We can all probably remember a time when we heard a fellow classmate respond to a teacher’s assignment with “Will this be on the test?” Meaning, if it’s not on the test, I’m not going to waste my time learning it. And I must confess, during semesters with heavy courseloads, I might’ve been guilty of asking the same question.
When the school year resumes this month, and you experience the time constraints of a busy schedule, you’ll want to be prepared since you or students you know will likely be bombarded with false information in the classroom. How can you scrutinize the science data with objectivity (see Dr. Vernon Cupps’ article on page 13)? Approach the subject matter with an open mind and be willing to examine everything that teachers and textbooks tell you. Discard the assumption that evolution and a billions-of-years-old universe are based on facts and find out for yourself what the evidence really reveals.
Get ready—if you attend a public school, you will almost certainly be taught that evolution is akin to good science or even that it’s the only real science. Equip yourself now to better understand the issues that will be coming your way.
Once you find yourself caught in the whirlwind of school activities, it will be tempting to just accept what the teacher says as fact because your time is limited. Researching and verifying everything you’re taught will be difficult in the midst of tests and mid-term papers. But if you equip yourself before school starts, you’ll be better able to identify the inaccuracies and address them with confidence.
Our resources were developed with you in mind, to provide an honest look at the data, beginning with the foundational books Guide to Creation Basics and Creation Basics & Beyond and the DVD series Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis. ICR offers numerous resources—books, thousands of online news and Acts & Facts articles, That’s a Fact videos, and more—that address the fallacies of evolution.
As a student or the parent of students, you’ll need to do your homework before the semester starts—dig in and review the evidence for creation and evolution, then weigh the facts. Get into the habit of studying the things that will benefit you for a lifetime while you prepare for classes. Practice asking good questions and listening respectfully. If you have the opportunity to share your findings, do so “with a sound reason given in a gentle and respectful manner” (Dr. Henry M. Morris III, page 10).
We also encourage you to look into our School of Biblical Apologetics (SOBA, see page 2). We offer this program to encourage learning at many ages and stages of life with online course offerings to accommodate busy schedules. You’ll find that SOBA fosters a love for learning the truths of Scripture and a deepening understanding of biblical truths. Adopting the habit of questioning, researching, and learning beyond what you hear in the classroom will develop into a lifestyle of learning.
* Jayme Durant is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
