by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 28, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
There are at least 5 Reasons my son believes in Catastrophism, and why he doesn't believe in macroevolution. (Post may contain affiliate links).
Before I get into what my son believes and why, I would like to start with a few definitions.
First, what exactly is catastrophism?
“Catastrophism is the theory that the Earth has largely been shaped by sudden, short-lived, violent events, possibly worldwide in scope.” (Wikipedia).
This is in contrast with the term “Uniformitarianism.”
“Uniformitarianism is also known as the Doctrine of Uniformity. It is the assumption that the same natural laws and processes that operate in our present-day scientific observations have always operated in the universe in the past and apply everywhere in the universe.” (Wikipedia)
So, when I say that my son believes in catastrophism, this is what it means. It means he does not believe that the same natural laws and processes that we observe operating today can fully explain the origin of our universe.
What exactly is meant by the term “Evolution?”
When the term “evolution” is used, it is often unclear what exactly “evolution” means. And to complicate matters further, definitions differ between catastrophists (flood geologists) and uniformitarianists (evolutionary scientists).
The main reason for the disagreement is because two types of evolution are often discussed, Macroevolution and Microevolution.
Macroevolution refers to the theory that, “All things are evolving in a positive beneficial direction.”
For example, Macroevolution is defined as, “the process of one type of animal (fish) evolving into a completely different type of animal (amphibian).” This is what evolutionary scientists believe to be true.
However, Catastrophists don't agree that Macroevolution is true.
The reason we don't agree with evolutionists on this definition is because
Macroevolution requires an increase in genetic information, which has NEVER BEEN SHOWN to happen.
Another concept that is important for me to clarify is the term “Natural Selection.”
Natural Selection is, “the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.”
So, how does this relate to Microevolution?
Well, Natural Selection is an example of Microevolution. Natural Selection is an observable phenomenon–when it is correctly used as an example of Microevolution, because:
Microevolution has been observed in the laboratory.
For example, Microevolution is what is happening when bacteria become immune to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is not the result of an increase in information. It is the result of the passing on of already existing antibiotic resistant genes that are present in the surviving organism.
To sum it up, when I say that my son believes in Catastrophism, I mean that he believes that the Worldwide Flood of Noah discussed in the Bible is an acceptable explanation for how the world came to be in the state it is occurring. And when I say that he does not believe in evolution, I am referring to the fact that he doesn't believe Macroevolution – molecules to man, amoeba to man, etc.
Now that we’ve got that cleared up, I want to mention a few ways I believe have helped my son decide on his own that creation and catastrophism make more sense than evolution and uniformitarianism.
5 Reasons My Son Believes in Catastrophism
1. He has been Given a Firm Foundation through Solid Biblical Teaching
We attend a church that teaches the Bible, verse-by-verse. This means that when the Pastor teaches from the pulpit, he starts in Genesis 1 and goes all the way to the end of the Book of Revelation. He then starts over. The same principle applies throughout our church, from Preschool on.
Also, the Bible is taken literally and in a straightforward manner. For instance, if the Bible says that God created in seven days, we don't use “science” to determine what God means by a day. We look at the Hebrew, which clearly shows that God meant one literal 24-hour day when he used the word “Yom.”
Every summer our church has Vacation Bible School (VBS). And they have always been from Answers in Genesis which emphasizes creation and the trustworthiness of the bible. My son absolutely loved VBS. In fact, he went every single year from pre-kindergarten until 6th grade. In fact, he was really bummed when he found out he was too old to attend.
And this past summer (2019), he attended by helping with one of the VBS classes. This is one of the first times he's taken initiative like this. And I am so proud of him! (Yes, he loved it, and I am sure he will be doing it again next year)! 🙂
Thus, my son is growing up with knowledge of the entire Bible within context.
The Bible is the only true source of a firm foundation. The bible is also the only way to effectively combat the lies of the enemy.
2. We Have Spent Time Discussing the Power of the Media
Whenever I watch a movie with my son, if there is anything questionable about it, we will discuss it. For example, the Jurassic Park series. Many people don’t realize that the theme of evolution flows through the plot of the entire Jurassic series. For example, when they show ostriches running at the end of the first movie, the implication is that they are the descendants of dinosaurs. Or when they discuss the amber that the dinosaur DNA was found in, it is stated that the amber is millions of years old. That is, it is never questioned.
