Are dinosaurs fossils really that old? [vanity]

[Ancient Drive]

I read that carbon dating method is only accurate for up to 30,000 yrs. So how are scientists coming up with millions yrs. old fossils? For all we know dinosaurs died off not millions but 100's of thousands of yrs ago.

[ETL]

>We have no idea what decay rates were in the distant past.
>We just ASSUME they were the same as today.

For what it’s worth...

We can be confident that radioactive-decay rates have not varied over geological time for several reasons:

1) There is no known physical reason that would cause them to vary noticeably. The two main types of radioactive decay used for radiometric dating are alpha and beta decay, which are both well-understood physical phenomena, and which have rates that can be calculated from the decay energies and various fundamental physical constants. In particular, alpha decay takes place by quantum-mechanical tunneling; the emitted helium-4 nucleus spreads through its “forbidden” region near the nucleus to where it can escape. And beta decay takes place by the weak elementary interaction, which can convert neutrons and protons and emit or absorb electrons.

The electrons in decaying atoms do have an influence on their decay rates, but all but the outermost ones are essentially unaffected by different states of chemical combination and different pressures in the Earth. In particular, it is mostly the innermost electrons that are captured in electron-capture decay, and these are relatively unaffected by the outside world. The main exception, beryllium-7 (which is not used for radiometric dating, hence any anomalies in its decay are irrelevant to the question of whether or not radiometric dating techniques are valid), is easily accounted for by noting that its outermost and innermost electrons are right next to each other (beryllium has only 4 electrons in 2 shells with 2 each).

2) If such variations happened, then it would be very unlikely that they would happen in exact sync, which is what would be necessary to produce the observed concordances. In fact, if such discrepancies existed, it would be possible to produce plots of U-Pb age vs. K-Ar age. However, searching for such discrepancies has resulted in some sensitive upper limits, as described in The fundamental constants and their variation: observational status and theoretical motivations

3) The physics of stars (and other objects) which we can observe is independent of how far they are away from earth. Observing stars which are very far away means also looking very far back in time. The physics of stars is strongly dependend on nuclear reactions and thus also connected to decay rates. Therefore a change in decay rates which would affect the accuracy of radiometric dating can be clearly ruled out.

4) Studies on the isotopes left behind by the Oklo reactor, a natural occuring nuclear reactor about two billion years ago, are giving an upper limit of the change of constants and excludes changes in constants which are big enough to affect the accuracy of radiometric dating.

http://evolutionwiki.org/wiki/Radiometric_dating#Creationist_claims_about_radiometric_dating

[ZX12R]

Is it possible that God created the earth “old”? I mean, when He created it, maybe it came chock full of dinosaur bones, fossils, petrified trees, and the whole nine yards.

Which is more likely, do you think?

That God did it in the farcical way you describe, or he created it in the way and time that the scientific evidence suggests?

[stuartcr]

Why do you say I’m mocking Him? Because I don’t believe as you do?

[Buggman]

So basically you're saying that the God of truth set up the universe to lie to us?

I mean, if the universe is only 6000 years old, we're not just seeing light formed in transit from static objects; we're seeing the illusions of stars detonating that never existed.

Shalom

[stuartcr]

As if there even is a lake of fire!!

[montyspython]

We all got punked by God.

[folkquest]

Scientific evidence does not negate God’s hand in creation, man’s turning from God, and the need for a savior who has come and will come again. The Divinely inspired books of the Bible teach us Salvation History, not physics, archeology, chemistry, biology, and the like. Embrace both, but not one over the exclusion of the other.

[samtheman]

I don’t see any contradiction between accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and also being able to read and understand scientific literature and being able to understand what the word “theory” actually means and how the practice of “science” actually works.

I don’t see any contradiction, or collision, at all.

[RockyMtnMan]

Science is nothing more than a series of observations of how God went about his work. Saying any less makes him a magician. Besides, just think of how much more amazing he is when you consider his methods and processes. Harry Potter wand waving is instant gratification without effort or understanding of the processes involved.

[Captain Rhino]

Very imaginative; trump nonsense not with fact, but with even greater nonsense.

[faucetman]

“Radiometric measurements can be accurate into the billions of years (in Uranium-Lead dating), Samarium-neodymium to about 20 million years, Potassium-argon at 1.3 billion years... etc.. “

and we should believe this because “scientists” say so?

Think meteorologist. (weather man)

Think Photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis: Definition: Natural chemical-process by which chlorophyll (magnesium-containing pigment in green plants, blue-green algae, phytoplankton, and green and purple bacteria) uses sunlight (radiation) energy to convert (synthesize) water and atmospheric carbon dioxide into life sustaining organic compounds such as glucose. Being also responsible for almost all the oxygen in atmosphere, >>>>>photosynthesis is the basis of all life on earth.<<<<<<

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/photosynthesis.html

OOOPS! >>>>> Until recently, all life on Earth was believed to be dependent on the sun. But in the last 30 years, several new deep-sea ecosystems have been discovered that utilize an alternative source of energy.
Instead of sunlight, vent life relies on hydrogen sulfide - more commonly known as rotten egg gas and toxic to most land-based life.

In a process called chemosynthesis, specialized bacteria create energy from the hydrogen sulfide present in the mineral-rich water pouring out of the vents. These bacteria form the bottom level of the food chain in these ecosystems, upon which all other vent animals are dependent.

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/deep_sea/vents_seeps/

Scientists are only right until they are wrong. Which is unfortunately for them, is all too often.

[montyspython]

"Scientific evidence does not negate God’s hand in creation, man’s turning from God..."

I would argue the Science reinforces God's existence, God didn't go and create the universe with very specific properties and laws just to pull Moses' leg.

[KevinDavis]

To some people The Flinstones was a documentary..

[KevinDavis]

To some people The Flinstones was a documentary..

[folkquest]

I don’t see any contradiction between accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and also being able to read and understand scientific literature and being able to understand what the word “theory” actually means and how the practice of “science” actually works.

I don’t see any contradiction, or collision, at all.

...neither do I! ...by the way, I like your tagline.

[Boogieman]

Ah, so your contention is that God is a liar?

[montyspython]

Then along cam Kazoo and the whole thing fell apart.

"Oh hello dumb dumbs!"

[RoadGumby]

Overall, the most important thing is that you place your trust and faith in Jesus as your Savior.

Having done that, you read His Word. It says:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

The Word, is also the Bible.

Genesis is true, as written. God and Jesus being one, and the Word, I’ll beleive Them/Him rather than a mans theory.

[RoadGumby]

You call His Word a lie. Kinda mocking don’t you think?

[folkquest]

God as the primary mover...