This is an email I had written the night after the kids and I went to theChicago Museum of Science and Industry and The Field Museum. Keep in mind I hadn't travelled much recently and I am used to the museums in our very conservative area.
Looking back, I was completely in shock for two reasons. First the massive amounts of artifacts they have there, second, the total ani-Christian undertones of the entire museum. I just wasn't prepared for it. Didn't think I had to be prepared to go to a museum. I guess this would sound silly to most people, but I was just amazed at what I saw.
(I have been back there now three times, I am just more prepared to ad-lib the signs and we go just for the actual artifacts.)
Dear friends,
When we arrived in Rockford, I looked everywhere for something neat to do with the kids. Finally realizing Rockford holds very very little as compared to DC, I began to look to the closest large city - Chicago. Also, I have never had the opportunity to travel like this in my life, ever. So, the kids and I were discussing this very fact, and I told them that we should be watching out for something really special that we should be seeing or le
arning about. And innocently Sarah asks, "Is there something here that Dad isn't telling us about?" I had to laugh, then I explained to her that I just thought it was strange how easy everything has been working out with homeschooling and us being able to travel and get to see the sights that we have been able to see to the extent that we were able to see them. And that we should consider ourselves very blessed. And perhaps God would allow us to learn something special that he wants us to learn. And so I prayed. "God, if there is something here that I should see, or some unique experience in this town that our family should experience please help me to find it, because I'm not finding anything here." This may sound silly to you all, but I am in a hotel room with 5 small children, keep this in mind. Plus, I believe very strongly that God has His hand in every aspect of our lives, and if we fail to yield to his guidance, then we are ignorant and arrogant to believe we can succeed at even the smallest chore, let alone homeschooling.
Anyway, we decided to drive two hours east to take in some Museums in Chicago. To the Museum of Science and Industry we go. It was such a neat place... for the most part. Everything was just so unique and covered every aspect of industry and physical sciences. Then, we got to a section that I didn't realize that I wasn't prepared for. I've taken my children to many many places and felt fairly confident that I could explain as we went. I was very overwhelmed. And felt very unprepared.
Now, I'm sure the kids didn't catch on at first, because I read a bit faster than they do, but I was shocked at the one sided approach to the origin of life explanation at this museum. I thought to myself, I can't wait to visit the Creation Museum so the kids and I can discuss the existence of both views. This way they will learn why we believe what we believe and they won't be ignorant of the existence of opposing views on the issue. So, I quickly took pictures of all the exhibits in that section so I could really look at it later and have a chance to let it sink in. But, in all honesty I felt sick. I actually couldn't shake it, and I kept going over in my mind the way they had it set up (the ungodly origin of life and then prenatal development, actual dead babies in containers at each stage of development) and the very subtle way they detached religion, specifically christian religion, from science. I left there with very mixed emotions. It was a great museum is so many other areas. Why couldn't they just have left out there comments on creationism? I can respect others views, I cannot respect subtle attacks on God, in the name of anything, science or otherwise.
I knew I was going to a secular museum and that there would be an obvious evolutionist view, but, I think there was more to
it than that. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Here are some of the actual exhibit explanations from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry that I saw for myself:
Titled: "Is it Science?"
The sign starts out saying what science is:
"Science is a special way of knowing, different from other approaches to understanding."
"Like everything else, science has its strengths and limitations, which are seen by comparing science to subjects that are sometimes confused with it."
"Creationism is not science because. . . "
"Creationism accepts the Word of God, as written in the Bible, as a factual account of simple historical truths."
"Evolution is a science because. . ."
"the data which test the theory are collected in the real world through observation and experiment." Real World?
"Evolution is the basis for all modern biological sciences"
By the time you are at the end of reading the sign they give another definition of science:
"Science is a body of knowledge gathered from observation and experimentation in the real world. Scientists accept these explanations because they can be tested and repeated."
I thought that I may just be tired or over reacting, but, after being inspired by what I saw at this museum to go ahead and look into scheduling a trip to the Creation Museum, after the kids went to bed I looked on the Internet and I found this: on the Answers in Genesis website. A group called Defcon encouraging "educators, media and citizens to exercise critical thinking" and to sign a petition. In the name of America's Freedom!! Against the Creation Museum. A private organization with private funding and Christian beliefs. Was that a coincidence or God?
http://ga3.org/campaign/creationmuseum
Did God answer my prayer of letting me see something he wanted me to see? I think so, and here is why, if I had not been homeschooling, I wouldn't have been able to go to DC, and as a Christian homeschooling mom I learned about reading original source documents, instead of relying on textbooks, and had I not been studying them to be able to make sure the kids were learning what they needed to learn I wouldn't have read the actual documents about the founding of our country, an
d realize what had been done to our textbooks. I don't think I would have been on guard as much to notice the very subtle attacks on God, or the evidence of His removal from every educational aspect of our country. It's not really us as Christians here that is being attacked, it's God. To say that the very beings that he made by hand actually began with bacteria and some heat, is an absolute attack. And implying that the belief of the Bible as factual, is why creationism is not science, is that not a very direct attack on God Himself and anyone who believes His Word as fact?
