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How Old Is The Earth

SuperCow

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Science does not know what the direct speed of light is. They only know what the speed of light is when you reflect it off something. The light from a star would be one of the few things that you are seeing direct light from.
Scientists know exactly what the direct speed of light is, and they've known it since the late 19th century. Without this knowledge, Einstein would not have had any basis to develop the concept of special relativity.
 
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SuperCow

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And "thousands of ten thousands" was an astronomical number to them back then, etc.

It would be like telling one of us today, may your descendants become "infinite beyond infinity" back then, etc.

I guarantee you Rebekah could not calculate the number with what she knew or understood about mathematics back then, etc.

And that very few people could back then, etc.

What you just quoted proves absolutely nothing, etc.

And I suppose you also think that they all also had a full grasp on all the other scientific or factual concepts or ideas that took us several millennia to acquire back then?

God Bless.
The Babylonians had a numbering system in regular use that could count to about 12.96 million in 4 base-60 digits. They also had a relatively advanced understanding of trigonometry, which is evident from unearthed building plans. (Which, it turns out is easier to do by hand in base-60 than it is in base-10.) Abraham was rich and well educated by any standard you might use for that time period, and was a native of this region, so I think he could mathematically comprehend millions. Rebekah was Abraham's niece and showed distinct signs of intelligence in the Bible, so I don't think it's a given that Rebekah was ignorant of the concept. Though I don't think the concept of infinity in mathematical sense existed, but when referring to God, it could have been as comprehensible as it is to the average person today.

It's the translators of that particular verse (Genesis 24:60) that seem to have some issues with math.
(NIV) - "thousands of thousands"
(KJV) - "thousands of millions"
(ASV) - "thousands of ten thousands"
(Generally anywhere from millions to billions, but then I have issues with translations of large numbers elsewhere in the Old Testament as well.)

P.S. - (I generally agree with your posts. I just thought I'd clarify some of the basics, before someone tries to use them against you.)
 
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Neogaia777

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The Babylonians had a numbering system in regular use that could count to about 12.96 million in 4 base-60 digits. They also had a relatively advanced understanding of trigonometry, which is evident from unearthed building plans. (Which, it turns out is easier to do by hand in base-60 than it is in base-10.) Abraham was rich and well educated by any standard you might use for that time period, and was a native of this region, so I think he could mathematically comprehend millions. Rebekah was Abraham's niece and showed distinct signs of intelligence in the Bible, so I don't think it's a given that Rebekah was ignorant of the concept. Though I don't think the concept of infinity in mathematical sense existed, but when referring to God, it could have been as comprehensible as it is to the average person today.

It's the translators of that particular verse (Genesis 24:60) that seem to have some issues with math.
(NIV) - "thousands of thousands"
(KJV) - "thousands of millions"
(ASV) - "thousands of ten thousands"
(Generally anywhere from millions to billions, but then I have issues with translations of large numbers elsewhere in the Old Testament as well.)

P.S. - (I generally agree with your posts. I just thought I'd clarify some of the basics, before someone tries to use them against you.)
Ok, but it's not just the math or the numbers that would need to be understood, but almost everything else in the areas of knowledge that we have acquired since then, etc. And also, while some few might have been more intelligent or educated, the great majority of the people (their audience) (that they would be reading these things to) was not, etc.

But I appreciate you trying to sharpen me a bit though.

God Bless.
 
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Platte

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Scientists know exactly what the direct speed of light is, and they've known it since the late 19th century. Without this knowledge, Einstein would not have had any basis to develop the concept of special relativity.
You cannot measure what the speed of light is....no one can. You can only measure what reflected light speed is....not direct light. That is not about agreeing or disagreeing...its simply a fact. So what Einstein did was just make the assumption that direct light is the same speed as reflective light. (When asked about how he could make that assumption - He said its his theory he can make any assumption he wants to)

My point was not to say Einstein was right or wrong...but just to point out that understanding because stars are unique in that they are the only thing (that I know of) that we look at in space that is direct light. So just be aware of that when making statements of fact about distance and such about stars when its definitley not a fact since we don't know the speed of direct light.

 
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Neogaia777

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A "day" also has a lot in common with an "age", or "era", etc, which is why I think seven "days" was a very good way of explaining to all of them an entire creations "day" or "age" or "era" from each of their very beginnings, all the way to their full, and final, and complete endings, etc.

We can barely comprehend what I am saying right now, and most definitely can't without a knowledge of a lot of other things first, most of which were just recently discovered most recently, in these last few centuries, or ages, or days, or eras, etc.

We label "ages" by what primarily dominated them, or took place in them most recently, etc. Well, it is no different with God in the creation account, etc. Day/age 5, the era or age of the sea animals, etc. Day or age 6, the era or age of land animals (including man close to the end of it, etc). Day 7 has not happened yet, but we know it will be the day/age/era of Jesus Christ's earthly paradise kingdom rule and reign on earth, and will at first consist of those taking part in the first resurrection, and after the first judgement, at the end of Armageddon, etc, or at the end or closing of the 6th day, or age, or era, etc.

