Joy In Our Journey
  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
  • Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • About Me
  • What's New! (Blog)
  • Low-Carb Lifestyle!
    • Trim Healthy Mama-inspired Grocery Lists
    • THM-style Beverages >
      • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccinos
    • Family Favorite Recipes (Not Low Carb) >
      • Snacks >
        • Delicious Homemade Gooey Granola Bars!
        • Healthy Peanut Buttery Treats
      • Soups and Stews >
        • Jamaican Seafood Chowder
        • Chicken and Gnocchi Soup
      • Salads >
        • Red Cabbage Coleslaw
      • Main Dishes >
        • Beef >
          • Beef Stroganoff
        • Chicken >
          • Chicken Fiesta
          • Chicken Nachos
          • Marinated Zucchini and Chicken Sandwiches
          • Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas
          • Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
          • Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
        • Lamb >
          • Slow-Roasted Lamb Shoulder
        • Seafood >
          • Chilled Quinoa and Salmon Salad (E)
          • Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas
        • Pasta Recipes >
          • Baked Lemon Pasta
          • Paccheri (Pasta) with Cauliflower and Tomatoes
      • Desserts >
        • Cookies >
          • Free Christmas Cookie cookbook download!
          • Healthier Gingerbread Man Cookies
          • Healthier Holiday Cut-Out Cookes
          • Maple Leaf Cookies - YUMMM!
        • Donuts
        • Frozen Desserts >
          • Lemonade Ice Cream Pie
    • Recommended Ingredients and Foods >
      • Inspiration Mixes - Gluten/Dairy/Caseine/Wheat Free and delicious!
      • Organic Maple Syrup
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Curriculum & Product Reviews >
      • Homeschool Curriculum Reviews >
        • Art >
          • ARTistic Pursuits
          • Simply Draw!
        • Grammar >
          • All About Homophones - (Marie Rippel)
          • Time 4 Learning
          • Daily Grams
        • Handwriting >
          • Cursive Handwriting - New American Cursive
        • History >
          • The Mystery of History >
            • MOH vol. 3 Audio MP3's
          • Tapestry of Grace History
          • U.S. History >
            • America, The Last Best Hope (William Bennett)
          • Winter Promise
        • Latin >
          • Latina Christiana, by Memoria Press
          • Visual Latin
        • Literature-based Unit Studies >
          • Beyond Five in a Row
          • Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft
        • Logic and Reasoning >
          • Building Thinking Skills (Critical Thinking Skills Co.)
        • Math >
          • Math Mammoth
          • Math Tutor DVD.com
          • MathRider: Horselovers' Math Facts Software Game!
        • Music and Composers
        • Online Educational Courses >
          • Aleks Online Courses
        • Science >
          • Apologia Science >
            • Apologia Science's Notebooking Journals
            • Zoology 1 - Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
          • Science Weekly newsletters
        • Spelling >
          • Phonetic Zoo (by IEW)
        • Writing >
          • The Write Foundation: Level 2 - Paragraphs
          • WriteShop's StoryBuilders
      • Homeschool Product Reviews >
        • eBooks >
          • College Success Begins at Home (TOS eBook)
          • Dreams and Designs—Homemade Supplies to Complement Your Homeschool
          • Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler!
          • The 2010 Schoolhouse Planner
        • Online Educational Website Memberships >
          • KB Teacher
        • Science >
          • Polymer Crystals
    • Driver's Education for Homeschoolers
    • Foreign Language >
      • Latin >
        • Christmas Songs in Latin
        • Latina Christiana (Level 1) >
          • Latina Christiana Level 1 Lesson Links >
            • Charts and Helps
            • Year One Sayings
            • LC1 Intro and Lesson 1
      • Latina Christiana (Level II) >
        • Latina Christiana Level 2
        • LC2 Intro and Lesson 1
    • Forms and Charts >
      • "Week At A Glance" Planner
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
      • 2012-2013 Homeschool Attendance Form
    • Free Audio Books to Download
    • Free Homeschool I.D. Cards!
    • Government and Civics
    • Handwriting
    • History: Classical / Chronological >
      • The Mystery of History, by Linda Lacour Hobar
      • The Middle Ages (MOH vol. 2)
      • Ancient History (MOH vol. 1) >
        • Ancient Rome >
          • Roman Architecture
          • Roman Houses
          • Roman Town (software game by Dig-It)
          • Roman Trade and Commerce
    • Language Arts
    • Science
  • Free Printables
    • Holidays >
      • Christmas
  • Book/DVD/Audio Reviews
    • Children's Movie/DVD Reviews
    • Other Product/Company Reviews
  • Home & Family
    • Frugal Living
    • Gardening and Herbs
    • Marriage - God's Way
    • Life at Home
    • Godly Kids & Teens >
      • Godly Womanhood
      • Sharing God With Your Children
      • Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home >
        • Keepers At Home - "Beginning of Club Year" Helps
        • Keepers At Home - "End of Club Year" Helps
        • KAH Skills >
          • Bible Memory >
            • Memorizing New Testament Books and Their Meanings
            • Proverbs 31:10-31
          • Cake Decorating
          • Card Making >
            • Stitched Cards
          • Computers
          • Character Studies >
            • Contentment and "I'm Bored" phrases
            • Willingness
          • Decoupage
          • Hospitality
          • Library Skills and Literature Pins
          • Sewing >
            • Beauty and the Pig - Goldie Doll
            • Edwardian-Style Aprons
            • Paper Piecing
      • Children >
        • Bible Study Bookmarks
        • The Church History ABCs (for kids!!!)
        • The Lord's Prayer - copywork
        • Some Thoughts...Family Bible Time
        • Running Away...with permission
      • Young Adults (Teens) >
        • Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss
        • Deeper Roots: Discovering Our Amazing God
  • Frugal Family Trips to Washington, D.C.
Picture