Dinosaur Dan on PBS
My son used to watch this show. In every single show of the series, Dan states “65 million years ago” at least once. Teachers know that if you want a child to remember a fact, you mimic it repeatedly. This is why I don't believe it is a coincidence that Dan states “65 million years ago,” in every single show. The producers want the young children to remember this “fact.” Every time I would hear Dan say that I asked my son, “How do they know that? Were they there? When you dig up a fossil, does it have a date engraved on it? What about the problem of index fossils?”
3. Books that apply the Creation message.
One of my all-time favorites is the “The Time Twins” series by DB Macks. I discovered this series through Creation Research Society Quarterly Magazine. I can honestly say I have never read a more eye-opening series than this one. Because there are a few scenes that are graphic, I waited until Nathan was 10 to read it to him. And he absolutely loved it. =)
My OWN Paleontologist Kids Unit Study is one result of my years of studying this important message. Click here to see it.
I have met some interesting people over the years. One friend I met while at Loma Linda University has had a profound effect on Nathan. MaryAnn works with Dr. Gary Parker in Florida. When she visits, she always brings hands-on goodies, such as fossils, to share and discuss with Nathan.
4. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens 1980.
This disaster is nicknamed, “The Little Grand Canyon.” Mt. St. Helens testifies that it doesn’t take millions of years for layers and fossils to form. There is a little museum on the road to the Mt. St. Helens that you can visit. Here you will find evidence and discussions of the alternative viewpoint that you won't hear at the “main event” up the street. While MaryAnn worked at the museum, Nathan benefited from her connections. 🙂
5. He has been exposed to ALL the evidence
When kids attend public school, they are only exposed to one side of the issue. Evolution is taught as fact with no alternatives allowed. The public school system has been “scrubbed clean” of any mention of the creation viewpoint. People have been led to believe that evolution is “science” and creationism is “religion.” Thus, most people don't have a problem with that at all, to the detriment of their kids, who are growing up with a faulty foundation that will color their point-of-view for the rest of their lives. 🙁
I have gobbled up all the good books I could find on the subject since before I even knew I was going to have a child. From preschool on up. This is an extremely critical issue to me, and it should be to other Christians as well. This why I have taken every single opportunity I have had and continue to have to make sure my son sees things from both sides so that he can DECIDE FOR HIMSELF what he believes.
The main reason we are losing our kids in college is because we have not prepared them for the onslaught of evolutionary thoughts and ideas that they will be exposed to at the college level. And the sad reality is that most so-called Christian universities are also compromising with the message of the bible and secular science.
The point I am trying to make is this. Do everything you can to go along with your child, side-by-side, so that you can continually show alternative viewpoints to the media onslaught of evolutionary ideas they are receiving through TV, the movies, radio, and the internet.
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 24, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
Is the Paleo Diet Biblical?
I have always scratched my head every time I meet a Christian who claims to follow the paleo diet. My reasoning is based on the fact that the paleo diet has evolutionary pre-suppositions. Let me explain.
(Post may contain affiliate links).
Is the paleo diet biblical? Strictly speaking, the answer is “no.”
First, let's discover together the original basis of the paleo diet.
The paleo diet is also known as the stone-age or caveman diet. “Paleo” is short for Paleolithic.
This is defined as
“A very long period of human prehistory, extending from the first tool-using hominids at least 2.6 million years ago, all the way up until around 10,000 BP.”
This diet assumes what people during this time period ate. For example, it is assumed that the food “paleolithic era” people ate was raw, because they hadn't discovered fire yet. Thus, it is assumed that their diet consisted of raw animal meat, fruits, and vegetables.
From the evolutionary perspective, people living during the paleolithic time period were “primitive.” In fact, according to the theory people hadn't discovered fire and thus were eating everything raw.
According to the paleolithic theory, everything eaten was raw and unprocessed. Thus, it is assumed that grains, refined sugars, table salt, and dairy weren’t part of the diet.
You should take note of the time periods mentioned. The “10,000 BP” refers to “Before Present.” It is also supposedly the time when the “agricultural period” began.
I want to be clear when I say that before “10,000 BP” NO HISTORY was written. Hence, the term “pre-history” or “prehistoric.”
