Children, Youth And Family Contemporary Issue Course: Evolution, Theology, And Ministry To Young People

This Luther Seminary Intensive course is open to pastors, lay leaders and parents as continuing education. This class is part of a John Templeton-funded project, Science for Youth Ministry. It focuses on evolution and the spirituality of children.

We live in age where evolution has been used as ideological religious football.  Many in the younger generations assume that to be a Christian is to be at odds with evolution.  Yet, almost every young person in confirmation class will be studying sciences in school that presume evolution.  Many will even be in life sciences or biology classes.  How do we teach scripture and Christian history’s claim of human uniqueness, sinfulness and creation by the Word of God? The student will receive both an in-depth understanding of evolution and explore ways of integrating the concept into ministry.

This course will challenge the contention that evolution and faith are opposed to one another.  We will look specifically at research being done in the cognitive sciences (which presume evolution) on children, giving us new ideas and perspectives for ministry.  These studies reveal how, rather than diminishing or reducing of spirituality, some views of evolution open us up to spirituality.

This then will be an ideal course for anyone wrestling with the conversation between evolution and faith or desiring to be exposed to new, cutting edge research on children.

This reduced fee is made possible by the John Templeton Foundation Grant for Science and Youth Ministry Project