Saturday, March 24, 2007

Oldest chunk of Earth found

A piece of rock which was once part of the ocean's crust has been found in Greenland. The rock is estimated at 3.8 billion years old.

The upsurge piece of crust is evidence that active plate tectonics is older than previously thought. It was previously believed the continents only cooled enough around 2.5 billion years ago for plate tectonics to even occur.

Stories like this makes me appreciate and wonder just all what has happened on the earth.


Laura said...

Just curious...

How are you thinking about Geologic Time in your Biblical Worldview? I'd be realy interested in that dialogue

Catholicgauze said...

Hi Laura,

On a personal level I believe God made the universe through what science has explained to us. So I believe the Big Bang was caused by God, life evolved as guided by God, etc.

I see the world as a wonderful product by God. I believe all geological effects were done according to the laws God made.

In short I fall in the category of
Theistic evolution

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Laura said...

Thanks for your reply.

What I hoped to hear more on your views about is Geologic Time (as we understand it) lining up with Biblical Time.

ie. how long did all the PreCambrian period take in the 2nd and 3rd days in Genesis.

I'm wondering if anyone has created a comparison scale/timechart on that geologically.

Non geographers would ask me
"Do you think God made the earth old (as in it was already separate
continents and geologic forms) at the start of creation"

Personally I believe God created the earth, I'm just not sure excatly how He did it at, but
enjoy exploring that geographical understanding through a Christian worldview.

Not that it will be solved as we're not God, but that's the dialogue I'm interested in...
and yes I'm a geographer too.


Catholicgauze said...

There are so many different theories when it comes to creationism and geology. Most young-earth creationists (Earth is only 6,000 years old) will tell you that the most commonly accepted geological timescale is flawed and so there is no need for a Biblical-scientific comparison for it.

Old Earth creationist would say there is use for a biblical geological time scale that goes back billions of years.

I found one thing that is like a timescale here.

Here are some other sites you may find interesting (but so far I haven't been able to locate a descent time line for you):
An anti-creationist report, but it does a good job of laying out a creationist's geological argument.
Old Earth creationists using geology to defend the Earth as billions of years old.
Another Old Earth Creationist site with evidence for their claim.

So in short, your idea is as good as anybody else's. While I have my own view which I have stated, I was not present to witness the start of the universe and its developments so I tend not to be aggressive in these discussions.

Hope this helps and as always feel free to ask with you want more information.

Anonymous said...

I stumbled onto your site while trying to understand basic geology, Concerning the apparent discrepancy that exists between Bilical and emperical evidence regarding the age of the earth, why would not the Gap Theory" resolve those problems?

Catholicgauze said...

Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for commenting! First off let me say that since I was not there at the beginning my ideas are my ideas and I do not consider myself gatekeeper of the full, exact truth.
Gap theory is a possibility, but I see divine evolution as the one that compliments faith and science the best.