Expert: John J. Shea - 8/18/2008

Question
I am 80, a secular person, a subscriber to Scientific American for more than 50 years!

With lies, the wingnuts are tearing science down, especially radio dating.

They list hundred of ojections and call the whole thing a fraud.

Science is not responding!

The average person does not know what to believe because science does not clearly refute.

The wingnuts are making monkeys of scientists because scientists can't explain in a direct way. A way that non-scientific people understand. Thank for the consideration.

Answer
Sorry for delayed response. I had to go to Kenya last week.
Science has proven the validity and effectiveness of radiocarbon dating to the satisfaction of any reasonable person.  There are clear and convincing explanations of the method in nearly every college textbook on archaeology, geology, and geophysics.
In my opinion it is just a waste of time trying to persuade people who will not accept any  scientifically-derived information about human origins that contradicts their religious beliefs.  No matter what you say they will not change their minds.  One can only hope their reluctance to make use of aspect of science extends to other scientific byproducts (medicine for example) and that natural selection will take its course.
Cheers,
John Shea