Many people think that somehow radiometric dating, has proven that the Bible is not true. This is not because they understand the various dating methods, but because they have put a blind faith in what they think is " science ". Science has come up with 100 or more " dating " methods. Seldom do these methods agree, and some of them indicate ages far less than those that are widely publicized in the media. The specific material, or process used, varies widely, but the assumptions, which enter into these methods, are similar. Science, itself, is not bad. Good science, again and again, confirms Biblical truths. Only poor and sloppy, or dishonest, scientific methods, based on unreasonable assumptions, produce ideas that are in conflict with the Bible.
To understand dating methods, let's look at the old hourglass above. When using it, we assume that the top was empty, and all the material was in the bottom, before we turn it over, and begin to time the hour. And, since we were there to observe the hourglass, before we turned it over, this is a safe assumption . We assume that no sand is going to creep in or leak out during the hour, and since we were nearby, that is a safe assumption also. We assume that the sand is dry and flowing at a predictable rate. With the old hourglasses, this was a pretty safe assumption also. In addition, we probably have used this same instrument, again and again, to measure the same passage of time, hundreds of times.
Carbon dating is slightly different from the other dating methods and atomic clocks. There is a reasonably good explanation of carbon dating on this page: Carbon Dating Examined
One of the biggest puzzles to evolutionary scientists, is why coal contains carbon-14. If coal is really millions of years old, as most geologists claim, the carbon-14 should have decayed into nitrogen-14 long ago.
The unsafe assumptions which are outlined in the following paragraphs, apply to radiocarbon dating, as well as the other dating methods. The process, behind radiocarbon dating, is a little more complicated, because it relates to atomic and molecular collisions, in the atmosphere. If you desire an explanation, that is specific to radiocarbon dating, and how it works, please send us an e-mail.
All dating methods, including radiometric dating methods, ( atomic clocks ) employ a number of assumptions. We have to assume that we know something about the amount of starting material, and/or the nature of this material. And this is an unsafe assumption unless we are so reckless and filled with pride concerning our amount of wisdom and scientific knowledge, that we think we know facts concerning a specific sample that is, supposedly thousands, or millions, or billions of years old!
In addition, when using one of these dating methods, we have to assume that no measured material has leached into, or out of, our sample over thousands, millions, or billions of years. Even if the sample came from a dry climate, does that mean the climate was dry in the distant past? Of course not. This is another unsafe assumption .
Also, we must assume that the material in our sample is being lost, or is decaying at a constant or known rate. Is that a reasonable assumption? Do we know what the rates of processes were thousands, or millions, or billions of years ago? Of course not. This is another unsafe assumption .
By the way, dating labs will not accept samples for dating, unless they know what strata they came from. ( thus prejudicing the dating work before it even begins! )
This junk science has its roots in philosophy, not in science. The philosophy is called uniformitarianism, which basically says that processes have always been the same, since the beginning of time, whenever that was. True science knows that this is nonsense. We know that, in the past, there were major catastrophies, meteor impacts, floods, and who knows what else. It is also quite possible that there was radiation of different kinds, and in different amounts, than what we experience today. Dating methods based on uniformitarian assumptions are a poor substitute for recorded history! According to Genesis 8:22, it appears that the natural laws, upon which science is based, did not began until after the flood.
There are three particular areas which indicate that the earth is a few thousand years old, rather than millions or billions of years old. These are helium diffusion, pleochroic haloes, and nuclear force. There are many others. For example, polystratic fossils, where trees are fossilized in their vertical position, and run through many strata, indicating that typical geologic theory about strata is sadly lacking. Geologists have no reasonable explanation for this.
If you will read II Peter chapter 3, you will find that the present day version of uniformitarian philosophy ( which gave rise to the modern evolution myth ) was prophesied by the apostle Peter over 1900 years
ago. Jesus will return, just as He promised, and when He does, there will be a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth! Are you ready? Is your heart right with God? We pray that it is.
