The Christian Family - Child Genius (2015) Discussion

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Wifey_3 9 years ago

I completely agree! Sadly, the boy has shown that he has a mind for science that he may never get to fully use. I see him one day fighting an internal struggle over the matter. His sharp mind will demand more scientific answers to questions that he's not allowed to ask.

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[–] archaeofan 9 years ago

This family is not Catholic, or Lutheran, or Methodist, etc. They identify as "Christian", ie. Evangelical Christian, which by its own definition is anti-Science. They are fundamentalist who belief take the Bible literally believing that the Earth is only 6000 years old (and therefore their conflict with the astronomy section). They reject Global Warming because they believe that their god would never destroy his creation. People can abuse the planet for their own wants and needs without any consequences.

Get used to it. 40% of Americans identify as Evangelical and they are growing. It is a result of a conscious effort of the Conservative Right to dumb down the voting population, make them fearful of higher education, and particularly Science, and therefore get them to vote the Conservative agenda. It is the most dangerous threat to the U.S. at this time.

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[–] baylieismine04 9 years ago

Evangelical Christianity is not anti-science. Yes, there are certain theories and principles that they do not believe/support but they aren't against science on the whole at all. I'm an Evangelical Christian, as is my husband. Both of us are in the medical field and greatly enjoy that aspect of science. One of our children is also very interested in astronomy and loves to learn about it. Sure, we don't believe in the timeline and origin outlined by most sources but there is so much else to explore.

The only thing constant in life is change

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[–] archaeofan 9 years ago

Sorry, but I the idea of people in the medical field picking and choosing which areas of Science they reject because it is against their religious ideology is a good example of the problem.

Graham and his family seem like very nice people. But Graham has no idea what he is talking about when he spouts Bible verses (without any knowledge of their context!) to proclaim his faith. He has a natural intelligence, but is unable to think for himself and will likely never be allowed to explore those areas of Science that challenge his faith because that is how fundamentalist ideologies work. Keep them limited within the constraints of faith and never question that faith or the perceived authority over that faith. That is exactly how the leaders of the Conservative Right want their flock to behave.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] ZGlass 9 years ago

Yea, people can choose to not "believe" in it all they want but it will never make it any less true.

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

My feeling is that science and faith should be studied as two separate entities, and respect should be given to both. When you try tying faith (the Bible, for example) in with science, you end up compromising science and perhaps faith as well. To me Creationism is a compromise which hurts both. Study religion and have faith in God, as the creator of the universe. Study science to see how His creation unfolded. That's just my take. No one really knows! For all we know, the fundies may be right, and the Bible really is accurate about when the Earth was created. I don't believe it though, as I look at the evidence from science. However, I don't think that people should criticize others in another camp, because no one REALLY knows.

Love me some Waltons

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

Bravefish, I agree with you! All of the evidence is overwhelming. I guess my comment means that if you are talking about God, anything is possible. Maybe all the evidence is just there for some cosmic joke, who knows??? but in general I believe in science and all of the scientific evidence. Plus it's reallllllllly cool!!

Love me some Waltons

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[–] Stickman38 9 years ago

You're really on to something here... I can sense the big bad conservative right coming to get us. ahaha... I suppose the illuminati are out to get us too. LOL! You people are funny.

I honestly don't care that the kid is religious. However, I do have a problem with him calling people that believe in big bang "stupid". That is not cool and doesn't sit too well with me. Although, by the same token, people that act like the "religious right" are a part of some conspiracy to brainwash the masses and turn everyone against science is just as offensive to me. Besides that, muslims are MUCH BIGGER problem than Christians.

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[–] Destinata 9 years ago

This family is not Catholic, or Lutheran, or Methodist, etc. They identify as "Christian", ie. Evangelical Christian, which by its own definition is anti-Science. They are fundamentalist who belief take the Bible literally believing that the Earth is only 6000 years old (and therefore their conflict with the astronomy section). They reject Global Warming because they believe that their god would never destroy his creation. People can abuse the planet for their own wants and needs without any consequences.

