I have another question about the dating method that evolutionist use.?

Question

You say that it took millions/billions of years for all the layers in the Grand Canyon to form.
But after Mount Saint Helen erupted they dug and found that there was up to 30 feet of rock layers that had been laid down in a matter of hours.

Answer 1

You're answer lies in Geology 101, and a true desire to know the answer to your question.

Answer 2

Your statement does not contain an actual question. Yes, scientists do believe that the rock layers in the Grand Canyon are millions of years old and Yes, the eruption of Mt. St. Helens resulted in mud and landslides that were 30 or more feet deep. There is no conflict there as you seem to imply.

It is a misconception among people not familiar with science that the concept of uniformitarianism means that geologists believe that ALL rock layers EVERYWHERE were formed very gradually an inch at a time over thousands of years and thus very thick layers must be very old. Scientists have never claimed this. While geologists believe slow deposition created SOME layers, NO well known geologists have EVER claimed this to be true for ALL layers everywhere in the world since geologists (and everybody else) have seen numerous occasions in nature where thick layers are laid down very quickly long before Mount Saint Helens occurred.

Because Mount Saint Helens was such a dramatic event and is relatively fresh in the memories of Americans, some creationists point to some of the events that occurred (landslides and rapid erosion) and claim that these were new events that nobody had ever seen or expected and thus they were a revelation that turned geologic science on its ear. That is crazy. Nothing - and let me say this again - NOTHING happened during the Mount Saint Helens eruption that was completely new or unexpected to geologists. In fact, Mount Saint Helens was compartively small compared to many eruptions that scientists had studied in the past. Geologists know of many places where layers were created (or taken away) fairly quickly and this does not change the age of the canyon rocks because that is NOT what its age is based on.

So, how do scientists determine the age of rock layers? There are a number of different techniques (some that provide absolute dates and some that provide relative dates) and it would take more than a single posting to go into the details of each, but here is a very quick and very simplistic summary:

Fossil Record - Changes in the types of fossils found in different layers (like land vs sea fossils) can imply a change to the overall environment and eco-systems that generally take long periods to occur. Landslides (such as at Mt. St. H) don't have animal remains laid out in a specific order with certain species always at the bottom and others always at the top and no mixing between.

Lithofication - You claim that the landslides at Mt. St. Helens created rock layers, but that is not true since all of those mud slides are layers of relatively loose mud, dirt and debris - while it may be hardpacked now in places (like a big dirt clod) it is NOT a rock layer (you could not chisel out a piece and carve a statue out of it, for instance). True sedimentary rock layers (where there is often a molecular change in the rock and an alignment of grains) takes a very long time and often requires heat and pressure (Turtle - as you go deeper into the earth's crust, the natural heat of the surrounding rock increases due to pressure - any deep rock miner - we are talking 2500+ feet - can tell you that).

Atomic Dating - Geologists can get a ballpark figure of the actual age of certain rock layers (within a few million years) by measuring the rate at which certain radioactive materials are decaying.

Finally, since this is really one of those questions where you are trying to say that to believe in God, you must disbelieve in science... I would like to note that not only do most geologists believe the canyon rocks to be millions of years old, but most CHRISTIAN geologists believe the canyon rocks to be millions of years old and many of the discoveries and ideas I have mentioned aboved were developed by men and women who were not only excellent scientists, but also very devote Christians.

Answer 3

James, why are you asking this question in the Religion & Spirituality section? If you ask it in the Geology section and ACTUALLY READ THE ANSWERS, you might learn that there is a very simple answer.

You may disagree with that answer ... but at least you will know what the answer is ... i.e. what the scientists actually say. Scientists are NOT stupid people.

As I look at the questions you do ask in the science sections, you seem to have some interest in these topics, and yet you show no curiosity *at all* in the answers. There are some very smart people here on YA. This is a great resource for learning if you open your mind a bit.

I mean that with all intended kindness to all.

Answer 4

You're talking about an area of volcanic activity and you are confused how there could be 30 feet of strata laid down in a matter of hours? Wow.

Answer 5

Totally different processes. There is a major difference between sedimentry rocks and volcanics.

I don't know for certain but I think turtles statement about folding only under extreme heat is meant as sarcasm. He really can't be so poorly informed as to believe that.

Answer 6

and there are also layers of ROCK in the grand canyon that are folded. and the only thing that folds rock is extreme heat. so if it took millions of years, wouldnt it have cooled down so that the rock wouldnt have bent? exactly. the layers would have been horizontal after they folded but they kept on folding. so this has to represent a fast and catastrophic event. e.g. noahs flood.

Answer 7

That's it. I'm convinced now. The Christian god made us, and we haven't changed at all in 6,000 (?) years.


You're brilliant.

Answer 8

this is where education comes in handy. Try studying something other than the bible

Answer 9

What does evolution have to do with geology?

Answer 10

I know, evolutionist have no idea what their talking about. They just like to listen to themselves talk.