This is an especially crucial point because this is when the scientist, archaeologist, or anthropologist has to start speculating because history wasn't written down before “10,000 BP.”
Fossils that are dug up don't have ages written on them, for example. And neither do most archaeological artifacts. So, it's important to remember that this is when the true speculation begins regarding how much time has passed and how much “primitive” humans actually knew.
From a biblical creationist point of view, we need to eliminate the “primitive” aspect and the “millions of years ago,” when we discuss the Bible, because we know that humans were created in the image of God less than 10,000 years ago.
Now, let's look at what the Bible says about diet. For example,
In Genesis 1, God said:
“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. (Gen. 1:29–30)
The paleo diet does not allow any beans or peas (legumes), or cereal grains. I'm thinking they were included in the original mandate since they come from plants that yield seeds.
Then after the flood, when Noah and his family came off the ark, God gave further direction:
“The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (Genesis 9:2-3)
We can also evaluate what people during Bible days ate based on actual accounts. For example,
Prior to Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, Abraham was visited by three angels. Genesis 18:8 tells us what he served the men:
“Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.” (Genesis 18:8)
The paleo diet does not allow dairy products.
The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43) states:
“He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag, curds of cows, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, and rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat– And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.” (Deuteronomy 32:13-14)
Every food I can think of is mentioned somewhere in the Bible. Below are just a few examples:
Spices:
- Anise
- Coriander
- Cinnamon
- Dill
Fruits:
- Apples
- Dates
- Figs
- Grapes
- Melons
- Pomegranates
Vegetables and Legumes:
Grains:
- Barley
- Bread (Miraculous fish and bread provision–mentioned SEVEN times in bible)?
- Corn
- Millet
- Spelt
- Wheat
Click here for an exhaustive list of foods mentioned in the Bible.
Of course, many foods today are quite different, due to various human “improvements.” For example, genetic engineering (GMO) and hybridization.
It is interesting that God warns people in the Old Testament not to mix seeds of two different plants.
“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9)
In Leviticus 19:19, the warning is repeated and includes forbidding the mating of two distinct kinds of animals:
“‘Keep my decrees. “‘Do not mate distinct kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed…'”
Mankind in his attempts to “improve” upon nature is creating known and unknown problems. I believe modern day processing, which involves pesticides, pest control methods, hybridization, irradiation, GMO, and the like, is a big part of the reason for the health problems of so many.
For example,
Evidence suggests that the increase in gluten intolerance and wheat sensitivity is related to the hybridization of wheat.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/is-gmo-wheat-causing-increases-in-gluten-issues-562530
This may help to explain why many people feel better when they remove grains from the diet. It's not necessarily the gluten, though gluten can cause problems.
Another potential key to the puzzle is that we eat a far less variety of grains than we did 100 years ago. And of course, people are much less likely to consume whole grains in sufficient amounts than they were 100 years ago as well.
So, to sum it up. The Bible clearly shows that a variety of foods were eaten. As Christians, we know that mankind was not “primitive” in the early stages of life on earth. We also know that many things are being done to the foods in our current supply and that these things are causing a large percentage of the problems we are seeing today.
So, is the “Paleo diet” biblical?
Can a diet that is based on evolutionary suppositions improve the health of people when it is diametrically opposed to the very things the Bible teaches? I think not.
Instead, what we should do, if we are concerned about the foods we eat, is try to eat organic and non-GMO as much as possible. And of course, avoid any foods that are known to be intolerable.
When we start limiting the variety of foods we are eating, however, we are in effect limiting our access to the potential nutrients those foods contain. God created Vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, and grains for us to enjoy from the beginning of time. These foods contain important nutrients that are often low in people's diets, including iron and folate.
https://foodinsight.org/whole-grains-fact-sheet/
The reasoning behind the paleo diet ignores this fact. And when you start with a faulty foundation, you are likely to come to faulty conclusions.
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Apr 22, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
Not if, But When – Preparing our Children for Worldly Images, written by John Perritt, Illustrated by Alice Mastropaolo, Published by Christian Focus.
My son is almost 15 years old, but he is on the Autism Spectrum (ASD). As a result, he is mentally and emotionally young for his age. This is a good thing in many ways. For example, he still enjoys young, innocent programming when he watches TV. It is true that my son may never change in this area because he is also a Christian, and thus is drawn to clean programming.