Now, after being in DC a few weeks ago, and reading up on the role God really did play in our American History and seeing how much of history I have missed because of political correctness' opposition to anything considered "christian" being allowed in our history textbooks, and realizing how free we really are not, I think I am really concerned.
Of course I know that the theory of evolution has been a heated debate since the 1800's, the only thing that I see that has changed is that within the last 50 yrs, in America, there have been more opposing than defending. Our freedom of religion country has made laws against allowing religion in education, and regulating others who choose to not attend public schools. There have been many small things that have been gradually separating our belief in God and the idea of being "educated". And the underlying stigma that in the field of science, you have to choose your belief in God, or a good science education, and that you can't have both. And the fact that when we all hear the word science, we instantly separate it from any belief in God, and relate it to a class we had is school or a field of study for professionals (usually not christian). Since they have succeeded in separating the two in the mind of the common person, we tend not to get involved in those issues when they arise. And in separating the two we have allowed medical abortions, stem cell research, cloning and other immoral behaviors in the name of science, we have allowed God to be totally removed from all aspects of the education of our God given children and replaced by political correctness and evolutionary theories.
We need to start really praying about these issues. Not necessarily that everyone is persuaded one way or another, but, at this point, we need to seriously pray that we at least have the freedom to educate ourselves and our families without major opposition and regulation. Pray for our teachers to be able to pray with students, be able to add God into their classroom, and to keep God alive in our schools through christian teachers. Let's face it, this is an enormous issue that only God will be able to help with.
Some of these things are just subtle little digs that people keep telling me aren't that big of a deal and I shouldn't worry about it. Just worry about yourself and yours. But, isn't it the gradual little changes how it works? If you put a frog in boiling water he will leap right out, but if you slowly heat up the water he will sit still and look at you while boil him. What is our water temperature as Christians? And who is really turning up the heat? I think sometimes we live in such a conservative part of the country, we think this is stuff that happens in other places and we'll just let other people deal with these issues. I'm not so sure that's such a good idea.
Also, some food for thought:
What is Science? Are we trained to think that when we hear the word science, we instantly think of the separate subject we were taught in a school? The idea that science is beyond basic understanding and that it is reserved only for the "professionals to understand". And have we been taught that science and religion don't go together? In fact, they aren't even related to each other. Religion is a belief, science is proof. Right? I can study science separately without God and giving up my beliefs, right? And if I don't study evolution, I can't possibly be well educated in science, right?
Is Creationism Science?
If you are a christian, can you teach about science without always referring back to the Bible? (If you can let me know, I've tried)
How many Christians actually believe in creationism?
Have you looked up the actual definition of science? If so, can you trust your dictionary? Doesn't that sound like a stupid question? I thought so too, until I studied Noah Webster. This link talks about the evolution of our dictionary, it's not just the schools that God is being written out of. http://www.face.net/files/Articles/1828_Dictionary.pdf
The view from the Nation Academy of Sciences http://www.nap.edu/html/creationism/ Basically the real scientists population.
Article on What is Science - Answers in Genesis http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ee/what-is-science
How far are we willing to let things slide by before we realize it's too late? I myself am praying to God to show me a way to stand up for Him. There has to be a way to prevent the gradual chipping away of our America. What is this country going to be like in the future? I hope that we all start praying for God to show us opportunities to stand up for Him and to give us the courage, knowledge, freedom and ability to do so.
Thanks for listening. If you get a chance, let me know if anyone else feels the same way I do or at least sees my point. Sometimes I do wonder if I overreact, but it just seems so different today than say even 20 yrs ago. And many of the Christians I have talked to either don't believe in creationism, or don't think it's a big deal either way. To me it seems huge. If we strip the Biblical based moral backing from the education of our American children, what will we have in the future? A highly educated society of people who will have no desire, or even ability to seek God. What a dangerous time that will be. Especially for believers.
