If you are looking for a science class for this school year, I encourage you to check out the classes at Northwest Treasures.
Northwest Treasures offered the Homeschool Review Crew the opportunity to try out two of three online classes:
- Taking the Mystery Out of Geology
- Geology and Apologetics
- Dinosaurs and the Bible
We chose to review Geology and Apologetics course and the introductory video called Taking the Mystery Out of Geology.
Taking the Mystery Out of Geology
Run time: 20 minutes
Grades: 5 – Adult
Taking the Mystery Out of Geology is a 20-minute class taught by Patrick Nurre. This class is an introduction to the wealth of information Patrick shares with students about how to understand geology from a Biblical perspective.
In this class, students learn new vocabulary and terms that describe in detail what the science of geology is, and what it is not, and the philosophy of it. Some of these terms include: orogeny, vitrophyere, cirque, science, history, philosophy, uniformitarianism, evolutionism, creationism, geology, fossilization, and more.
Students will also learn the “Biblical Framework” for understanding history and geology together, such as how the Flood and the Ice Age fit together in the geological puzzle. Students will start with the bible as the foundation.
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”.
This is a short 20 minute study, but it is packed with valuable information. It is a great place to grow your faith in the truth of the scriptures and to start your learning journey with geology.
Geology and Apologetics
Run Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
Grades: 8 – Adult
Geology and Apologetics online course is a series of 6 videos ranging in length from 10 to 20+/- minutes each for a total run time of 1 hour and 36 minutes and is designed for students in eighth grade and higher.
The lessons in this course will help your students become more confident in defending their faith and the truths found in the scriptures. Each lesson includes discussion questions.
Lessons include:
- Lesson One: Knowing the Scriptures in the Secular Geological Age
- Lesson Two: Clarifying the Conflict Between Science and the Bible
- Lesson Three:The Genealogies and Chronologies of Genesis. Are They Accurate and Reliable?
- Lesson Four: Evolutionary Gaps in the Fossil Record, How Serious Are They?
- Lesson Five: Dinosaur-to-Bird Evolution, the Story That Never Seems to Die
- Lesson Six: Time and Chronology in the Secular Geological Age
The Geology and Apologetics course is taught by Patrick Nurre of Northwest Treasures. He designed this course to dissect several of the science verses faith conflicts, and to study them from both a Biblical and geological point of view.
Geology as explained by secular science has attacked the Christian faith for far too long, and this battle has left many Christians feeling confused and defeated. Modern science continues to undermine the biblical worldview of understanding geology and the Christian faith.
One way that modern science undermines our faith, is by assulting the truth that our Father God is the Creator of all things, and created all things just a few thousand years ago. Modern science disregards the literal reading of Genesis, and disregards the authority and reliability of the Biblical Scriptures. Instead, it treats the majority of the bible as just myths, including the global flood as described in the book of Genesis.
Our experience:
We were sent a 3 month subscription to Taking the Mystery Out of Geology online course, and a six month subscription to the Geology and Apologetics online course for the purpose of this review.
I watched these videos with my older three sons. We learned a lot of great information we can apply to understanding the physical world around us from a biblical perspective.
In addition to learning with the videos, our family has had opportunities to apply this biblical outlook when we take family field trips to explore the world that Father God has created.
Our family loves to travel, to take nature walks, hunt for rocks and gems, study the landscape, geography, rivers, mountains, valleys, forests, desert, ocean beaches, natural lakes, fossils, and rock formations all around us.
We have been to some pretty cool places Father God created. We are blessed to live about half way between the mountains and the ocean. This has been such a blessing to us because we love exploring!
We started this habit of exploring our surroundings while we dated, and it became something we really enjoyed regularly, and now we have developed and encouraged this passion in our kids too.
We have seen a wide range of landscapes everywhere we have lived, and in every direction we travel.
Spending time together as a family exploring landscapes, rock formations, fossils, nature, and observing what there is to see with our own eyes and ears has helped draw us close together and helped us see the truth of Father God our Creator.
Final Thoughts
Patrick Nurre from Northwest Treasures has spent a lifetime learning and teaching and he has packed his knowledge and passion for truth into these courses. I like these science courses because Patrick Nurre gives Father God the glory in everything, and He points people back to Him.
It is rare to find a scientist who truly follows God and gives him glory as our Creator. Mainstream science and the public education system denies the existence of God and his authority in creation. Those who deny Him will face judgement someday. There are several verses in the bible that talk about having “No “Excuse” for denying Him. Here is one of those verses:
Romans 1:18-25
“What is revealed is God’s anger from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth; because what is known about God is plain to them, since God has made it plain to them. For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they have become fools! In fact, they have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mere images, like a mortal human being, or like birds, animals or reptiles! This is why God has given them up to the vileness of their hearts’ lusts, to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies. They have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, by worshipping and serving created things, rather than the Creator — praised be he for ever. Amen.”
If you are interested in a bible based science course or simply interested in the Geology of where you live, I would encourage you to take these classes. Patrick Nurre is easy to understand and these courses are a good introduction to help you understand geological concepts. I would also encourage you to get outside and start exploring and observing, and put together an exploration kit or backpack like the one Patrick Nurre shares here:
More Courses
There are lots of course options available from Northwest Treasures your family might be interested in learning more about. The Dinosaurs and the Bible course looks very interesting and I think this will be the next course my kids would enjoy doing.
My kids have had a big interest in dinosaurs over the years, and we have made special trips to Dinosaur Land, Big Bone Lick State Park and Museum, Grays Fossil Site Excavation and Museum, Dinosaur Exhibitions at both Indianapolis and Greenville Children’s Museums, and also to the bible based Dinosaur Exhibits at the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
Though we have been to many dinosaur exhibits several times (yes kids like to go back and see them again and again), and I have tons of pictures, I only made a video of one of our visits a few years ago. I need to make a new video, but making videos isn’t one of my strong points. But I wanted to share it here to peak your interest in learning about dinosaurs from a biblical perspective. If you are interested in seeing it, you can check out our “Back in Time” dinosaur exhibit video below.
In addition to the online classes, Northwest Treasures also offers physical courses, conferences, and camps that might meet your needs too. Be sure to check out the high school level Northwest Treasures Curriculum Project, and for younger students the Geology for “Little Eyes” series.
Both online and physical course options from Northwest Treasures are great biblical science resources for homeschool families, bible classes, coops and more.
Social Media
Be sure to check out Northwest Treasures on their social media links for all the latest news and product updates.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeologybyNorthwestTreasures/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/northwesttreasu/boards/
Youtube Northwest Treasures: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGcBMDI3HRLOJrTSdUCibmg/featured
Youtube Patrick Nurre: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnfoFEruAYQcREQIPBDYMbg/videos?pbjreload=10
Homeschool Review Crew
Be sure to check out what others on the Homeschool Review Crew had to say about using this product in their home.