Evangelical Christians can be "young earth," "old earth" or "gap theory." They do not have to believe the earth is 6000 years old. You read that somewhere in the Atheists' Handbook, or heard/read a handful of Evangelicals and assumed they spoke for all. Generalization is common with bigots.

Fundamentalist, evangelical Christians are not anti-science. There are Creationists who are also scientists -- and I once remember a secular scientist who was asked to name the one thing he wished he could prove/disprove, and it was that he wanted to be able to disprove Creationism. At least he was honest enough -- and knew enough about the subject -- to admit that he couldn't. The rest of you guys waive around fossils, yell "Aha!" and announce we're all "young earthers" so you "win."

The funniest part is that you think we believe God would never destroy His creation. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (2Peter 3:10, KJV)

I hope you don't live in the Northeast -- three feet of global warming is coming your way.

And did you hear about that big Global Warming conference they had in the remote town of Davos, Switzerland. They had 1700 private jets coming in to Zurich, with helicopters flying the people to the remote town. If these people honestly believed that "carbonization of the planet" was a problem, they wouldn't have set up a conference that required people to carbonize the planet that way.

Since the "experts" aren't serious about it, I don't see why I should be.

Don't quit the day job. Your analysis of things theological only rises to the level of what one sees on the Passion of the Christ board -- more spite and prejudice than anything else. Your spelling is better, though. 

You will probably disagree. That's the nature of discussions -- they have two sides.

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[–] SuperJaded1 9 years ago

I hope Graham gets a bunch more science topics that force him and his mom to repeat their mantras to the judges before every round!! <3333

Can't wait until it gets to the point where Graham has a total meltdown and accuses everyone of tampering with dark-sided stuff!!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdrlu0tjnb1qjkedbo2_500.gif



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[–] Wifey_3 9 years ago

Haha! The poor kid's programming will short-circuit and he'll start randomly spitting out all the data his parents have fed him over the years that conflicts with scientific evidence.

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[–] jamorse_99 9 years ago

Judge: And our two final round categories are Evolution and Prehistoric Creatures.
Graham: Oh no, it's over.
Tiger mom: Wheee!
Ryan: Shut up mom!

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[–] amberweiss82 9 years ago

Hahaha when I originally posted this thread I was unsure of the kind of responses it would incite but I'm happy to see I wasn't the only fan of the show that was getting upset. It is crazy to me how many Ameridans follow this propaganda. Most Europeans think it's insane how people in this country follow religious dogma and ignore reality.

It is possible to be spiritual and have a fath, and also be an intelligent, free-thinking person. The amount of ignorance that family shows is totally dumbfounding to me. I feel bad for when that kid grows up and is away from the brainwashing and realizes how far off he was. It's really not his fault at this stage of his life.

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[–] Stickman38 9 years ago

Most Europeans think it's insane how people in this country follow religious dogma and ignore reality.

Do you also employ this way of thinking when talking about the middle east, which is a region that has been taken over by religious nut-cases or is it just American Christians you have issues with?

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[–] amberweiss82 9 years ago

I have issues with any group of people that are fanatical and choose to ignore rational thinking. Part of being an educated, rational person is being open to ideas and new thoughts. Fanatical groups are fear-based and do not want their followers to be free-thinkers. I am not saying that the people choosing to partake in these groups are in any way bad people, just misguided and in some cases, brain-washed. I think Graham and his family are very nice, but not realistic.

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

Just for the record, the Pope said in November that the Catholic Church has no problem with the Big Bang Theory.

The only difference as far as evolution goes is that Darwin said that evolution occurs from a "random series of mutations", but the Church would say that the mutations were guided by the hand of God. Or the Holy Spirit, or something like that, but that the science itself is from the Lord.

So it's true that Catholic teaching is very different than fundie Christian teaching, or fundie anything (Islam?).

Love me some Waltons

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Stickman38 9 years ago

Fanatical groups are fear-based and do not want their followers to be free-thinkers.

I wouldn't call Christians a "fanatical group" though. Try living in the mid-east for a while, see what you think about it.

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[–] ZGlass 9 years ago

Not in general as that is a broad category that encompasses different sects but yes, there are some Christian groups that are fanatical.

