| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | [[File:Moon2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|"Tidal friction causes the moon to recede from the earth at 4 cm per year. It would have been greater in the past when the moon and earth were closer together. The moon and earth would have been in catastrophic proximity (Roche limit) at less than a quarter of their supposed age."<ref name="Age of the earth">[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth]</ref> see: [http://creation.com/the-moon-the-light-that-rules-the-night Recession of the moon from the earth] ]] | | [[File:Moon2.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|"Tidal friction causes the moon to recede from the earth at 4 cm per year. It would have been greater in the past when the moon and earth were closer together. The moon and earth would have been in catastrophic proximity (Roche limit) at less than a quarter of their supposed age."<ref name="Age of the earth">[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth Age of the earth]</ref> see: [http://creation.com/the-moon-the-light-that-rules-the-night Recession of the moon from the earth] ]] |
| − | It takes only one counterexample to disprove the theory of an [[Old Earth]]. Most of the "evidence" for an [[Old Earth]] is based on claims that lack testability, such as [[radiometric dating]], and hence would not even satisfy minimum requirements for admissibility in a court of law. If each of the following 54 counterexamples to an Old Earth has merely a 10% chance of being valid, then the probability that the Earth is billions of years old is less than one half of 1%. In other words, '''''the Earth must be young with a likelihood of 99.6%'''''.<ref>The same analysis could be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]] (See [http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth ''Age of the earth: 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe'']).</ref> | + | It takes only one counterexample to disprove the theory of an [[Old Earth]]. Most of the "evidence" for an [[Old Earth]] is based on claims that lack falsifiability, such as [[radiometric dating]], and hence would not even satisfy minimum requirements for admissibility in a court of law. If each of the following 54 counterexamples to an Old Earth were to have merely a 10% chance of being valid, then the probability that the Earth is billions of years old is less than one half of 1%. In other words, '''''the Earth must be young with a likelihood of 99.6%'''''.<ref>The same analysis could be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]] (See [http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth ''Age of the earth: 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe'']).</ref> |
| | <ref>The same analysis can be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]].</ref> | | <ref>The same analysis can be applied to the [[Young Earth]] theory, but no valid counterexamples have been found in centuries of atheist attempts. In addition, there are over 100 proofs of a young [[earth]] and [[universe]].</ref> |
| | | | |
| | In addition, much additional scientific evidence points to a [[Young earth creationism|young]] [[Age of the Earth|age of the earth]] and the universe, and the biblical creation organization [[Creation Ministries International]] published articles entitled ''[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe]'' and [http://creation.com/how-old-is-the-earth How old is the earth?] both of which summarize some of the evidence for a young age of the earth. | | In addition, much additional scientific evidence points to a [[Young earth creationism|young]] [[Age of the Earth|age of the earth]] and the universe, and the biblical creation organization [[Creation Ministries International]] published articles entitled ''[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe]'' and [http://creation.com/how-old-is-the-earth How old is the earth?] both of which summarize some of the evidence for a young age of the earth. |
| | | | |
| − | The motivation for [[atheist]]s to insist on falsely teaching that the Earth is old is to pull students away from [[God]]'s immediate presence and to turn them away from [[Jesus Christ]]. Atheists are also motivated, and biased, by the fact that their [[evolutionism|evolutionist]] theories require the world to be an implausible billions of years old. | + | The motivation for [[atheist]]s to insist on falsely teaching that the Earth is old is to pull students away from [[God]]'s immediate presence and to turn them away from [[Jesus Christ]]. Atheists are also motivated, and biased, by the fact that their [[evolutionism|evolutionist]] theories require the world to be some implausible billions of years old. |
| | | | |
| | == Counterexamples == | | == Counterexamples == |
| Line 11: |
Line 11: |
| | | | |
| | === History === | | === History === |
| − | [[File:Sphinx pyramid.jpg|thumb|200px|Although frequently cited by old Earthers against a young earth, [[New Chronology|revised and well-supported Egyptian chronology]] actually provides strong evidence in favor of a young Earth.]] | + | [[File:Sphinx pyramid.jpg|thumb|200px|Although frequently cited by Old Earth supporters against a young earth, [[New Chronology|revised and well-supported Egyptian chronology]] actually provides strong evidence in favor of a young Earth.]] |
