he refuses to read a chapter in a biology book about it because he does not believe in it. I feel strongly that he needs to understand what the theory is even if he does not agree with it. I feel so strongly that i have grounded him until he reads the chapter and and then discuss it. he thinks this is unfair. i am interested in hearing what other people think about my position.
2007-02-11 13:38:55 · 10 answers · asked by jstahl19 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
His Sunday school teacher is filling him with lies. 12 years old isn't old enough to harbor beliefs that will be self limiting in his academic career. I don't know if you go to church or not, but if he does, they tend to discourage learning science in favor of "learning" the Bible. Tell him science has nothing to do with belief, it just is. I would avoid churches and keep him from going to friends houses that are Xians, some parents might take it upon themselves to "teach" other peoples kids about their gods.
2007-02-13 00:43:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
how old is your son?
i think your position is very reasonable... under any circumstances, he does not have a right to not do his homework because he doesnt agree with the lessons that are teaching.
with respect to science classes, I think the thing to convey to your son is that everything you learn in science is a *theory*, and is liable to be displaced by some other theory. this is true of evolution, just like any other theory.
I might demand that my son read the chapter on evolution, and then have him read do a second set of readings on the church's teachings about the theory that the sun revolves around the earth, and the challenges that Galileo and others experienced when they tried to challenge that theory.
its not important that he be convinced that the theory of evolution is correct, but that it is reasonable, and that it is important to be open-minded so that he doesnt make the same kind of mistakes made in earlier generations of dedicated Christians.
2007-02-11 21:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jeff G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, sounds like he's getting a different education from someone. I would explain religion and science have nothing to do with each other. Science is about facts and religion is about faith. The science of evolution is undeniable. But the science doesn't have any information about God or if evolution was guided by God's hand or not. Those are issues of faith and science has no tools for answering matters of faith.
I guess the other thing he should know is that the Bible may be the inspired word of God but it is written in the words of men. These men used words of their time in the context of their understanding and culture. It is not certain that a person reading those words today fully comprehends the entire meaning.
2007-02-11 21:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sit down and explain to him that just because he doesn't believe in it, there is no reason not to obtain knowledge of it. The best way would be to teach him creationist theory and evolutionist theory side by side and let him understand that both are a system of beliefs. Ask him if he believes in Dinosaurs and the ice age. If he says no, take him to the book of Job where two creature Leviathin and Behemoth are discussed. Explain that Dinosaur is a 19th century term, and could not possibly appear in the bible but that these two creatures may have been a discussion of Dinosaurs. Also in the book of Job God asks: "Who made the ice?" Challenge him to compare and contrast the two theories.
2007-02-12 06:53:32 · answer #4 · answered by pretender59321 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. Even if he disagrees with the assertions of evolutionary biologists, he at least needs to have some comprehension of the reasons behind those assertions. Besides, his biology teacher will expect him to know them, and he will be evaluated for a grade based on what the teacher expects him to know, not based on what he wants to learn. Remind him that just reading about a subject is not tantamount to indoctrination. If that were true, then many more people who have read about Faust's Mephistopheles would have surely become devil worshipers over the years.
2007-02-11 21:59:46 · answer #5 · answered by MathBioMajor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply state to him that there are alternative theories to everything including the concept of creation. Other than the initial misunderstanding of evolution from ape-like beings, there are other valid and often misstated aspects to evolution which can be found in nature today.
Darwin's observations of life, plants, and animals spawned some of the greatest scientific thought this century has ever known...there must be SOME validity to all of that work.
Besides, just because you study something, that doesn't mean you have to believe in it.
2007-02-11 22:48:10 · answer #6 · answered by The Education Doctor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just start out with the basics of natural selection and discuss changes without discussing the human element. thats how you have to teach in many rural areas. otherwise some students (13 yr olds) have been known to beat their chests like apes.
birds on different islands, giraffes necks, polar bears and different colored animals.
2007-02-11 22:28:46 · answer #7 · answered by smartass_yankee_tom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's going to be on the test, so he has to learn the material.
Flunking the unit in biology? Not a good idea.
2007-02-11 22:03:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why did you ask the same question as the mother and as the son?
2007-02-11 21:47:42 · answer #9 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well theres some things in this world that dont need to be taught or that people should know about
2007-02-11 21:44:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