In a discussion with a young-earth creationist here on this blog recently, it was illustrated once again how those with such a perspective are willing to simply make things up to try to bolster their viewpoint. One example is the evidence for the age of the earth provided by chalk deposits. Chalk is formed through the death and deposit on the ocean floor of the remains of microorganisms. The rate at which this ooze of dead microorganisms’ remains can turn into chalk over time is, I believe, around 1-6 centimeters in 1,000 years. When we consider that there are chalk beds hundreds of meters thick, and which are no longer submerged underwater, a strong case for the minimum possible age of the earth can be made. You do the math.
Some young-earth creationists have already shown themselves willing to cook or fudge the numbers, or insert countless ad hoc assumptions, in an attempt to avoid the obvious conclusion about where this evidence points. And in doing so, they call the creation that they attribute to God a liar, and risk defaming the Creator they claim to wish to defend.
But that isn’t what I wish to focus on here. Sometimes, young-earth creationists will be asked about this issue and, never having previously encountered it, will try to make something up on the spot to address an issue about which they have no background information or understanding.
In doing so, they illustrate that some Christians (I emphasize not all of us are willing to do this, although back in my young-earth creationist days I too did this very thing) are willing to simply make things up if they think that those things will persuade others to believe or allow an argument to be won.
In so doing, they make it seem entirely plausible that Christians in antiquity did the same thing. People are saying that the disciples stole the body? We’ll invent guards on the tomb. What was Jesus’ birth like? It must have been spectacular, so let me tell you a story.
Young-earth creationists, by their very willingness to deceive in the name of their worldview (which they falsely attribute to divine origin), undermine any confidence that anyone might have had in ancient religious texts. After all, can we confirm from this distance in time that the authors were not just like these modern young-earth creationists – either willing to make things up themselves, or willing to pass on stories that they heard without investigating the matter thoroughly and critically?
Young-earth creationists claim to wish to defend the truthfulness of the Bible, but their very actions are among the reasons people today find it impossible to be confident in the Bible’s truthfulness.
Finally, for those who may be interested in the scientific evidence itself, not only do chalk deposits provide evidence for the antiquity of the earth, but it is also possible to trace the evolution of microorganisms through the deposits! The rocks cry out!
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