Teaching Evolution to Young Earth-trained High School Sunday School - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

“Teaching Evolution to Young Earth-trained High School Sunday School Students”

2018 ASA Annual Meeting Gordon College Sat July 28, 2018 Mark A. Strand, PhD

Learning Objectives:

n Describe the design of a Sunday School

series for 11-12 grade students

n Analyze the results of a pre/post survey

• n knowledge and attitudes about science

and faith.

n Explain best practices in helping

conservative, young-earth creationist churches open up to a more expansive view of Scripture.

DESIGN OF SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES FOR 11-12 GRADE STUDENTS

EFCA Statement of Faith

To be within the doctrinal parameters of the EFCA, any process of creation must affirm:

n

God is the creator of all things out of nothing,

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God pronounced his creation very good,

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God created with order and purpose,

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God is the sovereign ruler over all creation which, by his personal and particular providence, he sustains,

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that God created the first human beings – the historical Adam and Eve – uniquely in his image,

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and that through their sin, all humanity, along with this created order, is now fallen.

The Plan

Purpose of the SS series was to

n help students understand that the doctrine of creation is essential, n learn to do exegetical Bible study, n be able to describe that a variety of scientific interpretations of

Gen 1-3 are possible, and

n see that science is a method, not an enemy, and an opportunity

for ministry.

Curriculum

Date Topic Goals Sept 10 The Doctrine of Creation Gen 1:1-2:3 – The cosmos Creation is an essential doctrine. Survey the students on views of creation and science issues. Sept 17 Relating science to the doctrine of creation. Gen 2:4-25 -- Creation of man and woman Scripture addresses issues to which science speaks. Sept 24 When science becomes an idol Gen 3:1-24 – The entry of sin Problems with the worship of science. Oct 1 “Why I can say that I believe the Bible, love Jesus and accept evolution.” Dave Buchannan guest speaker Dave is an animal geneticist at NDSU. Science as a method. Science and theology can be integrated. Oct 8 “STEM and Biblical Human Flourishing." Noel Anderson guest speaker Noel is an engineer at John Deere, with over 100 patents to his name. Science as a servant of humanity. Christians serve humanity. We need Christians in science. Oct 15 Students defend Biblical and scientific arguments for both YEC, and an old earth with long process

• f biological development.

Redo the survey taken on day 1. Help students reconcile any issues

• r conflicts.

The Process

n Creating a safe space for the students. n Requiring the students to explain and defend both sides

• f the issue.

n Studying the Bible and its genres. n Personal stories of scientists within our church.

Polarity Map

SURVEY RESULTS

Research

n Qs 1-8 taken from David Buchanan’s 21-

item “all questions false” survey.

n Qs 9-19 taken from Tenneson, Bundrick

and Stanford, Science-Theology Paradigm Scale Short Form. Perspectives, 2015;67(3):217-218.

n Used on-line data collection method for

survey

Survey Design: True-False items

Statements

True False

• 1. Since no human observers were available to see extensive

evolutionary change, the study of evolution falls outside of real science

• 2. Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution in order to

justify his atheistic beliefs.

• 3. Human and dinosaur tracks have been discovered in the same

rocks in a river valley in Texas

• 4. None of the leading evolutionary biologists in the 20th Century

have been Christians

• 5. Many scientists recognize that evolution is not a very good

theory but still support it because they are bound to it philosophically.

• 6. The validity of radiometric dating is highly questionable.
• 7. Almost all scientists are atheists
• 8. There is good evidence for micro-evolution but not for macro-

evolution

True-False Results

n Sample size: Pre n=17, Post n=10 n Part 1: “All False Quiz”

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Mean (0=False, 1=True) Question Number, Pre and Post (*p<.10, **p<.05)

Pre and Post Results on "All False" Quiz on Science and Faith

* ** ***

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Since no human

• bservers were

available to see extensive evolutionary change, the study of evolution falls

• utside of real

science Charles Darwin developed his theory

• f evolution

in order to justify his atheistic beliefs. Human and dinosaur tracks have been discovered in the same rocks in a river valley in Texas. None of the leading evolutionar y biologists in the 20th Century have been Christians. Many scientists recognize that evolution is not a very good theory but still support it because they are bound to it philosophically. The validity

• f

radiometric dating is highly questionable . Almost all scientists are atheists There is good evidence for micro- evolution but not for macro- evolution.

Agree-Disagree Items

Statements Agree- Disagree

• 9. Science and Christian faith deal with entirely different realms of knowledge, and

so they must be kept separate

• 10. Reliable information comes only as the result of investigation by the scientific

method.

• 11. Science has little or nothing to say about the Bible, and the Bible has little or

nothing to say about science.

