Re: RATE Vol. II

On Saturday May 20, 2006; Randy wrote ...

>Despite the clear statements in the summary chapter of the unsolved
problems, the final paragraph continues to assert that the groundbreaking
new results once again reaffirm the validity of the Bible. Knowing the
right answer ahead of time provides confidence that the remaining unsolved
problems will be solved. Conferences and books and videos proclaim the
result of RATE as showing the validity of the young-earth position.
Statements that the RATE scientists published in the $79.99 version of the
800 page technical report won't be read by many people in the pews. They
will rely on the translation provided in the "Thousands...Not Billions"
book which has the conclusion right in the title. No need to read further.
<

Check out the following newspaper account of a "Thousands...Not Billions"
Conference held at the Roanoke VA First Baptist Church on Saturday May 20,
2006. __Group: Earth is a mere puppy__
<http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/66086>

There is no indication in this story that the conference even mentioned
any of the 'unsolved problems' in the RATE research.

Selected quotes from the newspaper article ...

*[Russell] Humphreys, who said he once followed secular scientists' belief
that the planet is 1.5 billion years old [sic], said the data prove Earth
is a pup.

*When comparing theories of a 1.5-billion-year-old [sic] and a
6,000-year-old planet, Humphreys said the data perfectly fit the theory of
a younger earth.

*"I want you to leave encouraged about this," he told the audience. "It
means you can trust the Scripture."

*Others, including Andrew Snelling, who holds a doctorate in geology from
the University of Sydney, explained that the four main methods for dating
rocks have yielded multiple ages for the same spots in the Grand Canyon.
Different ages, he said, are evidence of an increase in radioactivity
during episodes of the Earth's history. "The Earth is therefore younger --
thousands, not billions of years old," he said.

* For many at the conference, the ideas presented Saturday were easy to
digest despite the complexity of the speeches. Blayne Weeks, 37, said he
believes in the biblical account of creation and has always questioned
Earth's age. There were some unanswered questions -- such as how dinosaurs
fit into the theory of a young Earth -- but he agreed with what was said.
"It's more technical than what I expected," he said. "The only problem is,
will I be able to take what I learned and talk to someone else?"

*Others, like Becca Hubbard, 14, who traveled from Gloucester with members
of her church, were not questioning what was presented. "It's not really
that hard to believe," she said. "As long as you have faith."

Steve
[Usual disclaimers apply]
_____________
 Steven M. Smith, Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
 Box 25046, M.S. 973, DFC, Denver, CO 80225
 Office: (303)236-1192, Fax: (303)236-3200
 Email: smsmith@usgs.gov
 -USGS Nat'l Geochem. Database NURE HSSR Web Site-
  http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-0492/
Received on Mon May 22 12:29:45 2006