It just starts to make you think when you see a cute little cloned mouse at the museum. What will my great grandchildren see when they go to the museum someday? God forbid.
Jane
Looking back, I was completely in shock for two reasons. First the massive amounts of artifacts they have there, second, the total ani-Christian undertones of the entire museum. I just wasn't prepared for it. Didn't think I had to be prepared to go to a museum. I guess this would sound silly to most people, but I was just amazed at what I saw.
(I have been back there now three times, I am just more prepared to ad-lib the signs and we go just for the actual artifacts.)
Dear friends,
When we arrived in Rockford, I looked everywhere for something neat to do with the kids. Finally realizing Rockford holds very very little as compared to DC, I began to look to the closest large city - Chicago. Also, I have never had the opportunity to travel like this in my life, ever. So, the kids and I were discussing this very fact, and I told them that we should be watching out for something really special that we should be seeing or le
arning about. And innocently Sarah asks, "Is there something here that Dad isn't telling us about?" I had to laugh, then I explained to her that I just thought it was strange how easy everything has been working out with homeschooling and us being able to travel and get to see the sights that we have been able to see to the extent that we were able to see them. And that we should consider ourselves very blessed. And perhaps God would allow us to learn something special that he wants us to learn. And so I prayed. "God, if there is something here that I should see, or some unique experience in this town that our family should experience please help me to find it, because I'm not finding anything here." This may sound silly to you all, but I am in a hotel room with 5 small children, keep this in mind. Plus, I believe very strongly that God has His hand in every aspect of our lives, and if we fail to yield to his guidance, then we are ignorant and arrogant to believe we can succeed at even the smallest chore, let alone homeschooling.Anyway, we decided to drive two hours east to take in some Museums in Chicago. To the Museum of Science and Industry we go. It was such a neat place... for the most part. Everything was just so unique and covered every aspect of industry and physical sciences. Then, we got to a section that I didn't realize that I wasn't prepared for. I've taken my children to many many places and felt fairly confident that I could explain as we went. I was very overwhelmed. And felt very unprepared.
Now, I'm sure the kids didn't catch on at first, because I read a bit faster than they do, but I was shocked at the one sided approach to the origin of life explanation at this museum. I thought to myself, I can't wait to visit the Creation Museum so the kids and I can discuss the existence of both views. This way they will learn why we believe what we believe and they won't be ignorant of the existence of opposing views on the issue. So, I quickly took pictures of all the exhibits in that section so I could really look at it later and have a chance to let it sink in. But, in all honesty I felt sick. I actually couldn't shake it, and I kept going over in my mind the way they had it set up (the ungodly origin of life and then prenatal development, actual dead babies in containers at each stage of development) and the very subtle way they detached religion, specifically christian religion, from science. I left there with very mixed emotions. It was a great museum is so many other areas. Why couldn't they just have left out there comments on creationism? I can respect others views, I cannot respect subtle attacks on God, in the name of anything, science or otherwise.
I knew I was going to a secular museum and that there would be an obvious evolutionist view, but, I think there was more to
it than that. Please correct me if I am wrong.Here are some of the actual exhibit explanations from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry that I saw for myself:
Titled: "Is it Science?"
The sign starts out saying what science is:
"Science is a special way of knowing, different from other approaches to understanding."
"Like everything else, science has its strengths and limitations, which are seen by comparing science to subjects that are sometimes confused with it."
"Creationism is not science because. . . "
"Creationism accepts the Word of God, as written in the Bible, as a factual account of simple historical truths."
"Evolution is a science because. . ."
"the data which test the theory are collected in the real world through observation and experiment." Real World?
"Evolution is the basis for all modern biological sciences"
By the time you are at the end of reading the sign they give another definition of science:
"Science is a body of knowledge gathered from observation and experimentation in the real world. Scientists accept these explanations because they can be tested and repeated."
I thought that I may just be tired or over reacting, but, after being inspired by what I saw at this museum to go ahead and look into scheduling a trip to the Creation Museum, after the kids went to bed I looked on the Internet and I found this: on the Answers in Genesis website. A group called Defcon encouraging "educators, media and citizens to exercise critical thinking" and to sign a petition. In the name of America's Freedom!! Against the Creation Museum. A private organization with private funding and Christian beliefs. Was that a coincidence or God?
