according to Young Earth Creationist (YECs) “Absolutely!”
They believe the Earth is about 6,000 to 10,000 years old, based on biblical genealogies, because why not turn the Bible into the ultimate family tree? According to them, dinosaurs were created on the same day as humans (Day 6 of creation week, Genesis 1:24-31), which must’ve made the first “Bring Your Dinosaur to Work Day” pretty eventful.
YECs often point to:
- Biblical Behemoth and Leviathan: In Job 40-41, there’s talk of creatures with tails like cedar trees and breath that sets things on fire. Sounds like dinosaurs… or someone really bad at describing a hippo.
- Ancient Artifacts: Rock carvings in Utah and medieval doodles that supposedly show dinosaur-like creatures. Because clearly, if it’s on a rock, it must be true.
- “Living Fossils”: The coelacanth was thought extinct until someone caught it, proving that sometimes fish are just really good at hide-and-seek.
Debunking the Claim:
Now, let’s put on our science hats (they look like lab goggles but with more sass) and examine the evidence:
Fossil Record: Dinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago. Humans popped up around 2.5 million years ago. That’s like asking if George Washington ever FaceTimed with Abraham Lincoln—cool idea, but historically impossible.
Radiometric Dating: Not to be confused with “radioactive dating,” which sounds like a risky dating app. Scientists use methods like carbon dating and uranium-lead dating to show that dinosaur fossils are way older than human fossils.
Ancient Manuscripts: The Sumerians, Egyptians, and Greeks wrote down everything—from heroic battles to how to make beer—but not one “Hey, today I saw a T-Rex. Wild stuff!” The “behemoth” and “leviathan” likely refer to animals like hippos or crocodiles, with a dash of poetic flair.
Verdict?
DEBUNKED!
Sure, the idea of cavemen riding dinosaurs like it’s the Flintstones is entertaining, but reality says otherwise. Science, fossils, and common sense all agree: humans and dinosaurs missed each other by a cool 63 million years. But hey, we’ll always have Jurassic Park.