Scientists use a technique called radiometric dating to estimate the ages of rocks, fossils, and the earth. Many people have been led to believe that radiometric dating methods have proved the earth to be billions of years old. This has caused many in the church to reevaluate the biblical creation account, specifically the meaning of the word “day” in Genesis 1. With our focus on one particular form of radiometric dating—carbon dating—we will see that carbon dating strongly supports a young earth. Note that, contrary to a popular misconception, carbon dating is not used to date rocks at millions of years old.
Basics
Carbon Atom
Before we get into the details of how radiometric dating methods are used, we need to review some preliminary concepts from chemistry. Recall that atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. Atoms are made up of much smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons make up the center (nucleus) of the atom, and electrons form shells around the nucleus.
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom determines the element. For example, all carbon atoms have 6 protons, all atoms of nitrogen have 7 protons, and all oxygen atoms have 8 protons. The number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary in any given type of atom. So, a carbon atom might have six neutrons, or seven, or possibly eight—but it would always have six protons. An “isotope” is any of several different forms of an element, each having different numbers of neutrons. The illustration below shows the three isotopes of carbon.
Some isotopes of certain elements are unstable; they can spontaneously change into another kind of atom in a process called “radioactive decay.” Since this process presently happens at a known measured rate, scientists attempt to use it like a “clock” to tell how long ago a rock or fossil formed. There are two main applications for radiometric dating. One is for potentially dating fossils (once-living things) using carbon-14 dating, and the other is for dating rocks and the age of the earth using uranium, potassium and other radioactive atoms.
Carbon atomic mass numbers
The atomic number corresponds to the number of protons in an atom. Atomic mass is a combination of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. (The electrons are so much lighter that they do not contribute significantly to the mass of an atom.)
Carbon-14 Dating
Carbon-14 (14C), also referred to as radiocarbon, is claimed to be a reliable dating method for determining the age of fossils up to 50,000 to 60,000 years. If this claim is true, the biblical account of a young earth (about 6,000 years) is in question, since 14C dates of tens of thousands of years are common.1
When a scientist’s interpretation of data does not match the clear meaning of the text in the Bible, we should never reinterpret the Bible. God knows just what He meant to say, and His understanding of science is infallible, whereas ours is fallible. So we should never think it necessary to modify His Word. Genesis 1 defines the days of creation to be literal days (a number with the word “day” always means a normal day in the Old Testament, and the phrase “evening and morning” further defines the days as literal days). Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we should examine the validity of the standard interpretation of 14C dating by asking several questions:
Is the explanation of the data derived from empirical, observational science, or an interpretation of past events (historical science)?
Are there any assumptions involved in the dating method?
Are the dates provided by 14C dating consistent with what we observe?
Do all scientists accept the 14C dating method as reliable and accurate?
All radiometric dating methods use scientific procedures in the present to interpret what has happened in the past. The procedures used are not necessarily in question. The interpretation of past events is in question. The secular (evolutionary) worldview interprets the universe and world to be billions of years old. The Bible teaches a young universe and earth. Which worldview does science support? Can carbon-14 dating help solve the mystery of which worldview is more accurate?
Carbon Isotopes
The use of carbon-14 dating is often misunderstood. Carbon-14 is mostly used to date once-living things (organic material). It cannot be used directly to date rocks; however, it can potentially be used to put time constraints on some inorganic material such as diamonds (diamonds could contain carbon-14). Because of the rapid rate of decay of 14C, it can only give dates in the thousands-of-year range and not millions.
There are three different naturally occurring varieties (isotopes) of carbon: 12C, 13C, and 14C.
Carbon-14 is used for dating because it is unstable (radioactive), whereas 12C and 13C are stable. Radioactive means that 14C will decay (emit radiation) over time and become a different element. During this process (called “beta decay”) a neutron in the 14C atom will be converted into a proton. By losing one neutron and gaining one proton, 14C is changed into nitrogen-14 (14N = 7 protons and 7 neutrons).
I Timothy 6:2-5: Paul was inspired by God to write:
"These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone **TEACHES OTHERWISE** and does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been **ROBBED OF THE TRUTH**!"
Those who **TEACH OTHERWISE** and have **ROBBED OF THE TRUTH** teach that Paul was not inspired by God to write:
I Timothy 2:11: A **WOMAN** should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a **WOMEN** **TO TEACH** or to assume authority **OVER A MAN**!
I Corinthians 15:34,35:**WOMEN** should remain silent in the churches, They are not allowed **TO SPEAK**, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about anything, they should ask their husbands at home; for it is **DISGRACEFUL** for a **WOMAN** **TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH**!!
2 Peter 3:15,16: Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our **DEAR BROTHER PAUL** also wrote you with the **WISDOM GOD GAVE TO HIM**. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand {To unbelievers} which **IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE PEOPLE DISTORT**, as they do other Scriptures, to their own **DESTRUCTION**!
I Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHEED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
Radiocarbon dating (also referred to as carbon dating or carbon-14 dating) is a method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon (14 C), a radioactive isotope of carbon. The method was developed by Willard Libby in the late 1940s and soon became a standard tool for archaeologists. Libby received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in 1960. The radiocarbon dating method is based on the fact that radiocarbon is constantly being created in the atmosphere by the interaction of cosmic rays with atmospheric nitrogen. The resulting radiocarbon combines with atmospheric oxygen to form radioactive carbon dioxide, which is incorporated into plants by photosynthesis; animals then acquire 14
C by eating the plants. When the animal or plant dies, it stops exchanging carbon with its environment, and from that point onwards the amount of 14 C it contains begins to decrease as the 14 C undergoes radioactive decay. Measuring the amount of 14 C in a sample from a dead plant or animal such as a piece of wood or a fragment of bone provides information that can be used to calculate when the animal or plant died. The older a sample is, the less 14 C there is to be detected, and because the half-life of 14 C (the period of time after which half of a given sample will have decayed) is about 5,730 years, the oldest dates that can be **RELIABLY MEASURED** by this process date to around 50,000 years ago, although special preparation methods occasionally permit accurate analysis of older samples.
Researchers have found a reason for the puzzling survival of soft tissue and collagen in dinosaur bones - the bones are younger than anyone ever guessed. Carbon-14 (C-14) dating of multiple samples of bone from 8 dinosaurs found in Texas, Alaska, Colorado, and Montana revealed that they are only 22,000 to 39,000 years old.
Carbon-14 is considered to be a highly reliable dating technique. IT'S ACCURACY HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY USING C-14 TO DATE ARTIFACTS WHOSE AGE IS KNOWN HISTORICALLY!!
Before 1960 about 75 percent of Evangelicals believed that the age of the present earth is about 6,000 years according to Bible Chronology from Adam. Because of the proven accuracy of Carbon 14 dating only about 40 percent of Evangelicals still believe the earth is about 6,000 years old.
During the Dark ages about 75 percent of Bible believing Christians believed the earth was **FLAT**. At the present time only about 1 percent of Bible believing Christians believe the earth is **FLAT**!
The Christians in the Dark Ages who believed the earth was **FLAT** wrongly believed that Revelation 7:1 and Revelation 20:8 proved that the earth was **FLAT**!!'
Revelation 7:1: After this I saw 4 angels standing at the **4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH**.
Revelation 20:8 Satan will go out to deceive the nations in the **4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH**.
However Isaiah 40:22 shows the earth is **ROUND**!
Isaiah 40:22: God sits enthroned above the **CIRCLE OF THE EARTH**!
@Richard... The best way to learn about history and the age of the earth is to consult the history book of the universe�the Bible. Many scientists and theologians accept a straightforward reading of Scripture and agree that the earth is about 6,000 years old. It is better to use the infallible Word of God for our scientific assumptions than to change His Word in order to compromise with �science� that is based upon man�s fallible assumptions. True science will always support God�s Word.
Based on the measured helium retention, a statistical analysis gives an estimated age for the zircons of 6,000 � 2,000 years. This age agrees with literal biblical history and is about 250,000 times shorter than the conventional age of 1.5 billion years for zircons. The conclusion is that helium diffusion data strongly supports the young-earth view of history.13
It must also be concluded, therefore, that because nuclear decay has been shown to have occurred at grossly accelerated rates when molten rocks were forming, crystallizing and cooling, the radiometric methods cannot possibly date these rocks accurately based on the false assumption of constant decay through earth history at today�s slow rates. Thus the radiometric dating methods are highly unreliable and don�t prove the earth is old.
Mike Riddle - Mike holds a degree in mathematics and a graduate degree in education. He has been involved in creation ministry for more than twenty five years. Prior to getting involved in creation ministry, Mike was a captain in the U.S. Marines and a national champion in track and field.
Mike�s teaching experience includes high school mathematics, the Northwest Graduate School of Ministry, Sunday school classes, and the Institute for Creation Research graduate school. Mike also spent over 20 years in the computer field where he managed U.S. Sprint�s world-wide technical training and Microsoft�s world-wide engineer training.
Mike�s area of specialty is in education and biblical apologetics. His extensive background in the education field (schools, churches, and in industry) have equipped him to train others how to teach and speak on the topic of creation.
Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the **HEAVENS** and the earth. Now the earth was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, **DARKNESS** {**AFTER GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS THEY BECAME DARK**} was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the **WATERS!** {And then God created **MORE WATER** on the old earth on the 2nd Day as per Genesis 1:6 and on the 3rd day as per Genesis 1:10]
And since after God created the **HEAVENS** and then they became **DARK** and then God **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!!
Just before each of God's 6 days of RECREATION we see the phrase: And God said, "Let...
