Apprentice September

Eureka

September Inspirements

Seek Wisdom: Search for Understanding and Discernment

 Creation is what we as Christians believe: that the earth was created by God, for us to come and experience opposition, to be tried and tested, so that we can ultimately become Gods and Goddesses ourselves.    Scientists who believe this model are called "Creationist Scientists."

Evolutionists are sort of taking over the scientific world.  They are scientists who typically do not believe in God and believe theories, such as the earth was created by the "Big Bang" and that life evolved from microscopic organisms who finally grew legs, lungs, and walked on land. 

In Eureka this month, we are going to explore the two different belief systems:  

1. God created the earth in 7 creative periods.
2.  Evolutionist  

Study/Learn
Did you know there are four scriptural accounts of the Creation? Read each one and jot down notes as to what each account teaches:
Genesis 1: 1-2
Moses 1-3
Abraham 3-5
Temple (Can't read this one.  You'll have to wait!)

Read the New Era Article:  Things Not Seen by Don Lind

Click here

Explore the website:  Answers in Genesis.  Spend at least 30 minutes. It is a website that consists of articles written by Creation Scientists.  (While on this site, you have to read this particular article. Seriously. I found it pretty entertaining and thought about it for weeks after :) Maybe we can go dinosaur hunting!  Click here)

Three short articles:
Who was Charles Darwin?
What is Evolution?
How Do We Know?

Watch:
I'm gonna warn you:  You may have to watch this several times.  It goes through the theory very quickly, and I got lost the first few times, but it is a great overview:

Big Bang Theory

Watch Bill Nye the Science Guy.   Yes, it is for kids.  Yes, you have to admit it's pretty entertaining.
Bill Nye- Evolution

Know/Understand
Below is a list of evolution topics.  I have assigned each of you one. Study it thoroughly and find a way to present the information to other your fellow Vanguard students.  Do NOT do it in "report" form:  google topic, copy and paste, and then read it aloud while we are tempted to sleep.  Instead, we want you to study the topic until you have a good grasp of it.  Then, come up with a way to teach us about it.  Maybe you will create a collage, a skit, write a song, make a game, etc. etc.  The sky is the limit.  The goal is that we, your students, learn about your topic. (Rahel and Rachel have the same topic cause I ran out :)  You can work together or separately.  Either is fine.)

Shoot for about 5 minutes or so.

Artificial selection: Samantha Hunt
Natural selection: Isaac Johnson
Fossil record: Aaron Johnson
Carbon dating: Summer Pulley
Mutation:  Caleb Richards

Charles Darwin: Patty Morford
Age of the earth: Jaisha Sego
Common descent: Nic Cloward
Gradualism: Luke Cloward
Missing link: Adrianna Pulley
Hominid evolutionary record: Emily Colby
Punctuated equilibrium and equilibrium: Hannah Colby
Stanley Miller Experiment: Mak Fontano
Archaeopteryx: Tara Fontano
Haeckel's Embryos: Megan Halley
Common Ancestor: Mari Harrison
Species Multiply: Rahel Hiatt and Rachel Harrison
Darwin's Tree of Life: Grace Haymond


Become:
I think all of us have felt reverence and awe when looking into the heavens at night, or watching the sunrise when the air is crisp and all is silent.  When have you felt that? How do you explain those feelings?  How do you think an evolutionist would explain it?   Journal about it. 

Journeyman September

Seek Wisdom: Search for Understanding and Discernment

Study/Learn

Pre-Darwinian Ideas
Case Studies There are several links on this page to examples of how various animals evolved..  Look at a couple that most interest you.


The New Era:  My Answer to Evolution
Origin of Man: Written by the First Presidency in 1909

Watch:

Watch the following two videos that present two opposing views.  Take notes on the points that each side makes.
Bill Nye: Creation Does Kids a Disservice: Click here

Ken Ham refutes Bill Nye:  Watch here

Watch the following two videos.  One will give evidence that the biblical flood of Noah is impossible.  The other shows evidence that it absolutely occurred.  Take notes on the evidence that each side gives.

Noah's Ark? ... No way!

Noah's Ark?.... Absolutely!  (Is a four video series. Just watch the first, unless you have time for more.)
Noah's Ark?.... Absolutely!  Article about animals.

Know/Understand

Create a comic strip, sci-fi story, essay, or any other medium you choose, showing what you have learned about the big bang theory, evolution, natural selection, etc.  Enjoy creating.

And finally, just for fun,  IF you need something highly entertaining, try this:
Devolve
You can upload a pic of yourself and "devolve" to see what you would have looked like as a Neanderthal.  Awesome.

  
Become:
 The scriptures tell us that God is so much greater than us, how can we possibly understand what he does? How can he begin to explain the complex, when we aren't able to understand what is simple to him.  How do you reconcile the fact that there are so many things we don't and won't understand while on this earth. Does it bother you?  Do you enjoy searching for answers?

Master September

Master Eureka

Seek Wisdom: Search for Understanding and Discernment

 

Learn/Study
Don't let the size of the book scare you from doing master work. We will read chapters 1, 2, 3, 10 and 11.   Make sure you really pay attention to the "Icons of Evolution" material.  This is the nitty gritty; the in's and out's of why evolutionists believe what they do.  We want to understand the evidence as well as the holes in their theories.

Read the following article:  Christ and the Creation

Modern day “debating” is oftentimes little more than people with differing opinions, becoming highly insulted when someone disagrees, mudslinging, and then more mudslinging with accusations that the other person is judgmental,  narrow minded, and should exit the gene pool.  The topic, origins of the universe, tends to be the hottest topic around for this type of arguing.

Read the article: How to Debate Civilly

The Do's and Don't of Defending Your Beliefs

Know/Understand
Watch the debate, "Is Creation a Viable Scientific Model?" Click here
Break out the popcorn!  This debate is long, although I did enjoy it.  If you find yourself zoning out, feel free to forward the video a bit.  I suggest you take notes on points made by Ham and Nye.

I joined in the debate; you know, talking aloud to my computer as if I could be heard.  If you have any of comments/arguments you wish to interject, write those down as well :)

There is no doubt that you will be prosecuted for your Christian beliefs, not to mention Latter Day Saint beliefs.  The goal is that you are prepared to stand for what you believe.


Become:
Write an essay about what you learned through this process:  Was your faith strengthened?  Why or why not?  Did you feel upset when faced with information that challenged your belief system?  Why or why not? Do you feel prepared to go to a university and attend class where other beliefs systems are presented as scientific fact? Were you successful in seeking wisdom, understanding and discernment?