Evolution v. Young Earth Creationism

Thank you for accepting, Con. I will remind you that you bear the burden of proof in this debate because you are challenging accepted scientific theory.Contention #1 - The earth is demonstrably oldYoung Earth Creationism makes two key claims: 1) that ex nihilo creation gave instantaneous rise to a large number of "kinds" and 2) that the earth and universe are relatively very young (6,000-10,000 years old according to most YECs). Disproving either of these key claims is enough to declare victory. In order to properly defend his or her notion of a young earth, Con will have to not only refute my arguments for deep time but also, as the bearer of the burden of proof, present valid arguments against deep time.Sub-contention A - Distant starlight is evidence of an old earthThe speed of light has been determined to be finite. That is, light does not travel from its source to the eye instantaneously. Rather, there is a travel time, no matter how brief or imperceptible. To present an example of this principle in action, the light we observe from our own sun takes 8.3 minutes to reach planet Earth.[1]Enter NASA's Hubble Telescope, which has observed galaxies as far as 13.7 billion lightyears away. In other words, Hubble has recorded light from objects whose light would require billions of years to reach us.[2] This clearly disproves the idea that the earth is mere thousands of years old.Sub-contention B - Helioseismology is evidence of an old sunThere are constant chemical reactions within our sun, and these variables of composition affect the way that sound behaves inside our nearest star. By constructing models of the pressure waves within the sun, a process called helioseismology, we can make estimates about its age. Scientists have used this method to determine that the earth is 4.57 +/- 0.11 billion years old.[3]Sub-contention C - Gypsum megacystals are evidence of an old earthGypsum megacrystals exceeding eleven meters in length have been discovered. According to crystal growth theory, these would require a minimum of one million years to develop.[4]Sub-contention D - The human Y chromosome is evidence of an old earthThe only factor affecting the DNA within the Y chromosome is mutation, and so by measuring mutation rate and the state of the chromosome we can determine that our common ancestor lived around 340,000 years ago. It is important to note that this does not indicate that there was a single original male but that one hominid's chromosome outlasted other strains.[5]Contention #2 - The factors necessary for evolution have been observedContrary to YEC rhetoric, all of the factors necessary for evolution have been observed. Gene-duplication makes it possible for additional information to be added to the genome via mutation or other means through the adding of extra "work space."[6] This is pictured below. Beneficial mutations do indeed exist, such as human lactose tolerance and HbC.[7]Contention #3 - YEC dogma requires evolution on a major scaleAccording to Young Earth Creationists, there was no death prior to the Fall of man recorded in the early chapters of Genesis. This means that there were no predatory animals but that all animals were vegetarian. For this to change after the Fall would require major evolutionary changes of the variety that YECs say are impossible. Lions would need to develop entirely new digestive systems, spiders would need to suddenly begin producing silk and spinning webs to catch their prey, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex would have to grow an entirely new set of teeth and jaws. Also, there would have to be a change in behavioral instinct for all predatory creatures.Let's also consider the developments that prey would have to undergo. The chameleon has no need to camouflage itself in a world with no predators, and the bombardier beetle has no need to be able to project acid at its enemies. These are just a few of the post-Fall developments you must believe in.I look forward to hearing Con's response to these points.Sources1. http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov...2. http://www.nasa.gov...3. http://www.aanda.org...4. http://giantcrystals.strahlen.org...5. http://haplogroup-a.com...6. http://www.cell.com...7. http://ratiochristi.org...