A young-Earth creationist magmatic model for the origin of evaporites

On my most recent "Around the web" post, I stated that I would be writing a longer response to the young-Earth creationist (YEC) proposal that salt deposits (usually referred to as evaporites) were actually formed through igneous processes rather than being precipitated from seawater. This may not be that longer response. Instead, it is a …

Continue reading A young-Earth creationist magmatic model for the origin of evaporites

Around the web 3/22/2013 — The ice age only lasted 250 years, evaporites formed from magma, environmentalism is bad for us, and more

There have been a number of articles on the web the past few weeks that deserve a long analysis, but some short notes will have to do. THE ICE AGE (SINGULAR) OCCURRED BETWEEN 2250 AND 2000 B.C. -- Answers in Genesis posted an article in February by Andrew Snelling and Mike Matthews entitled When Was …

Continue reading Around the web 3/22/2013 — The ice age only lasted 250 years, evaporites formed from magma, environmentalism is bad for us, and more

A Christian geologist tells his story

Many Christian geologists I know began their undergraduate geological training as young-Earth creationists (YECs). They entered their studies having been equipped by reading YEC classics such as The Genesis Flood and Scientific Creationism, had a whole stack of Institute for Creation Research Acts & Facts "Impact" articles, and were certain that they would set the …

Continue reading A Christian geologist tells his story

The age of the Earth is a quinary issue

For most Christian traditions and denominations, the age of the Earth is not a primary issue. It is not even a secondary issue. Nor is it a tertiary issue. In fact it is not even a quaternary issue. For most Christian traditions and denominations, the age of the Earth is a quinary issue! That's three …

Continue reading The age of the Earth is a quinary issue

Duane Gish of ICR dies at age 92

Dr. Duane Gish was one of the most prominent young-Earth creationists back in the 1970s and 1980s, especially popular among YECs for his tenacity in debates. According to the Institute for Creation Research (where Dr. Gish was vice president under Henry Morris) and Answers in Genesis, he died yesterday, March 5, 2013. Gish was also …

Continue reading Duane Gish of ICR dies at age 92

2013 International Conference on Creationism

Every five years or so, the top young-Earth creationist scientists gather in Pittsburgh for the International Conference on Creationism. From what I understand, this is quite different from your typical Answers in Genesis or Institute for Creation Research seminars that are presented for the general public at local churches. Instead, this will be the YEC …

Continue reading 2013 International Conference on Creationism

Around the web 3/3/2013

I'm enjoying a good thundersnow (or some call it a snunderstorm); the first blizzard thunderstorm I have experienced in Montana (I have seen it happen in Utah, Colorado, and I think Missouri). The temperature dropped from 59°F to 32° in less than thirty minutes, and it started to snow and blow really hard. I love …

Continue reading Around the web 3/3/2013

Six bad answers from Answers in Genesis are still six bad answers

Back in 2009, I posted a six-part review of a series of young-Earth creationist (YEC) articles on "Six main geologic evidences for the Genesis Flood." The YEC articles appeared in "Answers" magazine, which is published by Answers in Genesis. As part of my "blog recycling program," I am providing links to my posts: Six bad …

Continue reading Six bad answers from Answers in Genesis are still six bad answers

Best of the GeoChristian — updated

I have updated the "Best of the GeoChristian" link up at the top of the page. There is a good variety: posts on Christianity, geology, creationism, the environment, atheism, apologetics, and more. I would be interested to hear if there is a post that has been especially meaningful or helpful to you, or one that …

Continue reading Best of the GeoChristian — updated

GeoScriptures — Genesis 1:1 — When did “In the beginning” occur?

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." -- Genesis 1:1 One thing that young-Earth creationists and the New Atheists agree on is that if one were to believe the Bible, one would have to believe that the universe, including planet Earth, is only 6000 years old. Of course, both the YECs and the …

Continue reading GeoScriptures — Genesis 1:1 — When did “In the beginning” occur?

Most-read articles on The GeoChristian, 2012

There are still a few days left in the year, but here are the ten most-read articles on The GeoChristian for 2012. Only one of them was written this year. Dr. Dino still in prison -- This has consistently been the most-read article on The GeoChristian since I wrote it almost four years ago. Kent Hovind, a.k.a. …

Continue reading Most-read articles on The GeoChristian, 2012

Around the web 12/1/2012

NUKE THE MOON!!!! -- U.S. had plans to nuke the moon -- The U.S. Government really wanted to explode a nuclear weapon on the moon in the late 1950s, sort of as a macho "We're better than the Soviets" thing. One of the researchers on this project was a graduate student named Carl Sagan. BIG NEWS …

Continue reading Around the web 12/1/2012

I do have an advocate before the Father

I was visiting with a young-Earth creationist (a dear brother in Christ whom I did not know) during a break at the Nathaniel Jeanson presentation earlier this month. In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that there are a good number of prominent, conservative Evangelical scholars and pastors who advocate acceptance of an old …

Continue reading I do have an advocate before the Father

Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 5

This is the fifth post in a multi-part review of a young-Earth creationist (YEC) presentation given by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Billings, Montana in November 2012. Part 1-- The Relevance of Genesis (I was in complete agreement with Dr. Jeanson). The YEC version of the scientific method. Part 2 …

Continue reading Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 5

Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 4

This is the fourth post in a multi-part review of a young-Earth creationist (YEC) presentation given by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Billings, Montana in November 2012. Part 1-- The Relevance of Genesis (I was in complete agreement with Dr. Jeanson). The YEC version of the scientific method. Part 2-- …

Continue reading Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 4

Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 3

This is the third post in a multi-part review of a young-Earth creationist (YEC) presentation given by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Billings, Montana in November 2012. Part 1-- The Relevance of Genesis (I was in complete agreement with Dr. Jeanson). The YEC version of the scientific method. Part 2 …

Continue reading Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 3

Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 1

This is the first post in a multi-part review of a young-Earth creationist (YEC) presentation given by Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Billings, Montana in November 2012. Part 1 -- This page. The Relevance of Genesis (I was in complete agreement with Dr. Jeanson). The YEC version of the scientific …

Continue reading Nathaniel Jeanson of the Institute for Creation Research in Montana, part 1

The YEC “salty seawater” argument — not worth a grain of salt

A common young-Earth creationist (YEC) argument for an Earth that is only 6000 or so years old is the "salty seawater" argument. The salty seawater argument, in its simplest form, states that one should be able to determine a maximum age for the oceans by measuring the rate at which various salts---such as the sodium …

Continue reading The YEC “salty seawater” argument — not worth a grain of salt

Young-Earth creationism and the intensity of volcanism

The June 2012 issue of the Institute for Creation Research's Acts & Facts magazine came to my mailbox this week, and the short article "Volcanoes of the Past" by John D. Morris caught my attention. The article argues that Noah's flood was a time of massive volcanic eruptions ("supervolcanoes"), and that volcanic activity on Earth is now …

Continue reading Young-Earth creationism and the intensity of volcanism