Kids and Religion

Although I'm not a believer in the Theory of Evolution, I still find it very interesting to learn. I surprisingly heard from a documentary that scientists theorized that elephants evolved back to water creatures (something like a whale). It may be a bit confusing but I would love to learn how that happened.

If you gave her a choice to believe in God, then you should also give her the choice to pray and attend church. How can you pray to a God that you do not believe in?

absolutley!! it just makes no sense...I think its great they are letting her choose/decide for herself whether or not she is a believer etc but to force her when she's clearly stated she isnt just makes no sense...

It happened all right kdmlrys. It would be better if you based your faith on the reality of evolution as it is now a generally accepted fact. There is just too much evidenc for evolution and none for any other.

I have found much to believe in creation. There are a lot of books out on the reality of creation. The only reason I can see for there being a theory on evolution is because we don't want to believe there is a God who holds us responsible for our loyalty to Him.

Islander, does science already have all the fossil evidences of all transitions between different species of animals?
In this case, elephants to whales.
If you know something, please state a source. I would love to learn more.

okay, i just read some of the comments under this post.

in the same sense it doesn't make sense that a single celled organism sprouted arms and legs and became monkeys... how does the fact that this all magical being that no one can actually see just said "hmm... i'm gonna make stuff today and one of those things is going to be what i will call a human".

If it was a simple answer, there wouln't be controversal theories. I honestly don't know what I believe in - how everything got started that is. Maybe its a good combination of both. So regardless of what side of the fence people are on, I never say you're wrong... I don't know how everything got started, and neither do the rest of us... so why get into aheated argument about it... know what I mean?

Of course that doesn't make sense. That is because you're confusing MICROevolution with MACROevolution. Macroevolution is what you're describing as not making sense: fish sprouting arms and legs and walking on to land.

It didn't happen and does not happen like that. The evolution of all life on earth has taken millions of years to this point, and each era of time that had different kinds of creatures were all a very small step in that process.

It doesn't all happen at once. A single-celled organism at some point experienced a mutation in its reproduction, which resulted in a multi-celled organism. Then, many generations down the line, the multi-celled organism started assembling into rudimentary structure within its membrane. From this point, it took millions of years to eventually make all of the creatures on earth today, including us humans. And it wasn't a single line either, but more like a tree, that branches out with each mutation signifying one little change in the morphology or anatomy of each being, creating the next being that evolves from it.

We have so much evidence for evolution that it can no longer be disregarded.

Cobra - I understand that in the evolution theory single celled organisms didn't just sprout legs and just start walking. As I'm sure the person who originally quoted that knows as well - just using that as a short and sweet version of evolution... condensing it a bit I guess.

kdmlrys - see the website on Whale Evolution/Cetacean Evolution.

With respect lotterylover, there are books about absolutely anything and everything. Science has definitively proven evolution, nothing at all about creationism has ever been proved, in fact the contrary. I am spiritual and i recognise evolution as the main function of the natural process here on earth.

cannjohn - i think you need to have a more open mind regarding evolution. It really did happen just like that from a single cell, over a vast amount of time.
I have even witnessed changes in my lifetime and that is just a moment of life.
Our own dna is related to everything else in the natural world, fact. Our closest living cousins the chimpanzee have almost identicle dna, fact. Think about it, read about it. I am spiritual by the way.

even if you believe in the theory of evolution,,
did you ever stop to think, from where that single cell came from?

why assume there WAS a beginning.

there might not have been. it just might always have been. maybe we just can't grasp the vastness and eternity of the universe and assume it MUST have started. but why. it's so much bigger than us, why are we trying to constrain it within our standards?



if the origin of life proves your God then it proves my Gods too.

but it was not a good idea to lapse in going to church for so long if that is what your faith is.

Whether or not they stepped foot in a religious building is irrelivent IMO...the fact is (or as I'm seeing it) is that the parents never lost faith..they just stopped going to church....truth of the matter is though you dont need to go to church or any religious building/spot to be a devoted believer of whatever religionn you are ya know...

Children need structure and the earlier that they get used to being with a faith community, the easier the teen years are.

I disagree...FORCING a child or rather in this case a teen to do it could actually CREATE problems..a parent can't tell their kids "well you dont have to believe but fake it cause it looks good" (which is exactly how it would seem to an outsider) how is that not going to create issues ya know...

My point was if they are already used to going there as a family, then it is easier as a matter of routine, and I don't believe that anyone should step foot in a Church if they don't believe in its tenets, as it makes a mockery of not only the church itself, it makes a mockery of God. Hearing God's word of whatever faith you have can only be of benefit, but if it is not truly believed then there is no point in going just for show. That would be wrong.

I will still agree to the decision of the mother to let her child come to church and pray to who ever she believes in. put the situation in your selves, you have a child who do not believe in God, from childhood youve been together going to church, now that she is 15, you go to church and your child go where? would you like that. The way i understand the mother is keeping the meaning of a family who wants to keep a family together, she is disciplining her. Thanks anyway.

Then in that case, I would say that since she is going through a lot of stuff, she is probably wondering if God exists, then why did He allow such and such. As human beings we can never know the Decree of God Almighty, nor His mind or ways. God allows evil to teach a valuable lesson or some moral truth. The daughter is struggling to find her identity and right now she associates church with childhood and is trying to find her way through life. Patience is key and loving discipline never hurt anyone. In the case of sudden disbelief and not a long held disbelief then it is just a teenage phase that she will outgrow even if she is being the most difficult teen on the planet right now, it will change.

I cannot force her to believe in something. But knowing my daughter as I do, I really feel that this is a phase. She has a lot of issues going on right now, her father just went to prison and I think that she is angry about that. And I really believe that church is the best place for her. She has never been like this before EVER and with her mind and ideas changing by the second from raging hormones and mood swings. No I cannot force her to believe and I do not make her feel guilty. But, while she is living in my house she will abide by my rules and my choices for her. I truly believe that this is a passing fancy for her and that she will turn back to God.

I'm sorry about your husband. If I'm in your daughter's shoes right now, I'd probably be very confused. I guess it's just one of those times when you'll wonder if God is really present and ignoring us or he doesn't exist at all.

Hardships and trials are probably one of the reasons why people walk away from their faith.

I do appreciate your concern for your daughter. Church may be a great place to experience a great sense of acceptance and peace of mind. I think your daughter needs that. However, in her case of being a non-believer, it may be hard for her to go to these kind of places or at least try.

But you know what, church is everywhere!

I'm still a believer but doesn't go to "church" anymore 'cause I believe that the true church is not about the buildings, offerings, sermons, etc. but it's about relationship, compassion, respect, understanding, and everything good in between.

My point is, the house where you and your daughter resides on is already a church!
You can make her feel better anytime, anywhere - just by showing her the "true church".

I should clarify, her father is my EX husband. And she used to go to church all the time and she believed in God. I think this is just the teenager coming out for now and I think she will warm up. I think that she might be angry with God for her dad being in prison. Yes it may be fake for her to join hands with her while we that the Lord for our blessings but she has benefited from those blessings too. I have been criticized on here all day about this, and that is ok, I can deal with that. I do not feel that I am making her feel bad about believing this way. She literally went from believing one week to saying she doesnt in a 7 day period, from one Sunday to the next!!!

I think you have to understand that. People are now very vocal about their disbelief. Unlike in the old days, where the concept of "if you don't believe, you'll burn in hell" is very strong.

a phase or not... don't force her. If it is just a phase - forcing her will only turn a "phase" into a permanent thing. I speak that from experience.

Agreed!

I do not however think she should change her view on evolution, but a spiritual belief can be held with the truth of evolution.

lol

Oops!