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==History of Geology==
The term geology was first used in the late 18th Century. Although geology was not mentioned in the [[Encyclopedia Britannica]] before 1800, by 1809 geology had a lengthy entry. During the earliest days of geological study, mainstream scientific geology was divided into three camps: Plutonists, Neptunists and Catastrophists. Of course, At the time the vast majority of all geologists then were [[theist]]s, but and much of early geology was correctly based upon the [[biblical]] history, utilising and expanding on [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]]. At that timeUnsurprisingly, the Plutonists believed knew that [[God]] created the Earth, but that [[volcano]]es and fire had recently shaped the modern world. At the same time, the The Neptunists believed also knew that the [[ocean]], perhaps even and the [[Great Flood]], was the were a primary factor in geology. Catastrophists, on the other hand, believed that the Earth had been created by God in one great catastrophe. Thus, Catastrophists concluded that everything which we now see was much the same as the world was at [[Creation]]. At that time, it was generally presumed by geologists and theologians that the Earth was around six thousand years old. Many [[Young Earth Creationists]] still agree with this interpretation.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/geology.asp</ref><ref>http://www.creationism.org/topbar/geology.htm</ref><ref>http://www.grisda.org/georpts/gr11.htm</ref><ref>http://www.nwcreation.net/geologylinks.html</ref><ref>http://globalflood.org/</ref>Catastrophists, on the other hand, believed that the Earth had been created by God in one great catastrophe. Thus, Catastrophists concluded that everything which we now see was much the same as the world was at [[Creation]].
In 1775, [[James Hutton]] presented a thesis, ''Theory of the Earth'', to the [[Royal Society]] of Edinburgh. Hutton, who is considered by some to be the father of modern geology, attempted to explain the rationale for his conclusion that the Earth must be much older than previously supposed. Coupling observation with the [[scientific method]], he believed that the Earth must be very old indeed. In every direction he looked Hutton saw evidence of eroded mountains, dry land which had once been sea, and sediment and rocks at the bottom of the ocean. After ten years of study he published his findings in his book ''Theory of the Earth'' to document his claims of a much older Earth. <ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12861</ref><ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14179</ref>
==Age of the Earth==
==Geology Today==
