Age of the Earth Objectives

Question 1

Match each of the approaches to interpreting Genesis 1 & 2 to their descriptors (off the handout exercise).

Answer 1

/

Question 2

How old do geologists believe the Earth is?

Answer 2

4.5x10v9

Question 3

Who were the two Biblical scholars who, in the 1600s, made attempts to determine the age of the Earth? When did each determine the Earth was created? Which is usually most often cited?

Answer 3

John Lightfoot, 9:00 a.m. in September autumnal equinox, 3928 BC
James Ussher, Oct. 22, 4004 BC
second one most often cited

Question 4

List the major tenets of creationism.

Answer 4

1. six 24 hr days
2. Earth is relatively young, 6-10,000 yrs old
3. Many of Earth’s features explained by flood of Noah.

Question 5

Determine the fraction of a radioactive isotope that remains or that has decayed away after 1,2,3,4, … etc. half-lives.

Answer 5

P    D
1/2 1/2
1/4 3/4
1/8 7/8
1/16 15/16

Question 6

Cite some examples given in class that indicate the Earth is very old.

Answer 6

• winter/summer couplets in ice cores
• varves
• carbon-14 and coal
• no naturally occurring radioactive isotopes w/ half-lives less than about 82 mil years

Question 7

From a Christian point of view, why can nature not conflict with Scripture?

Answer 7

because God is the author of both

Question 8

What does Scripture indicate about God’s perspective on time?

Answer 8

irrelevant to Him

Question 9

Briefly describe three of the points discussed in class that could be used to argue a Biblical basis for the “days” of Genesis 1 being longer than 24 hrs.

Answer 9

1. God’s perspective on time is far different than humans.
2. Hebrew word yom translated to day has flexible usage and doe not have to refer exclusively to 24 hr period.
3. Day six does not appear to be an ordinary 24 hr day/ uniqueness of seventh day.

Question 10

How is it possible for what God did not tell us about creation to be as significant as what he did tell us?

Answer 10

we wouldn’t have understood anyway, so he left out any reference to his particular mode of operation in creation

Question 11

List the three basic truths from Genesis 1 cited in class that cannot be compromised.

Answer 11

1. God created. That is, all of creation, living and nonliving, was the result of divine command.
2. God’s creation was orderly and progressive, and God pronounced His creation as good.
3. Man was created in the image of God and thereby is unique among God’s creation.

Question 12

From a Scriptural point of view, is it important for a Christian to take a stand on a particular age of the Earth?

Answer 12

no