Adam and His Kin, by Ruth Beechick

8/15/2012

7 Comments

 
Picture

Adam and His Kin:  a worthwhile read - or not?

    We've been educating our children at home for 11 years now, and I've heard of this book, Adam and His Kin for about 10.999998 years - almost as long as we've been homeschooling. 

:)

    I've owned the book for at least five years, so this summer, we decided to read it together as a family alongside our evening family Bible time.

    Why read it together?  The girls are now 12 and 14, and they could have easily read it by themselves. 

    Well, we decided to read it together because I've heard a few people say over the years that Adam and His Kin is a made up, fictional story, and that it disrespects the Bible.

    We decided to find out!



    Before we read the book together, I decided to read the book by myself and match it up to the actual passages in Genesis that accompany each chapter:

 
Picture
Chapter 1:  Genesis 1 and 2

Chapter 2:  Genesis 3:1-7

Chapter 3:  Genesis 3:8-24

Chapter 4:  Genesis 4:1-16

Chapter 5:  Genesis 4:17-24

Chapter 6:  Genesis 4:25 - Gen. 5:21

Chapter 7:  Genesis 5:22-31

Chapter 8:  Genesis 5:32 - Gen. 6:22

Chapter 9:  Genesis 7:1-17

Chapter 10:  Genesis 7:18-24

Chapter 11:  Genesis 8:1-17

Chapter 12:  Genesis 8:18 - Gen. 9:17

Chapter 13:  Genesis 9:18-29

Chapter 14:  Genesis 10:1-9

Chapter 15:  Genesis 10:10 - Gen. 11:9

Chapter 16:  Genesis 11:10-19

Chapter 17:  Genesis 11:20-26

Chapter 18:  ---

Chapter 19:  Genesis 11:27-32




Why so much controversy about this book?

    I took a look at the 1-star reviews for this book on Amazon.com, because I had heard a few people mention that this book was full of fictional, untrue ideas.  I wanted to check it out for myself.

Here's what I learned from those reviews:

1.  Staunch Christians who are opposed to reading Adam and His Kin with their children do not believe it is okay to place any portion of the Scriptures into a narrative form.  For example, we do not know all of the conversation that took place between Adam and Eve in the first few weeks of their lives, but Mrs. Beechick writes some conversation that could have realistically taken place between Adam and Eve.  If you believe it is absolutely morally wrong to surmise what other details and conversations might have taken place between two biblical characters, then you won't want to read this book. 


    Mrs. Beechick explains:  "Having spent thirteen years writing Sunday School lessons and hearing from concerned teachers that we were adding to the Scripture if the donkey went "clop, clop," it was difficult for me to begin this work.  At first, I wrote that "maybe" Adam and Eve walked in the garden on their first day, "perhaps" they enjoyed the flowers, and so forth.  Later I realized that I couldn't annoy my readers with "maybe" all through the story.  So I have decided to say one big "maybe" here in the preface and hope that will suffice."

    She also mentions:  "Secular history books do not balk at guessing.  It is common for a writer to say that several centuries must have passed because one artifact he examined is stone, while another is copper.  Or an archeologist may say that several millennia of development must have preceded his findings because he uncovered some writing or sculpture, and people could not learn to write or sculpt like that in a short time.  Events are moved around as needed to fit the preconceived evolutionary idea of history - that man began as a brute and slowly raised himself to a higher kind of life.  So if we begin with the preconceived idea that man began as a God-like creature, [meaning he is] made in the very image of God, we, too, should set events in what we believe is their most likely position."


