Creation Science Book Review
Refuting Compromise
Chapter 12: Refuting Old-Earth Arguments
Book Review by Greg Neyman
© Old Earth Ministries
First Published 22 August 2004
Sarfati tries to disprove some arguments that geologists and others have pointed to as showing vast ages for the earth. Since many of these arguments have already been rebutted in the rebuttal section of this web site, there is no need to go into them individually.
Click here to see the many rebuttals of young earth creation science claims.
Some claims have not been addressed yet on this web site. For instance, on page 375, Sarfati mentions the old earth claim, “Some modern coral reefs are extremely thick and must have taken millions of years to grow.” To this he responds, “Actually, what was thought to be coral “reef” turns out to be thick carbonate platforms, most probably deposited during the Flood.” His reference for this is an article by Michael Oard, a young earth creationist, which appeared in a young earth creation science magazine. There has been no proof the claims of Oard are true…Oard is merely giving a possible young earth explanation for this evidence.
Many young earth claims are like this…they say “This has been proved!” But if you look at the references, it is young earth scientists doing the work, which appears in young earth publications. There are no peer-reviewed articles, and no reputable scientists have accepted these claims. For their young-earth audience, they take this at face value and believe it to be true. However, in the real world, it does not stand up to scrutiny.
Here are some links to some specific items that Sarfati addresses.
Varves
Evaporites
YEC Claim: Evaporites can form without evaporation (off-site)
Too Many Fossils
Fossil Forests (Polystrate Trees)
Conclusion
If you are used to taking the claims of young earth theorists as truth, without investigating them, then you will naturally agree with Sarfati. However, if you are used to looking at the evidence from both sides, you will probably agree with the other 99.9 percent of scientists who say that the earth is old. In this respect, there is no way of getting around this subject…there is a word for people who blindly follow a belief…it is called brainwashed. I’m sorry that I have to use that term, but I cannot deny the truth.
Is there harm in this “brainwashed” young earth community. No, not within the community itself. The harm that is done is to the church as a whole. By painting themselves in a corner, they make outsiders view the church in a negative light, and drive away prospective lost souls. How are atheists born? They see the church, and they see modern science, and see a conflict. Since hard evidence (science) is irrefutable, they leave the church and become atheists.
If someone believes in evolution…great, we can still reach them for Christ. You can be a theistic evolutionist and a fundamentalist, inerrant Bible believer at the same time. If someone doesn’t believe in evolution but knows the earth is old…great…you can be a fundamentalist also!
We need to realize that we need to reach these souls for Christ. Old earth belief (and Evolution) is not the enemy of God…unfortunately, we Christians are our own worst enemy. Let’s focus on Jesus, not on creation, and make the church respectable in our communities once again. There is room in the church for both old earth believers and young earth believers, and there is no reason that we can’t both be in the same church! Yes, you can believe in an old earth, and be a Bible-believing Fundamentalist! Brothers, let’s get to work for Christ! God Bless.
If you are not a Christian, and you have been holding out on making a decision for Christ because the Church always preached a message that was contrary to what you saw in the scientific world, then rest assured that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, and you can believe in Christ and receive salvation, while still believing in an old earth. Click here for more.
Are you a Christian who believes in young earth creationism? Now that we have shown the many difficulties of the young earth creation science model in this and many other articles, how does this impact your Christian life? If you are a young earth creationism believer, click here.
Refuting Compromise Review Home
Refuting Compromise Chapter List
Chapter 12
Related Articles
Young Earth Ministry Rebuttal Home
To learn more
about old earth creationism, see
Old Earth Belief,
or check out the article
Can You Be A
Christian and Believe in an Old Earth?
Feel free to check out more of this website. Our goal is to
provide rebuttals to the bad science behind young earth creationism,
and honor God by properly presenting His creation.