Ok, if you're a YEC, what, if anything, do you teach your kids about dinosaurs and fossils and carbon dating such? Do you just avoid teaching about things that contradict your views? Or do you teach it as a theory others believe? Or do you teach dinosaurs existed just not 200 million years ago cause the Earth isn't that old?
Hmmmm.... I considering myself a YEC. I like to use the Answers in Genesis materials - to some degree. I do believe that dinosaurs existed, the bible is pretty clear (bohemouth, leviathan?). When we are watching something that talks about millions and millions of years ago, we will discuss why I choose to believe differently than that. And that it's never good to just point out what others believe is false without an answer. I go over why we believe what we believe, etc. I don't want my kids to appear as fools. But having an answer, and having the ability to debate and question with reasonable faith, I think is very important.
I'm not an old earth Christian or a young earth Christian. My oldest son and I did an in depth study of dinosaurs a couple years ago. I've taught that the words in the Bible are truth and we looked at various theories from Christian and non-Christian sources. When we looked at theories we explored whether they could be plausible based on the words in the Bible. We allowed for many theories not normally in the accepted "young earth" mindset. Did we decide what was correct? Not even close! We kept an open mind and maybe some day more information will be available. We didn't spend a lot of time in the fossil record or carbon dating so maybe we will have a different position after we thoroughly study all of that. But it all comes back to the words of the Bible. While I do believe the words are true, I do think human interpretation may be faulty. As for dinosaurs we are currently considering the Book of the Giants theory from the Book of Enoch. Interesting, but true? I don't know. It is just another theory.
I believe dinosaurs walked the earth with men, and I also believe that there is evidence of dinosaurs in this century. We teach the problems associated with carbon dating, how they are based on assumptions. My children know the theories that go against the Bible, and they understand that they are just that...theories. When we read/watch stuff, we will comment on how they treat those theories as fact, rather than as theory.
I do not avoid teaching things that conflict with our belief. I teach it so Ems can defend the truth. With that said, I also teach that science is a theory and God's Word is truth and everything should be based around that truth because God is never changing and science is. I do not think that any Christian can deny the existance of dinosaurs or fossils and it should be taught. As to carbon dating, this is a man made attempt to date things and anything man made is faulty. I do believe the Bible does reveal the existance of dinosaurs.
We go over what is out there...both young Earth and Evolution. I stress that the problems that religion has had with science in the past...some of which is born out and much of which is not. I also stress that it is NOT a salvation issue...we can be wrong on a whole host of things and still be secure in the Grace of Christ. (Thank God!) I have pointed out the issues I have with carbon dating (in a much simplified way...I don't even completely understand it) and we discuss the flaws that the people who do the dating verify...but that the magazine article might not point out. We also try to watch our language. The birds did not "realize" they needed a longer beak to get the nectar that was thier favorite food. (many mainstream documentaries use words like realized, decided, developed in an odd way) We discuss the loss of genetic information in mutation. Also very important. I let the boys know that Science is a noble pursuit OF God and For God. It is not wrong to try to learn and understand. If things do not line up with what you inturprete the bible to say...I mention a few things. The Bible specifically says that Nature reveals the Creator...So if it is inconsistant then our interpretation of either science or the bible is incorrect. (or both) AND/OR it is a mystery and not part of our revelation. In otherwords...God's business not ours. The big question at our house is do animals have souls and if they don't how come some of them are "better" than others? and maybe God gives his breath to animals that are a bit "more" than another one. Which gets me thinking about Apes and hominids really... but I am sure to let the boys know that many people over many years have disagreed, sometimes violently over these issues and we have to pray about it...but we will probably not get our answer in this lifetime. I am also pretty open with my own doubts and leanings...which change.
I don't avoid any teachings based on a conflict with my beliefs. I welcome it. I invite it. I love it. I also think it makes my children stronger. I have to agree with the usual suspects, Jackie and Patty. I will also say that I LOVE Embassy's approach and think I will adopt that as time goes on. I love how it constantly reinforces the Word of God as truth and that we may not understand everything but we do KNOW God's Word is true.
