A First "RATE" Conference | The Institute for Creation Research

 
A First "RATE" Conference

A sell-out crowd of around 2,300 people gathered at Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego on Saturday, November 5, 2005, to hear about the groundbreaking discoveries from the RATE research team (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth). The conference featured four of the eight RATE scientists (all of whom were present) who presented some of their most noteworthy findings, including Project Manager Dr. Larry Vardiman, who summarized the incredible results and implications from this monumental eight-year project.

Dr. Henry Morris, Founder and President Emeritus of ICR, opened up the conference in prayer, followed by ICR's President Dr. John Morris, who offered a few words of praise and encouragement about this historic breakthrough in creation science. Dr. John recognized the RATE project as the most significant and successful research project in ICR's 36-year history, and expressed his thanks to God for bringing this enormous victory!

Dr. Russell Humphreys, Professor of Physics, was the first scientist to present his discoveries, sharing highlights from his research on helium diffusion that indicate that the age of the earth is only about 6,000 years, and explaining that the helium in radioactive crystals supports this contention.

Dr. Andrew Snelling, Professor of Geology, followed Dr. Humphreys, revealing his close study of radiohalos. His research showed that polonium radiohalos had to have formed rapidly under catastrophic conditions and that their formation is strong evidence for accelerated decay in different periods during earth's history.

Perhaps one of the most amazing and surprising discoveries was presented by Dr. John Baumgardner, Professor of Geophysics, as he reported that large amounts of carbon-14 found in coal and diamonds supports a young earth and the Biblical account of Noah's Flood. Carbon-14 is a short-lived isotope used for dating organic materials like fossils and has a half-life of only 5,730 years, so finding C-14 in diamonds (as much as one hundred times the detection threshold) is very compelling evidence for a young earth.

Dr. Larry Vardiman, Professor of Atmospheric Science, recapped the results of the RATE research project with the following summary points and implications.

Main summary points:

  1. A large amount of radioactive decay has occurred.
  2. Conventional radioisotope dates differ radically.
  3. Nuclear processes were accelerated during certain periods of earth's history.
  4. Helium diffusion and carbon-14 in diamonds is strong evidence for a young earth.

Implications:

  1. Creation and the Flood are genuine historic events.
  2. The Bible is scientifically reliable—the Scriptures mean exactly what they say!

The conference culminated with the long awaited premiere showing of ICR's new "docudrama," entitled Thousands . . . Not Billions, a two-year video project (just recently completed) which combines drama, scientists summary reports, animations, and illustrations to tell the remarkable story of the RATE research project. The conference ended with a lively question and answer session, and a time of book signing.

The San Diego conference set the stage for future RATE conferences across the country in 2006 and beyond. Plans are already in place for conferences in the Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and Houston areas with others to follow. ICR would like to encourage pastors and Christian leaders to collaborate with us to bring this faith-building message to as many churches as possible. For more information on hosting a conference in your area, please contact ICR's Director of Event Planning, Dave Evans, at 619/448-0900, ext. 6021.

The Latest
NEWS
Creation's Easter Message
While many Christians still consider the creation doctrine a fringe issue, a proper understanding of the Christian message finds creation at its core...

NEWS
ICR Veteran Don Barber Retires
Don Barber   After 34 years with the Institute for Creation Research, Director of Enterprise Technology Don Barber will retire...

CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
The Sanctity of Life | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode 23
Abortion is a big issue culturally and in the church. How can believers love our neighbors and act as the hands and feet of Christ when it comes...

NEWS
Plant Receptors Are Designed to Control Immunity and Development
God has designed plants to continuously track their environment.1 They do so with specially designed detectors (also called receptors) on...

CREATION PODCAST
Homo Naledi: The Lies Behind Evolution's Rising Star | The Creation...
Homo naledi, once evolution's 'rising star,' was considered to be a prime example of human evolution. But is it really proof? Or...

NEWS
A Subsurface Ocean on Mimas?
Scientists have analyzed data obtained from the Cassini spacecraft and concluded that irregularities in the orbit of Saturn’s moon Mimas indicate...

NEWS
In Theaters March 20 & 21: The Ark and the Darkness
Is Genesis true? What about Noah’s Flood? How did Noah fit the animals on the ark? Wasn’t it a local flood? Have you asked these questions? Though...

NEWS
Enigmatic Fossil Plants
The pre-Flood world thousands of years ago was unlike the world of today.1 Unfamiliar animals and plants were common, and there were a lot...

NEWS
Surprisingly Colorful Fossil Snail Shells
Finding organic compounds such as flexible dinosaur collagen and complete bone cells1,2 is becoming common, much to the shock and consternation...

NEWS
March 2024 ICR Wallpaper
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6 NKJV) ICR March 2024 wallpaper is now available for mobile, tablet,...