As part of his spiritual guidance, we taught our son all about Creationism- the major figures, the claims, the reasons people are upset. We encouraged him to read the books of antievolutionists, who I will not call "Christians" because many scientists, like Darwin, are Christians.
We also gave him complete details of evolution, showed him the transitional fossils, had him actually read Origin of Species (which doesn't even use the word evolution) and discussed how scientific theories are formed. We went to a wooly mammoth dig and looked at bones, and he traveled to my lab where we discussed bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics.
While many of you will not believe this, we taught the other side of the debate to him with honesty and openness, as part of his education about religious movements in the US (not as part of his science lessons.)
How many antievolutionists have used works by actual scientists who believe evolution to teach their kids evolution, I wonder?
2007-03-21 05:51:13 · 7 answers · asked by LabGrrl 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
FYI: It was the behavior of antisecularists that convinced my son he was an atheist, even though his parents are not. I was at that age, so I understand.
2007-03-21 06:03:21 · update #1
Bravo! It's refreshing to hear from someone with a truly open mind. To teach doesn't mean to control a mind, it means to give a mind food for thought as you have done.
2007-03-21 06:00:20 · answer #1 · answered by charliecizarny 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My kids were taught that the Lord made evolution and about evolution. If you read Genesis you can see they thought the world was flat. It wasn't meant to be literal. I heard that some fundamentalist have a natural history museum and are putting dinosaurs in the garden of Eden with Adam and eve. It is a good thing for them that the God they worship has a sense of humor. Science is science and faith is about spirit.
To me it was more important that my kids believe that God is concerned with them personally and that communing with Him will make their lives more full and less depressing than that the bible was literal at all times. The only thing we need to know is He loves us and if we want to return that love to Him we can by giving love to all people. Loving the unlovable and offering forgiveness for wrongs freely to those who hurt us. How some other people make it so complicated is way beyond me. But I think it is great that you are exposing your children to differing views as ultimately they will decide for themselves as my girls have decided for themselves.
2007-03-21 06:06:21 · answer #2 · answered by bess 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We home schooled our children, so we assumed responsibility for their education. We found that they were just bombarded with evolution from every direction. If we watched a TV program about animals they were always told that these animals were millions of years old. They would be told that this animal originated from that animal that is now extinct. My son was interested in dinosaurs but every book that we found written about dinosaurs described them as millions of years old. They had a very thorough education about evolution without us ever having to say a word to them. Of the four of my children, my one daughter is a very strong evolutionist. It is the creation side of the story that is not being told to the children of our nation.
2007-03-21 06:06:36 · answer #3 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is intersting for me - I just found out my husband is a young earth creationist, while I am an old earth creationist. Our religion is pretty open on this - it says "God did it" but really leaves it up to individual members to speculate on His methods or time frame.
Anyway, when we've got our first kid on the way, and when this came up I just asked him "so what should we teach our kid," and he just said "Everything, and let the kid decide." Seems like a good plan to me.
2007-03-21 06:07:02 · answer #4 · answered by daisyk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 4 year old is just begining to question...I want to introduce him to religion and evolution...but am i wrong to believe he is too young to "get it" yet. I basically want to give him choices so that when he is older he can make his own decisions.
2007-03-21 05:56:26 · answer #5 · answered by ste.phunny 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Evolutionism represents everything that is anti-scripture and anti-God.
There's no place for it in my house....and there never will be
2007-03-21 05:54:52 · answer #6 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
don't try to reason with lunatics
2007-03-21 05:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