God said, Let... on the **FIRST DAY** in Genesis 1:3-5 **SECOND DAY** Genesis 1:6-8 **THIRD DAY** Genesis 1:9-13 **FOURTH DAY** Genesis 1:14-19 **FIFTH DAY** Genesis 1:20-23 **SIXTH DAY** Genesis 1:24-31
It is interesting to note that during God's 6 days of Recreation in Genesis 1:3-31 He never mentions creating the **EARTH** since God had already **CREATED EARTH** **BEFORE** the 6 days of His Creation!!
Does God's word say in other Scripture that the present earth was ever **FORMLESS AND EMPTY** with **DARKNESS**???
Jeremiah 4:23-28: The Lord Almighty said, "I looked at the earth and it was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, and at the heavens, and their **LIGHT WAS GONE**.I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked and there were no people, every bird in the sky **HAD FLOWN AWAY**. I looked and the **FRUITFUL LAND HAD BECOME A DESERT**; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger!" This is what the Lord says, The whole land will be ruined, though I will **NOT DESTROY IT COMPLETELY**, Therefore the earth will mourn and the **HEAVENS ABOVE GROW ** DARK**, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back!!"
Now some will say the context Of Jeremiah explains something different. However God has said over 100 things in the OT that were out of context like Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 7:13 and Isaiah 7:15 had absolutely nothing to do with Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will call **IMMANUEL**! {Which means **GOD WITH US**!}
Sorry "prophet" Richard, your falsehoods are mounting. You don't seem to realize Dr Willard Lilley was an evolutionist. Why do you prefer to believe an evolutionist but you ignore the God of Bible.
I suppose when it is obvious you're lost and clueless on a subject matter, and you can't discuss a topic intellectually, the best way out is to post whatever Scriptures that may look right and sound good that include a word or two that are in the topic... doesn't matters whether or not the Scriptures are in context or out of context... at least a couple of words fit the topic of discussion... man gotta do something to save-face
"Prophet" Richard, your falsehoods continue to mount. It is not true that 75% of Bible believing Christians believed the world was flat. But I'm sure you could find false evidence for your statements on an atheist site.
Curiously you did not consult Wikipedia's article, "The Myth of the Flat Earth". Do you not quote Wikipedia articles that disagree with you?
Another misconception of yours concerns carbon 14. You expose a great deal of intellectual nascence here. Carbon 14 does not magically identify the age of objects. Several assumptions must accompany age speculation because no one knows exactly how much carbon some items started with. Because Evolutionary scientists ASSUME the carbon present in the beginning must have been high, they start with a higher figure. Assuming a certain level of carbon that conforms to evolution is not science!!
"Prophet" Richard, I've asked you several questions that you continue to ignore. Why do you believe evolutionary theory concerning a millions year old earth. Why do you ignore the fact "Christians" did not believe in an old earth until evolution theorists said it was old? Check your history
You accused me of saying you believe in evolution. Here again, you're being consistent with yourself as you regularly misinterpret what you read. Go back and reread what I really wrote and then quote me. I said you agree to the premises of evolution (the old earth, 100,000 year old Neanderthals) but you deny evolution. Here again, you're consistent at being inconsistent with what you say.
Richard states: "Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the **HEAVENS** and the earth. Now the earth was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, **DARKNESS** {**AFTER GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS THEY BECAME DARK**} was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the **WATERS!** {And then God created **MORE WATER** on the old earth on the 2nd Day as per Genesis 1:6 and on the 3rd day as per Genesis 1:10] And since after God created the **HEAVENS** and then they became **DARK** and then God **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!!"
Richard, THIS IS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING: Genesis 1:1-17 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
The Beginning of the World - 1 God created the sky and the earth. At first, the earth was completely empty. There was nothing on the earth. Darkness covered the ocean, and God�s Spirit moved over the water.
The First Day�Light - 3 Then God said, �Let there be light!� And light began to shine. He saw the light, and he knew that it was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God named the light �day,� and he named the darkness�night.� There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the first day.
The Second Day�Sky - 6 Then God said, �Let there be a space to separate the water into two parts!� So God made the space and separated the water. Some of the water was above it, and some of the water was below it. God named that space �sky.� There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the second day.
The Third Day�Dry Land and Plants - 9 Then God said, �Let the water under the sky be gathered together so that the dry land will appear.� And it happened. God named the dry land �earth,� and he named the water that was gathered together �seas.� And God saw that this was good. Then God said, �Let the earth grow grass, plants that make grain, and fruit trees. The fruit trees will make fruit with seeds in it. And each plant will make its own kind of seed. Let these plants grow on the earth.� And it happened. The earth grew grass and plants that made grain. And it grew trees that made fruit with seeds in it. Every plant made its own kind of seeds. And God saw that this was good. There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the third day.
The Fourth Day�Sun, Moon, and Stars - 14 Then God said, �Let there be lights in the sky. These lights will separate the days from the nights. They will be used for signs to show when special meetings[d] begin and to show the days and years. They will be in the sky to shine light on the earth.� And it happened. So God made the two large lights. He made the larger light to rule during the day and the smaller light to rule during the night. He also made the stars. God put these lights in the sky to shine on the earth.