• 12. Because the Genesis account of creation is true, evolution is necessarily false.
• 13. Scientists are responsible for undermining people’s belief in the Christian faith.
• 14. It is highly unlikely for science and Christian faith to have beneficial interaction.
• 15. Science is a neutral subject, and can be equally pursued regardless of one’s

Christian faith or absence of Christian faith.

• 16. A sincere Christian must reject any input from science that conflicts with the

Bible.

• 17. The Bible is a reliable source of scientific information.
• 18. Science is a spiritually and ethically neutral subject, which serves to benefit

society.

• 19. Anybody who takes the Bible seriously will believe in young earth creationism.

Agree-Disagree Results

0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Science and Christian faith deal with entirely different realms of knowledge, and so they must be kept separate. Reliable information comes

• nly as the

result of investigation by the scientific method. Science has little or nothing to say about the Bible, and the Bible has little

• r nothing to

say about science. Because the Genesis account

• f creation is

true, evolution is necessarily false. Scientists are responsible for undermining people’s belief in the Christian faith. It is highly unlikely for science and Christian faith to have beneficial interaction. Science is a neutral subject, and can be equally pursued regardless of

• ne’s

Christian faith

• r

absence of Christian faith. A sincere Christian must reject any input from science that conflicts with the Bible. The Bible is a reliable source of scientific information. Science is a spiritually and ethically neutral subject, which serves to benefit society. Anybody who takes the Bible seriously will believe in young earth creationism. Mean value (1=Strongly Agree, 5=Strongly Disagree Question, Pre and Post (*p<.10, **p<.05)

Pre and Post Results on Personal Opinion Responses

**

**

***

** Strongly Disagree

Negative Process Outcomes

n The kids seem unfamiliar with exegetical Bible

study.

n Some parents concerned about the topic. n Student views on some issues did not change:

n Because Genesis is true, then evolution is false n The Bible is a source of scientific information n Anything contradicting the Bible must be rejected

Positive Process Outcomes

n Attendance was good. n Student engagement was high. n Student views on some issues changed:

n All scientists are atheists n Darwin’s goal was atheism n Science pointing to an old earth is bad science n Science can serve humanity n Science and the Bible address different issues n There is room for interaction between science and faith

BEST PRACTICES

Lessons Learned: Students

n Some of the students are either fearful of or

disinterested in science.

n Creating a safe atmosphere was important. n It took six weeks for the issues to sink in. n 17-18 year old students need to be pushed out of their

comfort zone.

n Students seem ready to expand their understanding of

science and scientists in a positive way

n They were afraid of revisiting absolutist views they hold

• n the Bible.

Lessons Learned: Self

n Need to begin where students are at, and not where a

person is at after studying this issue for many years.

n Humility and agnosticism: As scientists we need to be

cautious when passing judgment on creation doctrines, and theologians should be similarly cautious when evaluating the scientific theory of evolution.

n Different epistemologies: empirical, personal, ethical n The parents need this lesson as much as their children

do.

n This series was as much an activity in pastoral care as it

was an intellectual activity.

Best Practices

n Importance of respecting church leadership. n Understanding the doctrine of creation that is faithful to

Scripture and informed by scientific evidence.

n Incremental steps in creating safe space for discussion

• f views of creation.

n Requiring students to develop their ideas on both sides

• f an issue prior to taking a stand worked well.

References

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Carlin L and Coleman S. The Cultures of Creationism: Anti-Evolutionism in English-Speaking Countries, Routledge, 2017

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Evans, J. H. (2013), The Growing Social and Moral Conflict Between Conservative Protestantism and Science. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 52: 368–385. doi:10.1111/jssr.12022

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Michael Tenneson, David Bundrick, and Matthew Stanford. (2015) A New Survey Instrument and Its Findings for Relating Science and Theology. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 67(3), 200-222.

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Eugene A. Curry. Do the Polls Show That Science Leads to Atheism? Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith (2013) 65(2):75-78.

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Charles F. Austerberry Teaching Evolution while Respecting Faith in a Creator Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 52 (September 2000): 187-189.

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Cordero, April Maskiewicz. The Joys and Challenges of Teaching Evolution to Christians—as a

• Christian. Biologos. April 03, 2018. https://biologos.org/blogs/guest/the-joys-and-challenges-of-

teaching-evolution-to-christiansas-a-christian

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Stumpf J. Why are there still so many creationists in America? Christian Today, on-line magazine. June 19, 2017. https://www.christiantoday.com/article/why.are.there.still.so.many.creationists.in.america/110061 .htm

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Hutchinson, Ian. Science as a Christian Calling, in When God and Science Meet, NAE, 2015.

Resources Used in Class

n Genesis 1-3 n Genesis 1-4, by John Collins n Evangelical Convictions, by the EFCA n How I Changed My Mind About Evolution, by Applegate

and Stump

n When God and Science Meet, by the National Association

• f Evangelicals