| | # The oldest direct evidence of life—written documents, clothing, remnants of civilizations, tree rings, etc.—is no older than about 3,000 B.C. and certainly younger than 4,000 B.C., the approximate date of origin of the Earth, based on a straightforward reading of the [[Bible]]. While adherents to a belief in an old earth claim of artifacts existing further back than 4,000 B.C., those people come to their conclusions due to their presuppositions (i.e. the lens through which they see the world) that evolution is true, that the Earth is old, and that humans were originally dumb and became more intelligent as time went on.<ref>Mortenson, Terry (July 7, 2015). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/trillions-of-artifacts/ Trillions of “Artifacts”—Who’s Really Got the Problem?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref><ref>Climer, Phillip (May 23, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/archaeology-and-the-bible/ Archaeology and the Bible]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> | | # The oldest direct evidence of life—written documents, clothing, remnants of civilizations, tree rings, etc.—is no older than about 3,000 B.C. and certainly younger than 4,000 B.C., the approximate date of origin of the Earth, based on a straightforward reading of the [[Bible]]. While adherents to a belief in an old earth claim of artifacts existing further back than 4,000 B.C., those people come to their conclusions due to their presuppositions (i.e. the lens through which they see the world) that evolution is true, that the Earth is old, and that humans were originally dumb and became more intelligent as time went on.<ref>Mortenson, Terry (July 7, 2015). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/trillions-of-artifacts/ Trillions of “Artifacts”—Who’s Really Got the Problem?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref><ref>Climer, Phillip (May 23, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/archaeology-and-the-bible/ Archaeology and the Bible]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</ref> |
| | # Over 270 cultures have flood legends that distinctly resemble the biblical flood account.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/legends-of-the-flood/ Legends of the Flood]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 30, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>White, Monty (March 29, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/ Flood Legends]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> While critics like to say the biblical flood account is descended from other stories, in reality, it is the other way around, as the biblical flood account is far superior to any flood legend in multiple ways.<ref>Lacey, Troy & Anderson jr, Lee (October 1, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/the-genesis-flood-not-just-another-legend/ The Genesis Flood—Not Just Another Legend]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Creation legends also exist, but once again, the biblical account is superior.<ref name="AncientMyths">Ham, Steve (March 29, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/creation-myths/is-genesis-111-a-derivation-from-ancient-myths/ Is Genesis 1–11 a Derivation from Ancient Myths?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> | | # Over 270 cultures have flood legends that distinctly resemble the biblical flood account.<ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/legends-of-the-flood/ Legends of the Flood]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 30, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>White, Monty (March 29, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/flood-legends/ Flood Legends]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> While critics like to say the biblical flood account is descended from other stories, in reality, it is the other way around, as the biblical flood account is far superior to any flood legend in multiple ways.<ref>Lacey, Troy & Anderson jr, Lee (October 1, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/the-flood/flood-legends/the-genesis-flood-not-just-another-legend/ The Genesis Flood—Not Just Another Legend]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Creation legends also exist, but once again, the biblical account is superior.<ref name="AncientMyths">Ham, Steve (March 29, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/creation-myths/is-genesis-111-a-derivation-from-ancient-myths/ Is Genesis 1–11 a Derivation from Ancient Myths?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> |
| Line 19: |
Line 19: |
| | # The Sumerian King List is remarkably similar to the biblical genealogy in Genesis 5. There is a very close correlation between the two lists (if one excludes Adam and Noah in the Bible), the flood is mentioned, and the kings all have long life-spans, providing strong evidence that the Sumerians recognized the history recorded in the Bible as fact.<ref name="AncientMyths"/> | | # The Sumerian King List is remarkably similar to the biblical genealogy in Genesis 5. There is a very close correlation between the two lists (if one excludes Adam and Noah in the Bible), the flood is mentioned, and the kings all have long life-spans, providing strong evidence that the Sumerians recognized the history recorded in the Bible as fact.<ref name="AncientMyths"/> |
