Question of the Week: Does science show us what happened in the past?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us December 31, 2011 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Does science show us what happened in the past? Video On Demand: Why Won't They Listen? Part 3 (Sidebar) Ken's Blog (Sidebar) News to Note: Year in Review Last Chance to Give in 2011 Answers ... with Ken Ham After Eden Network with Us! Job Opportunities at Answers in Genesis (Sidebar) Q: Does science show us what happened in the past? A: In our three-article series on radiometric dating, we discuss in depth the assumptions that scientists must make. For example, it has to be assumed that all the daughter isotopes found in rocks today have been derived by radioactive decay of the parent isotopes. It also has to be assumed that the rate of decay of the parent isotopes in the past has occurred constantly at the same rates measured today. There is absolutely no way any scientist can know whether these two assumptions are correct, because the evidence only exists today in the present, and we can't go back to test the past millions of years and check that the rates of radioactive decay were the same then as they are now. Thus science is not the "window to the past"! This notion is based on a complete misunderstanding of the nature of evidence. What we observe and measure today exists in the present. We can repeat our observations tomorrow, but we can't go back to last week to repeat them. The only way we know our observations were the same last week as they are today is if we have an eyewitness testimony from someone who made the same observations last week. In the Bible, we have the eyewitness testimony of someone who has been present throughout all of history and who has told us what happened. And what we read in the Bible is confirmed by the observations we make in the world around us. Continue reading as Dr. Andrew Snelling addresses questions about radiometric dating, biblical creationism, and the true nature of science. News to Note: Year in Review Here at the end of 2011, we review highlights from the News to Note year. We have marveled at the wonders of God's Creation and shaken our heads when God's wondrous works have been attributed to time and chance and death—the agents of evolution. We hope you enjoy this illustrated perspective on the news. Forensic fantasy in London Foghorn Leghorn with teeth Zombie's curse Ancient antibiotic resistance Circular clock And Don't Miss . . . Last Chance to Give in 2011 Every gift, no matter how small, can make a big difference. Please consider donating to AiG and Ark Encounter today. Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program God is love, yet there's death and suffering? Death—don't blame the Creator God! Death—a battle of two histories! A perfect world? And full of disease! Evolution—and the school violence problem! After Eden Network with Us! Answers in Genesis Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Creation Museum Ark Encounter Ark Encounter Answers Magazine   Note: Facebook and Twitter are both social networking sites with user-contributed content. Children should not visit the sites without parental supervision.  Free app for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad	This Week . . . Feedback: Radiometric Dating and Proof (Dec 30) Prosecution—Biblical Age for the Earth (Dec 29) Genome-Wide DNA Alignment Similarity (Identity) for 40,000 Chimpanzee DNA Sequences Queried against the Human Genome is 86–89% (Dec 28) Contradictions: Act Like a Child (Dec 27) Letter from Ken, December 2011 (Dec 26) Celebrating Christ's Birth (Dec 25) Video On Demand Why Won't They Listen? Part 3 Watch Video Ken's Blog Which Jesus Do You Really Believe In? Sin Is to Blame—Not Evolution! A No-literal-Adam, Evolutionary Christmas "Gospel" Message A Crowded Day President of Creationist College Visits Museum with Family Previous entries Prayer Requests Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Answers Magazine Subscription: United States Tower of Babel - Video Download 180 DVD (pro-life documentary) Body of Evidence (8-DVD/Book Combo) More current bestsellers Upcoming Events California Answers in Genesis Conference, January 21–23 New Jersey Answers in Genesis Conference, January 28–30 BERMUDA Answers in Genesis Conference, February 5–6 Kentucky Sunday Speaking, February 26 Kentucky Not Ashamed Creation Conference, March 4–5 More events Job Opportunities Event Coordinator Internship Opportunities
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