Claim CC310:
Fossils are used to determine the order and dates of the strata in which
they are found. But the fossil order itself is based on the order of
strata and the assumption of evolution. Therefore, using fossil
progression as evidence for evolution is circular reasoning.
Source:
Morris, Henry M., 1974. Scientific Creationism, Green Forest, AR: Master
Books, pp. 95-96, 136.
Response:
- Many strata are not dated from fossils. Relative dates of strata
(whether layers are older or younger than others) are determined mainly
by which strata are above others. Some strata are dated absolutely via
radiometric dating. These methods are sufficient to determine a great
deal of stratigraphy.
Some fossils are seen to occur only in certain strata. Such fossils
can be used as index fossils. When these fossils exist, they can be
used to determine the age of the strata, because the fossils show that
the strata correspond to strata that have already been dated by other
means.
- The geological column, including the relative ages of the strata and
dominant fossils within various strata, was determined before the
theory of evolution.
Links:
MacRae, Andrew. 1997-1998. Radiometric dating and the geological time
scale: Circular reasoning or reliable tools?
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dating.html
created 2003-5-15, modified 2004-3-7
