Teens

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Teens need hope
by Dorothy Bentley

Some children are voluntarily taking part in Bible studies during break time at school. As a result, a huge debate has re-surfaced.
One concern is that some students will be exposed to the Intelligent Design viewpoint rather than only one opinion of how we all came into existence. Questions may be raised in other classes that are difficult to answer, such as: If we came from monkeys, how come there are still monkeys around? Did Adam have a belly-button? Did Noah need Algebra to build the ark? Why did geologists decide to place fossils from different locations together in a column as a model of the stages of evolution? Or one I heard recently from a teen: “Could God have used evolution?”
Some think the Bible students will indoctrinate non-studying kids. Any teacher can tell you that you can’t teach a child something they are not willing to learn. Besides, school should be a place where students are encouraged to sift through knowledge and reach their own conclusions, shouldn’t they?
Let’s face it: Neither evolution or creation can be proved scientifically beyond a shadow of a doubt. Both require faith, believing something you cannot see, so both have the main component of religion. That brings us to the renewed concern that all church matters should be separate from state (government) run schools. If schools teach the religion of evolution, shouldn’t they also teach creation by Intelligent Design?
One reason some parents want to make Bible study available is to offer kids hope for the future. In the past two decades we have witnessed deadly school violence in a dozen cases in the U.S. as well as Taber Alberta, and Montreal. Further sign of hopelessness is the alarming rise of suicide rates among youths aged 15-24 which have tripled in the past 50 years and the proliferation of drug use; every child will be offered drugs at every high school in North America. Kids are searching for answers to the big questions, like who am I? Why am I here?
The state sanctioned belief says you happened as a result of a chance accident; that you are a species of animal; that you exist for no real reason except to get as much money, power, fame, cool clothes and as big a house as possible. The other faith teaches that you were designed by a loving Father and precious beyond compare; you were created lower than the angels, but co-stewards of the earth with other people; that you have a calling for your life; that you can find joy in this life, and a future in the next.
Heaven knows, with so many kids taking part in Bible study, not as many kids are available for lessons in marketing or sales involving hand guns and illegal substances on the playground. If the opponents of Bible study diverted their energy against drugs in schools, they could make a positive difference.
Let kids study the Bible if they want to. More questions may be discovered than answers found, but in the process, they may gain self-respect, a future and a hope.

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