My daughter wants to know....

[brewer]

Did you hear that LFC? What you are/will be experiencing will not be an explosion. Repeat, not an explosion!

[Magilla]

So the kiddo has a question and has been quite argumentative with me about it. Actually, she has several questions.

1. If god doesn't exist, where did life come from? Her answer is evolution isn't the answer because we had to come from somewhere.

She says logic and reason doesn't make sense. The big bang doesn't make sense and can't explain it because an explosion can't create things when explosions destroy things. That can't explain why there's life.


Her words. Have at it because I tried to tell her that you don't just throw in the excuse that "god did it", when there's no definitive answer to these things.

Maybe it would be a good idea to illustrate the history of the universe using a 24 hour clock:-

Cosmos: Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Calendar
(Video): http://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/50093849556

The History of the Universe in 24 Hours Part 1 of 3
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMcgS1kYG4I

You could do the same for the history of the planet:-

https://flowingdata.com/2012/10/09/histo...our-clock/

or . . .

Smith Journal: The History (and Future) of the Universe in One Infographic

http://www.smithjournal.com.au/blogs/sci...e-universe
_______________________________

Wikipedia: Cosmic Calendar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Calendar
_______________________________

UVic: The Cosmic Timeline

http://visav.phys.uvic.ca/~babul/AstroCo...-slide.htm

Here's a work activity for students grade 6-12
Download: Cosmic Calendar . . . https://astrosociety.org/edu/astro/act2/...lendar.pdf

A few comments:-
The Big Bang was a sarcastic name given to it by Fred Hoyle. It is not considered to be an explosion, but as a rapid expansion. Nevertheless, it was almighty powerful. On the other hand, as it wasn't an explosion, it was not destructive, but creative.

Life began very late in the history of the universe. The huge forces of the Big Bang were long past.

Looking at the history of the universe, and when life began, it is paradoxical in a way, that life began only a short time ago on a 24-hour clock, but in terms of actual years, it was still a darned long time ago, ie. evolution has had enough time to produce what we see as life now.

The origin of life is different to the evolution of life. Certain scientists are fervently studying this conundrum, (the origin of life). It might make an interesting exercise for a 14 year, old to do some Google research and find out who is doing it, and what is being learned.

[paulpablo]

I'd personally look at this optimistically.  Not that she's being influenced by creationism and becoming religious.  I think it's fairly impressive she's even questioning things like this.  Don't 14 year olds usually just focus on sex, reality tv, drugs and whatever else.

[Minimalist]

That's the trouble with the world.  Optimists.

[Joods]

I would seriously have issues if she was focusing on sex at her age. I think I'm going to have to start searching chastity belts on AP.
And she's a distinguished honor roll student. She thinks drugs are nasty, along with cigarettes and alcohol.

[vorlon13]

you recall how frequently here when I post an unfamiliar word, and immediately there is a post from someone else to NOT google it ?

Well, here's another one:

infibulation

[Joods]

I am NOT googling that.

[Seraphina]

Your "god of the gaps" answer is a good response to start with.

I would also tell her - as I also tell my 10 year old daughter - to never stop asking questions. There's nothing wrong with asking questions, it's when you think you have all the answers that you're in trouble.

[Minimalist]

She thinks drugs are nasty, along with cigarettes and alcohol.

You sure she hasn't fallen in with mormons?  Those fuckers are pretty bad, too.

[vorlon13]

I am NOT googling that.