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<small>''See also [[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]].''</small>

<small>''See also [[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]].''</small>

The '''Age of the Earth''' has been a matter of interest to humans for millennia, and today still causes debate, particularly between [[young Earth Creationism| young-Earth scientists]], who see much evidence that the Earth is only about 6,000 or so years old, and [[liberals]] and [[atheists]] who insist that Earth is somehow 4.5 billion years old.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref> There is much scientific evidence [[young earth creationism|which points to a young age of the earth and the universe]]. For example, in 2009, the biblical creation organization [[Creation Ministries International]] published an article entitled ''[http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth 101 evidences for a young age of the earth and the universe]''.

The '''Age of the Earth''' has been a matter of interest to humans for millennia, and today still causes debate, particularly between [[young Earth Creationism| young-Earth scientists]], who make up evidence to support the belief that the Earth is only about 6,000 or so years old, and the vast majority of all scientists, who belief that, based on the evidence, the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml</ref> There is no scientific evidence which points to a young age of the earth and the universe. Claims that the earth is only 6000 years old are hardly different from claims that the world is flat.  

== Historical views ==

== Historical views ==

[[Image:Landscape.jpg|right|300px]]

[[Image:Landscape.jpg|right|300px]]

For most of recorded history, humans of many backgrounds viewed the age of the Earth to be around 6,000 years.<ref>Burnet, p. 258.</ref>

Many ancient cultures believed the earth was created within the last 10,000 years. Some [[Jews]] and [[Christians]] believe the earth to be about 6000 years old.

Similarly, people such as St. Barnabas and St. Irenæus held the Earth to be 6,000 years old.<ref>Burnet, p. 259.</ref>

Similarly, people such as St. Barnabas and St. Irenæus held the Earth to be 6,000 years old.<ref>Burnet, p. 259.</ref>

By about 1930, J. H. Jeans was arguing for an age of the Earth of around two billion years.<ref>Universal History of the World, p.76.</ref>

By about 1930, J. H. Jeans was arguing for an age of the Earth of around two billion years.<ref>Universal History of the World, p.76.</ref>

Using circular logic -- assuming that decay rates somehow remained constant despite necessarily changing physical characteristics as time approached the origin -- [[atheists]] insist that the Earth is 4.5 billion years based on an implausible assumption of constancy in [[Potassium-argon dating|Potassium-argon (K:Ar) decay rates]] and other radiometric methods.<ref>Peck, 2000, p.376.</ref>

Based on radiometric dating, modern scientists believe the Earth to be about 4.5 billion years old.

== Geology ==

== Geology ==