However, what he is exposed is not always going to be within his control.
This is why I chose to review the book, “Not if, but When – Preparing our Children for Worldly Images,” despite the fact that it has a recommended age of 7-11 years.
The purpose of this book is to prepare children for when they are unwittingly exposed to pornography. “Not if, but When,” is geared towards a younger audience. However, it is appropriate for my son.
I read the book myself and so did my husband. Since our son is a boy, my husband and I decided it would be better for him to read the book. Also, we felt it would be better for him to discuss the content with our son. We were on spring break the week of April 6-10. Thus, this was the perfect time.
The first thing my husband noticed while reading the book was that my son was totally attentive.
In fact, more attentive than he normally is. For example, my husband does a daily Bible devotional with him on most days and our son usually makes comments on his preferred topic throughout. Not so while reading this book. This told us two things.
- He was interested in knowing more about the topic.
- It was appropriate for him.
I had first-hand experience with the “Not if, but When,” point just last week. I was on Facebook and there was a Christian page I was following that all of a sudden was showing borderline pornography in its stories. This happened two days in a row before I decided they must have been hacked. I quickly stopped following the page and blocked the content. I do not know what happened. However, I saw stuff that I would never have chosen on my own to view. And once it's in my head, it doesn't just go away.
This is the point of the book. It prepares children for what's out there and gives them tools for how to deal with it. It encourages children to seek their parents out when they see something that is uncomfortable to them so that they can talk about it.
The second day my husband read “Not if, But When – Preparing our Children for Worldly Images,” our son studied the outside of the book and continued to listen.
Our doesn't talk much and it can be extremely difficult to get him to answer questions with any kind of detail. However, when asked, he did say that he understood what was being said and answered. Also, he answered, “Uh, Huh,” when asked if he liked the book.
Not only that, my husband was able to have a little bit more of a discussion than otherwise would have been possible. So, we agreed that it was helpful with discussing a difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable subject.
In fact, our son revealed to us a couple days after finishing the book that he was getting unknown Face Time calls in the middle of the night. He stated that he hadn't answered them. And he wanted to know how to block the number.
It's not possible to know for sure, but I'm fairly confident that reading this book increased our son's awareness of the importance of letting us know if something uncomfortable occurs.
The book is written for both boys and girls. Thus, there are two story options in the book. One story is specifically written for girls and one is written for boys. The content is basically the same in both stories. The main differences reflect genders distinctions. For example, the pronouns used are different.
- One of God's Greatest Gifts
- The Gift's Instructions
- Opening the Gift too Early
- Distorting the Gift
- Worshiping the Gift
- Enjoying the Gift
- Breaking the Gift
- The Gift's Purpose
- Conclusion
Don't forget to check out the awesome book, “Not if, but When – Preparing Your Children for Worldly Images,” at Christian Focus. And while you're there, check out their other awesome books.
Click the image below to read what other Homeschool Review Crew members have to say about “Not if, But When.”
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Mar 11, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
I do love a good missionary adventure! This is why when I saw that “Venturing with God in Congo,” by Conjurske Publications was available to review, I jumped at the opportunity. And I can tell you, I was not disappointed. I think every person alive today should read at least one missionary book. And this book is a great one to start with.
Let's face it, most of us will never go on a long-term missionary trip.
Thus, we will never fully understand the extent of spiritual darkness many people live in throughout the world.
I think that most people, especially in the United States, take their standard of living for granted. And most of us have no idea how rich we truly are.
“Venturing with God in Congo” was written by Darrell Champlain. It was published in 2017 but is based on mostly first hand accounts of the Champlins’ experiences in Nkole, Nkema, Congo during the mid-1950s to early 1960s. During this period, Congo was governed by Belgium.
One of the major things I got out of this book was the simplistic way the natives lived.
The inhabitants of the area lived in mud and stick huts with thatched roofs. And so did the Champlins for many years. When I say mud and stick hut, I mean:
“The house was built of poles cut in the forest, sharpened on one end and driven into the ground forming the outline of the floor plan. Reeds were then tied on both sides of the poles with the tough outer skin of a jungle vine called nkodi. The house was literally tied together with vines. Chunks of mud were then stuffed between the reeds, filling the pole frame from top to bottom.
