I need to explain evolution to a six year-old. (God)

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by Mobsie666

It's pretty simple really. Life has evolved to be more wonderful and incredible over time. You are the best life has to offer.

Far better than that creationist crap.

Certainly something a 6 year old can relate to. and its true as well. Lordy Lordy!

I'm looking to raise a free thinker who respects others beliefs, not an indoctrinated atheist.

[Rolling_Stone]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Any suggestions? Yesterday my son asked "Where did the first people come from?" and I found out that it's somewhat difficult to explain evolution to a small child without sounding like you've lost your mind.

Tell him people throughout history believed many things. Refer to some of the creation myths that Joseph Campbell is famous for or you can go here or here. There are many more websites.

Evolution and the Big Bang are myths in the sense that their task, like all myths, is to provide explanations that make sense within one's culture. They may or may not be factually correct, but it always reflects the way human beings present their relationship with the universe.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

But the theory of evolution is so simple and straightforeward that any six year old can grasp it.

Maybe. Most won't believe it. I certainly didn't.

Tell him to get a book, if he can't understand it he should try harder.

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by Mobsie666

It's pretty simple really. Life has evolved to be more wonderful and incredible over time. You are the best life has to offer.

Far better than that creationist crap.

Certainly something a 6 year old can relate to. and its true as well. Lordy Lordy!

But what about when evolution goes "backwards," when creatures become simpler, more primative?
Evolution has nothing to do with either advancement or increasing complexity. It's adaptation to immediate circumstances; pure expediency -- whatever works.

[budhabee]

Tell him that is the most wondrous and puzzling thing about this world. Humans are a mystery. With many mysterious things about them. We appeared around 50,000 years ago so they say. But from where? They have found no missing links as yet so far between even cro-magnon man and humans. Apes are out of the question. They have not proved anything there either except that we are a bubble off on genetics. Tell him someday someone may solve it. Maybe even him.

[crystalonyx]

Originally Posted by budhabee

Tell him that is the most wondrous and puzzling thing about this world. Humans are a mystery. With many mysterious things about them. We appeared around 50,000 years ago so they say. But from where? They have found no missing links as yet so far between even cro-magnon man and humans. Apes are out of the question. They have not proved anything there either except that we are a bubble off on genetics. Tell him someday someone may solve it. Maybe even him.

I think the linage if homo sapiens is pretty well worked out, and we definitely came from some ancestor ape.

[Fluffy]

Do it by example:
Once there were no monkeys, just humans. Then one day, a monkey was born without a tail. A hungry lion came along and all the monkey and his brothers and sisters tried to run away. However, the lion was easily able to catch the monkey's brothers and sisters by grabbing their tails. Only the monkey managed to get away because he had no tail for the lion to grab on to. The monkey found another monkey and... oh wait better do that talk first or you are just going to get side tracked.

[painted wolf]

Using "just so" stories is not a good way to teach science.

wa:do

[Autodidact]