How do creationists relate Adam and Eve's date to the 4.5 billion year age of the earth?

Answer 1

There are two main sections of creationism: Old-Earth and Young-Earth.

Old-Earthers accept that there is overwhleming scientific evidence for an earth that is 4.54 billion years old, and can reconcile this with the notion of Biblical record; there are several gaps in that record, and some words (regarding times) when translated could mean anything from days to billions of years.

There are several other arguments presented which would fit within the timeframe of an old earth and yet also fit the Biblical record.

Young-Earthers dispute the scientific tools and data used to determine an age of 4.54 billion years, and present what they see as evidence to the contrary, as well as criticising the methods used (such as radioactive isotope dating) for being circular in reason or for relying on incorrect assumptions.

Answer 2

"Radiometric techniques may not be the absolute dating methods that they are claimed to be. Age-estimates on a given geological stratum by different radiometric methods are often very different. There is no absolutely reliable long-term radiological clock. The uncertainties inherent in radiometric dating are disturbing to geologists and evolutionists." William D. Stansfield, Ph.D., Instructor of Biology, California Polytechnic State University.

"Even total rock systems may be open during metamorphism and may have their isotopic systems changed, making it impossible to determine their geologic age." Prof. Gunter Faure (Department of Geology, The Ohio State University, Columbus.)

a). At current rates of erosion the amount of sea-floor sediments actually found do not support a "billions of years" age for the Earth.
b) The amount of Sodium Chloride in the sea, also, is a small fraction of what the "old Earth" theory would postulate.
c) The Earth's magnetic field is decaying too fast to extrapolate a long age for the Earth.
d) The rate of accumulation of Moon-dust has been measured; and the amount of dust on the Moon was found to be vastly less than what scientists had predicted before the Moon-landings.

See: Problems in Evolutionary astronomy

e) Helium is generated by radioactive elements as they decay. The escape of this helium into the atmosphere can be measured. According to the Evolutionary age of the Earth there should be much more helium in the atmosphere, instead of the 0.05% that is actually there.

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