Rubio backtracks: Science proved 'definitively' Earth is 'at least 4.5 billion years old'

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) may have damaged his credibility with creationists on Wednesday when he reversed course and declared that science proved "definitively" the the Earth was "at least 4.5 billion years old."

The Florida Republican had recently suggested to GQ magazine that the Earth could have been "created in 7 days" but he wasn't sure because "I’m not a scientist, man."

But in an interview with Politico's Mike Allen on Wednesday, Rubio said he was just trying to give the same answer that President Barack Obama gave in 2007.

"There is no scientific debate on the age of the earth," Rubio explained. "I mean, it’s established pretty definitively, it’s at least 4.5 billion years old."

Rubio added that "there is no conflict" between the Bible and scientist about how the Earth was created.

"I believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And I think that scientific advances have given us insight into when he did it and how he did it, but I still believe God did it," he insisted. "I just think in America we should have the freedom to teach our children whatever it is we believe. And that means teaching them science, they have to know the science, but also parents have the right to teach them the theology and to reconcile the two things."

"The more science learns, the more I’m convinced that God is real."

Televangelist Pat Robertson recently admitted that radiocarbon dating proved that the Earth was older than 6,000 years and Christians shouldn't "cover it up."

Many creationists, however, believe that the Earth was created on October 23, 4004 BC. Groups like Answer in Genesis continue to claim that "dinosaurs (land vertebrates) were represented on [Noah's] Ark."

Watch this video from Politico, broadcast Dec. 5, 2012.

[Photo credit: Gage Skidmore]

(h/t: Think Progress)