Christians, evolution, and taking high school biology?

Question

Ok, I'm concerned... 16 year old goes to public school, raised in a Christian home, yet refused to take HS Biology because they will cover evolution... about 3 weeks out of the entire year course!
I'm a practicing Christian, a teacher, and a mom. Is this nuts or is it just me?? Biology is so much more than evolution and it's an essential part of our education.

I wish it were required!

Yes, Biology can be used to try to disprove creation, but it you are strong in your faith, it won't touch it!

I'm not her mom... this is the step child of an acquaintance. And they are going along with what the child wants. My child? She's got a science teacher who thinks dolphins will rule the earth... can't wait to hear his reasoning!

CJ and Emiliano - it's not my child and I think she should be in class. As for not being a Christian, I think that if you were to read some of my answers that you would see you were very wrong. My point is that aside from evolution, this child will miss out on a lot of important information!

Microbioguy - thanks! My thoughts exactly!!

Answer 1

Hi.

You know where I stand.

The Holy Spirit gave me the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Biology is part of Gods Creation. When I was in College I had a part time job at Toronto General Hospital as an autopsy assistant. It made me contemplate the complexity and the frailty of the gift of life.

If she is strong enough to reject the theory of evolution, she can deal with it in class.

I must commend her for her strong faith. However we must live in this world but we don't have to be "of the world".

As a Funeral Director and Embalmer, the wonder and magnificence of Gods creation of life and mankind never wavered, it was strengthened.

Encourage her to take the class

Mark

Answer 2

I'm not sure the question is pose correctly, but biology should not hinder a person's belief in Christianity. I believe that 16 year should talk with his/her parents if evolution is being push down their throats. The school system has change tremulously when I went to school - we had prayer - we said the American Allegiance to the Flag - and a lot nonsense was not tolerated in schools. I pray that the family will ask for God's wisdom in the matter.

Answer 3

The OT doesn't address atomic theory, and it is just a theory, so I think the student shouldn't take chemistry either. Either that, or the alternative theory of the four elements of fire, water, air and earth should be taught on a par with modern atomic theory.

Likewise for physics. Since we can't prove what gravity is, and therefor anything dealing with gravity is strictly theoretical, the theory that angels hold everything down should be taught as an alternative in physics classes.

Ludicrous? Certainly. And this is exactly the same sort of mentality that is behind the refusal to accept the validity of evolutionary theory. Science doesn't address god at all. There's no reason for religion to be threatened by it, because religion and science cover two completely different spheres of human experience.

Answer 4

Bless this 16 year old. He is taking a stand for the Lord.
God said He created the earth and all that is in the earth and God said that He created man and woman. God never did need the help or Darwin or any other evolutionist.

Evolution is like eating meat offered to idols. It has carried the lies of Nebraska Man, Pilt Down and many other ever changing species of lies.

Evolution is a dead dog. It should not be in the Biology book.
Darwinism is a dead dog. There is a natural environmental change but this is not evolution as evolution was first described. This is just a science cover up to correct a wrong without admitting to be wrong.

If evolution is such a small part of biology, then give it another name. The word "evolution" makes me sick to my stomach. It has caused many baby Christians to forget God and pursue education without God. It has caused many people to lose their souls because they have rejected Christ. Even mature Christians because of the lies have stopped to question their faith. It is an evil from the devil. When the lies were found out, the scientist didn't shout the lies from the roof top of CNN. They kept the embarrassing lies quiet and let many people continue to believe the lies. Evolution has been a stumbling block to the Christian faith. I abhor it.

Also I have never heard so many wishy washy answers. You people are calling evil good. The student is standing on the principle of the issue . . . that God is truth and every man a liar. God said He created man and that man did not evolve. God said that He created the heavens and the earth and that they did not evolve. Are you calling God a liar?

Answer 5

Unfortunately you can lead a fundie to class but you can't make him think.

I see microbioguy above claims to be a microbiologist yet does not even know what the most basic definitions of theory and law are. Clearly he never even took basic fifth grade science. How can one claim to have a science degree without learning what a scientific theory or law is and he clearly has no idea.

A theory is "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena" .The term does not imply tentativeness or lack of certainty. For instance Human Sexual Reproduction is the theory that explains where babies come from.

A law is a statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met. Usually but not always laws are expressed by equations.

Theories do not change into laws. No matter how much evidence one has theories will always be theories and laws will always be laws. Laws and Theories are two entirely different types of things. Why is there so much ignorance in this country about the most fundamental definitions used by science.

Answer 6

Well the way I see it is the only choice for Christian parents (in public school system) is to take up the Christian faith outside the home, and allow them to take their evolution classes and just teach them the opposite when they are home and at bible school. This, however, is very demanding on the parent, especially in today's society where both parents are working, however, in making that a priority, that is what needs to take place. I am fortunate not to have my children in public school, but.... the Christian school they go to, also teaches the theory of evolution and the reason why it is NOT the truth. That's what the parents need to do in the home. School is important, biology is important and respect for the teachers is important. If you teach the child to disrespect the teacher, you are also doing wrong in God's eyes, so therefore, trust in God more and pray that the holy spirit minister to your child the right information.

This is not the only thing that they learn in school that might not be truth.... it's the parents job to raise the child up in the Lord.

Answer 7

There's no reason why Christians should have a problem with evolution any more than any other field of science. The spiritual teachings of Christ, as well as His virgin birth and resurrection, in no way are undermined by evolution. Your friend is a fool. And delusional, if he/she thinks that evolution is not real.

Also, you say that biology is so much more than evolution--evolution is the underpinnings of modern biology. Reject it, and you may as well believe in fairytales.

Answer 8

As long as he fullfills his graduation requirements, there's really not much that can be done.

Yes, for the record, I think it's silly verging on nuts. I believe in a Creator, and I have no problem with evolution being taught. What's to prevent an all-powerful God from using evolution as His tool?

And as for the dolphins--well, they're as smart as we are, but instead of polluting their environment and wiping out other species to make room for their overly-aggressive population explosion, they get to swim and eat and play all day, and their only real problems are the ones WE introduced. So really, who's got it made?

Answer 9

I am a microbiologist and as such learned an awful lot about the theory of evolution. It was always impressed upon my mind that this was only a theory - not fact.

As the theory was presented I was always looking for where I could punch holes in it, this is what a good scientist does. Every theory should be subjected to every possible scenario to disprove it. If it cannot be disproven through years of trial and error then it has the potential to become a law.

Thankfully I have never heard of the law of evolution and it still remains a theory. I believe the student in this case was wrong.

Answer 10

I am a Christian HS teacher and this type of behavior, or reaction, by Christians is inexcusable.
We are to be in the world, and not of the world. So... we can't be informed about other religions, theories, people that are unlike us.
Chuck Colson said "The worst threat to Christianity today are Christians." And this is an all too common and unfortunate example of the narrow thinking that turns people away.