Posted on 10/06/2014 1:10:19 PM PDT by JimSEA
Radiometric dating--the process of determining the age of rocks from the decay of their radioactive elements--has been in widespread use for over half a century. There are over forty such techniques, each using a different radioactive element or a different way of measuring them. It has become increasingly clear that these radiometric dating techniques agree with each other and as a whole, present a coherent picture in which the Earth was created a very long time ago. Further evidence comes from the complete agreement between radiometric dates and other dating methods such as counting tree rings or glacier ice core layers. Many Christians have been led to distrust radiometric dating and are completely unaware of the great number of laboratory measurements that have shown these methods to be consistent. Many are also unaware that Bible-believing Christians are among those actively involved in radiometric dating.
This paper describes in relatively simple terms how a number of the dating techniques work, how accurately the half-lives of the radioactive elements and the rock dates themselves are known, and how dates are checked with one another. In the process the paper refutes a number of misconceptions prevalent among Christians today. This paper is available on the web via the American Scientific Affiliation and related sites to promote greater understanding and wisdom on this issue, particularly within the Christian community.
(Excerpt) Read more at asa3.org ...
I sent the article to my single son who has a BS in geology.
I don’t think the issue is “how old the earth is” really - I think the issue is “what is time, exactly?” There is clear science that indicates time is not a constant - and it’s related to the speed of light - which has not been constant over all of time either. There are perceptible, measurable and predictable differences in the world’s official atomic clocks depending on their altitude.
Can you image the difference in the speed of time from earth to say, the next galaxy? It is quite possible that the earth was created in six days as we know them, AND that it’s 16 billion years old - are both correct. Depends on where you are keeping time from.
Then there’s the fact that time and space are actually the same thing ultimately....and we worship a God not confined by time or space. As Einstein said, the idea the there is a difference between the past, present and future remains a stubbornly persistent illusion. (paraphrase)
My first class in biology back in the early 60s was taught by a pius Catholic Marist Brother named Brother William, who was well like and dubbed by his students ‘ bio-Bill’. He taught evolution in his science classes and in his home room class(which included Catechism) he taught that Jesus was Lord. Refreshing. No conflict.
I wonder if most students at Christian colleges would not be prohibited from engaging in radiometric dating...
The fact is there is no proof that Adam and Eve and the first humanoid spirits (including Angels and lesser beings) were not existing for billions of years before Satan led them (Adam and Eve) to the process of Death. They were immortal and were not subject to programmed death until their code was altered by consuming that which was forbidden.
Therefore, Genesis does not conflict with radiocarbon dating technology.
Adam lived for 930 years after his EXPULSION and NOT from the time of his creation. Before his expulsion, he could not die. After he followed Satan, he lived for 930 years.
“Welcome to Radiometric Dating here on the Big 97, K-LUV FM. This hour’s bachelorette contestant is Jenny. Jenny’s measurements are 38-25-36. The first correct straight male caller to 555-9707 who can convert her measurements into centimeters will winn a date with Jenny, all expenses paid! Only on Radiometric Dating, here on Big 97. K-LUV FM.
Then he clearly did not understand either for they are diametrically opposed.
Dating rocks by radioactive timekeepers is simple in theory, but almost all of the different methods rely on these few basic assumptions: 1. Beginning Conditions Known; 2. Beginning Ratio of Daughter to Parent Isotope Known (zero date problem)3. Constant Decay Rate; 4. No Leaching or Addition of Parent or Daughter Isotopes; 5. All Assumptions Valid for Billions of Years; 6. There is also a difficulty in measuring precisely very small amounts of the various isotopes.
The irony of your comment is that evolutionary theory tends to reinforce Genesis. The study of mitochondrial DNA has led to the discovery that all of humanity is descended from the same female ancestor.
Maybe it doesn’t read exactly as what’s in the Bible but that doesn’t take away from the fact that science has, at least in this case, validated a principle of faith. For myself this makes my faith all the more valid.
But that’s just me.
I disagree....one is faith based and the other is learning about the wonders that the creator has put before us to learn...no different than learning how to use fire or make a wheel.
Bingo
I met Mrs BN at a Christian College... I had been a field radio operator in Vietnam...I took one look at her, "sized her up" and you might say, her metrics were entirely satisfactory. Does that qualify as "radiometric dating"..at a Christian college?
(sorry, I realize that was quite a stretch.)
I won’t date anyone who’s radio has less than 14 transistors.
“Then he clearly did not understand either for they are diametrically opposed”
Only in your dreams.
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
Love it! Best laugh of the day for me.
“....and we worship a God not confined by time or space.”
Bingo!
Human time is not God Time because God is infinite and therefore exists outside of the constraints of human time.
For the Greater Glory Of God
There certainly is if there is no special creation of humankind — for if humankind evolved from some lesser-evolved form then humankind does not inherently contain the image of God.
I want a five-tube radio, I like 'em really hot...
P.S. Mom had a five-tube Emerson AM radio in the early 60s when I was a kid. She used to listen to WIP from Philly, when the station was what we would call today Adult Contemporary, meaning most Rat Pack-type music. That was also back in the early Hy Lit days, except he was on WIBG, which stood for I Believe in God.
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