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| | == Young Earth Creationism View == | | == Young Earth Creationism View == |
| − | [[Young earth creationism|Young earth creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and [[Second law of thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe and they also claim that these laws point to the universe being supernaturally created. <ref>[http://godevidences.net/space/lawsofscience.php Evidences for God From Space—Laws of Science]</ref> <ref>Thompson, Bert, [http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2329 So Long, Eternal Universe; Hello Beginning, Hello End!], 2001 (Apologetics Press)</ref> <ref>http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html</ref> Also, these scientists assert the [[theory of evolution]] has had considerable influence on fields outside of biology and this includes the field of astronomy. <ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3836</ref> For example, it is common for astronomers to refer to the "evolution of the universe".<ref>http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v435/n7042/edsumm/e050602-01.html</ref> [[Young earth creationism|Young earth creationist]] scientists believe the evolutionary view has had a negative effect on science of astronomy and that [[Materialism|materialistic]] explanations of the the origins of various astronomical bodies are insufficient and counter evidence.<ref>http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences.html</ref> <ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3836</ref> In addition, creationists often cite the secular scientific literature in order to make the case that materialist explanations of various astromical bodies are inadequate: | + | [[Young earth creationism|young earth creationist]] hold the [[earth]] and universe is approximately 6,000 years old. Young earth creationist scientists state the following is true: there are multiple lines of evidence pointing to a young earth and universe; the old earth and universe [[paradigm]] has numerous [[anomaly|anomalies]] and uses invalid dating methods, and there are multiple citations in the secular science literature that corroborate the implausibilty of the old earth and universe paradigm (for details see: [[Young earth creationism|young earth creationism]]. |
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| − | :“...most every prediction by theorists about [[planet|planetary]] formation has been wrong.” Scott Tremaine, as quoted by Richard A. Kerr, “Jupiters Like Our Own Await Planet Hunters,” Science, Vol. 295, 25 January 2002, p. 605.<ref>http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/295/5555/605 </ref>
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| − | :“We don’t understand how a single [[star]] forms, yet we want to understand how 10 billion stars form.” Carlos Frenk, as quoted by Robert Irion, “Surveys Scour the Cosmic Deep,” Science, Vol. 303, 19 March 2004, p. 1750. <ref>http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/303/5665/1750</ref>
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| − | :“We cannot even show convincingly how [[Galaxy|galaxies]], stars, planets, and life arose in the present universe.” Michael Rowan-Robinson, “Review of the Accidental Universe,” New Scientist, Vol. 97, 20 January 1983, p. 186.
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| − | In 2001, Cristina Chiappini wrote regarding the [[Milky Way]] [[galaxy]] the following:
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| − | :". . . it is an elegant structure that shows both order and complexity. . . . The end product is especially remarkable in the light of what is believed to be the starting point: nebulous blobs of gas. How the universe made the Milky Way from such simple beginnings is not altogether clear. - Cristina Chiappini, "The Formation and Evolution of the Milky Way," [[American Scientist]] (vol. 89, Nov./Dec. 2001), p. 506. <ref>http://www.icr.org/article/547/</ref>
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| − | Also, these scientists advance a number of reasons for the earth and universe being approximately 6,000 years old,<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/young.asp ‘Young’ age of the Earth & Universe Q&A] (Answers in Genesis).</ref> <ref name="AiG Astr QA">[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/astronomy.asp Astronomy and Astrophysics Questions and Answers] (Answers in Genesis).</ref> <ref>[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3040/ ‘Young’ age of the Earth & Universe Q&A] (Creation Ministries International).</ref> and raise a number of objections to claims of an extremely old age for the earth and the universe.<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dating.asp Radiometric Dating Questions and Answers] (Answers in Genesis)</ref> <ref name="AiG Astr QA" /> <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/young.asp</ref> Young earth creationist scientists also contest the [[Big Bang Theory]] stating that it is scientifically unsound.
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| − | <ref name="BB Critique">Thompson, Bert, Harrub, Brad, and May, Branyon [http://www.apologeticspress.org/modules.php?name=Read&cat=1&itemid=22 The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique] ''Apologetics Press'', May 2003 - 23[5]:32-34,36-47.</ref>
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| − | <ref>Brown, Walt, 2001, [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences16.html Big Bang?]</ref> <ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/309</ref> <ref>http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2047</ref> <ref>http://www.icr.org/article/343/</ref>
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| − | In regards to the question of how one can see starlight from millions of years of light years away, young earth creationists scientists commonly mention two things. First, these scientists assert that the [[Big Bang Theory]] has a star light-travel time problem and cite the work of Dr. [[Charles W. Misner]]. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v25/i4/lighttravel.asp</ref> Secondly, creationist [[Barry Setterfield]] has proposed that the speed of light was faster in the past. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0809_cdk_davies.asp</ref> Thirdly, the work of young earth creationist scientist Dr. [[John Hartnett]] is cited who proposes a young earth creationist cosmology that rejects an [[a priori]] [[methodological naturalism]] approach to the question of how one can see starlight from millions of light years away. <ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v17/i2/cosmology.asp</ref>
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| | == An Objection to Young Earth Creationism == | | == An Objection to Young Earth Creationism == |
Astronomy is "the study of objects and matter outside the earth's atmosphere and of their physical and chemical properties." [1] It has been studied since ancient times, forming a major part of the religions of many early civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Aztecs. The great stone henge at Stonehenge in England is also thought to be an astronomical observatory. The handing down of complex astronomical teachings shows these early civilizations must have had formalized systems of education.
Astronomy was crucial to the development of safe and accurate navigation for ships, and observations of the movement of heavenly bodies helped lead to the theories we now call physics. In fact, much of astronomy today relies physics, thus many astronomers are considered astrophysicists.
Young Earth Creationism View
young earth creationist hold the earth and universe is approximately 6,000 years old. Young earth creationist scientists state the following is true: there are multiple lines of evidence pointing to a young earth and universe; the old earth and universe paradigm has numerous anomalies and uses invalid dating methods, and there are multiple citations in the secular science literature that corroborate the implausibilty of the old earth and universe paradigm (for details see: young earth creationism.
An Objection to Young Earth Creationism
Because velocity = distance/time, a young earth creationist wishing to postulate a universe of approximately 6000 years old faces a number of problems if one uses an a priori methodological naturalism approach to the issue:
1. If they accept that the speed of light is indeed a constant 299,792,458 meters per second (approximately 186,282.3 miles per second), then they must argue for massive and systemic error in the measurement of distance between Earth and the vast majority of the observable universe.
2. If they accept that the measured distances are correct, then they must argue for a catastrophic miscalculation of the speed of light.
References
External Links
The NASA Homepage
The NASA Planetary Photojournal
American Astronomical Society
British Astronomical Association
A guide on how to start