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The Language of God by Francis S. Collins ~ Book Review

Part one deals with how he went from atheism to belief. He was homeschooled by his free-thinking parents until the age of 10 in a rural community. When he was 10 his family moved to town to care for an ailing Grandmother and he entered the public school system. For many years he was agnostic and drifted toward atheism until a patient asked him what he believed. This question started him on an odyssey where he sat out to prove or disprove God's existence. He references C.S. Lewis a lot at this point. Eventually he came to the conclusion that there is a God and that God and Science can peacefully coexist.

Part two deals with the great questions of human existence.

Science is progressive and self-correcting; no significantly erroneous conclusions or false hypothesis can be sustained for long, as newer observations will ultimately knock down incorrect constructs. But over a long period of time, a consistent set of observations sometimes emerge that leads to a new framework of understanding. That framework is then given a much more substantive description and is called a "theory" - the theory of gravitation, the theory of relativity, or the germ theory, for instance. (page 58)

Many Christians today demonize Darwin, but this is unfair.

Far from being ostracized by the religious community Darwin was buried in Westminster Abby.  Darwin himself was deeply concerned about his theory on religious belief, though in The Origin of Species he took pains to point out a possible harmonious interpretation. (page 98)

I have always wondered how many of Darwin's detractors have actually read The Origin of Species?

No serious biologist today doubts the theory of evolution to explain the marvelous complexity and diversity of life. In fact the relatedness of all species through the mechanism of evolution is such a profound foundation for the understanding of all biology that it is difficult to imagine how one would study life without it. (page 99)
The examples reported here from the study of genomes, plus others that could fill hundreds of books of this length, provide the kind of molecular support for the theory of evolution that has convinced virtually all working biologist that Darwin's framework of variation and natural selection is unquestionably correct..... As Theodosius Dobzhansky a leading biologist of the twentieth century (and a devout Eastern Orthodox Christian), has said, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." (page 141)

Part three deals with Faith in Science, Faith in God

If God created the universe, and the laws that govern it, and if He endowed human beings with intellectual abilities to discern its working would He want us to disregard those abilities? Would He be diminished or threatened by what we are discovering about His creation? (page 153)

Following is a discussion on how the CHURCH was threatened by Galileo's claim that the earth revolves around the sun.

But along the way (to accepting Galileo's conclusion), considerable damage was done-and more to faith than to science. In his commentary on Genesis, Augustine provides an exhortation that might well have been heeded by the seventeenth century church "The shame is not so much that an ignorant individual is derided, but the people outside the household of the faith think our sacred writers held such opinions, and, to the great loss of those for whose salvation we toil, the writers of our Scripture are criticized and rejected as unlearned men." (pages 156-157)

Augustine sounds like a pretty intelligent guy.
How did Atheism gain such a foot hold, consider the following.

Both the French royal family and the church leadership were seen as harsh, self promoting, hypocritical, and insensitive to the needs of the common man. Equating the organized church with God Himself, revolutionaries decided it was better to throw off both. (page 162)

But Collins argues against using science to promote atheism.

Science cannot be used to justify discounting the great monotheistic religions of the world, which rest upon centuries of history, moral philosophy and the powerful evidence provided by human altruism. (page 169)

Creationism especially Young Earth Creationism (YEC) has it's own problems.

Young Earth Creationist argue that accepting anything other then the acts of special divine creation during the six twenty-four-hour days of Genesis 1 would put the believer on a slippery slope toward a counterfeit faith. (page 174)

Recognizing the overwhelming body of scientific evidence, some YEC advocates have more recently taken the tack of arguing that all of this evidence has been designed by God to to mislead us. (page 176)

This image of Gad as a cosmic trickster seems to be the ultimate admission of defeat for the Creationist perspective. Would God as the great deceiver be an entity on would want to worship? (page 177)

It seems they equate God with the trickster Q of Star Trek fame.
Intelligent Design has it's own flaws.

So, scientifically, ID fails to hold up, providing neither an opportunity for experimental validation nor a robust foundation for its primary claim of irreducible complexity. More than that, however, ID also fails in a way that should be more of a concern to the believer than to the hard nosed scientist. ID is a "God of the gaps" theory, inserting a supposition of the need for supernatural intervention in places that its proponents claim science can not explain. (page 193)

What's the answer according to Collins Biologos otherwise known as Theistic Evolution.

