What Does Genesis Say?
Genesis and the Geological Ages Model
RATE Findings about the Age of the Earth
What Do You Think?
Should Genesis be Taught in Public School?
Evolution or Intelligent Design? Which is Correct? Part 5
What Does Genesis Say (about the beginning of life, and especially humans)?
- God existed alone until creation.
- He created all things as an expression of art.
- He created all things except humans by speaking them into existence.
- He created living things by “kinds.” We don’t know how that fits into our nomenclature.
- He created humans for a relationship, not servanthood as many cultural legends say.
- He created humans with a personal touch: man from dirt, woman from man’s rib.
- He completed the initial creation in 6 days. That’s 6 days of 24 hours each.
Genesis and the Geological Ages Model
The Geological Ages Theory states that the earth was laid down in various strata over time, with the oldest layer at the bottom. A model was constructed to illustrate this.
In general, everyone agrees with the theory and the model. It has been observed in nature.
But questions remain:
- Absolute proof of a geological layer’s age is only obtained when objects it contains are inscribed with a date, name, or event that can be verified independently.
How accurate is the model on deeper strata?
- The model is an amalgamation of findings. It actually does not exist. In reality, strata are missing, flipped, and sometimes shuffled. Darwin noted this but did not pursue it.
- Modern humans are theorized to have evolved 300,000 years ago. How does this mesh with the following facts?
Fact: Only 6000 remains of Homo sapiens have been found.
Fact: The oldest Homo sapien with the DNA of both the ancient paternal line and the ancient maternal line is dated only 5000 years ago.
- Since we now know that DNA changes are neutral, but usually degenerative, how does that change thinking about other humanoid species?
RATE Findings about the Age of the Earth
In 1997, seven scientists questioned the accuracy of radioisotope dating. They called themselves RATE for Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth.
The seven RATE scientists all held earned doctorates. They included 2 geologists, 1 geophysicist, 3 physicists, and 1 meteorologist. Their research took 8 years.
Here are their findings:
- Carbon-14 was found in small but measurable amounts in both coal and diamonds. There should be no Carbon-14 present since its half-life is 5,730 years. (RATE published the first literature on diamonds.)
- High concentrations of helium were found in zircon crystals that are radiodated at 1.5 billion years. At that age, all helium atoms should have escaped long ago.
- There is large-scale nuclear decay, as shown by the abundance of radiohalos (tiny spherical defects) in granite dated during the year-long event popularly known as Noah’s Flood, as dated by Genesis. Accelerated decay occurs several times during recent history, including during the Genesis Creation Week. These are significant, but not nearly as drastic as during the Flood. Is this what is throwing off older dating?
- Different radioisotope dating is sometimes found within the same sample. (The study included a large number of samples from around the world.)
Altogether, RATE’s research calls basic assumptions of radioisotope dating into question.
What Do You Think?
I know these blogs have been a lot to digest.
Think it over.
Remember the Rule is that the simplest answer is usually the right one.
Decide for yourself.
What is the origin and descent of Man?
Should Genesis be Taught in Public School?
It used to be taught, you know. Then it was thrown out because of the separation of church and state.
But that was never the original intent of the constitution. The separation was in political governance, not education.
Genesis is at least a strong alternative theory to evolution. And what if it’s fact?
Genesis is not the oldest factual historical document, but it is the oldest history book. It is certainly the oldest history book not written to aggrandize the author.
Besides, if we ban every book and scientific advance that references religion, we are left only with Enlightenment documents. And we can’t even use Enlightenment research based on books that reverence religion. Can we even use the research of religious persons who do not refer to their religion in print?
So why pick on Genesis?
Suggested readings:
Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 through chapter 2 verse 3
Behe, Michael. Darwin Devolves.
DeYoung, Don. Thousands…not Billions (a RATE report)
Photo Credit: lSerg through Unsplash