And it will be the time of God in the OT's rest, etc. Until the very end of that 7th or last "day", when will be the second and very final resurrection and judgement, which some call the "white throne judgement", etc, when those from the first resurrection and judgement, will join those from the second resurrection or judgement, and will all be judged together in one final, last judgement, etc. When this whole entire creation, this lesser heaven, and his lesser earth, etc, will be all "melted with fervent heat" and will come to a final end, etc.

When, at that time, all will give up all their dead, and will join those from the first and second and last resurrection, for one very final last judgement, etc. When some will go to be with God the Father in the Highest Heaven to be there permanently after that, and to be with Him forever after that, and then some "not", or they will go into the lake of fire after that, or will have their memories erased/wiped, and be made to play their exact same role again, but in a newly started, or newly created, lesser heaven and earth, all over again, etc.

But only for as long as, and when their number comes back up again, etc. And this will be forever, just as it has always been from forever for them, but will not ever be so again for those who went on to be with God the Highest Father in the Highest Heaven ever again, etc. But those ones will be joined by others like them again at the very end of a very final and last day of a whole entire new other creation (lesser heaven and lesser earth) again, etc.

God Bless.
 
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SuperCow

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You cannot measure what the speed of light is....no one can. You can only measure what reflected light speed is....not direct light. That is not about agreeing or disagreeing...its simply a fact. So what Einstein did was just make the assumption that direct light is the same speed as reflective light. (When asked about how he could make that assumption - He said its his theory he can make any assumption he wants to)

My point was not to say Einstein was right or wrong...but just to point out that understanding because stars are unique in that they are the only thing (that I know of) that we look at in space that is direct light. So just be aware of that when making statements of fact about distance and such about stars when its definitley not a fact since we don't know the speed of direct light.

Why is that relevant? It's like saying you have no proof that a meteorite came from space, because you can't prove it wasn't hovering just out of sight for 10,000 years and then dropped suddenly from a geosynchronous orbit. Or you can't prove God created it a couple of miles up in the atmosphere spontaneously and just decided at that moment to get rid of a few thousand trees in Tunguska. There's absolutely no reason to believe that light travels any differently before it reflects, and even if it did, it doesn't instantly go in one direction and then reflect at a set speed in every other scenario. GPS systems have to be synchronized because time moves differently in orbit, and the GPS has to take that into account to remain reliable. If the relativity theories were based on an incorrect constant, then they would be constantly going out of synch.

You'd have a better argument going after the Hubble constant regarding distances since that at least has variation and you can find examples of the same galaxy being both 27 million and 78 million light-years away. (According to different estimates) That being said, you're never going to logically put everything we've discovered inside of the 12,000 light-year bubble.

One would have to assume that:

a.) Genesis 1:1 is not part of the first creative day.
b.) God formed the earth (and likely the solar system) while everything else we see was already in existence.
c.) The photons had already been heading in this direction for a long time before creation.

The steady state theory was the most commonly believed origin theory before the Hubble discoveries.
 
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tdidymas

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I'm saying we are unable to measure the speed of light in a single direction - we can only measure 2 way speed of light (reflective light).
...and I'm called the extremely ignorant one - smh.
Actually, you're rather crafty, since you apparently tried to throw me off with such drivel. Like I said the first time, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?
 
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Platte

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Why is that relevant? It's like saying you have no proof that a meteorite came from space, because you can't prove it wasn't hovering just out of sight for 10,000 years and then dropped suddenly from a geosynchronous orbit. Or you can't prove God created it a couple of miles up in the atmosphere spontaneously and just decided at that moment to get rid of a few thousand trees in Tunguska. There's absolutely no reason to believe that light travels any differently before it reflects, and even if it did, it doesn't instantly go in one direction and then reflect at a set speed in every other scenario. GPS systems have to be synchronized because time moves differently in orbit, and the GPS has to take that into account to remain reliable. If the relativity theories were based on an incorrect constant, then they would be constantly going out of synch.

You'd have a better argument going after the Hubble constant regarding distances since that at least has variation and you can find examples of the same galaxy being both 27 million and 78 million light-years away. (According to different estimates) That being said, you're never going to logically put everything we've discovered inside of the 12,000 light-year bubble.

One would have to assume that:

a.) Genesis 1:1 is not part of the first creative day.
b.) God formed the earth (and likely the solar system) while everything else we see was already in existence.
c.) The photons had already been heading in this direction for a long time before creation.

The steady state theory was the most commonly believed origin theory before the Hubble discoveries.
My point is only because many people use the speed of light and the distance of stars from earth using that speed as proof that creation was not 6000 years ago. So I just wanted it known that that may not be a reliable argument against creation 6000 years ago.
 
