Many people think that somehow radiocarbon dating, or one of the other dating methods, has proven that the Bible is not true. This is not because they understand the various dating methods, but because they have put a blind faith in what they think is " science ". Science has come up with 100 or more " dating " methods. Seldom do these methods agree, and some of them indicate ages far less than those that are typically publicized in the media. The specific material, or process used, varies widely, but the assumptions, which enter into these methods, are quite similar. Science, itself, is not bad. Good science, again and again, confirms Biblical truths. Only poor and sloppy scientific methods, based on unreasonable assumptions, produce ideas that are in conflict with the Bible.
To understand dating methods, let's look at the old hourglass above. When using it, we assume that the top was empty, and all the material was in the bottom, before we turn it over, and begin to time the hour. And, since we were there to observe the hourglass, before we turned it over, this is a safe assumption . We assume that no sand is going to creep in or leak out during the hour, and since we are nearby, that is a safe assumption also. We assume that the sand is dry and flowing at a predictable rate. With the old hourglasses, this was a pretty safe assumption also. In addition, we probably have used this same instrument, again and again, to measure the same passage of time, hundreds of times.
Now lets look at the radiometric dating methods, beginning with radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon dating is different from the other methods, but the half-life is too short to be used to measure geologic time anyway. Even the most ardent advocates limit the usefullness of carbon dating to about 70,000 yrs. ( Because of the assumptions involved, it is far less than that, even if one has an uncontaminated sample! )
The unsafe assumptions which are outlined in the following paragraphs, apply to radiocarbon dating, as well as the other dating methods. The process, behind radiocarbon dating, is a little more complicated, because it relates to atomic and molecular collisions, in the atmosphere.
All dating methods, including radiometric dating methods, ( atomic clocks ) employ a number of assumptions. We have to assume that we know something about the amount of starting material, and/or the nature of this material. And this is an unsafe assumption unless we are so reckless and filled with pride concerning our amount of wisdom and scientific knowledge, that we think we know facts concerning a specific sample that is, supposedly thousands, or millions, or billions of years old!
In addition, when using one of these dating methods, we have to assume that no measured material has leached into, or out of, our sample over thousands, millions, or billions of years. Even if the sample came from a dry climate, does that mean the climate was dry in the distant past? Of course not. This is another unsafe assumption .
Also, we must assume that the material in our sample is being lost, or is decaying at a constant or known rate. Is that a reasonable assumption? Do we know what the rates of processes were thousands, or millions, or billions of years ago? Of course not. This is another unsafe assumption . By the way, dating labs will not accept samples for dating, unless they know what strata they came from. ( thus prejudicing the dating work before it even begins! )
This pseudo-science has its roots in philosophy, not in science. The philosophy is called uniformitarianism, which basically says that processes have always been the same, since the beginning of time, whenever that was. True science knows that this is nonsense. We know that there were major catastrophies, meteor impacts, floods, and who knows what else. It is also quite possible that there was radiation of different kinds, and in different amounts, than what we experience today. Dating methods based on uniformitarian assumptions are a poor substitute for recorded history!
If you will read II Peter chapter 3, you will find that the present day version of uniformitarian philosophy ( which gave rise to the modern evolution myth ) was prophesied by the apostle Peter over 1900 years ago. Jesus will return, just as He promised, and when He does, there will be a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth! Are you ready? Is your heart right with God? We pray that it is.
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