Creation Science Rebuttals

 7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

     Verse 2 is referring to the earth, and the waters upon the earth.  This verse says nothing about the watery origin of the rest of our solar system.  In verses 6-7, it is generally understood by old earth creationists that this is the formation of the earth's atmosphere.  It mentions nothing about the planets, our solar system, or the stars (which in the young earth system, are not created until verse 16, or Day Four).

     Because of the limited scale and narrow approach of the young earth model, Rigg cannot even consider alternative processes that could explain the comet’s composition.  His argument is based on the assumption that carbonates cannot form in outer space.  This may be a true assumption.  However, there are several possibilities to explain the discovery of these minerals in a comet. 

Other Possible Explanations

     Carbonates have also recently been discovered in a nebulae.  Clearly, there may be a process by which these minerals form in the far reaches of space.  Although this is a possibility, I do not think this is the best option.  Until we observe these processes in action, this possibility will not develop further.

    The most plausible explanation is that the comet material comes from a previously existing moon/planet that was destroyed, perhaps by a collision.  There is plenty of space debris around to support the fact that there have been collisions in the past.  In addition, collisions from a meteor hitting the earth, such as the one at the K/T boundary 65 million years ago, ejected material into space, including dust and particles of clay and carbonates.  Yet other collisions earlier in earth’s history could have sent material into space.  For example, the moon is believed to have collided with earth², which would have caused debris to be sent into space.  Therefore, it is even possible that the comet Temple 1 is either a fragment from the earth or moon, or contains material from the earth or moon.

     Conventional scientific thinking on comet origins states that they come from the outer edges of our solar system.  Perhaps some comets also come from other sources.  Scientists should consider modifying their theories for comet formation. 

Other Issues

     In addition to Rigg's inability to consider alternatives, he includes some misleading claims.  He mentions that Temple 1’s composition is crystalline and requires temperatures over 700C (1,300 F) to form.  He claims that…

This temperature is, in our solar system, found only very close to the Sun

     This temperature is not only found very close to the sun.  The temperature of the Earth’s core exceeds 5,000 degrees centigrade.  Lava that is extruded on the earth’s surface from a volcano is about 700 °C to 1,200 °C (1,300 °F to 2,200 °F).³   Even further away than earth, Jupiter’s moon Io has much volcanic activity.   Rigg's claim that these temperatures are only found close to the sun is erroneous.