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Anyone know about MUSE mag.? Or another non-creationist one like it?
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My dad wants to get my son some magazine subscriptions. My son requested the AIG Answers one; he likes reading it from cover-to-cover. Mt dad wants to get him a secular one to “balance” it out.
I looked around and found that MUSE, put out by Smithsonian, is ad-free and covers a variety of topics and is apparently interesting. It seems the least twaddley of children’s mags. http://www.musemagkids.com/
Do any of you have any experience with it?
Any other secular science-type magazines (that aren’t twaddle) you can recommend to “balance out” the info., as my dad puts it? LOL.
Actually, I don’t mind because my son is 12 1/2 and it’s time for him to start contrasting and weighing the info. out there. I just want it to be a decent, twaddle-free style mag.
Thanks
I am only posting this because you bumped it and I feel led to share my two cents and then I will bow out.
In a world that is going to throw evolution in our children’s faces every chance it gets, I would kindly tell my dad that I was not interested in his offer. Allowing a secular magazine into your home might send a message to your son that there are two ways of viewing creation and you get to decide which one to believe. I don’t feel that God left this up for us to decide; he tells us plainly in His word. I understand that you may not share my view, but I felt compelled to post.
Warmly,
Heather
Well, I can’t say I agree or disagree yet, but I have to say that I am extremely skeptical. Is your dad saved? Does he have issues with the AiG young earth views? Could he be trying to raise doubts or questions in your son’s mind? I don’t mean to suggest that he is trying to undermine your son’s faith, but it is exactly the kind of thing my mother might attempt, disguised as a seemingly innocent, well meaning gesture.
I agree that at some point your son will need to read views that oppose creation, but although I would agree that children need to be aware of secular views like the big bang and evolution, it is far more important to. Give them an extremely solid grounding in their own beliefs before attempting to throw much conflicting info at them. Science is a tricky subject. Not every article in a secular magazine will present a conflict, an article does not need to quote scripture to be filled with valid scientific fact. We can discuss the way the world works without getting into the whys or how’s of how it came to be in the first place. It’s not nearly as exciting, but it’s possible. I would be far more concerned with the overall tone or agenda of the magazine publisher.
I think, personally, at least until high school, while he is still in the formative years, I would look to control these forays into critical thinking by presenting two articles which you have selected that have opposite views on a common topic or issue. Have your son read them and the discuss the merits or deficiencies of both views.
Not knowing your father and his relationship with the family my only concern would be if he were wanting to use the magazine to sway your son the other way. If that’s not the case, I wouldn’t have a problem with my kids reading something like that as long as I was aware of the content and pointing out fallacies.
I’m not wanting to be controversial, but I think the reason 60-70% of kids turn from their faith is because they haven’t been taught a thinking faith and can’t answer opposing questions. Home is the best place to work through this and I think 12 is a great age….those logic skills are clicking in:) Just my .02. Blessings, Gina
Agreeing with Gina re. kids falling away because they aren’t taught a thinking faith. Only you can determine right timing, of course.
Thanks everyone.
@Heather. I appreciate you posting, but “drive-by opinions” aren’t really helpful in fleshing through a subject or decision; it’d be better if you didn’t bow-out after posting. To be honest, there IS more than one view of the Creative process and there are sincere, G-D-Fearing Believers who have decided on one other than young earth; I don’t question their relationship with G-D over it, even if I disagree with it. G-D gave us the ability to reason and divide the Word of G-D, and the Creation account has many layers to it; it’s not a simplistic issue. He is revealed both in His Word and through His Creation, allowing us to discover and study Him, His Character and His Creation to His Glory; but I think we see through a mirror darkly.
For the record, I reject evolution, but am not strident about old-earth or young-earth creationism.
@4myboys: my dad is a retired Methodist Reverend. He is a man of deep faith and of studious mind, as well. He and my mom both have always been supportive of our teachings, even if they disagree, they don’t interfere or undermine. I’m fairly positive he is either an old-earth creationist, progressive creation, or theistic evolution, but I don’t know the details – we’ve never discussed it. I know where my mom stands. But again, they’ve not imposed this on the children. They aren’t manipulative at all; they mind their own business.
My dad is definitely not trying to weaken my son’s faith. My dad doesn’t view information or study of alternate materials as a threat and probably believes it’s time for him to have more information than he did when he was younger, challenge his thinking, expand and broaden his world, etc., etc. Of course, that’s based on an assumption that my son doesn’t already have access or exposure to evolutionary and secular views, which he does, just in smaller, well-controlled amounts.
I would prefer an old-earth creation magazine instead of a secular one, but I don’t think it exists.
My children have been immersed in YE creation materials their whole lives; I have been very intentional about this – Jonathan Park, Apologia for reading pleasure, Wonders of Creation books for pleasure, other Masterbooks, Moody DVDs. He will continue these. He is very solid and passionate about G-D and His Truth, we teach them not to be sheeple or parrots, but to learn to seek the truth for themselves, researching under our covering and within the proper boundaries we create for their maturity, if that makes sense.
