Christian parents: How do feel about your children being taught evolution in school?

Question

I've noticed many Christian/creationist parents do not want their children being taught evolution in school.

I've also noticed that many Christians/creationists aren't very knowledgeable when it comes to the theory of evolution and sometimes appear ignorant when trying to debate the subject.

What I don't understand is: Why is it that many Christians do not want their children to be knowledgeable about something simply because they don't agree with or believe in it? Wouldn't it be best for them to understand the subject, even if they don't believe in it or agree with it? You can't possibly debate an issue if you do not understand the other side's point of view.

This is why you find that many atheists are so knowledgeable about religion - you can't argue something you don't understand.

NewCatholic:

And here's a news flash for you, I am quite aware that evolution is taught in Catholic school - I attended one.

Cristal:

To answer your question posed to me, religions can be taught in schools. As an elective class but not taught as fact in science classes. Comparative religions are offered in most schools.

Answer 1

I am OK with my children being taught about evolution. They have been grounded in our belief in God and know where we, as their parents, stand on the issue. They need to make their own decision on what they believe. Their faith in God needs to come from within them, not from what I believe. I, of course, would want them to continue in the faith that they have been raised in but that doesn't always happen. If they are strong in their faith, what they are taught about evolution won't change their minds. It hasn't changed mine. I worry more about other evils that are out there. Fear may play a part in their not wanting their children taught about evolution. If their child actually excepted the idea of evolution, then what?

I agree that if you are going to speak out on an issue you need to know all sides. Any decision requires gathering all the information. Perhaps even more important is agreeing to disagree on some issues without getting angry. I can stand firm in what I believe about certain things but I don't have the right to tell someone else what to believe, not even my children, or it wouldn't be their own and if it isn't their own then how strong will they be? We raised our children in a Christian faith but when they became adults, all but one went a different way. They are still wonderful kids and we respect each others desire to believe as we have chosen.

Answer 2

Umm,I'm a Christian mom and I have no prob with them teaching it.That's because they still can't prove it.I was taught the big bang theory way back 30 years ago and it hasn't changed my view of things.And I have also found that most, not all atheists have never picked up a Bible and read it either.You notice I said most.The ones that I know have never been brought up with a religion .So how would they know.They just quote a lot of mislead statements.The other half of the group are just people too busy trying to make a living and raise a family to even stop long enough to breath.There are the true atheists that are well read and truly believe what they live.I have been honored by some of their presence on Y!A.It IS good to debate with them.But I pose this question to you..If you want the big bang theory taught ,which it is .Why can't we teach them religions too? I'm not saying just Christianity but All religions?I'm not asking to "practice " them in school but to learn the basics of them?I would say that most atheist would be up in arms over it.So please don't make this one sided and label it Christians.Because it is the atheists that are not willing to have the religions in our schools.

Answer 3

I whole-heartedly agree with you. My parents are Catholic (I left the faith) but believe in evolution. Most people at their church do. And the catholic schools I went to all taught evolution. The teachers did a wonderful job, as they offered to let there be open discussion about religion, evolution, and how we can tie them together. I was very impressed.

You're also so right in saying that you can't debate if you don't know the other side of things. I've studied several types of religions but it wasn't for me. If I ever were being bullied about being an atheist, i could defend my own person beliefs (or lack of) with all the knowledge I know about the major religions (Hopefully I'll never have to do that, because I don't like dissing someone else's faith, regardless of what they believe) If you just keep preaching your own things but know nothing about what you're speaking out against, no one will even bother listening to you because you're just ignorant.

Answer 4

I have my children see both sides of the issue, I do not fear the idea that my children will think differently than I do. As far as I'm concerned, nothing has done as much to silence true science as religion. Having Astronomers ex-communicated and put to death for stating that the Earth rotates around the Sun and not the other way around. Unlike the "Creationist" nuts, If some compelling new evidence comes to the surface, I take it into consideration.

Answer 5

I understand the theory of evolution and I agree that it should be taught as a theory, along with countless other theories.

As a human that is a Christian, I have a problem with theories being accepted as fact in school. Remember that the definition of theory is "A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena. " The theory of evolution has not and cannot be proven today. My belief tells me it will never be proven in relationship to humans. There are to many empty spaces. Scientists connect the dots by making many assumptions.

