Creation Science Rebuttals

Creation Magazine

Ancient Toothpaste

Volume 26, Issue 3, June 2004

First Published 3 April 2006

Young earth creation science ministry Answers in Genesis ran an article in the June 2004 issue of Creation Magazine, in which the discovery of a 1,500 year old toothpaste formula was discussed (the article was the featured article on the Creation Ministries International website on 1 April 2006).¹

The young earth author David Catchpoole explains that an Egyptian toothpaste formula from the 4th century AD was recently discovered, making it the oldest known toothpaste formula. The thing that Catchpoole emphasizes is that the formula contains Iris, which only recently in modern times has been discovered to be an effective agent against gum disease.

Catchpoole goes into a discussion of the Christian monks of that time, and how they were noted for their medical knowledge. He contrasts this by saying "For those who are used to thinking in evolutionary terms, i.e. who regard early man as 'primitive', such discoveries of the advanced level of technology in earlier cultures can often be a real eye-opener." He is right that this is an eye-opener, but it applies to young earth creationists as well, who like Catchpoole, are equally impressed with their knowledge.

This early toothpaste really has no implications for a young earth. Many other medical discoveries have been based on ancient medical practice. Many of the folk remedies that have been passed down through the ages have truth to them. People experimented with different plants, and found that some had beneficial side-effects. The early Egyptian who discovered this probably experimented with many plants before choosing the Iris.

An Egyptian man, from 1,500 years ago, who experimented with plants can hardly be called "primitive." Catchpoole calls this an example of "advanced level of technology." There is no technology involved! If the ancient Egyptians had a computer, now that would be "technology." All we are talking about here is herbal medicine.

The news of ancient toothpaste is no news at all. However, if Catchpoole finds a toothpaste formula written by a Neanderthal on a cave wall, that would be "eye-opening!"

¹ Creation Magazine, Volume 26, Issue 3. Published on the Answers in Genesis website at answersingenesis.org/creation/v26/i3/toothpaste.asp, and on Creation Ministries International at https://creation.com/a-tale-of-ancient-toothpaste

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.

Creation Magazine 2004

Related Articles

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.