Comments on: Training our Kids to be Critical Thinkers http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/ Thoughts from Chris Norman Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:25:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anthony http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-890 Anthony Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:15:16 +0000 http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/?p=141#comment-890 Do you also teach your children to question Biblical authority? Do you also teach your children to question Biblical authority?

]]> By: Chris (not Norman) http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Chris (not Norman) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:25:56 +0000 http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/?p=141#comment-886 To EB: I appreciate your comments, even though I believe them to be understandably erroneous. I say "understandably" because you are viewing the world through the "lens" that the secular world provides. The "truth" that the secular world promotes is not always really the truth. Though I will admit readily that what we have learned through scientific data and experimentation often offers us a more clear view of the workings of the world, there is also much that is interpreted wrongly, and then used to support a particular agenda or philosophy. Though I do not profess to be a scholar, theologian, or scientist, I do believe that Christianity is very definitely not based on a myth. I encourage you to read a book by Lee Strobel, called "The Case for the Christ." In it he interviews and challenges dozens of recognized scholars from around the world to explain historical evidence for the life of Jesus Christ. There are also virtually endless accurate volumes of information available wherever one chooses to look, to substantiate not only the life of Christ, but creation as well. I would encourage you, as you did Chris, to "remember that you can still learn." As a young student, I bought into the lies I was taught in school. Then many years later as an adult, I did more research past the recommended reading offered by my teachers, and found that what I was exposed to in my early years, was just not true. You mention the killing of a woman by the church who tried to support science. In response to that comment I would say that it is known throughout the ages that evil things have been done by people professing to be Christians. Such atrocities are not condoned by God, however. As Christians, we are certainly not perfect, but strive to be the person our God would like us to become. Evil actions by humans do not prove Christ to be a myth, but does prove that mankind is inherently sinful, and hopelessly lost without God. Again, I am thankful for your comments because they have encouraged me to do more research. And I can attest to the fact that knowing my God personally is indeed exciting and yes, I can be quite emotional at times. But it is not possible to remain unemotional when you know the real truth!! To EB:
I appreciate your comments, even though I believe them to be understandably erroneous. I say “understandably” because you are viewing the world through the “lens” that the secular world provides. The “truth” that the secular world promotes is not always really the truth. Though I will admit readily that what we have learned through scientific data and experimentation often offers us a more clear view of the workings of the world, there is also much that is interpreted wrongly, and then used to support a particular agenda or philosophy.

Though I do not profess to be a scholar, theologian, or scientist, I do believe that Christianity is very definitely not based on a myth. I encourage you to read a book by Lee Strobel, called “The Case for the Christ.” In it he interviews and challenges dozens of recognized scholars from around the world to explain historical evidence for the life of Jesus Christ. There are also virtually endless accurate volumes of information available wherever one chooses to look, to substantiate not only the life of Christ, but creation as well. I would encourage you, as you did Chris, to “remember that you can still learn.”

As a young student, I bought into the lies I was taught in school. Then many years later as an adult, I did more research past the recommended reading offered by my teachers, and found that what I was exposed to in my early years, was just not true.

You mention the killing of a woman by the church who tried to support science. In response to that comment I would say that it is known throughout the ages that evil things have been done by people professing to be Christians. Such atrocities are not condoned by God, however. As Christians, we are certainly not perfect, but strive to be the person our God would like us to become. Evil actions by humans do not prove Christ to be a myth, but does prove that mankind is inherently sinful, and hopelessly lost without God.

Again, I am thankful for your comments because they have encouraged me to do more research. And I can attest to the fact that knowing my God personally is indeed exciting and yes, I can be quite emotional at times. But it is not possible to remain unemotional when you know the real truth!!