I agree with what you said about the publishers agenda and science is tricky.
Thank you chiming in!
absolutely agree with you Gina and Christie. A thinking faith is the goal for my children.
We are a very discussion-oriented family, we do deep studies and explore different ideas. We discuss faulty thinking and logic re: politicians, current events, etc. He likes to read the comparative religion section from the Rose Charts book and discuss those. He wanted to listen to a Great Courses tape seminar on comparative religions, but I didn’t let him. He’s a questioner, a thinker, a seeker of truth, and we have encouraged our children to, at appropriate times, to be this way. My husband and I are like this as well. I know I’ll be aware of the contents of the mag.; my son’s a talker and he shares everything! I actually have to shut him down at times, because I just can’t listen or think so much about a complicated matter anymore!
I do believe that, while at home (as Gina said), he has to start learning how to develop his G-D-Given reasoning skills, using logic (which we, too are starting officially this year) and weighing and researching the facts for himself (with our oversight and guidance) instead of depending upon others; also being able to defend and explain the reason for his hope, in the vein of the admonition of Peter in 1 Peter. I also don’t believe that ignorance of ideas we may disagree with out of an irrational fear of what may or may not happen isn’t the way to walk in this world in the L-RD, IMO. I think that ignorance can set a child up for a weak and confused faith and makes for a poor witness as an adult.
Of course, that doesn’t mean a free-for-all info feast in all things opposing G-D, as that can affect even an adult’s faith, but I think you know what I’m talking about. Amounts of knowledge about certain things are either unnecessary or can cause a troubled spirit and that’s also what I want to teach him how to – prayerfully – avoid. He has to own his own faith as he grows up and my goal is that he be prepared in this evil world to stand strong and not be threatened by things he will come across, while being an effective witness, too.
I have actually decided against the MUSE mag. After reading more about the contents, I’m concerned that it may be overly silly. As a result, I’m looking at the Odyssey one instead. http://www.cricketmag.com/ODY-ODYSSEY-Magazine-for-Kids-ages-9-14
I think this is an important topic. Thank you for contributing.
Rachel,
Please accept my heartfelt apology for posting. It seems I offended and that was not my intention.
Sincerely,
Heather
Nor was it mine. I completely agree with instilling a thinking faith. Some children are better developed mentally than others. Personally I find my own 12 year old and the others I am regular contact with are still developing this ability and need to have more guidance than others to process. I prefer to read magazines and books together if there is the potential for controversial content, in order to guide him through the controversial topics. I agree that God has given specific revelation through his word and general revelation through creation. We must always remember to trust the Word whenever it conflicts with our limited understanding of how we think the world works.
Hi Heather. I appreciate and accept your apology; I know you weren’t trying to offend and actually you didn’t offend me exactly. I guess you could say that I was frustrated that you would post-and-run, so-to-speak, instead of giving your opinion and continuing in the dialogue; that’s what I interpreted as “bow-out” to mean. If I misunderstood you, I’m sorry.
Even though we may disagree in some areas, I would’ve still been interested in you “hangin around” for the conversation. Does that make sense? I can’t tell if I’m being clear.
One thing I can definitely agree with you on is that the world does throw evolution at our children constantly – in science and history materials. Which is why, up till mine were around ten, I was very strict about only YE supporting materials. I think they would’ve been so confused and not at all feeling as confident and secure in Creator G-D, nor having the educational artillary of Creation supporting evidence as they do, if I had blurred their learning with evolutionary materials regularly (beyond the occasional library book or blurb on a TV show).
I forgot to mention that they enjoyed Nature’s Friend as well for many years and all of our living science reading materials supported a Creator. Now, my son is almost 13 (AAH!!)- getting ready to be fully, spiritually accountable before G-D after his Bar Mitzvah – and I get to watch him develop into a G-Dly, honorable, and independent-thinking leader.
Only problem is I miss my little boy who sat on my lap…thankfully, he still gives hugs and kisses.
Blessings and thank you.
4myboys, you didn’t offend me either. I hope I answered your questions satisfactorily.
You said:
I prefer to read magazines and books together if there is the potential for controversial content, in order to guide him through the controversial topics. I agree that God has given specific revelation through his word and general revelation through creation. We must always remember to trust the Word whenever it conflicts with our limited understanding of how we think the world works.
I agree; and if I’m not able to read it with him, I am guarenteed that he’ll come telling me ALL about it! Then the discussion proceeds from there; including my husband, since he’s home.
Hi Rachel,
You said…”I would prefer an old-earth creation magazine instead of a secular one, but I don’t think it exists.”
Here is a website that you may find interesting. I’m not sure about a magazine but they have some good resources. I purchased Good Science, Good Faith for some of the very reasons you expressed. I haven’t used it yet as they recommend it for 11th – 12th graders and my son is going into the 10th. But I am hoping I can get a head start as I’ve only read about young earth.
They do have other resources for children/youth.
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