A Look at the Old Earth, Young Earth Debate
Uniformitarianism Vs. Catastrophism
This article will
discuss the geologic paradigms of the Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism
camps. The values and belief systems of each group will be explored with the
emphasis on the age of the Earth. Similarities and contrasts will also be
addressed as the never-ending debate of the age of the Earth continues to this
day. This discussion separates those who believe in naturalistic explanations
of the evolutionary process of the makeup of Earth from those who believe in a
supernatural involvement of the catastrophic changes that have occurred. Both
sides have drawn their theories from their worldview, not from science. Since
rocks and fossils do not define nor speak for themselves, the interpretations
of each camp are based, not on science but their presuppositions concerning the
supernatural.
Old-Earth Secular
View
James Hutton
(1726-1797), in his book, Theory of the Earth, fundamentally changed how many
geologists view the age of the Earth. His principle of Uniformitarianism
continues to be a pillar in many geological circles today. Hutton believed that
the biological, chemical and physical laws that operate on the Earth today, are
the same laws that flowed through the ages. These physical laws, according to
Hutton, never deviates from its developmental processes. In time, these natural
laws can slowly produce what appears to be catastrophic outcomes, just as
easily as a sudden cataclysmic event (Lutgens & Tarbuck, 2014, p. 273).
While studying the
slow natural activities of both the development and erosion of the planet,
Uniformitarianism geologists have concluded the Earth is old. They believe “the
present is the key to the past” (Lutgens & Tarbuck, 2014, p. 273). In their
belief system, the gradual sculpting of the mountains is an example of the
drawn-out process of the ever-changing landscape that has been going on for
billions of years. These erosive materials throughout Earth’s history have been
cascading down the mountains, being swept away by streams and rivers,
eventually being deposited at the bottom of the oceans (Lutgens & Tarbuck,
2014, p. 273; Morris, 2103, p. 8; Erwin, 2011, p. 31).
Young-Earth View
In the 1650s, James
Ussher, a respected Anglican Archbishop, in his book, Annals of the World,
chronologically determined the Earth was only thousands of years old. Ussher
believed the Bible was a historical document. Through careful research, he
concluded the Earth was created in 4004 B.C. Ussher’s work was not only
accepted, but applauded in both the religious and scientific circles throughout
Europe (Lutgens & Tarbuck, 2014, p. 272).
Through Ussher’s
work, the doctrine of Catastrophism was born. Catastrophism teaches the Earth
was created in six literal days. They also believe, 1600 years after creation
the Earth’s various landscapes were reshaped by the cataclysmic Global Flood
during the time of Noah. Catastrophism also teaches there is a gradual evolving
of the landscape of the Earth. However, they point to the Flood as the
supernatural explanation for the significant erosive landscapes, displaced
rocks, fossils and bones throughout the Earth (Mortenson, 2003, p. 22; Lutgens
& Tarbuck, 2014, p. 273; Clary, &. Wandersee, J. 2014, p. 64).
Archeologists, such
as William F. Albright, also believe in Catastrophism. He states unequivocally;
archeology has proven the Bible as being historically accurate. Recently,
Israel has confirmed another archeological find proving the historicity of the
Bible. Eshba’al Ben Bada, son of King Saul, as written in the Hebrew book of Chronicles,
tried to dethrone King David. Until this finding; a jar bearing his name dating
back to the time of King David, there was no other written account of Eshba’al
Ben Bada’s in existence. Once again, archeology has proven the historicity of
the Bible (McDowell, 1990, p. 92; Pyzer, 2015).
Comparison of the
Viewpoints
Natural Evolving
Process
There is a natural
law governing the evolving process of the Earth. Though it is a primary
doctrine of Uniformitarianism proposed by Charles Lyell, both Uniformitarianism
and Catastrophism accept there are natural laws governing the chemical,
biological and physical laws throughout Earth’s history. The difference is
found in their belief in how the catastrophic event that happened earlier in
the history of the earth occurred (Morris, 2013, p. 18).
