Evolutionists Going After Children

Last month a Wall Street Journal article “See Jane Evolve: Picture Books Explain Darwin” announced a new strategy that evolutionists are employing against children.

According to the article, evolutionists have decided that the teen years are too late to start teaching evolution. They have found that children naturally use “design” thinking from a young age. Therefore they intend to start teaching evolution to children as young as five with picture books.

The article cites research that shows “by elementary-school age, children start to invoke an ultimate God-like designer to explain the complexity of the world around them—even children brought up as atheists.”

It’s not surprising that children naturally connect the wonders of nature with God. Scripture says, “That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.” (Romans 1:19-20)

Researchers gave 5- to 8-year-olds picture books illustrating natural selection concepts in an attempt to head off design interpretations.

The article concludes, “The secret may be to reach children with the right theory before the wrong one is too firmly in place.”

Those words are exactly right, though not when applied in the way the article intends. With all the evolutionary propaganda inundating children in the media and in government schools, it is vitally important for Christian parents to teach children the truth of creation from their earliest days.

Scripture is clear about training up the young in the truth of the Lord:
And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. (Psalm 78:4-7)

And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Children’s Picture Books Teach Evolution

There are scads of books and videos selling the story of evolution to children. Here are a few examples illustrating the visual approach evolutionists are taking to inculcate children with the lie of evolution.
(I Do NOT Recommend these books.)

No other creatures are as exciting and mysterious as dinosaurs! Yet practically every secular dinosaur book preaches evolution. Filled with engaging colorful pictures of dinosaurs, they teach children an evolutionary story for the origin of dinosaurs. I’ve never seen one that doesn’t mention “millions of years ago” in its first pages.

For example, The Big Golden Book of Dinosaurs by renowned paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker and illustrated by award-winning paleo-artist Luis V. Rey (Random House Children’s Books, 2013, 64 pp.) takes children on a safari through time to watch the evolution of dinosaurs and accompanying creatures including “human ancestors.”

The artwork is colorful, lively, and action-packed. It draws children into a story of the evolution of dinosaurs from their reptilian ancestors to their demise. It includes a tree of life diagram purporting to show where dinosaurs and humans fit in the evolution of life, emphasizing that dinosaur extinction was necessary for humans to evolve. It’s a clever tract for teaching children evolution using dinosaurs.

The Tree Of Life: The Wonders Of Evolution by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Judeanne Winter Wiley is a book promoting evolution for 4- to 8-year-olds. It is an example of the kind of picture books designed to teach children the story of evolution.

Here is the book description from Amazon:

Many children’s stories and books have addressed the idea of biblical creation, but the number of works written to acquaint youngsters with the extraordinary and continuing process of natural evolution has been few.
The Tree of Life shares the excitement and the beauty of evolution in an easy-to-read and fun manner. From the ocean’s microscopic life to amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, insects, birds, animals, and the first humans, author Ellen Jackson celebrates the marvels of evolution in a way that encourages young children to appreciate its significance.
The lavish illustrations by Judeanne Winter Wiley capture the wonders of evolution, from its first “beginning to be” forms to species that characterize the world as we know it.

In “A Note From the Author” at the beginning of the book, Jackson says,

During a recent trip to the library, I noticed that, while there were many books retelling biblical creation stories, there were relatively few books on evolution for younger children. Those books that attempted to explain evolution did so in a way that, though scientifically accurate, conveyed none of the wonder and excitement of this concept. The Tree Of Life is my attempt to help young children understand the beauty and power of this great idea.

Bang!: How We Came to Be (Prometheus Books, 2011, 70 pp.) by author and illustrator Michael Rubino tells the story of evolution for older elementary children. It’s full of colorful, captivating paintings.

Here is an excerpt from Amazon’s description :

“Bang! And that was it, the beginning of everything.”

So begins this beautifully illustrated, panoramic story of evolution. Author and illustrator Michael Rubino conveys not only the facts but also the excitement of the scientific explanation of our world, from the origin of the universe in the big bang to the present reality of our planet, teeming with life but threatened by overpopulation and pollution.

Parents looking for an easy-to-understand guide to the scientific worldview for their children will find the perfect source here. The formation of stars and galaxies; the origin of our solar system and planet Earth; the epochal march of life from single-celled organisms through sponges, worms, insects, fish, dinosaurs, birds, and early mammals; and the evolution of the first humans from their simian cousins—it’s all here.

Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story by Lisa Westberg Peters and illustrated by Lauren Stringer is a kindergarten to early elementary picture book teaching evolution.

Here is the book description from Amazon:

All of us are part of an old, old family. The roots of our family tree reach back millions of years to the beginning of life on earth. Open this family album and embark on an amazing journey. You’ll meet some of our oldest relatives–from both the land and the sea–and discover what we inherited from each of them along the many steps of our wondrous past. Complete with an illustrated timeline and glossary, here is the story of human evolution as it’s never been told before.

I certainly Do NOT Recommend any of these books, but they are examples of the kind of picture books evolutionists are using to mislead children with the fanciful story of evolution.

Amazon reviewers wrote about how their children loved these books and were fascinated by the pictures. Parents take WARNING!!! Teach your children the truth about God and Creation.

In November 2009, Evolution for Kids! (formerly Charlie’s Playhouse) celebrated the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s Origin of Species by interviewing kids about evolution. Their short (2:49) YouTube video, Kids Talking About Evolution, illustrates the effects deceptive teaching can have on children.

Creationist Resources

Many organizations provide excellent visual materials to teach children Biblical creationism. These include DVDs, color magazines, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curricula, and beautifully illustrated color picture books. Here are links to some online stores with sound creationist resources for children:
Answers in Genesis store
Institute for Creation Research store
Creation Today store
Creation Ministries International store

It’s vital for Christian parents to obey Scripture and deliberately teach Biblical Creationism to their children from a very young age. We need to teach kids apologetics in order to prepare them for the world.

Questions to Ponder

1. What evolutionary propaganda have you noticed in children’s TV programming and in movies?
2. What are the main obstacles parents face in countering the evolutionary teaching kids get in government schools?
3. How may these obstacles be overcome?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

Soli Deo Gloria.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:4)
Wednesday May 21, 2014 A.D.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11)