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00:00:00 – 01:24:53
In this video, David Russell and Tyler Fowler welcome Dr. Marcus Ross, a young Earth creationist with a geology and paleontology background, aiming to explore young Earth theories and the age of Earth. Dr. Ross shares his academic journey, including a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island, and describes his career shift from Liberty University to his science supply company, Cornerstone Educational Supply. The discussion covers the revival of young Earth creationism (YEC) in the 1960s, historical geologic insights, and the contributions of key figures like Steve Austin and Mary Schweitzer. An extensive debate unfolds over radiometric dating methods and their implications for Earth’s age, with criticisms of potassium-argon dating's reliability and discussions about accelerated nuclear decay.
The narrative progresses to the evolution of geological theories from the 1830s, highlighting a return to considering catastrophic events in the 1960s, spurred by proponents like Stephen Austin. Dr. John Whitmore’s research on the Grand Canyon's Coconino Sandstone is presented as a challenge to traditional desert dune formations, proposing underwater origins instead. Issues of academic recognition and open scientific debates are emphasized, along with Dr. Ross’s efforts to provide educational resources and textbooks like "The Heavens and the Earth."
Future episodes of the "Faith Unaltered" podcast are hinted at, with topics ranging from radiometric dating and penal substitutionary atonement to Jewish objections to Jesus, featuring guests like Dr. Hugh Ross and Dr. Jeremiah. The video concludes with the hosts urging viewers to engage with their content and extend their outreach.
00:00:00
In this segment, David Russell and co-host Tyler Fowler introduce Dr. Marcus Ross, a young Earth creationist with a background in geology and paleontology. The hosts express their excitement about discussing young Earth theories and mention how previous discussions with scholars like Dr. Hugh Ross and Rob Rowe have influenced their views. Dr. Ross shares his educational background, including a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island and his experience in vertebrate paleontology. They anticipate tackling challenging questions and engaging in a productive conversation about creationism and Earth’s age.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses his professional and academic background, including his transition from teaching at Liberty University to focusing on a science supply company he founded, Cornerstone Educational Supply. He elaborates on the company’s growth and offerings, such as customized kits for various educational needs. The speaker also shares his involvement in debates and publishing efforts related to young Earth creationism, specifically mentioning a debate with Mike Jones and collaboration on a publication addressing different perspectives on human origins. He highlights how his interdisciplinary background and collaboration with experts, like his sister, an Old Testament scholar, enhance his arguments in debates. The segment concludes with a discussion on the foundation and views of young Earth creationism.
00:20:00
In this segment of the video, the conversation delves into the history and development of young Earth creationism (YEC). Initially, YEC was the predominant perspective until the late 18th century, when geological and astronomical findings began to challenge the concept of a young Earth. The modern resurgence of YEC began in the 1960s, with significant contributions like “The Genesis Flood” by Whitcomb and Morris providing a scientific framework. The discussion outlines the emergence of trained geologists within YEC, starting with Steve Austin in 1980, and the gradual growth of a specialized community within the field. Additionally, it highlights the complexity and nuances in interpreting geological and paleontological evidence from a YEC perspective, including the preservation of soft tissue in fossils, which remains a critical point of interest and debate.
00:30:00
In this part of the video, the speakers discuss the organization within cells compared to crystals, highlighting challenges in maintaining biological materials over millions of years. Mary Schweitzer’s work is referenced, noting her efforts in preserving ancient proteins found in dinosaur fossils, which defy expected degradation timelines. The discussion then shifts to radiometric dating, addressing how dates derived from various methods, such as uranium-lead dating, often challenge young Earth creationist views. The reliability and logic behind these dating methods are defended, despite occasional anomalies like erroneous dates from recent volcanic rocks. The conversation touches on the complexities and the scrutiny faced by those who hold young Earth creationist beliefs in academic settings.
00:40:00
In this segment, the discussion centers on the complexities and challenges of using potassium-argon dating for recent geological events. The main points include how argon can be inherited from volcanic eruptions and how this affects the dating accuracy, making recent samples appear older. Geologists often avoid potassium-argon dating for newer samples due to these inaccuracies and adopt alternative methods like argon-argon dating. The conversation also touches upon discrepancies found when different dating methods are applied to the same geological samples. Additionally, the segment discusses young Earth creationist views on accelerated nuclear decay, which they argue could account for these discrepancies, supported by specific examples like helium retention in crystals.
00:50:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around the complexities of young Earth creationism and its intersections with scientific evidence. Mention is made of a simplified version of a technical work called “Thousands Not Billions” and associated videos that aim to make the information more accessible. The speaker, Russ Humphries, addresses the common critique that young Earth creationism is purely religious and lacks scientific grounding. He highlights examples where young Earth creationists developed hypotheses, conducted data collection, and had their results analyzed independently, leading to surprising findings, such as helium presence in rocks that indicate much younger ages than traditional uranium dating suggests.
The conversation then explores the difficulties both young Earth creationists and other perspectives (like old Earth creationism and atheistic evolution) face, acknowledging that all views hold certain tensions and challenges. One example discussed is polystrata fossils, such as trees growing through multiple rock layers, suggesting rapid sedimentation rather than indicating a young Earth. The video also touches on how old Earth interpretations can still incorporate rapid or catastrophic events within a broader, ancient timeline.
01:00:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around the evolution of geological theories from the 1830s to the present. Initially, there was a drastic shift from believing in Noah’s flood as the only catastrophic event, to recognizing multiple catastrophes, and then solely acknowledging slow, gradual processes over long periods. By the 1960s in the U.S., this extreme focus on gradualism started to see a shift back towards considering catastrophic events, thanks to individuals like Stephen Austin, a young Earth creationist, who was ahead of his time in advocating for catastrophic processes. The narrative continues with various geological examples, particularly focusing on the Grand Canyon and the Coconino Sandstone. The segment ends by highlighting Dr. John Whitmore’s extensive research that challenges the conventional belief that the Coconino Sandstone was formed by desert dunes, suggesting instead that it was formed underwater.
01:10:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around the Coconino Sandstone and its origins, contrasting it with other types of sand dunes. Dr. Ross and the hosts delve into how this large underwater dune field in the Grand Canyon challenges conventional explanations seen in standard textbooks. They argue that the conditions required to form such features are not found in modern environments, except in small volumes under deep water.
The conversation also touches on the struggles young Earth creationists face in getting their views and findings recognized within the broader scientific community. The speakers express a desire for open debates on these new findings.
Further, the segment briefly mentions plans for future discussions, including addressing Jewish objections to Jesus and exploring aspects of the Talmud. The hosts express their commitment to engaging with Jewish perspectives and fostering a better understanding of their faith in relation to Christianity.
Dr. Ross also highlights his contributions to educational resources, mentioning his co-authored textbook “The Heavens and the Earth” and participation in articles for Answers in Genesis. He shares how people can find his work and lectures online. The segment concludes with an invitation for Dr. Ross to return for a follow-up discussion.
01:20:00
In this segment of the video, the hosts discuss upcoming episodes and guest appearances on their podcast, “Faith Unaltered.” They highlight a variety of topics and guest experts, including discussions on radiometric dating with a nuclear physicist, penal substitutionary atonement with Dr. Jeremiah, and determinism and Mullenism with Dr. Tim Stratton and Chris Date. The segment also mentions planned episodes addressing Jewish objections to Jesus and a Halloween-themed discussion involving alien theories with Dr. Hugh Ross. Dr. Ross expresses skepticism about the existence of aliens and praises the lineup of upcoming guests and topics. The hosts conclude by encouraging listeners to like, share, and subscribe to support their podcast.