By Hugh Ross, Ph.D. (From his Book Creation and Time)
Reply: The implication is that astronomers determine the distances of cosmic objects by only one method: the redshifts of spectral lines. And because redshift measurements of distances may possibly be off by a large percentage, the distances reported by astronomers are considered unreliable.
This, however, is not true. Astronomers use a wide variety of distance measuring tools. Whole textbooks have been devoted to these measuring methods. While disagreement does exist over which are the most reliable, the uncertainties hover around 10 to 15 percent, with very few as high as 50 percent, for the entire gamut of measurements and calibration.1 In other words, our measurements to the "edge" of the universe may be off by 15 percent, possibly a bit more, but certainly no more than 50 percent. Thus, suggesting that astronomers are in error by 100 percent is without support.
Here is another consideration: if the stars are really near rather than distant, they must be extremely tiny, far tinier than the minimum size necessary for a star to burn.2 And if stars are neither distant nor tiny, another problem arises: Such massive luminous objects so close would burn up the night sky as bright as day. There would never be darkness on Earth.
References :
Ross Hugh, Ph. D., Creation And Time Navpress, (1994) Reasons to Believe, p.96
Dr. Hugh Ross's References :
-1. Ross, Hugh, The Fingerprint of God, second edition (Orange, CA: Promise, 1991), p.79-84
-2. Cox, John P., and Giuli, Thomas R., Principles of Stellar Structure, Volume II: Applications To Stars (New York: Gordon and Breach, 1968), p 979
Hope of Israel Ministries
P.O. Box 853
Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A.
www.hope-of-israel.org