“Long poles across the top secured the walls in place. The pole rafters were constructed on top of the walls, and wide raffia palm leaf thatch was tied to the frame, again with “jungle nails,” the nkodi vine.
“Rough-sawn hardwood boards were nailed into place as window and door frames. The house was plastered with the same mud which had filled the walls, and clay was tamped into place. A clay veranda was filled in between a row of stakes driven into the ground and the outer walls of the house to form a walkway under the overhang of the thick thatch roof. Voila, our dwelling…”
“Inside, reed mats woven by local women covered the clay floor and served as a roof for the millions of termites that protested against our walking on their ceiling by knocking their heads against the mats….the house had free standing closets for our clothing, but we had to be careful not to let anything touch the mud walls, or the next morning the termites would have eaten a sleeve off a shirt or some such damage.” (pp 33-34)
No Windows or Doors to Shut Them Out
The following direct quote from the book provides a shocking account of what living in the houses was like:
“Since the house had no windows or doors that could be shut, just holes in the wall, it was possible for anything to be in the house at any time. In fact, two snakes came and went regularly. We looked them over pretty well and decided they were non-poisonous and more dangerous to the mice, rats, cockroaches, centipedes, tarantulas, and scorpions that frequented the house than they were to us, so we let them live.” (page 35)
I agree with the author when he said, “Unimaginable by American standards.”
There are many incredible stories in this book. One of the stories that I found the most interesting, if not a bit disturbing, was the one about the “Rogue Elephant.” This elephant had been injured by a gun and was rejected by its herd. As a result he wrecked havoc on the village where the Champlins were living.
I never realized that elephants were so smart OR so devious!
As a result of the danger the elephant posed to the villagers, Darrell and a couple other men from the village decided they had to take him down. Once they succeeded (and this is a fascinating story in and of itself), the elephant was used for food. (The villagers ate anything they caught; leopards, monkeys, elephant, hippo, YOU NAME IT. They ate it)!
And the way that Darrell Champlin described the process the men went through once the elephant was killed as well as how they gathered the meat from the animal was shocking. For example, the men literally walked inside the rib cage of the dead elephant, like they would have walked inside a small hut, and gathered the meat. (pp 57-66)
Darrell Champlin with an Elephant Skull
Another thing I found shocking was that the natives never took a bath! Now sit back and imagine that for a minute! That's right, even after they butchered an elephant or a leopard or a monkey. Even after they smeared themselves with whatever dung they used so that the animal they were hunting didn't smell them. They still didn't take a bath! Seriously!!!
There are many other amazing (and shocking) stories to read in this enthralling book. However, I don't want to ruin it for you. You will just have to read it yourself!
I will say one thing though. I am amazed at what the Champlins endured and for how long they endured it.
But it was obviously the eternal value of what these missionaries did and that God was providing graciously for their needs that kept them going.
For example, “Lulu Bekanga, Miracle of a Murderer.” When Champlin first came to the village to preach the gospel (there were many villages in the area), the man Lulu, who was a witch doctor, warned the people,
“The first person in this village who believes in this Jesus, I personally will bury.”
Lulu meant every word. And he had a reputation which told others he would do it.
However, the first person to trust in Jesus was his nephew and tradition forbade him to kill a relative. Lulu was the second person and HE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. (pp 47-50) To read more, you will have to get the book!
A Witch Doctor
Another example is the amazing transformation of one village, named Ongo.
Ongo went from completely rejecting the gospel (pp 103-106) to wholeheartedly accepting it. This is the fruit of a faithful missionary family, “who didn't give up despite being spurned, cursed, and treated like dogs.” (pp 107-110)
The above examples are just a few samples of the sorts of adventures you will come across while reading this book. Everyone is individual in their ideas of what younger members of the family are ready for. Thus, I would suggest, if you have children under 13, reading through the book first before reading it out loud.
I read a few of the chapters to my son, who is 14, this morning. I was surprised to realize he didn't think they were real stories. So, I emphasized the point that these are real people, and that these are real experiences.
As far as my overall impression of the book?
For example, it was easy to read, easy to follow, and interesting right from the beginning.
