CARBON 14 DATINGAnd it’s relationship to the

Genesis account of creation(Genesis 5)

Christadelphian Beliefs

We believe the Scriptures are the inspired word of God

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)

Agenda

What is Carbon 14 dating

Accuracy of Carbon 14 dating

Bible teachings Conclusions

What is Carbon 14?

This picture explains the ideas of "atomic mass" and "atomic number". The carbon atom (14C) nucleus on the top has 6 protons plus 8 neutrons. It has an atomic number of 6 (the number of protons). Its atomic mass is 14 (the number of protons plus neutrons). Tritium (3H), an isotope of hydrogen, is shown on the bottom. It has 1 proton plus 2 neutrons in its nucleus. Tritium has an atomic number of 1 and an atomic mass of 3. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Radioactive decay

This is the international symbol for radiation. If you see this symbol, there are probably radioactive materials nearby. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff.

Half life

Tritium is a kind of hydrogen. Tritium is radioactive. Tritum has a half-life of 12.3 years. Pretend you started with 100 kilograms of tritium. After 12.3 years (one half-life), only half (50 kg) of the tritium would be left (yellow lines). After 24.6 years (two half-lives), only one-quarter (25 kg) of the original 100 kg of tritium would be left (blue lines). Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

What is Carbon 14 dating

This picture shows radioactive decay of a carbon-14 atom. The carbon atom gives off a beta particle of radiation. The carbon atom turns into a nitrogen atom. Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Can we prove that Carbon dates are accurate?

W.F.Libby, `Radiocarbon Dating', (Chicago, 1952), pp. 4-9.

Cosmic rays – prove inaccuracy of Carbon-14 dating

Galactic cosmic rays hit 50-year high Increase means NASA may need to rethink astronaus’ radiation shielding

The surge, which poses no threat to Earth, was detected by NASA's ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) spacecraft.

The magnetic field of the earth

Can we prove that Carbon dates are accurate?

We can date things for which historians know "the right answer."

We can date things that have been dated by some other method.

Lava flows – prove inaccuracy of Carbon-14 dating

Layer order – prove inaccuracy of Carbon-14 dating

“Bones 30,000 years old were found lying above wood dated at 16,000 years.” - (Ceram, 1971, p. 257-259.

The Bible & C14

Many believe that Carbon-14 dating proves the Bible to be inaccurate

6000 ≠ 6,000,000

Bible teachings – Mans creation

Adam & Eve created approx. 6 ,000 years ago

Modern radio carbon dates for human artefacts extends back only 5000 years – (CRSQ, 1972, 9:3, p. 157.)

Ice-Age materials that were dated by C-14 to fall within the Christian - (CRSQ, 1969, p. 114.)

The age of man

R.E.Taylor, `Major Revisions in the Pleistocene Age Assignments for the North American Human Skeletons by C-14 Accelerator Mass Spectrometry', American Antiquity, Vol. 50, No.1, 1985, pp. 136-140.

Criteria for Carbon-14 Dating

The material to be dated must be organic

The material must be less than 80,000 years old

The organism to be tested must have gotten its C-14 from the atmosphere

The sample has remained chemically and physically a closed system since itsemplacement.

That we know what the atmospheric concentration of C-14 was when the organism lived.

Has the ratio of C-14 to C-12 ever changed?

Genesis Water Vapor Canopy

Isaac Vail (1840 –1912) first proposed the canopy theory in 1874.

Genesis 1:6-8 Dr. Joseph Dillow did much research into

the idea of a blanket of water vapor surrounding the earth before the flood.8

The Genesis Flood

The age of the earth?

When did God create the earth? Where did the angels come from The Genesis account: “In the beginning God created the

heaven and the earth.  2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Conclusions

Is Carbon 14 dating accurate? Can we trust Carbon 14 dating? Does Carbon 14 dating contradict the

Bible ? Is the Bible unscientific? Can Carbon-14 dating be setup as

evidence against my belief in the Bible?

Lessons for Christadelphians

Do not overly trust in science God is in control The world is much more temporary than

it appears at first