Renewing Hope: Overcoming Eroding Ages Through Faith

Eroding Ages: Exploring the Truth about the Age of Continents

Keywords: young, erosion, old-age idea, biblical perspective

The age of continents is a topic that has long been debated by scientists and theologians alike. Evolutionary geologists commonly believe that the continents formed billions of years ago. However, when we examine the evidence through a biblical perspective, we find that the idea of ancient continents is not as convincing as it may seem. One major challenge to the old-age idea is erosion. In this article, we will explore eight key questions about erosion and the age of continents from a staunchly conservative, biblical perspective.

1. What evidence suggests that the continents are not as old as evolutionists claim?

According to evolutionary geologists, the continents are billions of years old. However, if this were true, they would have eroded away long ago due to natural processes like water erosion. Rivers transport vast amounts of sediment from the continents to the ocean every day. Sedimentologists have measured erosion rates and found that some rivers excavate their basins by more than 1,000 mm (39 inches) in 1,000 years. The average height reduction for all continents is about 60 mm (2.4 inches) per 1,000 years. These rates of erosion are staggering when we consider the supposed billions of years for the age of continents.

2. How does erosion challenge the concept of ancient mountains?

Erosion rates not only challenge the idea of billion-year-old continents but also crumble the concept of ancient mountains. Mountainous regions with steep slopes and deep valleys erode faster than flat areas. Erosion rates of 1,000 mm (39 inches) per 1,000 years are common in alpine regions such as Papua New Guinea, Mexico, and the Himalayas. If erosion has been occurring for hundreds of millions of years, as claimed by evolutionists, these mountains should no longer exist. Yet we find that ancient mountain ranges like the Caledonides of western Europe and the Appalachians of eastern North America still stand today, despite their supposed age.

3. How does erosion challenge the concept of flat land surfaces?

Erosion also presents a challenge to the existence of flat land surfaces considered very ancient. These surfaces, like Kangaroo Island in southern Australia, are said to be at least 160 million years old based on fossil content and radioactive dating. Yet these areas show little or no sign of erosion and have no evidence of having had any other layers on them. The lack of erosion over such a long period raises questions about the validity of the old-age idea. How could these flat land surfaces remain unchanged for millions of years without being eroded by rain?

4. Can the high erosion rates be explained by uplift and renewal?

Some scientists suggest that mountains and continents still exist because uplift constantly replaces eroded material from below. However, this argument fails to address the problem of sediment preservation. If mountains had been eroded and replaced many times over billions of years, we would not expect to find sediments of all ages preserved in mountainous regions. Yet we do find sediments ranging from young to old in these areas, which suggests that continual renewal by uplift does not solve the erosion problem.

5. Can human activity explain the high erosion rates observed today?

It has been suggested that the high erosion rates measured today are due to human activities such as land clearing and farming. While human activity can contribute to erosion, quantitative measurements have shown that it only increases erosion rates by 2 to 2.5 times. To explain the high erosion rates observed today, human activity would need to increase erosion several hundred times more than what is currently observed. This explanation falls short in providing a satisfactory answer to the erosion problem.

6. Was the climate in the past drier, and does it explain lower erosion rates?

Some suggest that the climate in the past was drier, resulting in lower erosion rates. However, this idea contradicts the evidence from the fossil record, which indicates a wetter climate. Abundant lush vegetation found in the fossil record suggests that the climate was actually wetter in the past. Therefore, a drier climate cannot fully explain the erosion rates observed and cannot support the notion of ancient continents.

7. How does a biblical perspective offer an alternative explanation?

A biblical perspective provides an alternative explanation for the age of continents and erosion rates. According to the Bible, the continents and mountains we see today were formed as a consequence of Noah's Flood. During this catastrophic event, the incredible energy of retreating floodwaters carved the landscape we observe today. The relatively short period of time since the Flood, approximately 4,500 years, aligns with the erosion rates observed and challenges the idea of ancient continents.

8. What implications does this have for our understanding of Earth's history?

The erosion rates observed and the challenges they present to the old-age idea have significant implications for our understanding of Earth's history. They suggest that the continents are not as old as evolutionists claim and that geological processes like erosion can occur at much faster rates than previously believed. This aligns with a biblical perspective that views Earth's history through the lens of a young Earth created by God.

In conclusion, when we examine the evidence through a conservative biblical perspective, we find that erosion rates challenge the notion of ancient continents and mountains. The high erosion rates observed today, along with preserved sediments of various ages, suggest that Earth's history is better explained by a young Earth created by God rather than billions of years of slow and gradual processes. This alternative view provides a strong foundation for understanding the age of continents and erosion rates that aligns with conservative Christian values.