Theistic evolution is the dominant position of serious biologist who are also serious believers. That includes Asa Gray, Darwin's chief advocate in the United States and Theodosius Dobzhansky, the twentieth-century architect of evolutionary thinking. (page 199)

Unfortunately many people have never heard of Theistic Evolution, I did a Google search, below you will find a list of websites I found.

• Perspective on Theistic Evolution
• Origins of Theistic Evolution
• Theistic Evolution an Essay
• God and Evolution

To conclude Collins points out.

Science in not threatened by God; it is enhanced. God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible.

The appendix deals with bioethics.
I encourage you to read this book for yourselves, it is very thought provoking.

The Carnival of Homeschooling - The Punctuation Edition

 

Henry @ Why Homeschool brings us The Carnival of Homeschooling - The Punctuation Edition.

Balderdash

This idiot seems to think that only Fundamentalist Christians who believe in Creationism homeschool, he is bewailing the fact that REAL SCIENCE books were being sold at a homeschool convention.

I must admit, my heart sinks as I walk around many of the exhibit halls as these conventions and look at the mixed/compromise messages (and the outright pagan literature) being made readily available to the thousands of parents who are seeking help on how to educate the next generation to stand on the authority of God’s Word!  This is a serious problem I want to bring to the attention of the homeschool movement in an effort to at least get organizers discussing the issues and being aware of this compromising situation.

Problems in the Homeschool Movement 

I for one think it is GREAT that publishers have realized that there is a DEMAND for secular textbooks amongst homeschoolers. Homeschoolers are a diverse bunch,  many of us use REAL SCIENCE books and believe in Evolution. A Homeschool Convention is the perfect place to showcase all textbooks. It should be up to the parents to review the textbooks and decide which textbooks to purchase  for their family not some self appointed "homeschool textbook censor".

Carnival of Homeschooling

Roscommon Acres is hosting this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling.

Troubling case against homeschool group

Homeschool case sees unwanted intervention by the Indiana Court

The mother of one of the children filed a complaint with the Commission, accusing the other mothers of dismissing her child from the group because of a disability.  The Thomas More Society is representing the group and claims the accusations are false. But what is most troubling, according to attorney Peter Breen, is that the Indiana Civil Rights Commission is overstepping its boundaries.

As the former Moderator of a homeschool group I know first hand that sometimes it is necessary to dismiss a family who refuses to follow the groups rules. For the courts to impose themselves and tell homeschoolers who they MUST associate with is outrageous.

 Who Could Eat What’ at the Group’s Banquet.

FACES’ litigation arose when one mother whose daughter allegedly suffered from a serious food allergy insisted that her child have a special diet at the group’s banquet. FACES’ leaders believed in good faith that a different home-prepared meal would pose less risk to the girl’s health. But the mother circumvented the leaders’ decision, then filed a civil rights charge, claiming “disability discrimination” by reason of FACES’ alleged failure to “accommodate” her daughter’s allergy problem, and then she filed another charge of “retaliation.”

Food allergies are a real problem, but often the parents of children with food allergies make outrageous demands. The courts should not be able to dictate what other children can or cannot eat due to another child's food allergies.  We had one member whose child was allergic to peanuts. She DEMANDED that we prohibit other children from bringing any peanut products or anything (including drinks) from Chick-fil-A  (supposedly they use peanut oil to fry stuff) to park days and threw a hissy fit when we refused to capitulate to her demands. And keep in mind we were meeting at a PUBLIC PARK where anyone would be free to come, not just members of "our group". We did offer to have a "peanut free table" where her child could sit at park days and as we are member led we pointed out that she was FREE to arrange her own "peanut free" activities. I guess I should be thankful she didn't sue us. 

In the Indiana case the girl was supposedly allergic to chicken The homeschool group said the mother could bring a home-prepared meal for her but the Mother went behind the groups back and arranged for the banquet hall staff to prepare a steak dinner for her daughter (I am assuming that this led to additional cost to the group as steak is more expensive then chicken). Judge rules against home-school group on discrimination claim

Frankly I fail to see why The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) is involved in this dispute. This case could have an impact on ALL HOMESCHOOL  GROUPS, especially those of us who are INCLUSIVE and meet solely for educational purposes.

All Things Jane Austen ~ Carnival of Homeschooling

The theme for this weeks Carnival of Homeschooling is centered around Jane Austen.

Mass. school district under fire for condom policy

A new policy in a Massachusetts public school district that makes condoms available to all students, even those in elementary school, is drawing criticism from some who say it goes too far.

