Many people are not willing to consider the fact that the Bible and Science actually are in agreement with one another and this is why I was happy to get the opportunity to review the online class Geology and Apologetics from Northwest Treasures. Along with this, we received access to a 20 minute video class called Taking the Mystery Out of Geology.
Creation Science, geology, dinosaurs, etc have been a passion in our family for many years. Our kids have always been rock hounds and we have the collection to prove it. They pick up rocks for souvenirs everywhere we go. Having an understanding of the formation of these rocks and an appreciation for their Creator is important for us to include the education of our children.
Geology AND Apologetics? You may be asking ‘why?’ and/or ‘what?’ Geology, is, well, the study of rocks and the earth and the formation of them. Sadly, it has become the mainstream norm to present Evolutionary Theory as fact. That’s where apologetics comes in. Apologetics is the ability to give an answer or explain your position in a clear manner, often as a way to defend your belief or conviction. There is plenty of scientific information that backs up scripture and that is something not knows everyone. This course uses scripture references and physical evidence to help students defend their position that the Bible and Science are in agreement.
We first watched Taking the Mystery Out of Geology. This 20-minute video class helps you understand geology, from a Biblical perspective. The instructor shares several terms that clarify what science is and give a better understanding of the philosophy of geology. These terms lay a Biblical framework for understanding how events like the Global Flood and the Ice Age fit together. You and your kids may be just starting your geology study or you may be wanting to sort out some truth from fiction from theory and how they’ve been influenced by evolutionary thinking. Whichever camp you are in, this study is a great place to start.
And then we moved on to Geology and Apologetics. It is a 6-part video class geared for grades 8 through adult. The classes are given in a lecture format by Patrick Nurre. They are each less than 30 minutes, and at the start of each lesson he gives us an introduction and continues his lecture with slides, charts and photos that help illustrate the points of the lesson.
The six lessons in this course are:
- Knowing Scriptures in the Secular Geological Age
- Clarifying the Conflict Between Science and the Bible
- The Genealogies and Chronologies of Genesis. Are They Accurate and Reliable?
- Evolutionary Gaps in the Fossil Record, How Serious Are They?
- Dinosaur-to-Bird Evolution, the Story that Never Seems to Die
- Time and Chronology in the Secular Geological Age
Each lesson is followed up by discussion questions which I have enjoyed. My kids watch the videos, and then we discuss the content using these questions as a starting point. To dig deeper and flesh out this course, there are worksheets and activities recommended as well. This is the part my kids really enjoy most.
We have found this course to be a good blend of Bible, Science and Apologetics. My kids are glad the lectures were no longer than 20 minutes or so and they have enjoyed our family discussions and research. Because the lessons always lead us to do more research!
The extra research part is where Dad came in. This is a topic that he has studied extensively through the years and he has been happy to join our conversations and study, always glad to see his kids thinking on their own and learning important lessons for life.
There are many other resources available at Northwest Treasures, including adventure and field trip experiences. My kids think it would be really cool to go out for the Colombia River Family Geology Camp. They were quite young when we took them on a Dinosaur Dig in North Dakota where we were able to get up close and personal with rocks and tools, dirt and old bones, all in the midst of God’s amazing Creation.
For your dinosaur loving children, their course called Dinosaurs and the Bible might be a good option for your family. In addition to the online classes, Northwest Treasures also offers physical courses such as the high school level Northwest Treasures Curriculum Project or the Geology for “Little Eyes” series for younger students.
I hope you’ll visit my fellow Crew Mates (just click on the image below!) to see how their families are using and enjoying these courses. This is a topic that our family is passionate about and we believe everyone should be studying and learning for themselves rather than taking the mainstream institutions’ word for it.
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