Programs that use one discipline to explain, teach, or illuminate another seldom succeed. Some attempts manage to impart information concerning one of the subjects, but most fail at both. You'd probably expect some Fundamentalist Christian science videos from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s to fall into the latter category, but surprisingly the 19-volume Moody Science Classics video series is entertaining, educational, and (most surprising of all) not cheesy.
Topics include everything from the architecture of lost civilizations, to the human blood system, to atomic theory, to the life and work of honey bees. Each is rich in scientific detail, using information about the natural world and technology to impart truths about the Christian faith and life. These truths aren't strictly apologetic: sometimes the science is used as a sort of object lesson to help viewers understand the nature of faith, the limits of human experience, and the difference between belief and trust.
As for cheesiness, kids addicted to CGI might complain that there aren't enough special effects, but just because these videos aren't flashy doesn't mean they aren't good. Our entertainment-saturated culture often assumes that straight instruction is unpalatable, but there's a real sense in which showing an actual beehive and its inhabitants is infinitely more entertaining than watching a cartoon of the same thing.
Most of what you'll see is actual footage, whether of blood circulating, Venus flytraps eating, or lightning shooting through a man's fingers. Voice-overs explain what's going on and how it relates to a larger spiritual truth or reality. This isn't just creationism vs. evolution: the makers are solidly creationist, but they're also anxious to teach real science, not just ideology. Whether you're looking for a sciencesupplement or just for some wholesome family entertainment, this series is a great source for both.
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Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.
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