Cataclysmic Event
In time, a new form
of Uniformitarianism emerged, moving in the direction of the Catastrophism
camp. Louis Agassiz agreed there was a cataclysmic event in the history of the
world. Agassiz proposed a natural event. He suggested an ice age to explain the
archeological discoveries of displaced rocks and fossils throughout the Earth.
The Catastrophism camp points to the Flood as the event that displaced the
rocks and fossils instead (Mortenson, 2003, p. 23; Clary, &. Wandersee, J.
2014, p.p. 66-67).
Contrast of the
Viewpoints
Supernatural Versus
Natural
Catastrophism
believes in supernatural events, including the Flood, which have changed the
intensities and rates of the topographic structure of the Earth.
Uniformitarianism rejects any supernatural events. Though they had to admit
there was a catastrophic event in the history of the world, those who hold to
the doctrine of Uniformitarianism chose to explain the event naturally. They
rejected the Bible and the story of the Flood. Therefore, they had to come up
with another type of event. They chose an ice age as an explanation in place of
the Flood (Morris, 2013, p. 8, 18; Mortenson, 2003, p. 25; Clary, &.
Wandersee, J. 2014, p.p. 66-67; Lutgens & Tarbuck, 2014, p. 273; Erwin,
2011, p. 27).
The Political
Discourse
Today, the
differences between the two camps have also become a political issue. Those who
do not accept humankind as the destructive force driving climate change, point
to the cyclical changes throughout the history of the world, including
cataclysmic events. Individuals who fall under the naturalistic
Uniformitarianism camp believe capitalism is one of the major destructive
forces on Earth. In their opinion, the greed of humans has ignored the damaging
effects of their actions. They point to events such as glacial melting,
sporadic changes in temperatures, deforestation, and other harmful events. With
these events in mind, they implore the rest of the world to change their
capitalistic ways before completely destroying the Earth’s natural system
(Angus, 2013, p. 15-18).
Conclusion
Uniformitarianism
versus Catastrophism boils down to one’s belief in the supernatural or the
natural. Catastrophism, believing in the Flood and the historicity of the
Bible, conclude the Earth is young. Uniformitarianism rejected the biblical
story of the Flood, believing the Earth followed its natural laws throughout history.
In time, Uniformitarianism had to accept there was a catastrophic event in the
history of the Earth. Not accepting the supernatural, they concluded there was
an ice age instead of the biblical Flood. Belief in God and His Word or the
rejection of the same is where the debate will always fall. No matter how many
fossils archeologists discover, they do not speak nor interpret themselves. It
is all about a person’s worldview, for science is incapable of answering the
age of the Earth.
References
Angus, I. (2013).
The myth of 'environmental catastrophism'. Monthly Review, 65(4), 15-28.
Retrieved from
http://monthly review.org/2013/09/01/myth-environmental-catastrophism/.
Clary, R., &
Wandersee, J. (2014). The history and nature of science: Is the past the key to
our future? Science Scope. National Science Teachers Association, 37(6), 63-71.
Retrieved from
http://www.nsta. org/publications/browse_journals.aspx?action= issue&id=94183.
Erwin, D. (2011).
Evolutionary uniformitarianism. Developmental Biology, 357(1), 27-34.
doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.01.020
Lutgens, F. K.,
& Tarbuck, E. J. (2014). Foundations of earth science (7th ed.). Upper
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McDowell, J. (1990).
The best of Josh McDowell: A ready defense. Bill Wilson (1st Ed.). San
Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc.
Morris, J. (2013).
The young earth: The real history of the earth—past, present, and future (5th
ed.). Green Forest, AR: Master Books.
Mortenson, T. (2003,
August 5). The origin of old-earth geology and its ramifications for life inthe
21st century. Journal of Creation, 18(1), 22-26. Retrieved from
https://answersin
genesis.org/age-of-the-earth/origin-of-old-earth-geology-and-ramifications-for-21st-century/.
Pyzer, Z. (2015, June 17). More Artifacts
Revealed in Recently Discovered Biblical City, Breaking Israel News. Retrieved
from
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