How do you explain creationism (is that a word?) to a 7yo?

[beansmum]

One of ds's friends doesn't believe in evolution. ds has mentioned it a few times and asked me why this friend believes this. ds points out (to me, not to his friend, thankfully!) the evidence for evolution and seems totally confused by the whole thing.

I want ds to be tolerant of different beliefs, but I also want him to be confident in his own interpretation of the facts. I'm also wondering how to explain that we should be tolerant of some things, but that other things some people believe are just plain wrong and shouldn't be accepted. Should I even get into this? Am I worrying about nothing? Will ds figure all this out for himself if I just leave him to it?

The joys of being a single parent and having nobody to say "it's really not a big deal, stop worrying".

Do not discriminate if others have different beliefs, but that does not mean you cannot tell your DS that you think they are wrong. Teach him to challenge what people are saying (not necessarily to their face, but with discussion with you and, as he gets older research). Teach him what bias is and how the accepted view can be wrong, tell him repeatedly wikipedia is wrong or only right by accident. Teach him what the evidence is - teach him to be a proper scientist with a genuine open mind

To me it is the problem with the relativist view of the world which is encouraged now. To me every view is not equally valid and it certainly isn't to a creationist (or any other extremist).

Creationism is clearly nonsense, Does it really help anyone for you (or your son), to let creationists pass off their beliefs as scientific fact without challenge? Providing this challenging is done in a respectful and non judgemental way, I feel it is OK - and that is what I have taught my kids.

There is nothing wrong with confronting the peddler of a woo woo theory.

I think I would pin them down to allow me to read them the Creation story from Genesis (preferably from Genesis 2 in my case), and say that most people believe it's a story and a few people believe it's true.

This is a great opportunity to teach him the value of challenging ideas, the way science works - as long as there is evidence, one can assume that this theory is the most reasonable. But there is NO absolute truth and even centuries-long concepts can be defeated by thought. Make him appreciate the power of individual thinking, it is the best argument against fanaticism.