There's only one thing that would have improved “Venturing with God in Congo” for me. I would love to see a large print edition, because I found the words to be a bit small for my aging eyes. My eyesight has gotten really bad over the last few years. Thus, I struggled a bit while reading. So, I think that having a large print edition available would be awesome and would allow for more people to be able to read it.
Click here to find out more about “Venturing with God in Congo.”
To read more reviews by the Homeschool Review Crew, click here or click the image below.
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Feb 26, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
I have had a long-term interest in Apologetics. In fact, as many of you know, I attended the ICR Graduate School from 1997-1999. I studied Biology and Christian Apologetics during this period. This is one of the reasons I jumped at the chance to review The Unbreakable Faith Course from Pilgrim's Rock, LLC.
The other reason was that I was hoping to reinforce my son's faith as well.
The Unbreakable Faith Course from Pilgrim's Rock, LLC, is an Online Christian Apologetics Curriculum
This faith-building course also includes 2 Textbooks, “God the Reason” and “The Box,” both which are written by Craig Biehl.
Unbreakable Faith is geared toward high school students. Not only that, but it will satisfy one full elective credit toward high school graduation. Unbreakable Faith can also be enjoyed and utilized by adults as well as younger children, depending on the maturity of the specific child.
For the review, I am the main person working through this curriculum. I chose to do this because my son is not quite at the level to totally get the most out of it. Plus he needs my support as he's learning. So, I'm reading and watching the videos so that I may better teach him the lessons.
I do want to point out that I am reading “The Box” to him. Also, we have been watching the videos together. Of course, the curriculum is a year long. So, we are still working through the curriculum as I write this.
There are 6 Parts to the video series, with several videos for each part. I just completed the quiz for Part 1 (I got 100%)! The quiz for each section must be completed before the student can move on. I know I learned a lot! And I have no doubt that my 14-year-old son's faith and my faith are increasing.
In fact, one of the things I like the most about the course is the online videos.
For example, the videos provide visuals as well as Bible Verses to support the author’s point. Also, the videos do an excellent job of reinforcing what is discussed in the books. Having the reinforcement of the videos along with the books obviously will increase the amount of information that the student is able to retain overtime.
This is especially important because “God the Reason” is rather deep and involved philosophically and may be challenging to some readers. Thus, you can watch the videos to better understand the points the author, Craig Biehl, is making in the book itself.
One of my favorite videos discusses the best way to answer the multiple questions asked by unbelievers. He provides a compelling analogy and visual (see images below).
The first image shows how most Christians deal with questions–one at a time.
The second image shows the importance of having a strong foundation. Thus, if we start with the Bible, the Christian's one sure foundation. It will much easier for us to answer questions from unbelievers.
Starting with the Bible, we have our foundation. Thus, we don't need to have a PhD to answer a PhD!
Here are just a few of the statements made by Biehl which I found particularly thought-provoking:
- “The key is to CHALLENGE THE FOUNDATION OF UNBELIEVING THOUGHTS.”
- “Unbelief has nothing to do with the evidence. It has everything to do with the heart.”
- “God's existence is not dependent on what man thinks about Him.”
- God has always existed
- The reality of who God is is not affected by how human’s perceive truth.
The book, “The Box,” includes conversations between Mr. C and Mr. A.
The focus is on helping readers see the irrational beliefs that sometimes underlie their belief systems. The Box ties in with the overall theme of the course.
The goal of the author, Craig Biehl, is to help readers become more aware of “God’s Infinite Excellence.”
Biehl wants to show the reader how little a finite human being can know about the infinite God apart from God’s Revelation.
In the book, Mr. A represents the Atheist in the beginning of the book and later the Agnostic.
1. The Atheist
Mr. A. at the beginning of the book, believes there is no God and that there is no evidence whatsoever for the existence of God–but can't predict what is in Mr. C's garage or antique box.
2. The Agnostic
Mr. A at this point has changed his mind about what he believes and now calls himself an Agnostic. Mr. A. now states that he doesn't know enough to claim whether God exists or not. However, he still believes there is no evidence for the existence of God.
By the end of the book, Mr. A has made progress, but still hasn’t reached the point of believing.
