"You know that's impossible right?" Explaining to kids the comments of creationists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, wait until they walk away. That's the polite thing to do. Then explain what you think but also your fair interpretation of what the woman thinks. Tell your kids that there are different opinions and beliefs about all sorts of things and encourage them to research something they want to know about and make a decision based on that.

I don't know. That comes close to lending creationism validity, and creationist theory isn't valid.

And do you immediately debunk Santa Claus when someone references him? Different people have different faith beliefs. You might believe they are wrong, but it's pretty darn bigoted to openly write them off to your kids without some sort of "this is what some people believe, this is what we believe" approach.

To my kids, yes. My kids have never been told that Santa is real. We call it "the Santa game" at our house.

I don't want my kids to "make their own decision" on creationism. It's bunk. It's bunk that our faith (Catholic) doesn't teach. It's bunk that flies in the face of facts.

I'd be perfectly comfortable saying to my children "That's not true. Some people believe the creation myth in the Bible literally, but science has shown us that it's not literally true." I'd be comfortable saying it in front of that family. Why do they get to spout their crap in public without even polite disagreement? Bigots and idiots shouldn't be allowed to dominate public spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. You should like a wonderful person who will raise wonderful close-minded children. Let me guess-- Democrstic voter?

Let me guess - asshole?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

So you teach your kids to disrespect any viewpoint that differs from yours? I just thought we were way past this.

No, I teach my children not to treat all opinions as equal. Opinions based on fact are generally better. One doesn't have to be disrespectful to the people who hold other views, but I am not going to tell my kid that they should give equal weight to everything theory they hear.

[Anonymous]

For all the posters saying that we should present this as just a difference of opinion, would it be ok to present the holocaust as just a difference of opinion? Because there are people out there that deny it ever happened (even though it is a fact that it did). Just as it is a fact that the earth is 4.6 billion years old and it is absurd to tell children that it is an equally viable option that it was made in 7 days a few thousand years ago. Not a difference of opinion or belief - facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

So you teach your kids to disrespect any viewpoint that differs from yours? I just thought we were way past this.

No, I teach my children not to treat all opinions as equal. Opinions based on fact are generally better. One doesn't have to be disrespectful to the people who hold other views, but I am not going to tell my kid that they should give equal weight to everything theory they hear.

Then we will have to politely agree to disagree. That's what I about America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

So you teach your kids to disrespect any viewpoint that differs from yours? I just thought we were way past this.

No, I teach my children not to treat all opinions as equal. Opinions based on fact are generally better. One doesn't have to be disrespectful to the people who hold other views, but I am not going to tell my kid that they should give equal weight to everything theory they hear.

Then we will have to politely agree to disagree. That's what I about America.

"love" about America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

So you teach your kids to disrespect any viewpoint that differs from yours? I just thought we were way past this.

No, I teach my children not to treat all opinions as equal. Opinions based on fact are generally better. One doesn't have to be disrespectful to the people who hold other views, but I am not going to tell my kid that they should give equal weight to everything theory they hear.

+1

[Anonymous]

I am a Christian who believes that God created the world And believes in Evolution.
I believe God created science.
How about that?
Why is it so often proponents if either side seems sooooo arrogant?

[Anonymous]

Not all Christians believe the universe was created in 7 days.

Anonymous wrote:I would have said to my kids that Christians believe the universe was created in seven days, but that is a religious story and science says the universe is about 13.5 billion years old, and I would have added that our family considers science (which is based on observable facts) to be better at answering questions about the world/universe than science. I wouldn't have waited until the woman walked away, but I wouldn't have spoken so that she and her family could necessarily hear me.

We're a multicultural family -- I was raised Christian and became an atheist, DH is from another culture that is largely atheistic but has cultural religious beliefs nonetheless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all the posters saying that we should present this as just a difference of opinion, would it be ok to present the holocaust as just a difference of opinion? Because there are people out there that deny it ever happened (even though it is a fact that it did). Just as it is a fact that the earth is 4.6 billion years old and it is absurd to tell children that it is an equally viable option that it was made in 7 days a few thousand years ago. Not a difference of opinion or belief - facts.

Completely agree, just because it is one groups opinion, does not mean its not my responsibility to educate my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

So you teach your kids to disrespect any viewpoint that differs from yours? I just thought we were way past this.

No, I teach my children not to treat all opinions as equal. Opinions based on fact are generally better. One doesn't have to be disrespectful to the people who hold other views, but I am not going to tell my kid that they should give equal weight to everything theory they hear

You said the "viewpoints are not worthy of respect".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And creationists disagree.

That doesn't mean that viewpoint is worthy of respect or deference of any sort. It's not something you agree to disagree over.

Is this your approach towards all religions? You don't think they're worthy of respect or deference of any sort?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, wait until they walk away. That's the polite thing to do. Then explain what you think but also your fair interpretation of what the woman thinks. Tell your kids that there are different opinions and beliefs about all sorts of things and encourage them to research something they want to know about and make a decision based on that.

I don't know. That comes close to lending creationism validity, and creationist theory isn't valid.

And do you immediately debunk Santa Claus when someone references him? Different people have different faith beliefs. You might believe they are wrong, but it's pretty darn bigoted to openly write them off to your kids without some sort of "this is what some people believe, this is what we believe" approach.

To my kids, yes. My kids have never been told that Santa is real. We call it "the Santa game" at our house.

I don't want my kids to "make their own decision" on creationism. It's bunk. It's bunk that our faith (Catholic) doesn't teach. It's bunk that flies in the face of facts.

I'd be perfectly comfortable saying to my children "That's not true. Some people believe the creation myth in the Bible literally, but science has shown us that it's not literally true." I'd be comfortable saying it in front of that family. Why do they get to spout their crap in public without even polite disagreement? Bigots and idiots shouldn't be allowed to dominate public spaces.

So if you're Catholic, you teach your kids that they drink the blood of Christ at every Mass, right? Cause that's what the faith teaches. People who don't agree are "bigots and idiots".

[Anonymous]

They have a belief with which you disagree. Therefor they're " Bigots and idiots" who "shouldn't occupy public space"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have a belief with which you disagree. Therefor they're " Bigots and idiots" who "shouldn't occupy public space"?

Who said this? I didn't see anyone post anything remotely like this. And again, it is a belief that is not just a disagreement but is demonstrably false.