Scientists use a technique called radiometric dating to estimate the ages of rocks, fossils, and the earth. Many people have been led to believe that radiometric dating methods have proved the earth to be billions of years old. This has caused many in the church to reevaluate the biblical creation account, specifically the meaning of the word “day” in Genesis 1. With our focus on one particular form of radiometric dating—carbon dating—we will see that carbon dating strongly supports a young earth. Note that, contrary to a popular misconception, carbon dating is not used to date rocks at millions of years old.
Basics
Carbon Atom
Before we get into the details of how radiometric dating methods are used, we need to review some preliminary concepts from chemistry. Recall that atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. Atoms are made up of much smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons make up the center (nucleus) of the atom, and electrons form shells around the nucleus.
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom determines the element. For example, all carbon atoms have 6 protons, all atoms of nitrogen have 7 protons, and all oxygen atoms have 8 protons. The number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary in any given type of atom. So, a carbon atom might have six neutrons, or seven, or possibly eight—but it would always have six protons. An “isotope” is any of several different forms of an element, each having different numbers of neutrons. The illustration below shows the three isotopes of carbon.
Some isotopes of certain elements are unstable; they can spontaneously change into another kind of atom in a process called “radioactive decay.” Since this process presently happens at a known measured rate, scientists attempt to use it like a “clock” to tell how long ago a rock or fossil formed. There are two main applications for radiometric dating. One is for potentially dating fossils (once-living things) using carbon-14 dating, and the other is for dating rocks and the age of the earth using uranium, potassium and other radioactive atoms.
Carbon atomic mass numbers
The atomic number corresponds to the number of protons in an atom. Atomic mass is a combination of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. (The electrons are so much lighter that they do not contribute significantly to the mass of an atom.)
Carbon-14 Dating
Carbon-14 (14C), also referred to as radiocarbon, is claimed to be a reliable dating method for determining the age of fossils up to 50,000 to 60,000 years. If this claim is true, the biblical account of a young earth (about 6,000 years) is in question, since 14C dates of tens of thousands of years are common.1
When a scientist’s interpretation of data does not match the clear meaning of the text in the Bible, we should never reinterpret the Bible. God knows just what He meant to say, and His understanding of science is infallible, whereas ours is fallible. So we should never think it necessary to modify His Word. Genesis 1 defines the days of creation to be literal days (a number with the word “day” always means a normal day in the Old Testament, and the phrase “evening and morning” further defines the days as literal days). Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we should examine the validity of the standard interpretation of 14C dating by asking several questions:
Is the explanation of the data derived from empirical, observational science, or an interpretation of past events (historical science)?
Are there any assumptions involved in the dating method?
Are the dates provided by 14C dating consistent with what we observe?
Do all scientists accept the 14C dating method as reliable and accurate?
All radiometric dating methods use scientific procedures in the present to interpret what has happened in the past. The procedures used are not necessarily in question. The interpretation of past events is in question. The secular (evolutionary) worldview interprets the universe and world to be billions of years old. The Bible teaches a young universe and earth. Which worldview does science support? Can carbon-14 dating help solve the mystery of which worldview is more accurate?
Carbon Isotopes
The use of carbon-14 dating is often misunderstood. Carbon-14 is mostly used to date once-living things (organic material). It cannot be used directly to date rocks; however, it can potentially be used to put time constraints on some inorganic material such as diamonds (diamonds could contain carbon-14). Because of the rapid rate of decay of 14C, it can only give dates in the thousands-of-year range and not millions.
There are three different naturally occurring varieties (isotopes) of carbon: 12C, 13C, and 14C.
Carbon-14 is used for dating because it is unstable (radioactive), whereas 12C and 13C are stable. Radioactive means that 14C will decay (emit radiation) over time and become a different element. During this process (called “beta decay”) a neutron in the 14C atom will be converted into a proton. By losing one neutron and gaining one proton, 14C is changed into nitrogen-14 (14N = 7 protons and 7 neutrons).
We know that the world-wide flood came when Noah was 600 years old as per Genesis 9:28,29, which would have been 1656 years after the creation of Adam according to Bible Chronology. Since Bible Chronology shows that Adam was created about 5877 years ago then Noah's Flood would have come about 4,221 years ago. Carbon 14 dating of deposits from Noah's flood would consistently be within 40 years of 4,221 years ago.
Carbon 14 dating experts confirm that Carbon Dating of deposits about 10,000 years old would be plus or minus 100 years; and Carbon Dating of deposits about 20,000 years old would be plus or minus 500 years.
Carbon 14 dating experts claim that the youngest Dinosaur remains took place 22,000 years ago.
And so if youngest Dinosaur remains are about 22,000 years ago then that could be between 21, 500 years ago to 22,500 years ago..
Carbon 14 Dating experts now claim that Carbon Dating of remains 50,000 years ago could be up to 5,000 years or 10 percent off and that Carbon Dating after 50,000 years is very inaccurate. And so Carbon 14 Dating does not show the earth to be millions of years old which is needed for the evolution of man, animals and species to take place according to evolutionists.
Many deposits in the Grand Canyon are about 10,000 to 50,000 years old according to Carbon 14 Dating experts, which is far above the 6-day creation of Genesis 1:3-31 which Bible Chronology shows to be about 5,877 years ago!!
Well, Richard, at least your questioning evolution's interpretation of carbon14. Soon you'll understand there's has never been an old earth that's millions of years old prior to the 6 day creation just like the Bible says. And you'll place your faith in Gods word that says there was no death and suffering until after Adam's sin
David, It is interesting to note that you keep saying that you follow God's Word. And yet you have made 21 posts on this thread and you have not even quoted **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** just like **SATAN**!
I Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
I Peter 1:23-25: For you have been **BORN AGAIN**, not of perishable seed but the imperishable, through the living and enduring **WORD OF GOD**. For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail, but the **WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER**!!
False Prophet Richard, your ignorance continues to mount and your ignorance about scripture doubles at your every post. You called me Satan, which doesn't surprise me. That is what Hypocrites do. Hypocrites quote scripture but disregard it. You worship the traditions of men (evolution) exactly like those hypocrites who accused their own Messiah of having a demon. Jesus said not to be surprised when hypocritics do the same to us. You're so unfamiliar with scripture and misquote it so often, you don't realize your pattern of twisting scripture parallels of those hypocrites who confronted their own Messiah. You've probably never read how Satan misquoted scripture when he tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness
Little David is new to this forum and has opened 3 threads which states that there is nothing on this earth which is over 6,000 years old. David has made 42 posts on these 3 threads and has not even quoted**ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to support his view; including not even **ONE WORD IN GENESIS ONE**. David has wrongly condemned those who quote God's Word and disagree with his views in 28 posts; as evolutionists that believe the earth is millions of years old and contradict God's Word. And yet he refuses to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to defend his views or to contradict anyone who disagrees with him.
David, who has zero knowledge of Carbon 14 Dating Science has stated that Carbon 14 Dating does not prove that anything on this earth ia over 6,000 years old, that all dinosaurs are less than 6,000 years old and that nothing in the Grand Canyon is over 6,000 years old.
I Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
I Peter 1:23-25: For you have been **BORN AGAIN**, not of perishable seed but the imperishable, through the living and enduring **WORD OF GOD**. For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail, but the **WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER**!!
We are all waiting for David to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** in any of his threads!!
Sorry Richard, who is the "we" waiting for me to quote scripture. You assume others are equally as clueless as you. So far, you're the only one unable to identify scripture quotes unless they contain references. You're apparently the only one so unfamiliar with scripture. You're all alone, Richard, please step outside your imaginary world. You can type in unreferenced scripture online, easily!! Richard, lets test your biblcal knowledge. I won't ask you to identify all of the scripture I've cited, that would be asking too much. But let's see if you can do ONE! Where is this scripture, I quoted part of it to you in an earlier post! Remember, you can easily search online! Here it is: "..if Baal be god then worship him, if God is God then worship him...stop wavering between two opinions..." Is this scripture in the OT or NT??? I used it to encourage you, Richard, to stop wavering between evolution dogma and God's word. I also quoted an article written by several qualified ***scientists*** who thoroughly explained the principles of carbon14 but you still can't distinguish science from philosophy. Perhaps you didn't like the article or the scripture mentioned because they contradict your worldly beliefs. You have so blended worldly beliefs with Christianity that you can no longer tell the difference. Please abandon the false dogma you learned from gullible persons who taught you to accept evolution's teaching. Sadly, you've indicated that you believe the long ages endorsed by the founder of carbon14, who was an evolutionist. But you angrily strike back at those trying to deliver you from your false Ideas. Please stop setting yourself above scripture.
Little David is new to this forum and has opened 3 threads which states that there is nothing on this earth which is over 6,000 years old. David has made 42 posts on these 3 threads and has not even quoted**ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to support his view; including not even **ONE WORD IN GENESIS ONE**. David has wrongly condemned those who quote God's Word and disagree with his views in 28 posts; as evolutionists that believe the earth is millions of years old and contradict God's Word. And yet he refuses to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to defend his views or to contradict anyone who disagrees with him.
David, who has zero knowledge of Carbon 14 Dating Science has stated that Carbon 14 Dating does not prove that anything on this earth ia over 6,000 years old, that all dinosaurs are less than 6,000 years old and that nothing in the Grand Canyon is over 6,000 years old.
I Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
I Peter 1:23-25: For you have been **BORN AGAIN**, not of perishable seed but the imperishable, through the living and enduring **WORD OF GOD**. For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail, but the **WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER**!!
We are all waiting for David to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** in any of his threads!!
Little David is new to this forum and has opened 3 threads which states that there is nothing on this earth which is over 6,000 years old. David has made 42 posts on these 3 threads and has not even quoted**ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to support his view; including not even **ONE WORD IN GENESIS ONE**. David has wrongly condemned those who quote God's Word and disagree with his views in 28 posts; as evolutionists that believe the earth is millions of years old and contradict God's Word. And yet he refuses to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** to defend his views or to contradict anyone who disagrees with him.
David, who has zero knowledge of Carbon 14 Dating Science has stated that Carbon 14 Dating does not prove that anything on this earth ia over 6,000 years old, that all dinosaurs are less than 6,000 years old and that nothing in the Grand Canyon is over 6,000 years old.
I Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is **GOD-BREATHED** and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead and in view of His appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: **PREACH THE WORD**; be prepared in season in out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear!!
I Peter 1:23-25: For you have been **BORN AGAIN**, not of perishable seed but the imperishable, through the living and enduring **WORD OF GOD**. For all people {like little David} are like grass, and all their glory is like flowers in the field; the grass withers and the flowers fail, but the **WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER**!!
John 17:17: Jesus prayed to His Father, "Sanctify them by the **TRUTH**; **YOUR WORD IS TRUTH**!"
All Christians who love **GOD'S WORD** are waiting for little David to quote even **ONE WORD OF SCRIPTURE** in any of his threads!!
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