Re: [asa] Homeschool science curricula

For folks like this, I would strongly recommend David Snoke's new book, The
Biblical Case for an Old Earth. It is written for a lay audience, and
convincingly addresses the most significant objections YEC's make, including
the problem of death before the fall. It also promotes a concordist view,
which will introduce someone with a YEC view that even a "literal"
perspective doesn't have to be YEC. It argumentative and remains respectful
of the YEC view even while debunking it. I know some here would not be
comfortable even with Snoke's concordist position or with his support for
ID, but this isn't an ID book. I really can't recommend it highly enough as
a gentle introduction to non-YEC views for ordinary evangelical YEC
parishoners.

If this is a person who owns any of the popular evangelical general
systematic theology texts, I'd also recommend the chapters in Grudem's
Systematic Theology and in Erickson's Christian Theology. Though Grudem
tends towards YEC, he has a very good section on why OEC is a plausible view
and urging non-confrontation -- and he particularly faults YEC leaders for
acting divisively. Erickson favors either TE or OEC (he leans more OEC),
and he has a very good section on extra-Biblical evidence.

On a somewhat more sophisticated level, particularly if the people are of a
Reformed bent, C. John Collins' recent commentary on Genesis 1-4 is
outstanding, demonstrating how a detailed historical-literary-grammatical
exegesis doesn't lead to a YEC view. And you mentioned Walton -- his NIV
Application Commentary on Genesis is excellent too of course.