When my children were young, I looked and looked for good young earth books that could be read to them. I was especially interested in books that talked about dinosaurs since my son thought they were really cool. I did find two good books that may be appropriate for your 6 year old. Your children are 3 and 6 years old, right? The books are called, The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible by Paul S. Taylor and Dinosaurs by Design by Duane T. Gish, Ph.D. When your children are older, you will be able to find many good books about carbon dating, young earth, dinosaurs, etc. To my children I taught what I believe and why which included young earth, the error of carbon dating, etc. When my children are grown (one is already grown) I don't want them to hear someone's theory and think, "Wow! That sounds good. It must be right." I want my children to know what they believe and why. I want them to know other prevalent theories and know why they choose not to believe in it. My husband and I differ in our beliefs regarding creation and young earth. He does not believe in a seven solar day creation or young earth. I do. This can make things very interesting when it came to teaching our children about such things. My husband and I chose to agree to disagree. We each explained to our children what we believed and why.
I agree with everything everyone has said so far. Dinos were real, and coexisted with mankind. No point in avoiding subjects, just examine what science says and what the Bible says, and it's not a salvation issue (although believing the truth of the Bible is). Both "sides" (people, not the Bible) have presented fallacious arguments here and there, and both have some elements that are easier to believe than other elements. I also believe that the concept of dragons MAY have some basis in "racial memory" of fact.
Not to sound like a dolt...lol..but what do you mean? I have often wondered about the concept of dragons since Satan is called a scarlet dragon in the bible.
Thanks, I'll see if my library system has them and put them on hold. ETA: They had them in the system, so I put them both on hold, thanks so much!
We just watched a movie from Netflix called...um I think "Dragon world" it was a "fake" documentary...in the manner of walking with the dinosaurs...about them finding a dragon frozen in a cave in Romania. It was very well done, the boys wished it was true. and we had an interesting discussion about the fact that soooooo many cultures world wide have dragon folk tales...it does make one wonder.
along with "Dinosaurs by Design" also look for "Mt. Ararat Adventure" . it deals with some theories regarding dinosaurs on the ark. very interesting. I'm with alot of moms on this one. we do watch alot of PBS and when the "millions of years" issue come up, we talk about it and why we don't agree with that idea. basically for us it's a faith issue. God said it and I don't have to understand it for it to be true. my kids also know there will be people who believe differently and that it's ok to not agree.
Sorry, Ava Rose - I just saw this question. The theory of "racial memory" refers to the thought that in the however-far-distant-past, humans experienced something which was told and retold over many, many generations until the facts of what it really was have long since faded, and yet almost without being specifically told of it, the concept sounds somehow familiar -- almost as if our very dna "remembers". Examples would include themes that recur across distance and cultures as well as time. Like a universal flood story, or the commonality of dragons around the world, or stories of a paradisical existence of man in the far-distant past which was somehow lost/abandoned/taken away. The "race" in "racial memory" would mean the only real "race", the human one, also referred to as "Adam's race". I have always found the concept of dragons fascinating - the Chinese "good" dragons, European "bad" dragons, the Mexican quetzalcoatl or feathered serpent...
Wow. Thanks so much for starting this post. It is an aspect of teaching that I hadn't come to yet, but will definately be able to handle better now. I have said it before. Thank God for leading me to this site, and thank all of the ladies on here. You are all awesome!
Well my 6 year old is VERY into dinosaurs so....I had to start thinking about it LOL Yes, these ladies are awesome. I'm going to pick up the books mentioned at the library tomorrow. I look forward to reading them.
My husband is agnostic/evolutionist, so I have lots of links stored in my favorites and lots of books/videos stacked on my shelves. My kids will need all they can get from me, because he's a great arguer. Satan is manipulative. He knows us, he knows science, and he knows scripture. We have to know it better. http://www.creationism.org/ http://www.icr.org/ http://www.bumby.org/ (skip down to Buddy Payne, 2004) http://www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us/Sermons_Skeptical.htm http://www.bible.ca/ (I know Don Patton personally. WONDERFUL archaelologist and teacher.) http://www.whybaptism.org/CreationVideos.htm (video seminars) http://www.whybaptism.org/Creation-HTML/NoahArk.htm (SCALE model of the ark - since the flood explains a lot of what science calls evolution)
I love the Answers in Genesis's stuff, they are very helpful in guiding and talking to the kids. I wish their homeschool stuff wasn't so expensive. lol
