Age of the earth (radioisotope dating vs. alternative methods)
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PHSC 210 B21, Elements of Earth Science
March 2, 2018
I. Introduction
The topic chosen for discussion in this comparative essay is the Age of the earth
(radioisotope dating vs. alternative methods). The age of the earth is a long debate that goes
back many centuries. The purpose is to compare the Old-Earth and Young- Earth views used
to determine the Age of the Earth. Many who believe in old-earth view follows the principals
of the bible that says the earth was created by God in six-days. This view is explained in
Genesis. The old-earth view says that the earth is 4.55 billion years old and this was
determined through radioisotope dating. You will see that this debate greatly affects the view
of the earths age. The purpose is to compare the Old-Earth and Young- Earth views used to
determine the Age of the Earth.
II. Old-Earth Secular View
The Old-Earth secular view point regarding Age of the Earth is that the earth is ancient 4.55
billion years old (Ross, Whitmore, Gollmer, Faulkner, 2015). Old-Earth views says the earth
was created by chemicals and in the atmosphere. To come to this determination Scientist
have used methods such as radioisotope dating. That is the breakdown or decay of atomic
nuclei, termed radioactive decay. Radioisotope dating is the process of taking rocks and
estimating the age by decay of radioactive decay in the rocks. This method was discovered in
1896. There have been rocks that aged 3.4 to 3.8 billion years that used this method to
determine the age of the rocks. As well as moon rocks and meteorites that have been tested
and dated by two methods at between 4.4-4.6 billion years in age (United States Geological
Survey, 2017). This supports the Old-Earth Secular view. There are assumptions with this
view such as the nuclear decay rates are constant. This would lead to yielding younger aged
estimates and causes discrepancies between methods. As well as the initial conditions are
known, and the initial ratio of daughter/parent isotopes are known (zero date problem).
III. Young-Earth View
The young-earth viewpoint states that the earth is 6,000-10,000 years old. According to the
Heavens and the Earth, 2nd edition (Ross, 2015) young-earth creation holds that God created
all of creation, God created “kinds” of organisms, God created humans separately from
animals, and God destroyed the world and is inhabitants through a global flood. It is the
longest held view that is supported through Old Testament and affirmed in the New
Testament. This view is strongly supported even today due to the early chapters of Genesis
chapters 1-11. Young-Earth view relies solely on the belief of Gods word and that is the truth
and the date of earth creation is evident in the study of the Bible. The evidence of this
viewpoint is in the book of Genesis, which some view as a historical record of a six-day
creation. Young-earth viewpoint also has evidence of the age of the earth through a global
flood during Noah’s day. This is also accounted for in the bible. I think the major assumption
with Young-Earth view would be the timeframe of the earths creation, mixed interpretations
of the bible could lead to naïve assumptions. The Bible tells us that Gods timing is perfect
(Ecclesiastes 3:11) and complete. The importance of the scripture is that creation is the work
of God.
IV. Comparison of the Viewpoints
The similarities between the two viewpoints is neither one of them has all the answers. When
you look at young-earth the bible tells you that God created the earth and the flood but does
not give very explicit details behind those creations. When we look at old-earth view there
are still loopholes that can cause us to sometimes rely on what we think or believe. They both
agree that humans and animals were both created separately. Old Earth says that humans
were new and miraculous creations by God (Ross, 2015) as does Young-earth. They both
agree that all animals were created and because they were considered various “kinds” that
says that they were not all linked to one kind but individual. I think one of the other
similarities is that they both believe that God is a higher power despite their differences in
His role or the part he played in the creation of the earth.
V. Contrast of the Viewpoints
The Old-Earth and Young-Earth view points contrast drastically. As stated Old-Earth states
that through science the age of the earth is determined. However young-earth views are built
on the foundation that earth was created by the creator Himself. Old-Earth views does not use
faith or belief but takes theistic and naturalistic evolution to explain the age of the earth. Only
natural processes are responsible for the creation of earth. The other contrast would be the
global flood. Old Earth views states that Noah’s flood was not global at all but was local
event (Ross, 2015) some have even categorized it as a myth. However Young-Earth says this
was a global flood that destroyed all the earth and its inhabitants. When looking at young-
earth some will interpret the time of creation in six-consecutive 24-hour days and in old-earth
creation took place over a long period of time. What contrast the two views is matter of
interpretation and understanding.
VI. Conclusion
In conclusion, when looking at Old-Earth and Young-Earth views the question to ask, what is
the truth? Scripture tells us that God is the truth, that would support that Young-earth view.
Although Old-Earth view is mostly supported by the scientific community it is hard to
discount the young-earth view that is supported by biblical accounts. To take on old-earth
view would require what the Bible says to be compromising. Although I believe in young-
earth view I don’t discredit the views of Old-Earth. When reading about radioisotope dating
it made me think about the flood of Noah which would have been responsible for all the
theories using this method. Noah’s flood had such a profound effect on the planet that there is
no way it would not have influenced the rocks and their decay. Overall the Bible clearly and
unmistakably describes the creation of the universe, the solar system, it is that starting point.
It is the foundation that enables us to establish the right worldview which provides us with
the right understanding on how the present and past are connected.
Resources
https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/gtime/ageofearth.html, 2017
Rushdonny, R.J. “The importance of six-day creation” September 01, 1998,
https://chalcedon.edu/magazine-issues/six-day-literal-creation-essential-to-the-faith
Holy Bible, King James Version, Digital Text Version
HUMPHREYS, PH.D. D. RUSSELL. “Evidence for a Young World.” The Institute for Creation
Research, 1 June 2005, www.icr.org/article/evidence-for-young-world/.
Ross, Marcus & Whitmore, John & Gollmer, Steven & Faulkner Danny. The Heavens & the
Earth. Exursions in Earth and Space Science, Second Edition. 2015 Hunt.
