Confusing Children with Creationism

April 5th, 2007

One of the big issues between creationists and evolutionists is the age of the Earth. Adding up all of the “who begot who” in the bible has the age of the Earth being around 6,000 years old. Science tells us that it’s at least “a bit” older than that.

Many of our notions about the Earth’s history are shaped in our early childhood. I think we can all recall toys, stories, and cartoons depicting “cavemen” coexisting (often not very peacefully) with dinosaurs. I mean really–the Flintstones even employed dinosaurs as household appliances. It’s no better today. My son has some toys called “B.C. Builders” built on this very premise. I am trying to figure out how to expain that dinosaurs and cavemen were not around at the same time. How is my 3-year old son to realize this major historical inaccuracy when he doesn’t even appreciate the irony that his plastic parasoralphous is derived from actual dinosaurs? Irony is wasted on toddlers.

Things haven’t changed much since we were kids–except maybe that the Brontosaurus is now the Apatosaurus. And although there actually were flying dinosaurs called Pterodactyls, all I hear about is the Pteranodons. What’s up with that?

I am ready if I every get asked why Noah didn’t bring any dinosaurs on the ark–”there wasn’t enough room.”

It’s no wonder so many are confused.

Entry Filed under: Parenting, General

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