My kids are still young but I’ve often heard other parents wonder what to tell their kids when they are taught that man developed from an ape vs. what we have been told in the Qur’an about creation.
So, how would you handle that?
I remember while going home from school once, this christian kid Bobby in my van asked me this: If humans evolved from apes, was Adam an ape too? (Nauthubillah) I was 10 then and I didn't have an answer to his question since i too had received mix messages in school about our origins. During the science period we would learn about evolution while the next period, Islamiat, we'd learn about Creation as taught to us in the Quran. Looking back now, now that ive made up my mind on what i want to believe, it seems almost comical that time.
For me personally my first (and only) option would be to never put my kids in a public school. But given that that's not a financially reasonable solution for most people, i'd teach them about creation at home, talk about it more than what they would learn about it at school. Their minds will be a bit confused initially but eventually they should be alright.
I mean with a little extra guidance most of us turned out alright, no?
Re: Theory of Evolution & your children
Very good answer Cheegum.
Re: Theory of Evolution & your children
I was trying to find the right words to answer this post.. and Cheegum kinda solved that for me..
Let your children learn what they do in school.. since most of us dont have the choices of putting our kids in islamic schools we have to make sure we do the best at home..
Ask them wht they are learning.. and make them realize that on the contrary this is what we believe in.. and this should be the case in every step.. in every aspect that they learn about.. esp. science related!
learning about our religion from an earlier age will help them distinguish better once they mature a little.. and there will come a time in life when they will jst read their textbooks in order to pass their courses without having to believe in the concept of evolution.. as this is covered even until after 1st yr Univ. So if your base is strong insha'Allah the way ahead becomes easier!
We turned out pretty well, in retrospect to what most of us have learnt in school.. and insha'Allah hopefully our kids will be the same way!