On 11/10/06, Randy Isaac <randyisaac@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
> Jack,
> Thank you so much for sending this insightful email. It really helps us
> focus on where the real concern is. Normally we wrestle with teachers
> advocating YECism or we rant on this list about how the YEC's have won or
> how their science could possibly be so wrong.
> But here we are taken right to the heart of the issue. It's not at all
> a
> scientific issue but a hermeneutics issue as many of you have been saying.
> This note is well written and articulates precisely the fear that
> permeates
> hearts and minds of Christians throughout the church.
> Our first reaction might be to recommend NT Wright or Walton or Kline
> or
> any of the evangelical bible scholars who have focused on OT
> interpretation.
> But will these folks be able to wade through all the scholarly language?
> Is
> there a lay level book that takes their ideas and puts them at a level
> where
> the writers of this note could grasp the essence? It would be a great
> project to take such a work and put it in an audio mp3 format and make it
> available on our website. If such a book exists, I'll bet we can do the
> audio part. Any recommendations?
>
> Randy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jack syme" <drsyme@cablespeed.com>
> To: <asa@calvin.edu>
> Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 7:00 AM
> Subject: [asa] Homeschool science curricula
>
>
> >I received this email from a friend of mine, who has organized a tutorial
> >in science, math and other subjects, for homeschooled children in grades
> >9 - 12.
> >
> > Can anyone help me help him? Does anyone know of any good web sites
> that
> > have mp3's that concisely explain non literal creation views? He is
> more
> > interested in hermaneutics than scientific evidence.
> >
> >
> >> Jack
> >> I hope you are doing well. We got the below email from one of the
> >> parent's in our tutorial. I immediately thought of you. The family that
> >> sent
> >> it are an excellent family and easy to work with. They are well
> educated
> >> and
> >> always a delight to talk to. I am curious to hear how you would respond
> >> to
> >> the points made below about the poetic view of the creation account. I
> >> know
> >> you disagree, but how would you respond to the theological arguments ?
> >> Is there a website that has mp3 files that can explain your view from a
> >> hermeneutic perspective (not scientific perspective - I only have time
> >> right
> >> now to analyze the hermeneutic issues). I have an ipod and would like
> to
> >> listen to one or two in the car.
> >
> >
> > This is the email that he is referring to:
> >>
> >> There is one more item I wanted to bring up. I am coming to you and
> not
> >> the teacher because what was taught was taught to the whole class and
> as
> >> part of the curriculum. In other words, if the matter was a private
> >> issue,
> >> simply a disagreement with teaching style or classroom dynamics, I
> would
> >> go
> >> directly to the teacher. Rather, this is a issue of curriculum content
> >> and
> >> therefore, to my understanding, under your auspices. My children have
> >> told
> >> me that the teacher taught them today that she does not hold to a six
> day
> >> creation viewpoint. From what I gather from them, she believes a form
> of
> >> the
> >> framework hypothesis. She told them that she believed that Genesis is a
> >> "poetic" book and that the Genesis account was not necessarily literal.
> >> She
> >> said that each day could be viewed as being eons - defined as an
> >> unspecified
> >> amount of time. I am coming to you because this may be something of
> >> which
> >> you are aware and you may be at ease with. I apologize that I did not
> >> specifically address this in our interviews. I assumed a six day
> literal
> >> creation viewpoint since we were using Wile's book and that, to my
> >> understanding, is his view.
> >>
> >> In the opinion of my husband and me, the ramifications of this
> >> point of view are myriad. I am especially concerned that it undermines
> >> the
> >> authority of God and His Word and the very Gospel. If man was created
> >> over
> >> eons of time, was there death before the Fall? If so, then death was
> not
> >> as
> >> a result of the sin of the federal head, Adam, and therefore, we are
> not
> >> under its curse. If we do not die because we are under the curse, we
> >> have
> >> no need of a Savior. See what I mean? The Genesis account is a
> >> paradigm
> >> for marriage, dominion of the earth, and other foundational issues
> >> including our view of the nature of man and our need for redemption.
> >> Carey
> >> questioned her in class about the effect this view has on our being
> >> specially created in God's image and our being given souls, if as she
> >> believes, these matters are simply poetic.
> >>
> >> I am grateful that my children have discussed this with Mike and me
> >> (it
> >> was the first thing out their mouths when we got in the car) and we are
> >> aware now that we will need to counter these views in our instruction.
> In
> >> many ways it will be good for my kids to have to deal with the opposing
> >> views of creation. I did want to bring this up, however, in case this
> was
> >> not what you understood to be the perspective in the science class and
> >> were
> >> concerned for the rest of the students.
> >>
> >> I know many godly Christian brothers and sisters who hold to
> similar
> >> views as the teacher. I do not want you to think I am in any way
> >> questioning
> >> her character or her faith. I am sure you would not have hired her if
> >> you
> >> did not believe she was a godly woman. On your testimony, I have every
> >> confidence that she is. I simply believe she holds to a serious error
> >> and
> >> sadly, she has influence to spread that error to vulnerable students
> who
> >> are
> >> trusting that they are hearing the truth. It is my opinion that this
> >> error
> >> is insidious. If we allow Satan to undermine the authority of God in
> the
> >> Genesis account by relegating it to being "poetic" why stop with
> Genesis?
> >>
> >> My husband and I are happy to meet with y'all to discuss this
> further.
> >> My children are very concerned that they not be seen as the source of
> >> this
> >> information. They want to have a good relationship with their teacher.
> >> We
> >> have every intention of keeping them in the class; we will simply
> >> instruct
> >> them counter to that teaching at home. Like I said, I am not sure
> >> whether
> >> this is the view of the school or not, therefore, you may not feel the
> >> need
> >> to do anything. If that is the case, like I said, we will keep the kids
> >> in
> >> the class and handle this at home. In case it was not the view of the
> >> school, we wanted to let you know.
> >>
> >> Thank you both so much for all you do to make this school available
> >> to
> >> my children. We are very happy here and hope that we are an asset to
> the
> >> school. Please take this concern as just that. As Christian brothers
> >> and
> >> sisters, there is no issue that should not be able to be discussed
> gently
> >> and kindly in light of the authority of God's Word and in love. I hope
> I
> >> have succeeded in communicating in that spirit.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
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>
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-- 
David W. Opderbeck
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