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The homeschooling movement is over 30 years old now, and many parents have been disillusioned because, despite their good intentions, their children didn’t turn out the way they thought they would. Some, in fact, have left the faith entirely.
I’ve thought a lot about this over the last few years, and I have prayerfully been preparing to talk about this disturbing trend on Tuesday night, March 4th, in a live webinar for Christian Heritage Online. Admittedly, I’m spending these few days leading up to the event in quiet thinking and fervent prayer.
I welcome you to listen in as we petition the Lord for our children and reevaluate our goals and purpose as parents.
Click on the banner below for details and to register.
18 comments
I read an article that debating was a very important part of home-school circles. And that Patrick Henry has a world-class debate team. But it was that very idea, learning to debate and question everything, that lead to so few 2nd generation home-school families. What are your thoughts on the very skills you teach being used against the movement?
Sam, I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make. Trying to steer kids away from critically examining and questioning their faith is a good way to make sure they do exactly that. It is human nature. If we are told we must NOT question something, we immediately question that directive and go from there. Christian parents have no reason to fear critical examination of our faith, since it’s, you know, THE TRUTH. Depending on each child’s personality, the process of “owning” their faith, from inheriting it and believing what Mom and Dad believe to truly owning it and believing it for themselves, may or may not include a period of intense questioning and even doubt. And you know what? That’s ok. A) God can take it. B) Instead of angst and despair at the possibility of doubt, a young man or young woman who takes the opportunity to start researching and examining the foundations of their faith is going to end up in a much stronger position. C) God WANTS us to know why we believe what we believe. That’s why He made our minds to work the way they do. D) Critical thinking is not a vice. A single experience with drugs, alcohol, or sex could potentially destroy a life forever. The same is not true with critical examination of one’s beliefs. The second generation homeschoolers who have drifted away from the faith have done so for reasons as varied as they are, but critical thinking isn’t one of them. We might as well declare that the divorce epidemic is caused by people really getting to know their spouses on a deep and intimate level.
Alexandra,
This is such a clear, excellent answer.
Bravo!
I asked a question based on an article. I didn’t make a point. Way to get nasty and overly defensive.
Sam, what point you were trying to make was unclear. Your comment did not express whether you do or don’t believe Christians can or should teach critical thinking to their children. Hence the beginning of my comment, wherein I said that I did not know what point you were trying to make. The amount of antagonism, trolling, and other nonsense that Kelly puts up with in her comments is quite high, so it was not an unreasonable guess that someone whose comment was ambiguous meant it in a very negative way. What did you mean? You are reporting that studying debating techniques leads to the rejection of the Christian faith, according to an article you’ve read? If that was all you were doing – reporting, sans link, that an article you’ve read says this – then my response was completely appropriate anyway. Critical thinking can never leads to the rejection of truth.
I hope you’ll share your thoughts on this here on the blog too!
We’ve seen a lot of things that we think lead to kids leaving the faith.
Most important is are the parents. If Christ is a part time Lord and the most time He gets is an hour on a Sunday, God is not someone worth worshiping all day, every day. If He was, their parents would do it.
Secondary is the church’s beliefs where they attend (which goes to parents beliefs). There are so many churches living out a partial gospel to suit their own religious beliefs. Christ called for all Christians to actually do more than He did. Preach the Gospel to all, heal people, deliver people, stand for what is right while still loving the sinner and inviting their hearts to know God’s. (Mark 16:15-18, Math 28:18)
If their church isn’t doing those things on a regular basis and neither are the parents, what good is Christianity other than just another religion where people live one foot in and one foot out with the same lifestyle and the same bad habits as the unsaved. The Church and parents are doing more than Satan ever could to turn our own kids away from Christ.
Praying for your conference!
Those are excellent thoughts, Kelly. I agree.
And I wasn’t sure by your last line, but this particular post is just about registering for a live (free) conference tomorrow night, not the actual conference in April.
Sorry, I thought you were speaking Thursday, too. Prayers already went out… Guess you just get an dose. 😉
I am speaking at the live webinar tonight (which anyone can tune into) and then at the conference in April. I’m sorry if I was confusing 😛
Kelly, have you ever read ALMOST CHRISTIAN? It’s a fabulous book that examines the most extensive study ever done on religion in teens and young adults. There are some profound observations on what factors seem to play most prominently into whether or not a young adult is likely to remain active in their faith or leave it. I’ve used it in youth ministry for a number of years and would love your thoughts if you ever pick it up 🙂
http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Christian-Teenagers-Telling-American/dp/0195314840/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393977694&sr=8-1&keywords=almost+christian
Oh I will most definitely be getting that. Thanks for recommending it! I’m sure I’ll be inspired to post about it and if you’d like to guest post at that time, I’d love that!
Ooh, fun! Maybe we can tag-team it 🙂
So, um, does a webinar mean you have to listen at a specified time? I got my babies put to bed and was all set to listen and it wasn’t available (at 8pm CST). 🙁
Oh, it was 9 p.m. our time, Ginger 😉 BUT…the audio will be available probably in the next day or two, from the CH website, and when it is, I’ll post the link. Sorry about that!
Right, 9pm your time, so I thought it would certainly be up by then. Wasn’t it set for 8pm PST? Do I have to listen at that exact time?
We’re in the same time zone 😉 It was 7 PST so 9 CST. It was live, but they’ll have the audio up in a few days.