Grand Canyon Made By Noah's Flood, Book Says (Geologists Skewer Park For Selling Creationism)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | January 8, 2004 | Julie Cart, Los Angeles Times

[Scenic Sounds]

How old is the Grand Canyon? Most scientists agree with the version that rangers at Grand Canyon National Park tell visitors: that the 217-mile-long chasm in northern Arizona was carved by the Colorado River 5 million to 6 million years ago.

[Scenic Sounds]

Geologists say the Grand Canyon is 5 or 6 million years old while creationists say it's only a few thousand years. Could a mediator help to narrow this difference betwen these parties?

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[Frank_Discussion]

Let me try: I think God created the Earth several billion years ago, and the Grand Canyon is 5 or 6 million years old.

[steplock]

Heck! If we can have the lavender rainbow homosexuals being praised by Abraham Lincoln, I guess it's fair to have the Grand Canyon created by GOD?

Hmmm....I guess the second one IS correct - maybe the timing is a bit off... ;>)

[Burkeman1]

Geesh- it doesn't take much for some people to get their nose hairs in a bunch. So what if the bookstore sells one book with an "eccentric" point of view? Is it hurting anyone?

[11B3]

How about sometime during the end of the last ice age? Another example is the Columbia Gorge which was formed then, so to assume that the entire Western US was draining its' inland seas shouldn't be such a leap of faith. (So to speak.)

[sticker]

al gore invented the Grand Canyon

[js1138]

Could a mediator help to narrow this difference betwen these parties?

I recommend a majority vote. That's the way to settle disputes over science.

[11B3]

Long time no see, Burkeman1. Wazzup.

[Graybeard58]

I recommend a majority vote. That's the way to settle disputes over science.

Or just split the difference between the age estimates.

They did the right thing by moving the book to the "Faith" section of the store. This is much ado about nothing.

[RolandBurnam]

good 1

[Burkeman1]

A little of this and a little of that. Not much.

[lugsoul]

ping. have fun.

[Hunble]

I love it!

When I first entered this debate a few years ago, I had an open mind. Both sides had some reasonable evidence being presented.

Thanks to some special members of FreeRepublic and Creationists in general, they have absolutely convinced me that their arguments have been seriously flawed.

Over the last 3 years, it has been wonderful to listen to, and evaluate the arguments from both sides. It has been one heck of a learning experience.

I can summarize the major flaw with the Creationist's side of the debate:

No supporting factual evidence has been presented of an occurrence of spontaneous generation.

When that factual evidence is presented, I will be ecstatic to re-evaluate my judgment upon this debate.

[rabidralph]

Further proof that America is a lot safer since 9/11 and the capture of Saddam: people feel safe to argue over stupid stuff again.

[Havoc]

Geologists make a guess and get flustered when Creationists make a statement of faith. But science is supposed to be right for guessing. Have I missed anything here LOL.

[dangus]

Here's an experiment: Take home a chunk of rock from the area around the grand canyon. Pour running water over the rock for the next 1 year. See how fast the rock washes away.

Now, the Grand Canyon is what, 5000 feet deep? So if it took 2,000 years to be carved, that means a rock about 2 1/2 feet thick should be completely worn away by the running water.

My guess is that the effect on the rock would be impossible to notice.

[dangus]

>>Geesh- it doesn't take much for some people to get their nose hairs in a bunch. So what if the bookstore sells one book with an "eccentric" point of view? Is it hurting anyone?>>

I like the compromise of selling it, but in the inspirational section... except that it makes us Christians look stupid to sell it at all.

[John H K]

Actually, it isn't water that erodes, it's stuff IN water that erodes....sand, pebbles, etc.

And, actually, it IS Floods (the normal, yearly sort of "Flood" not a mythical giant global flood) that do 99% of the erosion of any given valley or canyon.

You get large boulders careening down rivers and knocking stuff off.

Btw, there are significant and fairly obvious geologic differences between the Columbia river scablands (which were formed in a single massive flood from a glacial lake) and the Grand Canyon.

[r9etb]

No supporting factual evidence has been presented of an occurrence of spontaneous generation. When that factual evidence is presented, I will be ecstatic to re-evaluate my judgment upon this debate.

Just to be clear though: both sides of the debate rely on the theory of spontaneous generation. The difference is whether or not that generation happened randomly.