Harold S. Slusher

Scientific Creationism and the theory of Natural Selection make very different predictions concerning the age of the earth. Since evolution is a gradual process, it requires a great deal of time. So, if Darwin's theory is correct, the earth must be very old. On the other hand, if species were created directly by God, the earth could be quite young. Some Creationists even subscribe to the view that the earth is as young as six thousand years old-just old enough to accommodate recorded human history. Physicists generally date the age of rocks using rates of radioactive decay. According to these radiometric dating methods, the earth is roughly 4.5 billion years old, which allows plenty of time for evolution. Creationists, however, challenge the reliability of these methods.

In this selection Harold S. Slusher explains the principles of...