Which reminds me of a very important point:
No matter how logical, rational, or awesome our arguments are. No matter how many Bible verses we can quote or how perfect of a model we are, it’s still going to take God‘s Holy Spirit to reveal to the unbeliever who He is.
Though that does not mean we shouldn’t take into consideration peoples’ uniqueness or that we shouldn’t remember the importance of loving the unbelievers in our lives. Just not at the expense of truth.
The conversations and the logic in “The Box,” are easy to follow and are successful in driving home the point the author is making. Also, the wording of the text is easy to follow. The one thing that could make the book even better would be to shorten some of the sentences.
The length of the sentences made reading out loud to my son a bit cumbersome. However, despite this one weakness, I still believe Beihl was successful at keeping my son, who is 14 and is on the Autism spectrum, interested.
I believe he was also successful at driving home his main point:
“The truly rational person is the one who believes in God.”
If you want your faith and your children's faith challenged, I highly recommend that you look into this unique and Biblically-sound Christian Apologetics curriculum.
Click the link below to check it out now.
The Unbreakable Faith Course from Pilgrim's Rock, LLC
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Jul 26, 2019 | Creation Education Resources
Eugenics and Dog Breeding (post contains affiliate links).
Dog Breeding and Eugenics
Ever since I studied population genetics at the Institute for Creation Research, I have thought a lot about purebred dogs and why they seem to have so many health problems.
The answer is partly explained by the fact that when you breed an animal for specific characteristics, you are bottlenecking the gene pool.
Think of an upside-down bottle (or funnel) that starts out big and narrows to a small hole.
The top of the funnel—mutt—contains a greater variety of genes. As you go down, only some of the genes will be left over in the container—Dalmatian, for example. That is, the entire gene pool/potential you start with will be reduced as you go down through the funnel.
So, not only do you reduce the genetic potential as you create your purebred dog, when you go down the funnel, if some of the genes passed down are mutations, the chances of a mutation passing down and being expressed in the final “product,” has been greatly increased.
So, why would anyone want to do such a thing?
Firstly, a little background to explain why dog breeding became such a hot thing starting in the 1800s.
Dog types go back 1000s of years, and some selective breeding has been used as a way to make dogs more useful to help with work. For example, making dogs more useful for hunting, shepherding, and retrieving. In the 1800s, however, the idea of breeding for selective characteristics took on a whole new life
Charles Darwin’s new thoughts on the inheritance of characteristics as well as the ideas of Francis Galton, Darwin’s cousin, and the Father of Eugenics, fueled this new movement of dog breeding.
What is Eugenics?
The term Eugenics is the study and control of procreation as a means of improving hereditary characteristics of future generations.
Francis Galton, the Father of Eugenics, believed that humans, like animals should be selectively bred.
Two examples of Eugenics in practice:
- Hitler and Nazi Germany – Eugenics is one of the main theories that fed Hitler’s ideas for creating the “Superior Race.”
- Involuntary sterilization practices in the USA–that’s right folks—as late as 2010!*
“Few ideas have done more harm to the human race in the last 120 years than those of Sir Francis Galton. He founded the evolutionary pseudo-science of eugenics. Today, ethnic cleansing, the use of abortion to eliminate ‘defective’ unborn babies, infanticide, euthanasia, and the harvesting of unborn babies for research purposes (and forced sterilization—my note), all have a common foundation in the survival-of-the-fittest theory of eugenics.”
(Note that prior to World War II, Eugenics was a commonly used term. After World War II, however, the term became a dirty word. Now eugenicists are known as “population scientists,” and “human geneticists,” while “Eugenics Quarterly” has been renamed, “Journal of Social Biology).”
So, what exactly is dog breeding?
Dog breeding is the practice of mating selected dogs with the intent to maintain or produce specific qualities and characteristics. When dogs reproduce without human intervention, their offspring's characteristics are determined by natural selection. On the other hand, “dog breeding” refers specifically to the artificial selection of dogs, in which dogs are intentionally bred by their owners:
Natural Selection
The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. (Not Macroevolution).**
Artificial Selection
“‘Selective breeding' is the process by which humans use animal breeding…to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits by choosing which animals…will sexually reproduce and have offspring together.”
Original Dog Kind
All dogs are descendents of a wolf-like ancestor. In fact, the genetic diversity of the original wolf-life ancestor allows for variations such as Chihuahuas and Great Danes. It also allows for the fact that there are currently at least 200 different breeds of dogs.
