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).
Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the **HEAVENS** and the earth. Now the earth was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, **DARKNESS** {**AFTER GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS THEY BECAME DARK**} was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the **WATERS!** {And then God created **MORE WATER** on the old earth on the 2nd Day as per Genesis 1:6 and on the 3rd day as per Genesis 1:10]
>>>>>NOTICE RICHARD HAS ADDED HIS OWN WORDS<<<<<
1st Quote of Richard: {{"And then God created **MORE WATER**}}
>>>>>>RICHARDS WORDS ARE NOT FOUND IN GENESIS 1<<<<<
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
And since after God created the **HEAVENS** and then they became **DARK** God then **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!!
>>>>>NOTICE RICHARD HAS ADDED HIS OWN WORDS YET AGAIN<<<<
2nd Quote of Richard: "God then **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!"
>>>>>>RICHARDS WORDS AGAIN ARE NOT FOUND IN GENESIS1<<<<<
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
Just before each of God's 6 days of RECREATION {**NOT 7 DAYS**} we see the phrase: And God said, "Let...
>>>>HERE, ONCE AGAIN, RICHARD ADDS THE WORD "RECREATION" which is not found in Genesis 1 !!
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
It is interesting to note that during God's 6 days of Recreation in Genesis 1:3-31 He never mentions creating the **EARTH** since God had already **CREATED EARTH** **BEFORE** the 6 days of His Recreation!!
>>>>HERE RICHARD ARTIFICIALLY SHATTERS THE ORIGINAL 6 DAY CREATION, found in Genesis 1!! HE DOES THIS SO HE CAN ****INSERT**** HIS "RECREATED EARTH"<<<<<
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
Does God's word say in other Scripture that the present earth was ever **FORMLESS AND EMPTY** with **DARKNESS**???
Jeremiah 4:23-28: The Lord Almighty said, "I looked at the earth and it was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, and at the heavens, and their **LIGHT WAS GONE**.I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked and there were no people, every bird in the sky **HAD FLOWN AWAY**. I looked and the **FRUITFUL LAND HAD BECOME A DESERT**; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger!" This is what the Lord says, The whole land will be ruined, though I will **NOT DESTROY IT COMPLETELY**, Therefore the earth will mourn and the **HEAVENS ABOVE GROW ** DARK**, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back!!"
>>>>HERE RICHARD ASSUMES THE MEANINGS OF "FORMLESS AND EMPTY" ALWAYS REMAIN THE SAME REGARDLESS OF CONTEXT. HERE RICHARD COMMITTS A COMMON INTERPRETIVE ERROR BY IGNORING DISTINCT CONTEXTS. THESE CONTEXTS, WRITTEN BY SEPARATE AUTHORS, SPEAK TO DIFFERENT MATTERS ALTHOUGH USING SIMILAR WORDS<<<<
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
Now some will say the context Of Jeremiah explains something different. However God has said over 100 things in the OT that were out of context like Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 7:13 and Isaiah 7:15 had absolutely nothing to do with Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will call **IMMANUEL**! {Which means **GOD WITH US**!}
>>>>>HERE RICHARD ASSUMES THAT SPECIFIC CONTEXTS FROM OTHER WRITINGS, THAT DIFFER INTERNALLY, GIVE HIM LICENSE TO TWIST SCRIPTURE AS HE SEES FIT<<<<<
RICHARD SAYS THE FOLLOWING:
David, That Dinosaurs became extinct about 22,000 years ago or that Neanderthals with the intelligence of an ape, became extinct about 40,000 years ago or that many things in the Grand Canyon are 10,000 to 50,000 years old has absolutely nothing to do with evolution and millions of years that you wrongfully accuse me of. Your ridiculous belief that Noah's flood caused all the dozens of strata in the Grand Canyon is only believed by the extremely ignorant!!
>>>>HERE RICHARD DENIES ACCEPTING BELIEF THAT IS ANTI BIBLICAL. Although the Bible clearly says death and suffering did not occur until after Adam sinned, Richard casts aside this biblical teaching to adopt a secular humanist perspective.
Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the **HEAVENS** and the earth. Now the earth was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, **DARKNESS** {**AFTER GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS THEY BECAME DARK**} was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the **WATERS!** {And then God created **MORE WATER** on the old earth on the 2nd Day as per Genesis 1:6 and on the 3rd day as per Genesis 1:10]
And since after God created the **HEAVENS** and then they became **DARK** God then **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!!
Just before each of God's 6 days of RECREATION {**NOT 7 DAYS**} we see the phrase: And God said, "Let...
God said, Let... on the **FIRST DAY** in Genesis 1:3-5 **SECOND DAY** Genesis 1:6-8 **THIRD DAY** Genesis 1:9-13 **FOURTH DAY** Genesis 1:14-19 **FIFTH DAY** Genesis 1:20-23 **SIXTH DAY** Genesis 1:24-31
It is interesting to note that during God's 6 days of Recreation in Genesis 1:3-31 He never mentions creating the **EARTH** since God had already **CREATED EARTH** **BEFORE** the 6 days of His Recreation!!
