Mythology of Modern Dating Methods [Paperback]

John Woodmorappe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0932766579 | ISBN-13: 978-0932766571 | Publication Date: July 1999

A detailed survey of the following dating methods in actual use: K-Ar, Ar-Ar, Fission track, Rb-Sr, U-Pb, Pb-Pb, Sm-Nd, Re-Os, Lu-Hf, La-Ce, etc. Addresses and refutes the common defensive statements used by proponents of the dating methods. Special emphasis is on demonstrating that discrepant results are not the exception, but the rule, and that arguments used to justify so-called good dates are, when closely examined, arbitrary and without foundation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A...thoroughly understandable discussion...the real truth about the dating methods that evolutionists employ to brow-beat people into believing... -- Reason and Revelation, June 2000

In his own humorous but penetrating way, Woodmorappe exposes the...excuses...used...to discount their own dating results... -- Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal, Volume 4(1), 2000

The book fully develops the insight:"...the uniformitarian geochronologist cannot lose, no matter what turns up." -- Origins (Loma Linda) Volume 25(2), designated for 1998

You will find it an invaluable trove the next time you face a serious question about isotopic dating. -- Creation Research Society Quarterly, March 2001

From the Inside Flap

Discover:

What textbooks and newspapers won't tell you

Why discrepancies are common and dating methods are not "self-checking".

That there is no unequivocal support for an Earth age of 4.5 billion years.

How geologists often disagree on which dates are "good".

Why advancements in isotopic dating have only expanded the list of rationalizations for unwelcome dates.

The steady but obvious retreat of expectations for dating methods.

How chance alone can explain most agreements between methods.

And much more!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 118 pages
• Publisher: Inst for Creation Research (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932766579
• ISBN-13: 978-0932766571
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must reading for all science students and teachers, November 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mythology of Modern Dating Methods (Paperback)

When teaching my college level geology course, the topic of dating always comes up. In every class I have students who hold a range of beliefs from young age creationist to atheist, and I try to deal with this topic without upsetting anyone. After all, our goal is to learn, not alienate. One approach is to stress that all dating methods are based on various assumptions. Students should understand this and realize that we do not know for certain how old the earth is, or the age of anything else that is beyond human historical records. Students should not be taught this material dogmatically, but must be taught to question dogma in science. Only by questioning can they push the boundaries beyond what is known. This book will help the reader be aware of some of the many problems in arriving at age estimates using modern dating systems. As such it is must reading for not only geology teachers and students, but anyone interested in science. I have also noted that many of our once solid dates in geology are now being questioned in the literature. This book helps one to understand some of the reasons why. Highly recommended!

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Demolishes idea that radiometric dating is reliable., February 5, 2002

By 

Andrew Kulikovsky (Adelaide, SA Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mythology of Modern Dating Methods (Paperback)

Woodmorappe's work totally destroys the idea that radiometric dating is an inherently accurate age determinator. His extensive research shows that the way dates are obtained, accepted and rejected is very unscientific. In fact, they way the defenders of radiometric dating argue, it seems that such methods are inherently unfalsifiable. ie. there can never be anything wrong with the method itself, so if "bad" results are obtained it must be the scientist's collection methods, natural contamination, or specific conditions in which certain methods will not work.

Yet the critics don't seem to get the point. One critic complains that Woodmorappe is suggesting a huge discrepancy between dates obtained by Evernden et al and Swisher et al (p. 41), when in actual fact, the difference is relatively minor. But note that it was Swisher et al who rejected the Evernden et al dates because of the discrepancy so it was certainly a significant discrepancy, and in any case, Woodmorappe is discussing the supposed self-checking of isotopic dating: dates that were once regarded by all as being completely reliable suddenly turn out to be not so reliable.

The critic also complains that Woodmorappe is exaggerating a 1% disagreement between dates obtained by Renne and Dalrymple (p. 42), when in actual fact, Woodmorappe is discussing the claim that dates can be easily identified as being "credible" or "non-credible" and that isotopic dates are inherently self-checking.

The same critic also claims Woodmorappe misquotes Peterson regarding a discrepant 6th date obtained using 40Ar/39Ar, when the 6th date is not that different from the other 5. But again, Woodmorappe is misrepresented. He is actually discussing the application of 40Ar/39Ar method to check for xenocrystic contamination. It was actually Peterson himself who rejected the 6th date, calling it "almost certainly in error". And there are many more of same kinds of pathetic criticisms which result from such critics' own minunderstandings or misrepresentations, and therefore their criticisms are totally unjustified.

32 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mythology of Modern Dating Methods, August 24, 2002

By 

Stephen Schade (Mt. Prospect, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mythology of Modern Dating Methods (Paperback)

This book is written for people with some technical background, particularly in geology or chemistry. It highlights a number of problems with radiometric dating.

Of particular note is the fact that 90% of all dates for the age of the Earth are less than 100 million years. Yet scientists have fixed the Earth's age at 4.5 billion years. As Mr. Woodmorappe points out, they are clearly guilty of picking and choosing.

Another problem highlighted in this book is the closed system argument. In order for radiometric dates to be accurate, the rocks must not have exchanged matter with their surroundings during their entire lifetime. Quite obviously, this is not possible. All matter, living and inanimate, is an open system.

This book also employs a little bit of irony. By quoting the writings of evolutionary scientists, Mr. Woodmorappe points out that they are well aware of the flaws in radiometric dating. The problem, of course, is that they choose to ignore them.