How old is Earth?

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

Okay, thanks for clarifying that: I wasn't quite sure what you were
trying to say there, while I also attempted to couch my words such 
that I wouldn't insult your intelligence!

> 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.

But the point is, if we lampoon scientists based on inaccurate
information, who is it that looks like a buffoon?

*THE* standard textbook for creation science is Dr Henry Morris'
_Scientific Creationism_.  It has lots of good stuff in there, but it
is also filled with inaccuracies which make Christians, in all honesty,
look like morons.  For example, there's a section about proof of a
young earth based on the depth of dust on the moon -- but the data Dr
Morris used was already ten years out of data when he wrote that
section.  It's almost like he intentionally picked some wrong data to
make his position look good, and it makes Dr. Morris, the *premier*
authority on creation science, look like a less-than-fully-evolved
monkey's uncle.

> 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.)

That's because it is believed to be fact.  I take it by faith the in
the begining God created just as the Word says, but I have to admit
that the evidence for an old earth and old fossils is so overwhelming
as to be almost irrefutable -- my little mind just cannot figure out
how these observations fit in with what the Word of God says.

See, I *do* understand the science -- I'm an engineer by trade and
apply this stuff every day I work. I understand the math behind
isochronic dating.  I understand the terminology.  Most people are able
to wave their hands and say "It's all technical mumbo-jumbo jargon that
I don't understand, so they're probably making it up," but I *do*
understand the jargon, so I have to just close my eyes and say "I trust
you Lord."  This may seem backwards, ignorant, and too "religious," but
the other alternatives (liberal religion or atheism) are just not
tenable to me.  I've got that Holy Ghost down in my soul, and *THAT*
is evidence enough for me that the LORD is Lord!  It also helps to
talk with Jesus constantly!

I should also clarify that there are two different issues, though they
are related.  The first issue, which we have been discussing, is the
age of the earth.  This is the issue regarding age of fossils and
various geological formations.  The second issue is that of evolution
(naturalistic or otherwise) -- that the current mix of species of life
came about as a result of change over time.

> Again, I must apologize.

No apology necessary as no offense was inferred regarding "THEY" - I
was attempting to show that "science" is not a big, monolithic,
faceless institution where dissenting views are clamped down on, but
is in fact made up of real live people.

That's not to say that challenges to the "status quo" aren't always
persecuted.  If anyone dares whisper that they are "creationist" at
a scientific conference, they are generally laughed to scorn.  The idea
that dinosaurs died out 250 million years ago is ingrained as sacred dogma
in the field of paleantology -- any challenges to that view are dismissed
out of hand.  My friend Dale, for instance -- the paleomammalogist who was
my best man.  He nearly got kicked out of graduate school because he raised
a fuss about some discoveries in South America of dinosaur fossils which
apparently date to sometime in the past million years or so -- this is an
*incredible* find, yet most paleo's have ignored this evidence.

> 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

Man, ain't that the truth.

I think Christians are the ultimate counter-culture revolutionaries,
since we are not of this world, but that's a whole different topic :-)

> (ESPECIALLY, so called authorities on raising children...

I used to be an expert on raising kids, until I got one of my own :-)

> Kathy Barnett
> kathrynsbarnett@juno.com

How's your littlest one doing, anyhow?

BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL, AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME!!

Richard "gotta get back to work" Masoner