| | # While many evolutionists point to [[Egyptian chronology|Egyptian history]] (which, according to them, dates back long before the biblical creation and flood dates) as proof against a young Earth, a growing number of academics are recognizing that many of the traditional sources for Egyptian history are both inaccurate and misinterpreted, and [[New Chronology|revised dates for Egyptian history]] align remarkably well with biblical history.<ref>McClellan, Matt (August 24, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/ancient-egyptian-chronology-and-the-book-of-genesis/ Ancient Egyptian Chronology and the Book of Genesis]. ''Answers Research Journal''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (July 22, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/doesnt-egyptian-chronology-prove-bible-unreliable/ Chapter 24 - Doesn’t Egyptian Chronology Prove That the Bible Is Unreliable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (April 1, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/dating-the-pyramids/ Dating the Pyramids]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Additionally, radiocarbon dating has given additional evidence that the Egyptian civilization began more recently than originally thought.<ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (September 19, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/radiocarbon-dating-shortens-the-timeline-for-ancient-egypt/ Radiocarbon Dating Shortens the Timeline for Ancient Egypt]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> | | # While many evolutionists point to [[Egyptian chronology|Egyptian history]] (which, according to them, dates back long before the biblical creation and flood dates) as proof against a young Earth, a growing number of academics are recognizing that many of the traditional sources for Egyptian history are both inaccurate and misinterpreted, and [[New Chronology|revised dates for Egyptian history]] align remarkably well with biblical history.<ref>McClellan, Matt (August 24, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/ancient-egyptian-chronology-and-the-book-of-genesis/ Ancient Egyptian Chronology and the Book of Genesis]. ''Answers Research Journal''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (July 22, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/doesnt-egyptian-chronology-prove-bible-unreliable/ Chapter 24 - Doesn’t Egyptian Chronology Prove That the Bible Is Unreliable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (April 1, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/dating-the-pyramids/ Dating the Pyramids]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> Additionally, radiocarbon dating has given additional evidence that the Egyptian civilization began more recently than originally thought.<ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (September 19, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-egypt/radiocarbon-dating-shortens-the-timeline-for-ancient-egypt/ Radiocarbon Dating Shortens the Timeline for Ancient Egypt]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> |
| − | # Because of their worldview, evolutionists believe that ancient man was not as intelligent as today and did not possess superior technology. However, many archeological findings in numerous ancient civilizations have proven otherwise—that ancient man was very intelligent, possibly even more so than modern day society, as well as more technologically advanced in some ways.<ref name="SecretsLandis"/><ref>Landis, Don (2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/genius-ancient-man/?sku=10-2-423& ''The Genius of Ancient Man'']. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890516775.</ref><ref>Ham, Ken (December 31, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-technology/geniuses-not-brutes/ Geniuses, Not Brutes!]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> | + | # Because of their worldview, evolutionists believe that ancient man was not as intelligent as today and did not possess superior technology. However, many archaeological findings in numerous ancient civilizations have proven otherwise—that ancient man was very intelligent, possibly even more so than modern day society, as well as more technologically advanced in some ways.<ref name="SecretsLandis"/><ref>Landis, Don (2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/genius-ancient-man/?sku=10-2-423& ''The Genius of Ancient Man'']. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books. ISBN: 9780890516775.</ref><ref>Ham, Ken (December 31, 2012). [https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/ancient-technology/geniuses-not-brutes/ Geniuses, Not Brutes!]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> |
