How old is Earth?

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It was replied:

>>Please forgive me if I detect a bit of skepticism regarding the
>>existence of fossils...

I don't doubt the existence of fossils, just the part about them being
millions of years old.

>>Carbon dating is only good for a few thousand years, and only on
>>organic remains (i.e. dating old camp-fire remains, leftovers, wooden
>>artifacts).  For fossils, other methods of radiometric dating are
>>done.  Note also that C-14 and K-Ar dating methods don't have a
>>"built-in" check, whereby other radiometric methods do (the ratio
>>of three isotopes are checked, rather than just two).

I should have mentioned in my original post that it has been a few years
since this particular sunday school class.  I am also no scientist( even
after taking five years of science related classes in four years of high
school!=).  I apologize for the inaccurateness of my post.

>>I'm rather skeptical of this account since fossils are easily
>>distinguishable from bones.  Fossils are not merely old bones, but
>>actual stone.

Myself, I tend to be skeptical when told to believe something existed
that is given no mention in the Bible(At least, I have never seen it!).

>>But not every instance of fossils found in a field is a case of ten-
>>year-old hog's bones.

Point taken.=)

>>True, but the entire basis of scientific thought is peer review:
>>results of experiments are published.  If others are not able to
>>reproduce the experiments, the results are not accepted.  Every
>>discovery, hypothesis, and theory is subject to review and, if
>>the evidence warrants it, rejection.

So why are the theories of evolution taught  in schools?  Some of our
young people at church have even had teachers, teach this as fact. (I
know these may be isolated instances.)

>>Some of the "THEY"'s are some personal friends, college buddies who are
>>now doing serious research.  The best man in my wedding, for example,
>>is a researcher specializing in mammalian paleantology.  If there is a
>>grand conspiracy to invent facts in order to confound mankind into
>>believing there is no God, my friends have not made this conspiracy
>>known to me.

Again, I must apologize.  The "THEY" referred to in my original post
stemmed from a conversation I had with my mother.  We were discussing how
people in authoritative positions, i.e. doctors, politicians, teachers,
etc..., sometimes take advantage of their positions by saying things that
one is to assume is the truth, even when it goes against common
sense(ESPECIALLY, so called authorities on raising children, but that's a
whole 'nother story!!).  I realize that not all in these positions will
do this.  No offense meant to your friends.

>>God is good, ain't he!

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Kathy Barnett
kathrynsbarnett@juno.com