Does the fossil evidence prove that the earth is millions of years old, or does it indicate a young earth, that could have been created in six literal days? Or can we say with Mercutio, "A plague o' both your houses"?
Well, I don't believe that the fossil evidence tells us anything about the age of the earth. We cannot use science to determine the age of the universe.
You see, the fall of man had a radical effect on the rest of creation. Paul says in Romans 8:20-21 that creation is in "bondage to decay" and is "groaning as in the pains of childbirth" – as a result of sin entering the world. Among other things, this means that it is impossible to extend the laws of physics back past this point – we don't know to what extent they were changed by the fall. The fall of man functions therefore as a singularity.
In fact, the flood behaves in a similar way, since immediately afterwards God establishes a covenant with creation wherein "cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease," (Genesis 8:22). In some way at least, the cycles of creation are fixed from this moment on. Thus, we cannot make any scientific pronouncements on what happened before this point in time.
It is futile, therefore, to attempt to muster scientific evidence for a young earth. Creation science is impossible.
Next week: Why I don't believe in the supernatural.
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