-14 forming 20% to 30% faster than it is decaying. This indicates that C-14 has been

forming for less than 20,000 years.

Direct measurements show C-14 forming 20% to 30% faster than it is decaying. This indicates that C-14 has been

forming for less than 20,000 years.

Starting from zero, the amount of C-14 would build up until it was decaying as fast as it formed. At present rates, it would

take less than 20,000 years to reach equilibrium.

The atmosphere must have been in its present condition for less than 20,000 years.

The atmosphere must have been in its present condition for less than 20,000 years.

THE MISSING METEORITESTHE MISSING METEORITES• Each year, a few meteorites

make it through the atmos-phere and land on the earthwithout burning up.

• Fossil-bearing rocks are sup-posed to have been forming for at least 530 million years.

• In this time, at least several billion meteorites should havebecome embedded one by one in the fossil-bearing rocks.

• Yet not one meteorite has ever been discovered preserved in any “ancient” rock layer under the surface, despite the discovery of perhaps hundreds of billions of fossils.

Either this is an astonishing coincidence, or else the rocks were NOT laid down over hundreds of millions of years.

Either this is an astonishing coincidence, or else the rocks were NOT laid down over hundreds of millions of years.

METEOR CRATERMETEOR CRATERThe meteor that caused Meteor Crater in Arizona went

through multiple strata, but did not fracture them.

Instead, the crater looks like the impact pattern of a bullet fired into soft mud. All the layers must havestill been soft when the meteor crashed through.

They must not have been millions of years old.

PLEOCHROIC HALOESPLEOCHROIC HALOESIf a large number of radioactive atoms decay inside a

molten rock, no traces are left after the rock cools.

However, if the rock is solid when the atoms decay, they leave tiny spherical “scorch marks” known as pleochroic haloes. We can tell what

produced the haloes by their diameter and what’s left at the center.

SHELLS DUE TO: Po-214 (half-life 164 microseconds) Po-218 (half-life 3.1 minutes) Po-210 (half-life 138 days)U-238 “parent” (4.5 billion years) No Uranium “Parent”

“Parentless” Po-210 haloes can only form in rocks that are solid within a few years, Po-218 within

a few minutes, and Po-214 within a few thousandths of a second.

Thousands of known haloes are from fast-decaying isotopes of Polonium. In order for them to leave haloes at all, the rocks

must have solidified within a few half-lives of Polonium. For Po-214, the rocks had to harden within seconds!

Thousands of known haloes are from fast-decaying isotopes of Polonium. In order for them to leave haloes at all, the rocks

must have solidified within a few half-lives of Polonium. For Po-214, the rocks had to harden within seconds!

Implications of Pleochroic HaloesImplications of Pleochroic Haloes

Pleochroic haloes do not prove that the earthis young. However, they show that rocks con-taining them had to solidify in a matter of sec-

onds rather than hundreds of millions of years.

Whenever the basement rocks wereformed, they were formed fast.

No one has ever successfully rebutted Dr. Robert Gentry’s contention that the haloes

point strongly towardinstantaneous creation.

HELIUM IN THE ROCKSHELIUM IN THE ROCKS• Many radioactive decay series produce helium. • Even though the helium starts out inside a rock, helium

molecules are so small that they can gradually work their way through the molecules of the rock until they escape.

• At the measured rate of diffusion, the escape time has been calculated to be on the order of a few tens of thousands of years.

• Many rocks supposed to be hundreds of millions of years old have been split open and found to contain significant amounts of helium.

The rocks cannot be more than a fewtens of thousands of years old,

NOT millions of years.

DOES THIS PROVE THE EARTH IS YOUNG?

NO.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT IT COULD BE, AND THAT THERE IS NO

COMPELLING SCIENTIFIC REASON THAT IT HAS TO BE BILLIONS OF

YEARS OLD.

DOES THIS PROVE THE EARTH IS YOUNG?

NO.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT IT COULD BE, AND THAT THERE IS NO

COMPELLING SCIENTIFIC REASON THAT IT HAS TO BE BILLIONS OF

YEARS OLD.

EVERYTHING must be explainable by PURELY NATURAL PROCESSES.

(If something is a physical phenomenon, then it must have a physical cause.)

EVERYTHING must be explainable by PURELY NATURAL PROCESSES.

(If something is a physical phenomenon, then it must have a physical cause.)

THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE OF EVOLUTION:THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE OF EVOLUTION:

But what if evolutionists find something that is NOT explainable by natural processes?

But what if evolutionists find something that is NOT explainable by natural processes?

Sure it is -- they just make up an explanation! And since they are smart enough to make up a clever story, therefore their story must be true.

Sure it is -- they just make up an explanation! And since they are smart enough to make up a clever story, therefore their story must be true.

Since evolutionsts are determined that absolutely EVERYTHING must be explainable

by purely natural processes, all it takes is ONE THING that’s not to falsify all of evolution.

Since evolutionsts are determined that absolutely EVERYTHING must be explainable

by purely natural processes, all it takes is ONE THING that’s not to falsify all of evolution.

THE CREATIONIST’S ADVANTAGE:THE CREATIONIST’S ADVANTAGE:

All we have to do is disprove ONE evolu-tionary claim, but they have to be right about EVERY SINGLE ONE. If even one evolutionary

story is wrong, the whole thing falls apart!

All we have to do is disprove ONE evolu-tionary claim, but they have to be right about EVERY SINGLE ONE. If even one evolutionary

story is wrong, the whole thing falls apart!

No wonder they don’t want students to hear about Intelligent Design in schools!

No wonder they don’t want students to hear about Intelligent Design in schools!

For copies of all materials, go to

www.originsresource.org.

Email: [email protected]

For copies of all materials, go to

www.originsresource.org.

Email: [email protected]

does it really matter whether the earth is old or young? so what if the earth is billions of years...

Documents

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