Mothers with a Worldview

“Hey mom!” My children greeted my return after a few hours out. “We’re watching Dinosaur Train.” Let it be noted, we do not regularly watch Dinosaur Train. Having never seen the program before, I was skeptical about the science taught in the cartoon. I hypothesized the worldview of the producers of the show would be naturalistic and teach that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.

As I greeted the babysitter and asked how the children behaved themselves, I heard the cartoon explain, “This dinosaur lived during the Mesozoic Period.” Ding, ding, ding, my guess was correct; this show was teaching evolution, likely from a naturalistic standpoint. At the very least this was communicating a worldview and philosophy in direct conflict with the Christian Theistic worldview I aim to instill and live out before my kids. With the same scientific data, creationist and evolutionist arrive at two different conclusions. It is my job as their mother to draw these differences to their attention.

After the babysitter left I told the kids, “Dinosaur Train talked about the Mesozoic Period. That is a reference to the Geologic Column” (Read about the Geologic Column here; especially points 7-10).

We grabbed my iPad, and I typed in Mesozoic Period and Geological Chart. After spellcheck corrected my spelling, several pictures appeared in the image column (See pictures here).

I continued explaining, “Evolutionists believe that the earth is very old. Scientists [a few from the 1800’s] created the Geologic Column to provide a framework to support their naturalistic worldview. The naturalist worldview holds that life on earth is a result of a primordial soup [a mixture of various amino acids] which made [proteins which combined into] organisms that evolved into animals and then man. If you look at this column here, it shows that dinosaurs were around before flowering plants. When were the plants created according to the Bible?”

Emily looked uncertain as she said, “Day 6?” “Well,” not knowing the exact day myself, I replied, “it was within the first six days of creation and before the animals. So we know that God created the flowers before he created the dinosaurs. This chart doesn’t make sense does it?”

My above explanation may seem like circular reasoning, but it actually is based on research that I have read over the last two years. One of the first books I tackled, following an offhand suggestion from a friend, was Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. In the book, Nancy gives a thorough explanation of the Christian Worldview and its instruction to our children in all areas of academic, emotional, and physical life. She gives special attention to debunking Darwinism.

“Under the guise of teaching science, a philosophical battle is being waged. And if Christians do not frame the philosophical issues, someone else will do it—and they will not balk at preaching their message even to small children” (Pearcey, Total Truth, p. 158).

It is important for women to recognize and identify the different worldviews on display in the arts, entertainment, and in literature so that we raise a generation of young people equipped to identify the underlying philosophies and adequately decipher the truth from a lie. Further, that our children would be able to defend the Truth in the process. 

Pearcey also emphasizes that in addition to developing a Christian heart, “Training young people to develop a Christian mind is no longer an option; it is part of their necessary survival equipment” (p. 19).

Your worldview is the lens through which you see all of life. It is a person’s philosophical standpoint that directs their decision making and is centered on their belief system concerning the origin and purpose of man, and all his interactions and pursuits from birth to the afterlife.

Once you learn a bit about worldview you will begin evaluating TV shows, news correspondents, and books to see what worldview they are operating from. For example, my favorite TV show is Castle. On more than one occasion, Rick Castle has said, “It’s obvious the universe wants …” Castle is a naturalist that believes the universe sends messages to the evolved man.

Additionally, last week the kids were watching a cartoon version of Jack London’s, White Fang. The main dog character kept referring to man as “the white man animal.” While the perspective of a dog might warrant such a statement, it seemed more probable that the underlying meaning is we are all animals inside. A quick internet search revealed that Jack London was an avowed atheist, further that he believed once we die we lose life and consciousness.

Perhaps you may look at my plea to learn about science and worldviews as “that is for the super Christians” or “smart people.” That is what I thought just over seven years ago. However, I encourage you to remember God has called us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Emphasis mine, Luke 10:27. No matter of science, philosophy, or theology is above the common man of diligent study. Time sharpening our ability to defend our faith and know God’s creation more is indeed time well spent. Praise Him He didn’t give up on me when I put off this area of further study for years!

In conclusion, it is impossible and unhealthy to shield our children from differing worldviews within every context of our culture. Rather, we should aim to fully embed the knowledge of a Christian worldview both via the heart and mind and then provide the awareness of media and literature which operate from differing worldviews. Further, we need to expose the philosophies behind evolutionary scientific teachings and provide good creation science data to equip them to know God more and to make Him known.

Further Resources to Explore:

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek

How Then Should We Live? By Francis Schaeffer

How Now Shall We Live? By Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey

The Universe Next Door by James W. Sire

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Chuck Colson on “What is a Worldview?

Brooke Cooney is a pastor's wife, mother of two, and foster-mom of one. To capture the eternal in the everyday, she blogs about family, faith, and lessons along the journey at ThisTemporaryHome.com.

Publication date: November 1, 2013