A few days ago, this article popped up on my timeline. Bill Nye was someone that was idolized by my generation in grade school and we watched countless times in science class on movie days, so instead of scrolling past, I clicked on it. You could read it, but just reading the URL may familiarize you enough. If you wish you read the whole article, though, please do so.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/bill-nye-children-taught-creationism-will-not-be-able-to-participate-in-the-future/
Let me start all of this by saying two things...
1. Science has always been, and will always be, my worst subject in school.
2. More importantly, I love Jesus with all my heart and accept Him as my Savior.
Moving right along.. towards the end of the article, Nye makes his point very clear that "they're not raising dumb kids. they're just raising kids who are unable, or uncomfortable with using the scientific method... Who's going to come up with the next innovation that's going to keep the United States competitive ... if you raise a generation of kids who can't do physics or chemistry?"
This statement right here irked me for a few reasons.
1. The way you learn about this world is by hearing the different viewpoints inside of it and making your own decisions.
I learned about evolution in school, too. Don't let this shock you - but I believe it. But - I believe in something bigger than evolution - that is the key. It is not an either-or debate for me. I believe that creationism answers the questions that I still have about evolution. Just because I believe in God does not mean I reject evolution - evolution consistently backs up creationism.
2. I am extremely capable of using the scientific method - and so are many of my brothers and sisters.
The scientific method was certainly one of those things that was probably on every single science test I ever took in elementary school and middle school. Could I tell you a single one of those steps now? Nope. However, I am smart enough to do things like make observations and interpretations, try new things, formulate hypotheses, and draw conclusions in the order that I see fit for my area of sparked interest. Just because I am a believer does not mean I go about my day without struggles, hard decisions, or mistakes. It means that I have someone bigger to look to when I screw up.
3. God does not do my homework for me.
I found it interesting that his narrow-mindedness was so evident in his last comment. It was apparent to me that he truly believes that those of us who know creationism are incapable of doing 'smart' things to help our society. As though I am incapable of thinking for myself, doing my own exploration, and holding passion. Later, he goes on to say that we are raising a generation of kids who are 'discouraged from thinking'. One of my biggest goals in life for the past six years has been to be an pediatric therapist in a children's hospital. As said previously, science is not my best subject - but to achieve this goal, I have to take some science courses. And they suck. However - God does not get me the GPA that I have earned so far in college (and that I'm rather proud of.) It is by His grace that I've found the focus to study, and the people to study with, but by my own free will I am making the choice and 'encouraging my own thinking.' - Nowhere along the way did I find a magic report card in my bible to send to my graduate school applications. Please do not assume that simply because I accept a more wide range of answers for where I came from means I am incapable of thinking and solving problems.
Last night I was babysitting and the oldest boy kept coming out of his room after I put him to bed complaining he was hungry, thirsty, had to go potty, wasn't tired, and an array of other complaints. I eventually gave in, and had been watching Tangled, so I let him come watch the last twenty minutes of the movie with me. He curled up on my lap and as we watched the last scene where Rapunzel's hair glows, he began to rattle on about why it does that - a mixture of his own questions and interpretations. Eventually, we came down to the idea that it was just 'magic'. He looked up at me, his eyes wide, and said "It's just like Santa!" and immediately launched into his explanation of how Santa would come to their house, and how he would get into the fireplace, and he eventually realized that all of these things were quite impossible. Finally, he said "I don't know, I guess that's magic, too." And without a hesitation, he turned back to the movie - no doubt in his mind about everything he had just told me.
So, while I could spend the rest of my life researching, learning, and exploring the idea of evolution but finding more questions than answers, I think I'll take a lesson from Braden - and be content with my confidence that there is something bigger than anything I could ever learn.
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