Let me caveat this question front and center so there is no misunderstanding - I am not looking for a debate on the age of the earth. As both a follower of Christ and a professor of engineering and geology, I have my own deeply researched convictions on the matter that have developed over many years of study. It is a fascinating study and topic, but that is not the reason I am asking this question.<BR><BR>I have recently begun teaching at a very conservative, Christian college. This topic has come up numerous times, as will happen when scientists gather around the lunch table. The opinions shared have been different than what I was expecting. I won't say in what manner.<BR><BR>I'm interested in collecting more data, particularly among conservatives. Since Sigforum is, I believe it's safe to say, a fairly conservative community with a relatively educated populace, what better place to conduct a poll? This is mostly for fun, but I may share the results with my geology class this semester.<BR><BR>If anyone feels like expounding on their position, I only ask that you do so in a polite manner and respect each other's opinions. Very smart people reside on both sides of this issue, so a dose of humility is in order for anyone discussing this topic.Which of the following options best represents your view on the age of the earth? For this poll, "old" means billions of years and "young" means thousands of years (less than one million).I'm positive the earth is oldI'm fairly certain that the earth is oldI'm leaning towards an old earth, but I'm not sureI'm leaning towards a young earth, but I'm not sureI'm fairly certain that the earth is youngI'm positive the earth is youngI hold a different view (feel free to explain)

What's your definition of old? I'm 77 and I am OLD!

4.5 billion years old - give or take a few mil.

No matter what one believes, it’s fairly obvious the earth is very 0ld.

i thought this was settled science?!

lol

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There's not a vote option that perfectly fits my position.

I voted for "positive the earth is old," but it would have been more accurate to say I'm confident the earth is old.

It’s older than I am but not by much.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
What's your definition of old? I'm 77 and I am OLD!

Is that old?

quote:

4.5 billion years old - give or take a few mil.

Is that old or young?
I guess it all depends on your perspective.

As to the OP's question, this sounds about right:

quote:

I voted for "positive the earth is old," but it would have been more accurate to say I'm confident the earth is old.

BTW/ I don't think a religious belief in creation is at odds with a scientific belief that the earth is old.

Eleventy brazilian.

Forty-two

The earth is about 4.6 billion years old. As far as I'm concerned this is a fact.

Anyone who disputes the science is misguided.

Anyone who dismisses the science is full of shit.

quote:

Originally posted by MRMATT:
4.5 billion years old - give or take a few mil.

This, Gods days, are not on our time.
Fer sure.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
The earth is about 4.6 billion years old. As far as I'm concerned this is a fact.

This is the number I tend to believe, but to say this is a fact is a little misguided as well. Seems to me this number is essentially a best guess.

I believe it is 6 to 7,000 years old.

Faith, and the age of the earth - or the Universe - are not mutually exclusive, Archbishop Ussher's calculations notwithstanding. Assuredly he knows better now.

To expound a bit on that, since you asked, the incontrovertible scientific data that the earth is ancient (with origins just shy of 5 billion earth-years) has never (rationally) been argued - with everything we know using current technology, the answer is not 42, but a number slightly south of 5 billion. The actual counter argument is, condensed and paraphrased, that the measurable evidence is false, put here, in the estimable words of the good Archbishop, "so that we may believe a lie and be damned." While the 5 billion number cannot be fudged into something else (other than minor instrumentation discrepancies and geological opinions - which are legion but essentially in agreement), the counter argument can be universally used to negate a host of other arguments, or actually any argument, including "I am not a witch." Occam's Razor would lead us, faith and all, to the simplest conclusion - that the earth is in fact it's calculated geologic age of 4-5 billionish years, that it matches essentially the formation period of the nearby planets, and that it was formed after the observable Universe appeared, about 2/3 of the way along. I'm of the opinion that the Almighty did not create the earth and the Universe specifically for ease of comprehension by His other creations. In fact, if you are a literal reader of Genesis, humanity came by its deductive powers quite by chance, and not with the intention or approval of the Creator. I humbly suggest we live with uncertainty.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Doc H.,

Per the Hebrew calendar, which counts time since Creation, the current year is 5,780.

quote:

Originally posted by Fla. Jim:

quote:

Originally posted by MRMATT:
4.5 billion years old - give or take a few mil.

This, Gods days, are not on our time.
Fer sure.

That's how I think as well. If a heavenly daytime is a billion years, and a heavenly nighttime is also a billion, then each heaven day is two billion. Multiply that by the 7 days of Genesis, and the universe was created in about 14 billion years. Current scientific theory is that the universe is around 14.5 billion years.

I don't think the earth is only 6,000 years old. Science places it at 4.5 billion. My reading of Genesis says that the earth completed its formation sometime on the third day. Close to where science puts it, if you use a heavenly calendar.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,

I believe that the earth is ~4.5 billion years old. But if God had created it in 4004BC or whenever, couldn't He have also created the fossil record, etc., as if it were billions of years old?

Why spend time arguing over the age of the earth, when we can spend that same time arguing over the merits of 9mm for use as a self defense round?

~4.5 billion years, /Sarcasm/ but it doesn't matter, humans are obviously going to destroy it with a couple hundred years of industrial revolution.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: matai,