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Platte

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Actually, you're rather crafty, since you apparently tried to throw me off with such drivel. Like I said the first time, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?
Many people. Perhaps you. I’d have to go back and look at your replies, use the speed of light and the distance stars are using that speed as an argument against Creation being 6000 years ago. Just pointing out that that may not be a reliable argument. The speed of light is used very often in creation arguments. You know that.
 
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Platte

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Actually, you're rather crafty, since you apparently tried to throw me off with such drivel. Like I said the first time, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?
also It is interesting that we can’t see any planets further than 6000 light years away. Planets are seen with reflective light which we do know is 186,000 miles per second.
 
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tdidymas

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Many people. Perhaps you. I’d have to go back and look at your replies, use the speed of light and the distance stars are using that speed as an argument against Creation being 6000 years ago. Just pointing out that that may not be a reliable argument. The speed of light is used very often in creation arguments. You know that.
How do you think any astronomical object is measured? Aren't you trying to argue that the U is only 6k yrs old? Denying how far stars are away without any cosmological theory on how astronomers are deceived is a dead end.
 
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tdidymas

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also It is interesting that we can’t see any planets further than 6000 light years away. Planets are seen with reflective light which we do know is 186,000 miles per second.
Reflective light is much dimmer than direct light from stars, so do you think that 6k LY limit on planets means anything at all, if indeed what you say is true - where are you getting your information? I only know of 2018 AG37 for being seen through a telescope, but other methods have detected planets up to 27,000 LY away. Here is an example: Newfound Alien Planet Is One of the Farthest Ever Detected
 
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Platte

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How do you think any astronomical object is measured? Aren't you trying to argue that the U is only 6k yrs old? Denying how far stars are away without any cosmological theory on how astronomers are deceived is a dead end.
Nope. Not claiming anything. I do not have adequate knowledge to make any claims. Just noting and observing. I think the universe is older than 6000 years old
 
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Platte

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Reflective light is much dimmer than direct light from stars, so do you think that 6k LY limit on planets means anything at all, if indeed what you say is true - where are you getting your information? I only know of 2018 AG37 for being seen through a telescope, but other methods have detected planets up to 27,000 LY away. Here is an example: Newfound Alien Planet Is One of the Farthest Ever Detected
Based in the list of known planets we can see using telescopes or other means. The other methods that we have used to see 27,000 ly away planets just use the holes in the direct light. They don’t actually see any planets. But the holes in the light are very good evidence of the planets
 
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Neogaia777

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Reflective light is much dimmer than direct light from stars, so do you think that 6k LY limit on planets means anything at all, if indeed what you say is true - where are you getting your information? I only know of 2018 AG37 for being seen through a telescope, but other methods have detected planets up to 27,000 LY away. Here is an example: Newfound Alien Planet Is One of the Farthest Ever Detected
Dimmer does not mean slower though, etc. Not unless they are passing through two different mediums, etc.
 
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Neogaia777

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Nope. Not claiming anything. I do not have adequate knowledge to make any claims. Just noting and observing. I think the universe is older than 6000 years old
How old do you think the universe is?
 
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Neogaia777

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Not sure but billions as has been estimated seems reasonable to me 13.6 I think
I thought you believed otherwise.

Sorry for bugging you about it, etc.

You guys can carry on if you like.

God Bless.
 
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Job 33:6

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Don’t pay any mind to the nonsense Trophy33 is saying. He will be spinning in that nonsense forever.

Scripture is referred to hundreds of times in the New Testament by Jesus and the Apostles. Each reference takes a literal reading of events exactly as you and I read it today. Whether it’s Adam being the first man, Noah’s flood, Jonah in the fish, crossing the Red Sea. Details about Abraham, Moses, David, etc…. All references to Scripture (Old Testament) are referred to as real events exactly as you understand it.

Jesus and the apostles are the example you should follow not someone who disrespect the words in the Bible and disrespect and ridicule people that accept the words as they are written as if the Bible can’t be understood by those that read it today.

Stand up for what the Bible says and reject the scoffers wholly and completely.

The new testament authors also are not claiming to take the Bible "literally" in all cases. Jude and Peter quote and draw from the book of Enoch, which isn't even considered canon.
 
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David Lamb

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The new testament authors also are not claiming to take the Bible "literally" in all cases. Jude and Peter quote and draw from the book of Enoch, which isn't even considered canon.
The Jude passage you refer to is probably this:

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,” (Jude 1:14 NKJV)

2 Peter has:

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast [them] down to hell and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;” (2Pe 2:4 NKJV)

Both of those two quotes are about literal events. If the NT authors use extra-biblical sources in a literal way, then when they quote the OT itself, why should it be any different?
 
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