This section contains my own opinions and suggestions on the conflicts that may arise in teaching archaeology and prehistory within religious families. If you're not interested in my opinions, feel free to skip this section. You won't hurt my feelings!

Every teacher has to make a choice about how to handle the problems of ancient history and the conflicts that may arise with your religious beliefs. It's best to do your research and take your stand early, so when the subject comes up, you're ready with a firm answer.

The first decision you have to make is whether or not to even teach this subject scientifically, or whether to stick to the Bible. My own feeling on the subject is that these teachings are part of our culture, and our children will eventually encounter them whether or not we choose to tell them. They may choose a secular college, or they may check a book out of the library. Depending on your religious views there are ways to tackle the subject without denying your beliefs.

One thing to remember is that history is not a dead subject, and neither is science. We make new discoveries every day which change the way we look at science. For instance, scientists once believed the exquisite drawings on cave walls were religious ceremonies. Now they wonder if some of these may just be artwork. Those early people may have had as much of a love of art as we do. You might want to research some of the scientific and historical facts that have changed over the years. When you encounter problems, your children can be reminded that this is what scientists believe now, but next week, there may be a whole new set of beliefs. It's been my experience that children believe whatever they hear first. We cover the time period in our home, so I can get to their minds and hearts first. If they don't hear it from you, and then encounter it later, they will wonder why you hid it from them, and their faith could be shaken.

So are there ways to cover the materials and still fit them into your beliefs? This probably depends on how literally you interpret the Bible. The original writings use a word for day that can be interpreted to mean an unspecified period of time. Using this, the seven days of creation can be seven periods of time, and certainly it would have been difficult to measure the time before the day and night were divided. If you choose this interpretation you can fit the dinosaurs in quite nicely by explaining that God sent them to help prepare the earth. If you prefer the seven day plan, you will need to think it through before your children ask-or research it together.

The cave man business is a little trickier, but it's a good problem solving activity for the family. Could they really have come later than scientists think and just be those who wandered off from the main civilizations? Think about the Tower of Babel, when the languages were confused. People must have wandered off to form little groups who developed common languages. Some people, less bright or less verbal, might not have been able to develop new common languages quickly, and may have lost their speech and their memories. Without a common language, the old ways would disappear and new ones would gradually develop. The new ways might have been far more primitive, though. Even today, there are people who wander from place to place, living as hunters and gatherers. When missionaries come in and teach them to farm, their entire culture changes. As you can see, there are many ways to cope with the problems you encounter. Simply put them out as a problem solving activity or debate, or give a definitive answer and tell them not everyone they encounter will agree with them, but they are lucky to know the truth.