Does God's word say in other Scripture that the present earth was ever **FORMLESS AND EMPTY** with **DARKNESS**???
Jeremiah 4:23-28: The Lord Almighty said, "I looked at the earth and it was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, and at the heavens, and their **LIGHT WAS GONE**.I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked and there were no people, every bird in the sky **HAD FLOWN AWAY**. I looked and the **FRUITFUL LAND HAD BECOME A DESERT**; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger!" This is what the Lord says, The whole land will be ruined, though I will **NOT DESTROY IT COMPLETELY**, Therefore the earth will mourn and the **HEAVENS ABOVE GROW ** DARK**, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back!!"
Now some will say the context Of Jeremiah explains something different. However God has said over 100 things in the OT that were out of context like Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 7:13 and Isaiah 7:15 had absolutely nothing to do with Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will call **IMMANUEL**! {Which means **GOD WITH US**!}
David, That Dinosaurs became extinct about 22,000 years ago or that Neanderthals with the intelligence of an ape, became extinct about 40,000 years ago or that many things in the Grand Canyon are 10,000 to 50,000 years old has absolutely nothing to do with evolution and millions of years that you wrongfully accuse me of. Your ridiculous belief that Noah's flood caused all the dozens of strata in the Grand Canyon is only believed by the extremely ignorant!!
Richard, I think I've asked you to provide biblical evidence for the following statements you keep repeating. But you only resort carbon14 datings and out of context quotes. Why don't you want to discuss the >>>assumptions<<< >>>evolutionists<<< aggressively persue regarding >>>theoretical<<< amounts of carbon????
David, That Dinosaurs became extinct about 22,000 years ago or that Neanderthals with the intelligence of an ape, became extinct about 40,000 years ago or that many things in the Grand Canyon are 10,000 to 50,000 years old has absolutely nothing to do with evolution and millions of years that you wrongfully accuse me of. Your ridiculous belief that Noah's flood caused all the dozens of strata in the Grand Canyon is only believed by the extremely ignorant!!
Fine to keep repeating, Richard, if only you would provide reasons.
Genesis 1:1,2: In the beginning God created the **HEAVENS** and the earth. Now the earth was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, **DARKNESS** {**AFTER GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS THEY BECAME DARK**} was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the **WATERS!** {And then God created **MORE WATER** on the old earth on the 2nd Day as per Genesis 1:6 and on the 3rd day as per Genesis 1:10]
And since after God created the **HEAVENS** and then they became **DARK** God then **RECREATED THE HEAVENS** on the old earth on the 4th Day as per Genesis 1:14-17!!!
Just before each of God's 6 days of RECREATION {**NOT 7 DAYS**} we see the phrase: And God said, "Let...
God said, Let... on the **FIRST DAY** in Genesis 1:3-5 **SECOND DAY** Genesis 1:6-8 **THIRD DAY** Genesis 1:9-13 **FOURTH DAY** Genesis 1:14-19 **FIFTH DAY** Genesis 1:20-23 **SIXTH DAY** Genesis 1:24-31
It is interesting to note that during God's 6 days of Recreation in Genesis 1:3-31 He never mentions creating the **EARTH** since God had already **CREATED EARTH** **BEFORE** the 6 days of His Recreation!!
Does God's word say in other Scripture that the present earth was ever **FORMLESS AND EMPTY** with **DARKNESS**???
Jeremiah 4:23-28: The Lord Almighty said, "I looked at the earth and it was **FORMLESS AND EMPTY**, and at the heavens, and their **LIGHT WAS GONE**.I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked and there were no people, every bird in the sky **HAD FLOWN AWAY**. I looked and the **FRUITFUL LAND HAD BECOME A DESERT**; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before His fierce anger!" This is what the Lord says, The whole land will be ruined, though I will **NOT DESTROY IT COMPLETELY**, Therefore the earth will mourn and the **HEAVENS ABOVE GROW ** DARK**, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back!!"
Now some will say the context Of Jeremiah explains something different. However God has said over 100 things in the OT that were out of context like Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 7:13 and Isaiah 7:15 had absolutely nothing to do with Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will call **IMMANUEL**! {Which means **GOD WITH US**!}
David, That Dinosaurs became extinct about 22,000 years ago or that Neanderthals with the intelligence of an ape, became extinct about 40,000 years ago or that many things in the Grand Canyon are 10,000 to 50,000 years old has absolutely nothing to do with evolution and millions of years that you wrongfully accuse me of. Your ridiculous belief that Noah's flood caused all the dozens of strata in the Grand Canyon is only believed by the extremely ignorant!!
Little David claims that Carbon 14 Dating is only **ACCURATE** for up to 10,000 years. Carbon Dating claims that the youngest dinosaur remains are about 22,000 years old which is over 10,000 years!! and that there were no Dinosaur remains less than 22,000 years.
And so according to little David and Carbon 14 Dating there were no dinosaur remains under 10,000 years and according to little David the present earth is about 6,000 years old. And therefore little David must believe that there were no dinosaurs alive during the last 6.000 years and therefore dinosaurs **NEVER EXISTED**; since little David believes the earth is only about 6,000 years old???
