Carbon-14 Dating Proves The Earth Is “Young”

By: Mark Tabata (Evangelist)

One of the common discussions I have with unbelievers involves the subject of the age of the universe.

We are told in nearly every outlet today that the Earth and the universe are billions-millions of years old.

As such, when the teaching of the Bible is examined and claims that the universe is actually thousand of years old and not billions (cf. Genesis 1-5; Mark 10:1-3; Romans 1:18-20), people usually dismiss the Bible as antiquated nonsense of an earlier generation.

But did you know that there are hundreds of evidences which confirm the Bible’s teaching in this regard, and that there are thousands of scientists who have documented these things?  

Let me share with you one of these evidences.

Writing on the subject of the presence of Carbon-14 in many “ancient” samples, we are told:

“The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years, compared with millions or billions of years for the radioisotopes used in the other common methods….The formation of carbon-14, also called radiocarbon, is one effect of cosmic rays that constantly bombard the earth. These high energy particles from space strike molecules of gas in the earth’s upper atmosphere and produce free, unattached neutrons. Some of these neutrons then combine with nitrogen-14 atoms to become carbon-14. Nitrogen-14 + Neutron → Carbon-14 + Proton The resulting carbon-14 atoms drift downward toward the earth’s surface. Along the way they combine with oxygen to make carbon dioxide molecules, or CO2 (Figure 3-1). Living organisms, chiefly vegetation, absorb some of this carbon dioxide from the air…Both types of carbon also enter the tissues of animals that eat the plants. When the vegetation dies, it no longer absorbs carbon from the air and its trace of accumulated carbon-14 slowly decays back to nitrogen….The same is true for an animal when it dies. Carbon dating involves the determination of the amount of carbon-14 remaining in the sample at a later time, usually measured as the ratio of the isotopes C-14/C-12. This value then is compared with the assumed initial carbon-14 content to estimate the sample age, based on the half-life and other calibration factors…FOR EARTH MATERIALS CLASSIFIED AS ANCIENT, ALL OF f THIS ORIGINAL C-14 CONTENT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY DECAYED AWAY For example, after ten half-lives of decay, any radioactive material has only 0.1 percent remaining of its original content. This small percentage results from multiplying the fraction ½ by itself ten times over. For carbon-14, this length of time, ten half-lives, is 57,300 years. If the elapsed time is extended still longer to 1718 half-lives, corresponding to about 100,000 years, carbon-14 decays to an entirely negligible level that is undetectable by current measurement techniques. TO EXPRESS THIS IN ANOTHER WAY, ANY CARBON–CONTAINING MATERIALS THAT ARE TRULY OLDER THAN 100,000 YEARS SHOULD BE “CARBON-14 DEAD” WITH C-14 LEVELS BELOW DETECTION LIMITS….To understand the significance of this carbon-14 finding, consider a comparison. Suppose an archaeologist investigates an Egyptian mummy. The outer covering is carefully removed to reveal the ancient, undisturbed interior. As the last wrapping is removed an amazing discovery is made. Inside the mummy is a wind-up clock which is still ticking! Perhaps the mummy is not as old as the archaeologist initially thought. The discovery of carbon-14 in “ancient” samples is just as startling to the conventional radioisotope dating community.” (Research By John Baumgardner “Carbon-14 Dating” in Dr. Don DeYoung, Thousands…Not Billions Challenging an Icon of Evolution Questioning the Age of the Earth, 365-4455 (Kindle Edition-emphasis added M.T.); Green Forest, AR; Master Books)

So if the Earth were truly billions of years old, there would not be these huge amounts of Carbon-14 in such “ancient” fossils. But since we are detecting them, then the Earth cannot be billions of years old.

These are some of the evidences which have caused many scientists to reject evolution. Several books written along similar themes document their difficult and sometimes perilous journey. Notice with me a few object lessons.

First, it is important to realize that the Bible is once again validated. Every time more evidence and study comes to light, the accuracy of the Word of God is continually reaffirmed. This should not surprise us! Even though the Bible is not a textbook on science, it is absolutely correct in the areas of science which it mentions.

Second, the study of science is a great blessing. While we must beware of “science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20, KJV), we must also realize and appreciate the great blessing of scientific knowledge. Many Christians are afraid of science because of the way that Darwinists have hijacked it and twisted it to advance their antichrist agendas.

But remember that God is the inventor of this science! We are reminded of the need to learn from God’s general revelation in nature (Romans 1:18-20; 10:17 with Psalm 19:1-5). Job encouraged people to learn from the animal kingdom (Job 12:7-10), and Solomon is commended for his careful and detailed study of nature (1 Kings 4:32-33). The child of God has nothing to fear from true science.

Finally, consider that God speaks to us through the realm of nature of His loving kindness. The tender Shepherd (40:11) Who lovingly seeks His sheep who have gone astray (Ezekiel 34:11-16) is searching for you (Luke 19:10).

Why not today allow Him to rescue you from this world of sin and trouble? He will! He invites you to come to Him and He will give you sweet rest from all your labors (Matthew 11:28-30). Believers are called upon to repent of their sins and to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and they are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

The grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.