by Vernon R. Cupps, Ph.D., and Brian Thomas, Ph.D.

In Creation Research Society Quarterly 55 (4): 212-222

The late R.E. Taylor et al. have written technical materials that disparage results showing that C-14 persists in carbonaceous materials dated by secular scientists at millions of years old. Given the relatively short theoretical shelf life of C-14 of no more than 100,000 years, the presence of C-14 in such samples challenges standard age assignments. Taylor attempts to refute these C-14 results by belittling them and claiming that those who present them misunderstand the background requirements of Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) procedures during the initial phases of carbon dating. In response, we first review the required analytical and logical steps used for standard carbon dating. This allows us to pinpoint the elements necessary to determine the presence or absence of radiocarbon in a given sample, for example a Cretaceous fossil. Finally, we critique some of Taylor’s arguments. We find that his attempted refutations fail due to a lack of supporting data, the presence of contrary data, the begging the question epithet, and belittling in place of substance.

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