by John D. Morris, Ph.D. (Geology)
Institute for Creation Research; URL = www.ICR.org (click on to visit)
P.O. Box 2667; El Cajon, CA 92021 (1-800-628-7640)
The following is a partial transcription of the video by J.K. Hyder.
It is suggested that the reader also view the video for its full content.
HOW OLD IS THE EARTH?
A. Evolution model
1. Most recent Big Bang = 10-20 Bil yr ago
2. Age of earth = 5 Bil yr ago
3. Single celled Life = 3 Bil yr ago
4. Multi-celled life = 1 Bil yr ago
5. Man = 1-3 Mil yr ago
B. Creation Model
1. Creation of all things in 6 literal days approx.
2. Flood of Noah, a world-restructuring cataclysm
Data can be interpreted in several different ways ... we are talking
about
history ... outside of science
... not empirical observational science.
... time is not necessarily the friend of evolution
George Wald, an evolution spokesperson, in "The Origin of Life" in The Physics and Chemistry of Life pg 12" said: "Time is in fact the hero of the plot ... given so much time, the impossible becomes possible, the possible probable, and the probable virtually certain. One has only to wait: time itself performs miracles".
... but, if the earth is young, only thousands of years old, than evolution is folly ...
Dating Methods (if asking "How old is this rock"):
1. Observe the present state of a system.
2. Measure a process rate within that system.
3. Make assumptions about the past.
4. How long for that process to produce the present state?
... example = U238 to Pb206 = radiometric decay
... we can measure the process today & find decay rate ...
Radioisotope Dating Assumptions:
1. Constant Decay Rate ... is it right? Perhaps reasonable but can we assume that it hasn't changed in billions of years?
2. System closed to environment ... one of weaker links in chain ... assuming no U or Pb added or subtracted ... many ways can happen ... not reasonable to assume isolated for Billions of years.
3. Known concentrations at start ... How much Pb was there at the start ... How can we test this? ... Radioisotope dating methods good for igneous or lava rocks ...
Also assumes no creation of lead isotopes = denial of possibility
4. Time to produce present state through measured process .. assuming old earth
... The above can be tested by checking know lava flows of know ages. Every time done with known flow, say 120 years ... a number of projects done ... EVERY case was dated millions of years old ... none came back "too young to measure".
... We have found out through our studies that t ... also read studies from published literature ... We sent Grand Canyon lava samples in for testing ... old lava at bottom & newer lava at top was tested ... several methods used, each gives a different date so you choose the one you want to use ... the bottom lava was dated at 1.1 Bil years, same method used for top newer lava dated it as 2.1 Bil yrs. (but the bottom lava should be the oldest)
... so,
Evolution Model Dating Assumptions:
constant rate = uniformity
closed system = no Flood
starting conditions = no Creation
time available = old earth
... so, the evolution model dating
method is slanted against Creation model
and is thus
... but, when a world system is used to date, usually get a date back pointing to thousands or millions of years, dates far too short for evolution ...
... Example, He is being produced in earth, added to atmosphere, we know the process rate now, assume same in past ... If earth is old than there should be lot of He in atmosphere ... but not enough observed for 4.5 Bil. yrs ... each square inch of earth yields 13 mil He atoms per sec. All the observed He in atmosphere can be accounted for in 2 million years ... assumption is that no He was added or taken away ...
... But, flood most likely loosened He earlier which went into the atmosphere ... & most likely some He was here in the beginning.
... Data is compatible with young earth ... can't be older than 2 mil yr
Technical monogram: "The Age of the Earth's Atmosphere" (lot of Physics)
... another argument = ocean's salt, getting more salty by erosion from continents ... try to account for ways salt could be added or taken away.
Max age for oceans by above method = 62 mil yrs
(the flood would have added much salt)
... There are hundreds of clocks
that point to a young earth
... but only a few (Radioisotope
dating) point to billion years.
... Rocks & earth system are compatible with Biblical age of thousands of years ...
... We can't prove Noah's flood
or Creation,
... can't disprove evolution,
... can make predictions based on flood.
Deformation Styles predictions:
... How rocks were bent or broken is the question.
Flood Model = layers laid down during flood. Takes time to turn into stone or solidify. At a later stage of the flood the earth buckled up.
Deformation events took place soon after deposition & sediments were still soft when deformed.
Old Earth model is that deformation took place long after deposition when sediments were brittle. But the solid rocks would have broken, not bend.
In the Grand Canyon are many level rock layers seen. Off to side are vertical rocks = Mono-Cline. Off to side are vertical rocks = Mono-Cline formations where buckled up.
... Tapeats sandstone where buckled up but is buckled up not broken, but bent. Indications are that they were bent while still soft ... the whole world looks like this
... Rockwall Texas example = Clastic Dikes
... squeezed up from below ... wipes out 500 million years of old-earth time which is a problem for evolution model.
... Science can't give date, Bible can.
...Geology is not compatible with old age concepts!
ICR books:
1. "The Age of the Earth's Atmosphere" by Larry Vardiman, Ph.D.
2. "Scientific Creation" by editor; Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
3. "Science, Scripture, & the Young Earth" by Henry M. Morris & John D. Morris
Technical Journals:
1. Creation Research Society
2. Creation Science Foundation (Aust.)
Information at: 1-800-628-7640 Institute for Creation Research
ICR website = http://www.icr.org (click on to go to)
10946 Woodside Avenue North (click on to go to)
Santee, CA 92071
[credit given to: Dave McQueen, etc.]