]]> By: EB http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-862 EB Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:39:23 +0000 http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/?p=141#comment-862 Chris- Your thoughts are not based on fact; they are based on emotion. You, like so many before you have been led to believe something that is not based on scientific evidence, and therefore is not factual in nature. It's time to wake up. If you want your children to believe this, then at least do your homework and tell them the truth. Tell that what is based on fact, not myth. It is what many believe but it is not based on scientific evidence. Check out the work of scholar Acharaya S or the www.Christpalgerized.com website. Both will give you over 150 years of research that prove not only evolution is correct, but that it also has withstood every effort to drag it down. Your 'lens of scripture' gives them a tainted version of the truth. Dare to check out the facts present by the true historians of the time- Pliny the Elder, for example. OR check out Hypatia of Egypt. Find out what the church did to a brilliant woman who dared to support science and didn't even actively go after the church. She didn't have to- all she did was encourage people of the time to think. For her efforts she was killed. Take off your self-imposed lens. What have you got to loose? If you are sure what you're saying is true then taking it off will only prove it. If you take off and learn something new- you're still ahead. For the record, I am a teacher and I will continue to encourage students to think- to get information from at least three different primary sources and then to draw their own conclusions. I challenge you to do the same- and to remember that you too can still learn- but you have to be open to learning the real truth- not a story perpetuated over time at the expense of our children. Chris-
Your thoughts are not based on fact; they are based on emotion. You, like so many before you have been led to believe something that is not based on scientific evidence, and therefore is not factual in nature. It’s time to wake up. If you want your children to believe this, then at least do your homework and tell them the truth. Tell that what is based on fact, not myth. It is what many believe but it is not based on scientific evidence. Check out the work of scholar Acharaya S or the http://www.Christpalgerized.com website. Both will give you over 150 years of research that prove not only evolution is correct, but that it also has withstood every effort to drag it down. Your ‘lens of scripture’ gives them a tainted version of the truth. Dare to check out the facts present by the true historians of the time- Pliny the Elder, for example. OR check out Hypatia of Egypt. Find out what the church did to a brilliant woman who dared to support science and didn’t even actively go after the church. She didn’t have to- all she did was encourage people of the time to think. For her efforts she was killed. Take off your self-imposed lens. What have you got to loose? If you are sure what you’re saying is true then taking it off will only prove it. If you take off and learn something new- you’re still ahead.
For the record, I am a teacher and I will continue to encourage students to think- to get information from at least three different primary sources and then to draw their own conclusions. I challenge you to do the same- and to remember that you too can still learn- but you have to be open to learning the real truth- not a story perpetuated over time at the expense of our children.

]]> By: Chris Norman http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-812 Chris Norman Wed, 20 May 2009 15:32:47 +0000 http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/?p=141#comment-812 Thanks Kat for posting on my blog. I had no idea you even knew I had one. Thanks for the encouraging comments as well. Kathy and I have a lot of respect for you and your family (and how you parent). We are privileged to be friends with your family as well. Take care! Thanks Kat for posting on my blog. I had no idea you even knew I had one. Thanks for the encouraging comments as well. Kathy and I have a lot of respect for you and your family (and how you parent). We are privileged to be friends with your family as well. Take care!

]]> By: Kat http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/2009/02/02/training-our-kids-to-be-critical-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-811 Kat Wed, 20 May 2009 10:54:57 +0000 http://www.thoughtsfromchris.com/?p=141#comment-811 Chris - What you have said runs parallel to what we feel. Parenting today is incredibly difficult. Children are exposed to more in the media than any generation before them. We want our children to respect authority, but also question it at the right time and in the right forum. We do our best to teach our children both to be critical thinkers, and to be tolerant and respectful of others. So many children that we encounter are judgmental and self-righteous because their parents have taught them that their beliefs make them better than other people. You are raising wonderful kids and our children are happy to be friends with your children! Chris -
What you have said runs parallel to what we feel. Parenting today is incredibly difficult. Children are exposed to more in the media than any generation before them. We want our children to respect authority, but also question it at the right time and in the right forum. We do our best to teach our children both to be critical thinkers, and to be tolerant and respectful of others. So many children that we encounter are judgmental and self-righteous because their parents have taught them that their beliefs make them better than other people.

You are raising wonderful kids and our children are happy to be friends with your children!

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