Lane Koster (B.A. in Geography from the University of Saskatchewan; M.Div. from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) has had a lifelong interest in understanding both the Bible and God’s amazing Creation, being an avid student of both. He has extensively studied what Young Earth Creationists believe through literally hundreds of interesting and friendly conversations at book-table events, and through considerable research into their views about the age of the Earth.
Why Young Earth Creationism Cannot Be True
27 Compelling Biblical and Scientific Reasons
by Lane Koster
Why Young Earth Creationism Cannot Be True
27 Compelling Biblical and Scientific Reasons
by Lane Koster
Published Apr 28, 2021
64 Pages
Genre: RELIGION / Religion & Science
Book Details
HARMONIZING BIBLICAL TEACHINGS WITH GOD’S CREATION
Debate over the age of the earth has persisted in Christian circles for over 200 years. One view that gained prominence, especially since the 1960’s, is Young Earth Creationism. Does this view stand up to biblical and scientific scrutiny? The purpose of this book is to show there is a better way to understand God’s amazing Creation than the interpretation that God created the heavens and the Earth in six 24-hour days 6000 years ago. This book presents 27 biblical and scientific reasons why this cannot be true. As Christians we want to honor God and be true to His Word. Let us examine the Young Earth claims to see if they stand up to evidence found in both the Bible and Creation. The Bible makes it clear in Psalm 90 that God views time differently than we do. One thousand of our years are like yesterday to God. After God created the heavens, and the Earth to the point where it was “formless and void,” God then took six of His days to complete His work on the Earth. How long did God take between when He began the Creation and when the Earth was “formless and void?” The Bible doesn’t say, but it could be any length of time. Genesis 2 tells us that more happened between when God created Adam and when God brought Eve to Adam than can fit in one 24-hour day. A study of light shows it is not possible for light to reach us from distant stars and galaxies if the universe is only 6000 years old. Noah’s Flood 4500 years ago (as Young Earth Creationists claim) cannot possibly explain all the sedimentary rock, fossils, layers of ice, layers of lake sediment, the Grand Canyon, and many other features we find on Earth. Bristlecone Pine trees are older than Creation, and grow on mountains that did not exist until after Noah’s Flood, according to the Young Earth view. The claim that God made everything to appear older than it really is (the Appearance of Age argument) does not stand up to scrutiny. Nor does the view that God meant for all animals to live forever before Adam and Eve sinned. We do well to examine these claims, so that we can be more effective in sharing the Christian Gospel with people around us.
Book Excerpt
Front Cover Image Credit: Author's Photo of Bristlecone Pine Longaeva in Great Basin National Park, Nevada.
The oldest known Bristlecone Pine Tree is some 12,000 years old, based on matching tree ring patterns in core samples from living and dead trees. These trees are found high on the sedimentary rock mountains of the American Southwest, above 10,000 feet. They struggle to survive on nutrient-poor dolomite limestone soil, under harsh growing conditions.
Young Earth Creationists (YEC) claim the Earth is only about 6000 years old, and that sedimentary rock mountains formed only after Noah’s Flood about 4500 years ago. These trees pose a compelling challenge to the YEC interpretation of the Bible. God’s Creation obviously is much older than 12,000 years, based on the age of living and dead Bristlecone Pine Longaeva trees on the sedimentary mountains upon which they grow. The YEC dates for Creation and Noah’s Flood cannot be true.
The oldest known Bristlecone Pine Tree is some 12,000 years old, based on matching tree ring patterns in core samples from living and dead trees. These trees are found high on the sedimentary rock mountains of the American Southwest, above 10,000 feet. They struggle to survive on nutrient-poor dolomite limestone soil, under harsh growing conditions.
Young Earth Creationists (YEC) claim the Earth is only about 6000 years old, and that sedimentary rock mountains formed only after Noah’s Flood about 4500 years ago. These trees pose a compelling challenge to the YEC interpretation of the Bible. God’s Creation obviously is much older than 12,000 years, based on the age of living and dead Bristlecone Pine Longaeva trees on the sedimentary mountains upon which they grow. The YEC dates for Creation and Noah’s Flood cannot be true.
Table of Contents
Preamble
- The Laws of Heaven and Earth
- Psalm 90
- The Beginning of the Creation Week in Genesis Chapter One
- The Meaning of YOM (DAY)
- Events in Genesis Chapter Two
- God’s Sabbath Rest
- A Biblical Conundrum for YEC
- Animal Death Before Adam’s Sin
- Did God Create the Earth Fully Formed?
- Life Cycle of Stars
- Appearance of Age and The Speed of Light
- Light Spectroscopy
- Light from the Andromeda Galaxy
- The Fossil Record
- Plate Tectonics and Radiometric Dating
- Ice Cores
- Varves
- Limestone
- Mount St. Helens
- Sedimentary Layers of the Grand Canyon and Elsewhere
- Bristlecone Pines
- Craters on the Moon, and Throughout the Solar System
- Moon Rocks and Meteorites
- How the Solar System Formed
- We Shouldn’t Discredit Christianity Before Unbelievers
- Young Earth Creationism Is a Stumbling Block to Faith for Many
- Old Earth Creationism Leads Many to Awe, Wonder, and Worship
Preamble:
I have many friends, pastor friends, family members, and acquaintances who are Young Earth Creationists (YEC). I deeply admire, respect, and appreciate them as brothers and sisters in Christ. These are men and women who love God, walk before Him with integrity, and have a deep compassion for others. They want nothing more than to love and serve and honor Jesus Christ, our Lord. So, when it comes to questions about the age of the Earth or Universe, or about how and when God created the heavens and the Earth, I approach these questions with the deepest of respect, and appreciation for these folks as brothers and sisters in Christ.
As I pondered what I am about to share, I was reminded of the story of Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla. In the story in Acts 18:24-28, there is no doubt that Apollos was a deeply devoted and committed follower of Jesus Christ. He boldly proclaimed the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. But there was a flaw in his understanding of the truths of God when it came to baptism, knowing only of the baptism of John the Baptist (not baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). So, Aquila and Pricilla took Apollos aside to share and explain the way of God more accurately. This is precisely what I wish to do in the following 27 points, where I show why the perspective of Old Earth Creationists (OEC) is the more accurate, and preferred, understanding of the Word of God. I also seek to show clearly why the YEC perspective cannot be the correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, the Word of God, regarding how and when God created the Universe and the Earth. Please prayerfully consider what I have to say on this topic of the how and when of God’s Creation. ...