Re: Do scientists agree on the age of the universe and earth?

"explainer" <gordon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1133561500.252408.162820@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> (Note: If this is a dumb question I will delete it in an instant, just
> ask. Thanks to the kind--sometimes not as kind, but well meaning, I
> hope--participants in TO, I have learned a great deal and brushed the
> dust off of my early sixties science education.)

Oops too late. Your question is now impaled forever on the horns of
cyberspace.

>
> I recently learned that the universe is not the 16 to 18 billion years
> old I thought, but is now estimated to be 13.7 +/- 0.2 Gyrs of age and
> that planet earth is 4.5 Gyrs old. Is there any dispute of this within
> the science community? If so, is it major or minor?
>

The age of the universe is based on observations and our theoretical
understandings of the way in which the universe has been expanding since the
Big Bang. The observations have improved greatly in recent years through
data from the Hubble Space Telescope (determination of the Hubble Constant)
and highly accurate measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background
Radiation, hence the reduction of the age estimate by about 20%. The range
of possible ages depends on the precise theoretical interpretation of these
observations but 13.7 GY is pretty much a consensus view among astronomers.
For those who want to explore alternative models of the Universe, modest
variations of this figure can result (but the range of variation is less
than 10%). It's worth noting that completely independent observations
indicate that the oldest stars yet found are around 11-12 GY old, completely
consistent with the above.

Any dispute is minor in terms of doubts that the Universe might be
consistent with YEC thinking. I doubt that there is a single member of the
International Astronomical Union (about 6,000 members worldwide) who would
support the YEC position.

There is also no dispute at all about the age of the Earth in the scientific
community. The evidence for an age of about 4.5 GY is simply too great for
any significant doubts. Again, YEC positions are simply untenable and no
serious scientist holds these views.

> The reason I ask is that ID advocates include both YEC and OEC
> proponents and this bothers me. If they can agree on ID,
> scientifically, how can they disagree on the age of the universe and
> earth?
>

'Cuz they don't actually know any science and are basically religious
fundamentalists trying to coat their religion with a thin veneer of
scientific sounding mumbo-jumbo in order to ram it down the throats of
schoolkids on the grounds of bringing Christianity into the schools while
trying to claim that they aren't. Why do you ask?

Anyone who claims that "it doesn't matter" whether the Earth is young or old
is already admitting they have lost the argument about ID being science.
Read the transcripts of the Kansas Kangaroo Court. They managed to lose the
case despite the scientists boycotting the whole proceedings. (They won
only on the technicality that the court was already rigged in their favour
before the hearings took place).

This is why the simple question asked of every witness, to state their view
on the age of the Earth, was so telling.

ID isn't science, it's religious fundamentalism masquerading as science.

> Or am I looking for an irrationality that's not there?
>
> Anyone?
>
> Thanks for the help. I hope I'm not wasting your time. If it's in the
> FAQs, I missed it.
>
> All the best, Gordon Hill
>

It's in the FAQs, Gordon. Go read the transcripts of Behe's testimony at
Dover. I think he completely lost it when he had to admit that on his
definition of science, astrology was in there too.

--
Mike Dworetsky

(Remove "pants" spamblock to send e-mail)

.

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