“I think a useful application of Occam’s Razor is in order.”
I think a useful application of the Bible is in order. It supersedes all of our “knowledge.”
God created the world in six days in excellent working order. Mountains were up high, trees were full grown, in soil, which is of course broken down elements, Adam and Eve were created as full blown adults. It was a miracle. It need not fulfill whatever scientific laws we have discovered.
Then you don’t need any evidence for a young earth. I am still wondering what Broun’s evidence is for a young earth. The simulation could have started 10 days ago for all we know. If you elect to start the simulation with Adam and Eve 9,000 years ago, then God froze the entire fossil record including the multitude of examples of predation in place (animals eating one another) for what reason? He also decided to freeze in place numerous examples of primates and early hominids. To test our faith?
You are aware that both the Old and New Testament went through a culling process in which many contemporary writings were not included. In addition in the Bible we have today actually has different sacred books if you are a Protestant, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, or Mormon. Also many passages in both the Old and New Testament refer to other books which are now lost, but should be thought of as canonical (why else refer to them unless they were the inspired word of God). Many leading theologians have had heartburn with the scriptures that remained after the culling process (James’ Epistle of straw as Martin Luther said).
Remember the church has gotten science horribly before (geocentric versus heliocentric solar system for example).