http://ga3.org/campaign/creationmuseum
Did God answer my prayer of letting me see something he wanted me to see? I think so, and here is why, if I had not been homeschooling, I wouldn't have been able to go to DC, and as a Christian homeschooling mom I learned about reading original source documents, instead of relying on textbooks, and had I not been studying them to be able to make sure the kids were learning what they needed to learn I wouldn't have read the actual documents about the founding of our country, an
d realize what had been done to our textbooks. I don't think I would have been on guard as much to notice the very subtle attacks on God, or the evidence of His removal from every educational aspect of our country. It's not really us as Christians here that is being attacked, it's God. To say that the very beings that he made by hand actually began with bacteria and some heat, is an absolute attack. And implying that the belief of the Bible as factual, is why creationism is not science, is that not a very direct attack on God Himself and anyone who believes His Word as fact?Now, after being in DC a few weeks ago, and reading up on the role God really did play in our American History and seeing how much of history I have missed because of political correctness' opposition to anything considered "christian" being allowed in our history textbooks, and realizing how free we really are not, I think I am really concerned.
Of course I know that the theory of evolution has been a heated debate since the 1800's, the only thing that I see that has changed is that within the last 50 yrs, in America, there have been more opposing than defending. Our freedom of religion country has made laws against allowing religion in education, and regulating others who choose to not attend public schools. There have been many small things that have been gradually separating our belief in God and the idea of being "educated". And the underlying stigma that in the field of science, you have to choose your belief in God, or a good science education, and that you can't have both. And the fact that when we all hear the word science, we instantly separate it from any belief in God, and relate it to a class we had is school or a field of study for professionals (usually not christian). Since they have succeeded in separating the two in the mind of the common person, we tend not to get involved in those issues when they arise. And in separating the two we have allowed medical abortions, stem cell research, cloning and other immoral behaviors in the name of science, we have allowed God to be totally removed from all aspects of the education of our God given children and replaced by political correctness and evolutionary theories.
We need to start really praying about these issues. Not necessarily that everyone is persuaded one way or another, but, at this point, we need to seriously pray that we at least have the freedom to educate ourselves and our families without major opposition and regulation. Pray for our teachers to be able to pray with students, be able to add God into their classroom, and to keep God alive in our schools through christian teachers. Let's face it, this is an enormous issue that only God will be able to help with.
Some of these things are just subtle little digs that people keep telling me aren't that big of a deal and I shouldn't worry about it. Just worry about yourself and yours. But, isn't it the gradual little changes how it works? If you put a frog in boiling water he will leap right out, but if you slowly heat up the water he will sit still and look at you while boil him. What is our water temperature as Christians? And who is really turning up the heat? I think sometimes we live in such a conservative part of the country, we think this is stuff that happens in other places and we'll just let other people deal with these issues. I'm not so sure that's such a good idea.
Also, some food for thought:
What is Science? Are we trained to think that when we hear the word science, we instantly think of the separate subject we were taught in a school? The idea that science is beyond basic understanding and that it is reserved only for the "professionals to understand". And have we been taught that science and religion don't go together? In fact, they aren't even related to each other. Religion is a belief, science is proof. Right? I can study science separately without God and giving up my beliefs, right? And if I don't study evolution, I can't possibly be well educated in science, right?
Is Creationism Science?
If you are a christian, can you teach about science without always referring back to the Bible? (If you can let me know, I've tried)
How many Christians actually believe in creationism?
Have you looked up the actual definition of science? If so, can you trust your dictionary? Doesn't that sound like a stupid question? I thought so too, until I studied Noah Webster. This link talks about the evolution of our dictionary, it's not just the schools that God is being written out of. http://www.face.net/files/Articles/1828_Dictionary.pdf
The view from the Nation Academy of Sciences http://www.nap.edu/html/creationism/ Basically the real scientists population.
Article on What is Science - Answers in Genesis http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ee/what-is-science
How far are we willing to let things slide by before we realize it's too late? I myself am praying to God to show me a way to stand up for Him. There has to be a way to prevent the gradual chipping away of our America. What is this country going to be like in the future? I hope that we all start praying for God to show us opportunities to stand up for Him and to give us the courage, knowledge, freedom and ability to do so.
Thanks for listening. If you get a chance, let me know if anyone else feels the same way I do or at least sees my point. Sometimes I do wonder if I overreact, but it just seems so different today than say even 20 yrs ago. And many of the Christians I have talked to either don't believe in creationism, or don't think it's a big deal either way. To me it seems huge. If we strip the Biblical based moral backing from the education of our American children, what will we have in the future? A highly educated society of people who will have no desire, or even ability to seek God. What a dangerous time that will be. Especially for believers.
It just starts to make you think when you see a cute little cloned mouse at the museum. What will my great grandchildren see when they go to the museum someday? God forbid.
Jane
