The Darwin Reckoning: Volume V – A World Not Old

In The Darwin Reckoning: Volume V — A World Not Old, Dr. Alfred Basta takes a detailed look at one of the most fundamental assumptions underlying modern evolutionary and geological thinking: deep time.

Beginning with the historical development of geological time, this volume examines the rise of uniformitarianism and the influence of thinkers such as James Hutton and Charles Lyell. It then turns to the scientific methods used to establish the conventional ages of rocks, the Earth, and the cosmos—including radiometric dating, carbon-14 measurements, geological catastrophism, and other physical evidence.

The book explores:

• The historical invention and development of “deep time”
• The assumptions underlying radiometric dating
• Discordant dates and the RATE findings
• The unexpected presence of carbon-14 in diamonds
• Catastrophic geological processes and the evidence from the Channeled Scablands and other events
• Multiple lines of evidence presented for a young Earth
• Helium retention, ocean salinity, sediment accumulation, and magnetic-field decay
• Evidence and questions surrounding the age of the solar system
• The challenge of distant starlight and cosmic time
• The fine-tuning of the universe and what it may imply about its origin

Importantly, the author does not present every young-earth argument as equally certain. The book identifies contested issues, acknowledges unresolved problems, and discusses mainstream responses to the evidence. Its stated approach is to examine the assumptions behind competing interpretations and ask whether the evidence necessarily requires the enormous timescales commonly presented in geology and astronomy.

For Christian readers, the scientific discussion is complemented by clearly identified sections connecting the arguments to Scripture. The book’s scientific arguments are intended to stand on their own terms, while the biblical sections explore their significance within a Christian worldview.

Part of the six-volume Darwin Reckoning series, A World Not Old can be read independently while also contributing to the series’ broader examination of evolution, its historical foundations, and the evidence used to support it.

For readers interested in creationism, Christian apologetics, geology, radiometric dating, origins science, and the continuing debate over the age of the Earth and universe, this volume offers a substantial case for examining “deep time” rather than simply assuming it.

What is The Darwin Reckoning Volume V about?

A World Not Old asks whether the earth and universe are really as old as readers have been told. It traces how the idea of deep time developed through the uniformitarianism of James Hutton and Charles Lyell, then examines the assumptions behind radiometric dating, including carbon-14 measurements. The book looks at discordant dates, the RATE findings, and reports of carbon-14 in diamonds, and it presents catastrophic geology with the Channeled Scablands as a key example. It then surveys young-earth evidence such as helium retention, ocean salinity, sediment accumulation, and magnetic-field decay before turning to the age of the solar system, the problem of distant starlight, and cosmic fine-tuning. Mainstream responses are presented and unresolved problems are acknowledged, and clearly marked sections connect the scientific arguments to Scripture for Christian readers.

Who wrote The Darwin Reckoning Volume V?

It was written by Alfred Basta, a professor, author, and musician.

What genre is The Darwin Reckoning Volume V?

It is Christian apologetics and creation science nonfiction, which means it argues a young-earth position while laying out the dating methods, anomalies, and competing interpretations so readers can weigh the evidence themselves.

Who is The Darwin Reckoning Volume V for?

It is for readers interested in creationism, Christian apologetics, geology, radiometric dating, origins science, and the age of the earth and universe, including Christian readers who want the science connected to a biblical worldview.

Is The Darwin Reckoning Volume V part of a series?

Yes. It is Volume V of The Darwin Reckoning, a six-volume series examining evolution, its historical foundations, and the evidence used to support it. The description says it can be read independently of the other volumes.

Where can I buy The Darwin Reckoning Volume V?

The Darwin Reckoning Volume V is available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions. The hardcover ISBN-13 is 979-8170005253 (288 pages, published August 26, 2026).

Amazon (paperback) | Amazon (hardcover) | Amazon (Kindle) | Indigo (author page)

About the author: Alfred Basta is a professor, author of Ward No. 8 and The Malgrave Letters, and musician as The Bastas Project.

Last updated: October 12, 2026