History shows that teens are very capable of taking on responsibility. Join us today as Dr. Robert Epstein, former Editor-in-Chief of Psychology Today magazine, shares some biblical examples of responsible young people, on Home School Heartbeat with Mike Smith.
Mike Smith:
Dr. Epstein, historical evidence supports your argument that teens are capable of handling adult responsibilities. Some of this evidence comes from the Bible. In your book, The Case against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen, you explore the biblical view of young people. Can you share some of your findings with our listeners?
Dr. Robert Epstein:
Well yes, I’ve always been interested in the Bible and I took a very very careful look at it. I looked at it with new eyes I guess you could say, when I started working on this book. First of all, the Old Testament has very few age restrictions of any sort and the Old Testament gives incredible responsibilities to young people based on their individual capacity. So young people serve as kings, they serve as prophets, they serve as heroes, they serve in all kinds of roles based on their individual capabilities. That’s the key here, so there are very few age restrictions in the Old Testament. Now the New Testament, it turns out, has absolutely no age restrictions whatsoever. So again, we look at the Bible as a sign of what young people can do. It’s very clear that young people have these extraordinary capabilities, and I think that we need to recognize that again and look at our young people now and begin to give them new opportunity.
Mike:
Well, thank you, Dr. Epstein. I’m Mike Smith.
