Geology and Apologetics from Northwest Treasures {A Curriculum Review}

As soon as he was able to, my oldest son began collecting rocks and his fascination with both Science and Geology was born. Unfortunately for him, I don’t share his passion for these subjects however, companies such as Northwest Treasures do. He recently was given access to their newest product, Geology and Apologetics, as well as the video titled Taking The Mystery Out Of Geology. For the next few minutes, I am going to not just share our experience with Northwest Treasures with you, but also explain why this course should be one that is on every high school students’ transcript.

What Is Northwest Treasures?

Northwest Treasures began simply as a suggestion from a friend that Patrick Nurre take his love of Geology and share it. From that humble suggestion, Patrick began speaking at homeschool conventions bringing along samples from his adventures. From there it expanded into books and kits as the need for more Christian-based geology options became apparent. The history of Northwest Treasures continues with branching out to lead field trips and excursions, guided tours of amazing geological sites. The final leg in this journey is where we find ourselves, able to access some of the online educational options that are now available.

However, at their heart, I get the feeling that this is a Christian company more than a geological one. Yes, there is a plethora of geolocial information available, but it’s all presented not just in a Christian manner, but unabashedly from a Biblical viewpoint. As important and exciting as rocks and fossils are to Northwest Treasure, I get the feeling after studying their website and watching seven videos from them,  that the Bible is their most important tool.

Taking The Mystery Out of Geology

The first video we found ourselves watching was called Taking The Mystery Out of Geology. The purpose of this video is to help the viewer understand not just Geology but to understand it from a Biblical-perspective. To use the Bible as your main source in geology rather than as a footnote. In this video, we were introduced to 13 terms that Patrick describes as necessary to fully understanding Geology.

The problem, as stated in the video, with modern Geology lies in two main areas. The first is that it is intimidating to most people. Filled with strange words and not a lot of supporting evidence, many parents simply choose to skip right over Geology and start their children with Biology. The biggest issue with skipping Geology, however, is that Geology is imperative to fully understanding Creation and the world as we know it. Geology may be a relatively new science, yet its importance should be undervalued.

The second problem with modern Geology is that it systematically assaults any Biblical beliefs or standing. Many Christians are unable to fully defend Creation and the Biblical timeline of the earth simply because they don’t fully understand or study it themselves. However, for Christians, the Bible should be our primary source for much of our life, including how the earth came to be. When studied openly and with a clear mind, Geology actually helps support the Biblical accounts of both Creation and the world-wide flood.

Geology and Apologetics

On its surface, Geology and Apologetics is a six-part video series that only takes about an hour and a half to watch, the same as your favorite movie. This course, however, is geared towards older students and adults, so you cannot really take it only at its surface.

Most of the videos are quite quick to watch, ranging in time from 11 minutes to 22, however, if you are paying attention it’s impossible to just watch them. They are filled with facts, images, graphics, and scripture. The first video, for example, recommends you read through six different sections of scripture before continuing on. In fact, I would say that each of these six video lessons could be expanded on by your high school student in the forms of Bible reading, additional research, a simple discussion with you, or presenting a solid argument for the Bible as a valid source for Geological support. As a reviewer of this product, I took four pages of notes from the six videos.

What’s Included?

Your purchase of all six videos in the Geology and Apologetics series grants you access to the videos on Vimeo for six months. This gives you more than enough time to use them in your homeschool. Each video is meant to be watched in succession and builds on the information presented in the previous one. Included at the end of each video are several questions. Most have a concrete answer, but some are designed for thought and to encourage discussion of the material.

• 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”

A Brief Overview

Lesson one starts at the beginning, both Biblically and in Geology in general. It covers Apologetics and how it should be used in defending a persons’ faith. It also covers the Enlightenment, a period where science began to break away from religion. This split radically changed science and how scientists approached things. It also tossed aside the Bible as a tool in scientific studies.

Lesson two is where we are given definitions for history, science, and philosophy. These three areas all have their own unique sets of rules and guidelines, however, modern scientists have blurred the lines. This blurring had lead to some scientific theories being accepted as fact, and some items that may not meet the qualifications as one to be called another.

Lesson three takes a deep look at Biblical genealogies both in Genesis and other places in the Bible. It also looks at dating the age of the world based on a literal translation of the Bible.

Lesson four ties greatly into lesson two in my opinion, and takes a look at the Fossil Record. It also dives into the large gaps in the fossil recording including the lack of “transitional fossils.” It also covers the fact that fossils are typically found in sedimentary rock a type of rock that is primarily laid down by mud or water.

Lesson five, which happened to be my son’s favorite, covers the evolution of dinosaur to bird. This is the longest video in the series, however, gross errors in the supposed evolution from dinosaur are pointed out including the fact that the transitional fossil found in Germany dates to many years before the animals it transitioned from. In fact, if you were to use the estimated dates from radioactive dating, it would clearly show that birds predate dinosaurs, thus supporting Biblical Creation.

Lesson six takes a look at geochronology, the study of time in Geology. The overriding theme of this video is that Christians need to be actively learning their Biblical history.

Should You Try Northwest Treasures?

Based on the items we received, my son would tell you yes! He very much enjoyed the videos, the material presented, and the questions at the end. As I watched the videos after he did, I was able to ask him questions about material that he had watched days before and he was still able to give correct answers. This shows me that the material was presented to him in a way that stuck with him. As a homeschooling parent, that’s all I can ask for.

In our opinion, Northwest Treasures is a great source for Christin-based science curriculum. Curriculum that encourages parents and students alike to use the Bible alongside their science lessons rather than tossing it aside.