Answers to Creationist Attacks on C-14 Dating

[_Bret Ripley]

wouldn't a person just figure that God provided the penguins special transportation? I cannot imagive why they would walk.

[_Maksutov]

Maksutov:

I don't have a problem with Noah as a Prophet of God building a boat to save what he could from a massive albeit regional flood.

The story came from the texts of an earlier civilization, which recorded it differently. I have no problem with it, either, as a story. It's when people start teaching it alongside scientific explanations and start building "parks" using public tax credits, resources, etc. It's when folks like Nipper use it as an excuse to stop learning and thinking.

If you're LDS, you are expected to accept that the teachings are of a global flood as the Earth required baptism.

The Noah story, like the Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel, is a myth. Culture was more oral in those days and such stories lent themselves to entertaining the kiddos and providing deepity messages, cartoonish history and traditions for the rest. Nobody thought to authenticate or compare them in those times. They were too busy just living their lives day to day to be able to invest in investigation.

[_LittleNipper]

Speaking of tree rings: https://answersingenesis.org/age-of-the ... an-christ/

[_spotlight]

Speaking of tree rings: https://answersingenesis.org/age-of-the ... an-christ/

One particular Huon Pine occurrence which recently received international attention is the small forest patch high on the slopes of Mt Read, near Rosebery, Tasmania. Here, beside the small glacial Lake Johnston, are several hundred trees which share an extraordinary legacy. All are male and all are genetically identical, forming a clone. No variation in DNA has been found between the trees. Even more astounding was the discovery that genetically identical pollen was present in the bottom sediments of Lake Johnston, carbon-dated at 10,500 years. There are no other Huon Pines within 20 km of Mt Read,

Scientists conclude that a male tree established itself at Lake Johnston at least 10,500 years ago and has been propagating itself vegetatively ever since, so that the identical genes survive to this day.

Fanatical Bible thumpers OTOH having no rational explanation for this set of facts manage to observe that this dating was not established via tree ring chronology. Why that is significant in their minds no one knows but them.

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/68811/200 ... s_old.html

[_The CCC]

The story came from the texts of an earlier civilization, which recorded it differently. I have no problem with it, either, as a story. It's when people start teaching it alongside scientific explanations and start building "parks" using public tax credits, resources, etc. It's when folks like Nipper use it as an excuse to stop learning and thinking.

If you're LDS, you are expected to accept that the teachings are of a global flood as the Earth required baptism.

The Noah story, like the Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel, is a myth. Culture was more oral in those days and such stories lent themselves to entertaining the kiddos and providing deepity messages, cartoonish history and traditions for the rest. Nobody thought to authenticate or compare them in those times. They were too busy just living their lives day to day to be able to invest in investigation.

Not really. That has been suggested before, but as we demand unanimity for anything to become doctrine that particular idea doesn't meet that test.
SEE http://eom.BYU.edu/index.php/Earth
THE GREAT FLOOD. The Old Testament records a flood that was just over fifteen cubits (sometimes assumed to be about twenty-six feet) deep and covered the entire landscape: "And all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" (Gen. 7:19). Scientifically this account leaves many questions unanswered, especially how a measurable depth could cover mountains. Elder John A. Widtsoe, writing in 1943, offered this perspective: The fact remains that the exact nature of the flood is not known. We set up assumptions, based upon our best knowledge, but can go no further. We should remember that when inspired writers deal with historical incidents they relate that which they have seen or that which may have been told them, unless indeed the past is opened to them by revelation.

The details in the story of the flood are undoubtedly drawn from the experiences of the writer. Under a downpour of rain, likened to the opening of the heavens, a destructive torrent twenty-six feet deep or deeper would easily be formed. The writer of Genesis made a faithful report of the facts known to him concerning the flood. In other localities the depth of the water might have been more or less. In fact, the details of the flood are not known to us.

[_spotlight]

Not really.

Yes really. But you have to believe the founding prophet. If you don't, then why believe him about the Book of Mormon translation or restoring the keys of the priesthood? Or *cough* polygamy and polyandry?

Moses 8:3
And it came to pass that Methuselah prophesied that from his loins should spring all the kingdoms of the earth (through Noah), and he took glory unto himself.

Book of Mormon Ether 13:2
For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;

The scriptures teach that God prepared a prison for those people who died in the flood and that Christ suffered for their sins (see Moses 7:38–39). We learn from other scriptures that this prison was a spirit prison and is a temporary place in the spirit world for those who pass away.

https://www.LDS.org/topics/noah?lang=eng

You might want to re-read D&C 138.

[_bomgeography]

Not really.

Yes really. But you have to believe the founding prophet. If you don't, then why believe him about the Book of Mormon translation or restoring the keys of the priesthood? Or *cough* polygamy and polyandry?

Moses 8:3
And it came to pass that Methuselah prophesied that from his loins should spring all the kingdoms of the earth (through Noah), and he took glory unto himself.

Book of Mormon Ether 13:2
For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;

The scriptures teach that God prepared a prison for those people who died in the flood and that Christ suffered for their sins (see Moses 7:38–39). We learn from other scriptures that this prison was a spirit prison and is a temporary place in the spirit world for those who pass away.

https://www.LDS.org/topics/noah?lang=eng

You might want to re-read D&C 138.

A localized flood is a completely viable scenario

[_bomgeography]

When the Mississippi floods it has a 50 mile flood basin

[_Themis]

A localized flood is a completely viable scenario

It destroys the biblical story and makes no sense. Noah no longer needs to take animals. He no longer needs to build a boats for years when he could just move to higher ground. With a local flood in the LDS perspective he floats right between Africa and Europe to land in the Middle east. Funny to watch people dismiss certain silliness to invent new silliness.

[_The CCC]

bomgeography:

We don't hold any mortal as the source of our doctrine, even Joseph Smith. Further ALL doctrine must meet the same test of unanimity. Unlike polygamy and polyandry the Noah flood idea has never met that test.