| | # Many different cultures throughout history have legends and realistic accounts from historians of dragons. There is very strong evidence that dinosaurs were alive and a very real part of ancient cultures (and even some more recent ones), affirming a young Earth and the biblical account of origins.<ref>Hodge, Bodie (October 1, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragon-legends-truths-behind-the-tales/ Dragon Legends—Truths Behind the Tales]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragons-fact-or-fable/ Dragons: Fact or Fable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> In fact, there have been some reports of dinosaurs living in the remote jungles of [[Africa]] today.<ref>Ham, Ken (October 25, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/when-did-dinosaurs-live/what-really-happened-to-the-dinosaurs/ Chapter 12 - What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> | | # Many different cultures throughout history have legends and realistic accounts from historians of dragons. There is very strong evidence that dinosaurs were alive and a very real part of ancient cultures (and even some more recent ones), affirming a young Earth and the biblical account of origins.<ref>Hodge, Bodie (October 1, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragon-legends-truths-behind-the-tales/ Dragon Legends—Truths Behind the Tales]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/dragon-legends/dragons-fact-or-fable/ Dragons: Fact or Fable?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> In fact, there have been some reports of dinosaurs living in the remote jungles of [[Africa]] today.<ref>Ham, Ken (October 25, 2007). [https://answersingenesis.org/dinosaurs/when-did-dinosaurs-live/what-really-happened-to-the-dinosaurs/ Chapter 12 - What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 18, 2016.</ref> |
| − | # There is a striking similarity in the way diverse, worldwide cultures see [[constellations]]. In very diverse cultures, the constellations that the people see are the same, and the meanings of many are the same, including the Big and Little Dippers, showing that people had to have developed them together, rather than on opposite directions of the globe.<ref name="Nelson">Nelson, Brooke C. (October 5, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/stars/do-big-and-little-dipper-support-bible-timeline/ Do the Big and Little Dipper Support the Bible’s Timeline?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref><ref name="Henry">Henry, Jonathan F. (December 2008). [http://creation.com/constellations-a-legacy-of-babel Constellations: legacy of the dispersion from Babel]. ''Creation.com'' (taken from ''Journal of Creation 22(3):93–100''). Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref> Academics (including secular ones) have been able to trace back, through the precession of the Earth, when the constellations were developed by man, and the dates found have been, roughly speaking, between 2800 BC and 2100 BC, right in line with the date of the dispersion at Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/> Additionally, it has also been found that the latitude of where the developers of the constellations lived was, roughly speaking, between 30 and 42 degrees latitude, again in line with the locations of Ararat and Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/> | + | # There is a striking similarity in the way diverse, worldwide cultures see [[constellations]]. In very diverse cultures, the constellations that the people see are the same, and the meanings of many are the same, including the Big and Little Dippers, showing that people had to have developed them together, rather than on opposite directions of the globe.<ref name="Nelson">Nelson, Brooke C. (October 5, 2016). [https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/stars/do-big-and-little-dipper-support-bible-timeline/ Do the Big and Little Dipper Support the Bible’s Timeline?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref><ref name="Henry">Henry, Jonathan F. (December 2008). [http://creation.com/constellations-a-legacy-of-babel Constellations: legacy of the dispersion from Babel]. ''Creation.com'' (taken from ''Journal of Creation 22(3):93–100''). Retrieved October 16, 2016.</ref> Academics (including secular ones) have been able to trace back, through the procession of the Earth, when the constellations were developed by man, and the dates found have been, roughly speaking, between 2800 BC and 2100 BC, right in line with the date of the dispersion at Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/> Additionally, it has also been found that the latitude of where the developers of the constellations lived was, roughly speaking, between 30 and 42 degrees latitude, again in line with the locations of Ararat and Babel.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="Henry"/> |
| | # It has been well-documented that people in the past vastly exceeded modern humans physically and mentally.<ref>Pierce, Larry (April 5, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/bible-history/what-were-early-post-flood-people-like/ What Were Early Post-Flood People Like?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 5, 2017.</ref> | | # It has been well-documented that people in the past vastly exceeded modern humans physically and mentally.<ref>Pierce, Larry (April 5, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/bible-history/what-were-early-post-flood-people-like/ What Were Early Post-Flood People Like?]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved April 5, 2017.</ref> |
| | | | |