So, if it wasn't for this original diversity, humans would never have been able to create dog breeds in the first place. Not only that but
When a dog breed IS created, it decreases the gene pool of the animal being bred.
This, in turn, reduces the variability and the genetic potential of the offspring.
Problems with Purebreds – Some examples
- French Bulldog – This dog is considered more valuable when the head is larger. So, the French Bulldog is bred to produce a bigger and bigger head circumference. As a result, >90% of French Bulldog puppies have to be delivered by Caesarean Birth.
- King Charles Spaniel – This breed has a mutation that causes “Syringomyelia,” which means the skull is too small to house the brain. As a result, when the brain gets too big for the skull, the dog experiences severe pain.
- Rhodesian Ridgback – This breed is valued for the ridges on its back. If a puppy is born without proper ridges, they are “culled.” (READ: SLAUGHTERED). Although, it is claimed this no longer happens. To make matters worse, when the “proper ridges” exist, this is considerd a mild form of Spina Bifida. Thus, the diseased animal is preferred to the healthy animal simply because of the ridges.
- Dalmatians – Virtually all Dalmatians lack the ability to break down Uric Acid . This is the result of a mutation in their bloodline. Thus, when a person owns a Dalmation, they have to feed the animal a special diet to prevent bladder stones which are potentially fatal. Breeders have fixed this problem by adding back the gene to the bloodline. However, many consider these “LUA” (Low Uric Acid) variants to be “mongrels.”
Let's Talk About Poodles
According to Wikipedia:
“The poodle has been bred in at least three sizes, including Standard, Miniature, and Toy. According to the American Kennel Club, which recognized the breed in 1887, the Standard Poodle is the oldest of the three varieties, and was later bred down to the miniature and toy sizes. The British Kennel Club also recognizes three sizes, stating that the miniature and toy are scaled down versions of the standard.”
(a) Standard –
- Most likely of all dog breeds to develop a serious skin disease called “sebaceous adenitis”
- High risk for thyroid disease
- 40% of this breed die from cancer.
(b) Toy – Because they are so small, they have a high “miscarriage” rate. They require assistance, pups are often stillborn, and caesarians are common.
Personal examples:
Parents at one point tried to breed poodles for a little extra money. They purchased 3 dogs; 2 females and 1 male.
Dog 1 – Female – out of 2 litters, only one puppy survived (stillborn).
Dog 2 – Female – Too small – at risk of death if gave birth, so had to be spayed; developed kidney failure at a young age.
Dog 3 – Male – Had genetic defect that precluded breeding him. Parents found out after purchasing him and after the first litter (none of which survived).
Conclusions:
It’s understandable why certain dog breeds would be wanted and needed. For example, blind and other handicapped service dogs. But iI think t’s important to keep in mind the risks and the suffering involved in the breeding of dogs.
There are so many unwanted non-purebred (and even purebred) dogs in the animal shelters that could use a good home. If you just want a healthy dog for a pet. One that will probably live longer and have less healthy problems, I believe your best bet is to find a “mutt” and give him or her a home.
Here's a great place to start: Mutt Rescue
If you're a dog lover, check these adorable bookmarks out.
Why My Son Doesn't Believe in Evolution
Notes and References
*Make sure you read this article, which is a PBS report. This subject is incredibly important to be educated on but is beyond the scope of subject I’m discussing.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/unwanted-sterilization-and-eugenics-programs-in-the-united-states/
**Note that evolutionists (and Wikipedia) have a bias that states that new species are proof of macroevolution. Creationists do not use the term macroevolution in the same way. A new type of bird is not an increase in genetic information, which is what is necessary for TRUE macroevolution to occur.
https://creation.com/eugenics-death-of-the-defenceless
https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com:
https://creation.com/eugenics-death-of-the-defenceless
http://hounddogsdrule.com/k9-classroom/canid-hybrids/
Creation Magazine – “Sick, suffering monsters and the eugenicists who created them” by Lita Cosner, pp 22-25
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle
https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/standardpoodles.html
http://toypoodles.com/Cape_Rose_Toy_Poodles/Should_I_Breed_My_Pet.html
https://creation.com/parade-of-mutants