Mass. school district under fire for condom policy - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com

Carnival of Homeschooling: The Beach Reading Edition

What could be better then a day spent reading at the beach the Carnival of Homeschooling: The Beach Reading Edition

In Defense of Unschooling

Sara Schmidt is a writer, progressive activist, artist, and mother to a tenacious four-year-old. A graduate of Southeast Missouri State, she has taught students in the United States and Spain, and has homeschooled her younger sister. Recently Sara and her husband made the decision to homeschool their own daughter and are eagerly exploring their options.Check out her thoughtful article In Defense of Unschooling.

Homeschooling perks include easy college acceptance

More and more college are actively recruiting homeschoolers. Read  Homeschooling perks include easy college acceptance for more info.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Check out this weeks CoH.

Police: Ex- PUBLIC SCHOOL teacher went to meet child for sex

A former teacher, indicted on child sex-crime charges, tried to run over police Thursday night to avoid arrest while she was on her way to meet a girl for sex, authorities said.

Police: Ex-Public School teacher went to meet child for sex - Crime & Courts - SunHerald.com

Former Public School teacher gets 15 years in prison

Former music teacher Joseph Eugene Council will spend 15 years in prison for sex and computer crimes against two female students from different Coast schools.

A state prosecutor said Council was the choir teacher of one student, a 14-year-old at (Public School) Pass Christian Middle School. Council was school band director of the other student, a 16-year-old, while he taught at (Private Catholic Schools) St. Stanislaus and Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis.

Former teacher gets 15 years in prison - Pass Christian - SunHerald.com

Homeschooled twins: The Carnival of Homeschooling

In the midst of remodeling Shez recaps the school year in Homeschooled twins: The Carnival of Homeschooling

The Sparkling Martins: Nightline Truth

Read about what really went on in the Nightline interview with the Martin Family The Sparkling Martins: Nightline Truth

Public Schools Offer - Death By Bullying: Another Teenage Suicide

According to Judy Molland

As someone who has been teaching teenagers for over twenty years, I know that someone, if not several people, at that high school had to know what was going on, but chose not to see. It's easy to do, since teachers are all so overworked and pressured these days. But that's no excuse. Teenagers can be a tough bunch, but it's also pretty easy to read them.

Bullying is a serious social problem. According to the National School Safety Center, one in seven children becomes a victim of bullying at school. Wake up, schools! Getting good test scores is nice; saving lives is crucial.

And they wonder why so many parents choose not to entrust their children to these uncaring public schools.

No Fighting, No Biting!: The 331st edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon then reading the No Fighting, No Biting!: The 331st edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling.

Alasandra's Place: Alasandra's Reading list ~ May

Alasandra's Place: Alasandra's Reading list ~ May

Book Review ~ Love in a Time of Homeschooling ~ The rest of the book

Her experience with homeschooling seems very different then mine. Maybe it was because they knew it was only for one year. Also because she still had two children in public school her family didn't enjoy the same amount of flexibility that most homeschool families enjoy. At first it seemed as if what they were really doing was "school at home" although toward the end they did seem to grasp the freedom homeschooling allows and the creativity that can spring from it. I actually found the rest of the book slow going and didn't enjoy it as much as the first few chapters.

One of her comments that did resonant with me.

Parenthood always involves an awareness of judgment; when children misbehave or don't do their schoolwork, all eyes fall upon the parents especially the mother. And if that mother is a homeschooler, she is doubly accountable for her children's success or failure.

One of the hardest things about homeschooling is the constant criticism from non-homeschoolers who know nothing about homeschooling, your family or what is involved in homeschooling but take great delight in telling you, you are destroying your child. Then get all "put upon" if you dare to mention some of the problems in the public schools their children attend, assuming they even have kids.

I also agree that children need to spend more times outdoors and that nature is calming. I tried to incorporate as much outside time as possible into our homeschooling. For further reading on this subject Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. She also brings up how public schools have lowered their standards to allow more time for test preparation.

She acknowledges the diversity of homeschool families, and admits that some children even ASK to be homeschooled. One of the things she seems to have enjoyed the most was how homeschooling allowed her to fill in the gaps of her own education. A shortcoming she found with short term homeschooling was that it didn't give them enough time to decide what they truly valued in education.

A comment by Julia that hit home

"Homeschooling is better, because you get to feel that you are remotely in control of your own education. And the the scenery changes: in school, I'm stuck in the same building for seven hours every day."