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[–] Stickman38 9 years ago

but yes, there are some Christian groups that are fanatical.

when we start seeing Christians flying planes into buildings, strapping bombs to their bodies and killing magazine editors for printing cartoons of Jesus I might agree with you but until then, I don't buy it.

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

This is true. Even the most fanatical Christians don't blow places up or plan the murder of thousands of people, women and children included.

Love me some Waltons

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] Stickman38 9 years ago

These cases are far and between.

LOL! I think you mean few and far between. 

But yeah, we've seen some violent acts from Christians but not very often, maybe once every 10 years. The vast majority of them are simply not fanatics.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] archaeofan 9 years ago

Christianity is not necessarily fanatical, but Evangelical Christians (aka who distinguish themselves as "Christians" separated from others ho pratice Christianity) are, by their own definition, fanatical.

I have spent much time in the Middle East for 30 years, and I can say from experience that American fundamental Christianity stands out as fanatical, backwards and dangerous.

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[–] syafiqjabar 8 years ago

Fanaticism can come in many forms. And the kind of Christians we are talking about here can be pretty fanatical, rejecting policies and science that would actually make them live better and their country stronger. Don't think that it cannot kill people either. The kind of leaders they can vote to the top arenthe types that wouldn't think anything of starting wars and sacrifice the lives of millions, using their flawed beliefs as excuse.

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] noidrove 9 years ago

First off let me just say that I was outraged by the mothers very loaded question of whether the competition or his faith was more important.

Secondly what is he going to do in school and he's forced to take these classes you can't object to material saying well I don't believe this so I'm not going to do it. This is especially true when he enters college where my professors just want you to regurgitate their opinions. I had tons of professors who I didn't agree with her who taught things that I thought were biased or when against things I believed but you do the work. You just do it. Don't be such a little bitch about it.

And lastly I also believe that religion and science can coexist. I don't believe someone was sitting at day one writing down the entire history of man and if they were I have serious disgust to the incest and other crimes that were sanctioned by God. These are parables and stories meant to teach lesson not to be taken literally.

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[–] amberweiss82 9 years ago

Boom!

Agreed.

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[–] archaeofan 9 years ago

Graham does not go to school. When he is olderm, he will probably be directed to the likes of Liberty "College" which caters to fundamentalists Christians and is deplete of any real science education. He may have good retention skills, but he is naive (even for his age) and without exposure to the larger world and other ideas (which science offers), it will be easy enough for him to go through life without challenging himself or his fundamentalist training.

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[–] noidrove 9 years ago

Wow I didn't know he didn't go to school that terrifies me. When I was still young and naïve I worked for Christian bookstore and we sold homeschool material and even at 16 I remember going through that thinking this is some kind of *beep*

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

.

All is answered.

Oh I'm curious. What is the answer? ha ha. For me, I turned this Child Genius on because I have a child with genius IQ, and so I wondered how the parents who would put their kid in this competition acted. I also get sucked into watching some Real Housewife shows too, even though I can feel my brain cells dying as I do it.

And I have to say I get tired of the whole "what Europeans think" thing. Do they care what Americans think about them? Cuz there sure is plenty, and it ain't always pretty..

Love me some Waltons

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[–] amberweiss82 9 years ago

Part of why I think it's good to understand how other countries operate is because we, as Americans, are pretty isolated culturally. Yes we have a growing Mexican population and our lovely Canadians, but really in comparison to most other countries we're practically on an island. We are also a relatively young country in comparison and in many ways to we can behave like teenagers who think we know it all and the older generation just doesn't get it.

There's a lot of great stuff about The United States and there's a reason this country has been such a super power, but I do feel we could learn a little from our friends that have been around a bit longer, and I'm sure there's things they could learn from us. Bottom line though is Americans tend to not even think about how things are done in other countries because we don't have to.

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] lucianolvr 9 years ago

Good luck with your Genie! Let her/him soar!

thank you very much, tsco13 :)

Love me some Waltons

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] kaydeeay 9 years ago

I don't agree that they need to expand their beliefs just because other people believe differently. You have your belief and they have theirs. They could, by the same token, say you need to change your belief.

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