http://www.newser.com/story/165107/creationist-10k-to-anyone-who-can-disprove-genesis.html (Newser) – A California creationist believes the Biblical book of Genesis is a literal account of the universe's origins—and he's putting his money where his mouth is. Dr. Joseph Mastropaolo is offering $10,000 to anyone who can successfully disprove a literal interpretation, using science, in front of a judge. He's calling the challenge the Literal Genesis Trial, the Guardian reports. Anyone who wants to take him up on the offer must also pony up his or her own $10,000; winner takes all. A dispute resolution model known as a minitrial would be used to hear the arguments from Mastropaolo and his opponent. A bailiff and court reporter will attend, in addition to a judge OKed by both sides. Per the rules, all "evidence must be scientific, that is, objective, valid, reliable, and calibrated." Mastropaolo, who has a PhD in kinesiology and has taught both biomechanics and physiology, says his goal is to heighten the quality of creation science vs. evolution debate. But first he has to find a willing opponent: "They [evolutionists] are not stupid people, they are bright, but they are bright enough to know there is no scientific evidence they can give in a minitrial," he says. Interesting. Any S2 takers?
Its the same thing as the million dollars to prove evolution challenge that was out there years ago. You can never prove these things to the absolutness required to claim the money. Creationist love to use sciences strength of not dealing in absolutes against them and then laud it over them as proof. An interesting example is that you can't actually prove smoking causes cancer. Everyone pretty much accepts the high rate of cancer in smokers as proof but in reality there are to many variables in each persons life to attribute their cancer to the cigarette with 100% certainty.
I am a Christian and I believe the universe is billions of years old. And if there is proof that the earth is 10,000 years old I'd believe that too; but right now I don't. Did I mention that I adopt evolution too? Don't be so quick to judge Christians. There are a lot of me out there.
Most judges would accept proof within the extreme limits of probability required by science to be considered proven. It is easy to prove that 6000 years isn't enough time for the world to arrive in its present state. Off the top of my head I can think of 3 lines of evidence--biology, geology, and astronomy--so there must be more, and you only need one. But $10,000 wouldn't cover attorney fees.
It would require roughly 2 hours of scientific research to sway any judge the earth is older than 10k years. Only way it was sooner is ifs supreme being had the ability; outside the natural laws of this universe to guide the process along.
Don't cigarettes contain carcinogens? Don't carcinogens cause cancer? Maybe you can't prove why a specific person has cancer, but you can prove that smoking causes cancer on the basis of reasonable scientific probability. That's all you have to prove in court for a civil claim is the preponderance of evidence, not a certainty.
