Cherry Picking Data?

Creationists research is sometimes disqualified by evolutionists because they are said to be biased towards certain information - that they cherry pick their data. The aim of science is to be objective as evidence is gathered. Evolutionists refuse to consider catastrophic events that are outlined in the Bible (such as a world-wide flood) because they don't want to introduce religion into their work. Creationists believe that the Bible has important clues to the creation of the world so do not discount it.  This is considered bias. In my opinion, the bias is in not being willing to consider the events - but I digress...

It is dishonest to claim that one doesn't have a bias. Every person has a paradigm with which they view the world. Even when a scientist is trying to be objective, he/she still needs to acknowledge that they have biases they may not be aware of.

Objectivity is best achieved when scientist admit there is bias when they look at and interpret evidence. Scientists are dishonest when they deny this fact.

Is there proof of bias in evolutionary perspective? The following video shares a good case study about how this happens even with well-respected researchers when it comes to guessing the age of a discovery. It also teaches us why various radiometric dating methods seem to confirm each other even though many claim that these dates are not close to accurate.

Assignment:
Watch: Complete creation 21 starting at 3:10 (25 min)

Write: Thoughts, questions or insights you had from the video in the comments below

Getting Started

Welcome to the first assignment. Each week is broken down into 3 parts (learn, study and teach). "Learn" gives you information, "Study" gives you understanding as you work to make sense of the information. "Teach" will ask you to formulate that information into your own thoughts or questions - which helps it stay in your mind and opens you up to inspired application. I try to keep each week to less than one hour of work, but it may be more depending on your curiosity. This week is a little longer than an hour because the second video really clarified the dating methods for me, but it is a little long.

At a Glance:
1. Learn:
Watch Video 1 (11 min)
Video 2 (25 min)
Video 3: (10 min)
Total: 46 min

2. Research (see further study ideas below)

3. Teach: Comment below with a question, thought or insight


"Getting Started" Reading and Assignments:

I was warned not to start with the age of the earth when bringing up alternate viewpoints to evolution. It is too unconventional and it turns people off. There is lots of other evidence against evolution that has nothing to do with the age of the earth. However, this sparked my interest so I am asking others to keep an open mind and look at some of these theories just to be aware that they are out there and that the evidence shows that they are plausible. Most of us believe that the Earth is very old. We were brought up on the evidence that shows it to be so. Maybe it is, but we tend to think that anyone who thinks otherwise is a little delusional or uneducated - at least that's what I used to think when I would hear such talk. I felt bad for those stubborn enough to look past the evidence and insist on a literal reading of the Bible.

Then I met some of these people in person. They were very intelligent, leaders in their fields, and passionate about finding truth and evidence. They were kind, respectful, and practical. I was forced to ask myself if they knew something I did not know. Given my scientific background, that was an easy jump to make.

I started looking at some of the books, videos and articles they referenced in their conversation... I was surprised to find that there is a world of evidence that I was never told about in school. I learned that the understanding of what it means to separate church and state makes it so that schools do not teach anything that testifies of a creator. Instead they teach evolution. And evolution requires a very old earth.

Since I want to have a balanced understanding of the evidence, and I want that for my kids and those I mentor, I started this study group for us to research it together. I hope others will join us in our journey.

I thought it would be best to start our studies with some information about the methods used to date the Earth. The reason for this is that it helps to open our minds to the fact that these dates may not be as accurate as we have been led to believe. Once we are open to that, we may be more open to evidence based on different assumptions.

1. Learn - Watch:
Video 1:

Video 2:

And Video 3:
 

 2. Study - Do your own research about anything you want to study in more depth about dating methods or anything else mentioned.

Some Further Reasearch Ideas: 
- Do a word study on "Rock" (look up the definition, look up scriptures and words of prophets, write your own definition that includes an application to how you live your life).

-Read or research more about:

• Radiodating-
• The history of skull 1470 (some info can be found in Complete Creation part 21 on Wazooloo)
• Mars Rock alh84001 
• Dr Steve Austin- Mt St Helens Radiodating
• Analysis Calibration 
• Paluxy river in Glenrose Texas (famous for dinosaur and human footprints) 
• Analysis of Excess c14 in geologic record by Sanders
• Rate project volume 2
• Co2 Wells and c14 - deep Wells - deep time? By Daughty 
• C14 in oil, coal, fossils, dinasour bones or diamonds 
• Dinosaur Amber c14 by Miller et al

3. Teach: Post what you learned about below and any thoughts you had as you watched and studied. Be sure to share something that will be applicable to your life (someway you can live better because of what you learned - if you phrase it in the form of a goal or action item that's a bonus!)