As with many theories that have been taught in the past "The Earth is flat" and "The Earth is the center of the universe". They all should be taken with a grain of salt.

Answer 6

This applies only to "certain" Christians. The fundamentalist ones.

The vast majority of Christians accept evolution as a valid science and many evolutionary scientists are Christians or theists. Evolution is not atheistic. Evolution is no more atheistic than biochemistry, farming, engineering, plumbing, art, law, and so forth. Pope John Paul 2 accepted evolution as valid science along with the majority of the respecetd scientific community worldwide.

Belief in creation science seems to be largely a U.S. phenomenon among fundamentalist Christians. A British survey of 103 Roman Catholic priests, Anglican bishops and Protestant ministers/pastors showed that:
97% do not believe the world was created in six literal days and 80% do not believe in the existence of a literal Adam and Eve.

More than 10,000 clergy have signed a statement called the (Clergy Letter Project 2005) saying, in part,

"We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests."

The belief in a literal Genesis, Flinstones (man and dinasour existing together) a earth that is only 6000 years old and a global flood are only among a small few.

You should not generalize and discount the intelligence of most Christians or God-believers.

Answer 7

As you've already noted, Catholic schools teach evolution. My daughter attends Catholic school, and I feel that them teaching her about evolution is appropriate.

She plans to be a marine biologist, and she could not possibly succeed in that profession if she did not understand the evolutionary history of sea mammals, spiny fish, and the various marine invertebrates.

I'm a Christian who believes what the late pope said; "Truth cannot contradict truth." There are spiritual truths which are part of the fabric of humankind. And there are scientific truths that provide new insight into the mysteries of life and the universe. The responsible Christian integrates these mysteries, in order to better know the God who is at the heart of all of it.

We cannot live with a bag on our heads. That is not a true path to God.

Answer 8

knowledge changes. How we as a people see things grow and change.

Those that deny science are akin to Ostriches who put their head in the sand.

On the other side however, too often science is made out to be the only answer. When clearly it is lacking.

What should a parent do?

Expose a child to ALL perspectives.

A well rounded educated person is far better than a shallow sheltered ignoramus.


Nice answer by the way Pixie, and yes "creationism" is largely a US thing, however not fully. Just watch the film "Nell" with Jodie foster as to what happens when fundamentalism is allowed to control a person's development.

Answer 9

Since creation science has evidence to back up its theory I would like to see it preached in school, even if the teacher can't stand the theory, but evolution, which I got an "F" in (biology 145) is preached as if it is the truth and darwin had a degree in theology until he let science take over. I understand creation science, maybe the website I go to breaks it down so a layman can understand it (www.creationscience.com). I am not saying creation science is the truth, I think they should both be taught, a think a person should hear both sides of the story, just like in the 70's they said we were heading into another ice age in 2000, and now its global warming, so you can't believe everyhting you hear. I agree that its best to understand what an atheist believes, but as I stated ,so to it woul be nice for an atheist to know what a christian believes. why the earth is suppose to be 6 thousand years old and the evolutionist believe the earth is millions of years old with six extintions.
I am not sure if atheist experience a rhema when they read the bible because of 1 cornithians 4:4. but it is nice to hear if atheist read the bible. when I was atheist I read the mormon bible three times and got nothing out of it.

Answer 10

As a Christian, I want my child to learn as much as she can. God gave her this wonderful brain, I want her to use it!! She gets her Christian teachings at church, Sunday School, confirmation classes, etc. She should have the opportunity to learn more of the world out there. She has to live in the world, so why not learn about it! Doesn't mean she has to agree 100% with every theory or idea she is taught, but she needs to be exposed.
I am one of the few parents who really like her science teacher this year... he makes them question and talk and discuss and debate! You are allowed to disagree with him, he even encourages it, but you have to do it respectfully and with intelligence, not "just because". Wow, what a concept.... critical thinking skills?!?!
Personally, anything that makes a child/teenager want to discuss something with their parent or do more research or even talk to their pastor, that's a good thing!
(last year it was the SS teacher and Muslim teachings!)