Re: Challenge for Young Earth Creationists: the clock is now ti

David J. Tyler (D.Tyler@mmu.ac.uk)
Fri, 4 Sep 1998 16:49:49 GMT

Congratulations to Bill Hamilton for posing this riddle on 27th
August. It seems to me that it should be answered by all with an
interest in geochronology - not just YECs!

> For a good many years I have been puzzled by the failure of young earth
> creationists to ask a question about isochron dating. I have been fairly
> involved in the creation-evolution debate since 1991 -- first on
> talk.origins, later on this list -- and I have never heard a young-earth
> creationist ask this question. Yet it's an obvious question that ought to
> occur immediately to anyone who has ever tried to use experimental data....

If I ever get experimental results with two variables that plot
to form a straight line, I know that the results require some sort of
explanation. The isochron dating approach fits this situation well.
However, is the chronological interpretation the only possible
explanation of the observations?

> 1. Tell me what the question is

How can the "chronological" interpretation be distinguished from
other interpretations? (such as the geochemical explanation of
"mixing").

> 2. If I am incorrect about it never being raised, please furnish
> references to creationist publications that raise it.

There are frequent discussions of this in the technical literature
and it has also appeared in some creationist publications. So I am
doubtful that this is the answer to your riddle. However, I think it
is a weighty question in its own right and wish to put it on the
table!

Looking forward to December 1st!

Regards,
David J. Tyler.