2.  The other camp of people who don't like this book are those who don't believe in the 100% accuracy of the Bible, and admit that they are not Christian believers.  They feel like this book is full of nonsense that goes against other historical ideas.


What did our family think?

    This is just our own family's opinion.  Take it or leave it!  But I do hope that if you are studying ancient history with your children, and you are including the biblical accounts of creation through the time of Abraham, you will consider reading this with your junior high or high school children.

    While the style of writing doesn't flow quite as smoothly as some stories or narratives, it was interesting.  (If your children are used to only reading the most popular, low-quality/low vocabulary books available on the market these days, they may have more difficulty with the style of this writing.)  Mrs. Beechick brings out a lot of details that she has garnered from true historical writings.  We recognized many facts and details that aren't necessarily found in the book of Genesis, but are found in historical writings.  I remembered many details we read about in our history curriculum, The Mystery of History, Volume 1. 

    I would recommend that this book be used with children ages 12 and older, who are solidly grounded in their understanding of the book of Genesis.  There are bits and pieces here and there which are suppositions, things we can't really know, and she has surmised and added parts in where we don't know all of the facts (the Nephilim, for example, and the "mighty men of old").  Children and teens who are new to Christianity and the Bible, or who don't know much about the true Genesis account, could get confused on which parts of Adam and His Kin are 100% truth, and which are surmised.

    Some sections and chapters were more interesting than others.  It took us about five weeks to read through the book, one chapter most nights (although we took some of the Olympics nights off). 


    I know that for me, I will never think of these phrases in the same way as I used to when I would read them in Genesis:

...This is the written account of Adam's line.

...This is the account of Noah...

...This is the account of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

...This is the account of Shem...

...This is the account of Terah...


    If you've read Adam and His Kin, then you will understand why I list those here.  I'm so glad I read this book, and I plan to read it again in another couple of years.  This book was on our list of literature books to read with our ancient history studies for this upcoming school year, but because of the controversy surrounding it, we decided to read it ahead of time, together.  I'm really glad we did!  It caused us to think deeply about what we read in the Bible.  We had some good discussions!


    Have you read Adam and His Kin?  If so, what were your thoughts about this book?
Picture






Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com


7 Comments
William Nwaogu
9/3/2016 05:14:41 am

I appreciate your title 'Adam and His Kin' and would like to have a PDF copy of it for personal use.

Thank you

Reply
Amana
9/27/2017 09:39:06 am

Hello. Is there a copy of this via PDF available?

Reply
Yvonne
7/28/2018 09:56:20 am

I loved this book when I first read it to our oldest daughter so many years ago. I am getting ready to read it again with our 2 youngest, ages 12 and 14. I would love a PDF copy of your breakdown if you have it.

Reply
Brandi
9/10/2019 07:04:43 am

Do you still have a pdf book available?

Reply
Sarah Keeler
11/20/2019 01:42:12 pm

when was this book written?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Reply
Karen link
9/9/2020 09:23:35 pm

Thank you so much for this review and for the correspondence of chapters of the book with chapters in Genesis! This was exactly what I needed to know. I heard about this book years ago and finally saw it available at a used curriculum sale so snatched it up. I wasn't sure whether or not I should read it yet, until this year, with my two youngest at ages 13 and 11. I am glad my online search of a review brought me here! I plan to use this book and your guide this year. Thank you. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family!

Reply
Mark Russell
12/26/2021 06:37:00 am

Is there a PDF available?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ​​Hi!  I'm Julieanne!
    You'll find me in the kitchen
    ​trying new 
    Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters. ​


    Find
    Joy In Our Journey on:


    Sign up to receive
    Joy In Our Journey's
    latest blog posts, freebies, and more!

    You won't want to miss my FREE "Trim Healthy Mama-inspired" recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

      
    Picture
    Picture
        I'd love to share your product with my readers.  If you would like me to do a review and giveaway, just contact me via email and let me know how I can help.


        Disclosure: Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you anything extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so, it helps to support this site, so thank you!
     

     

    Search
    Joy In Our Journey

    Loading
     

    Archives

    December 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010

Search Joy In Our Journey.com:

Loading

You won't want to miss my FREE "Trim Healthy Mama-inspired" recipes, tutorials, giveaways, and deals - get them delivered fresh to your inbox!

Most Viewed on Joy In Our Journey:

  • Free Printables
  • Mock Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino
  • FREE customized Homeschool I.D. Cards
  • Trim Healthy Mama Visual Shopping List
  • Planning a Frugal Family Trip to Washington, D.C.


More about Julieanne:

  • About Julieanne
  • Contact Julieanne
  • Julieanne's BLOG

Please note that there are affiliate and referral links on this website.  If you click on them and make a purchase, I might make a tiny commission.  I only recommend products I use personally. Your support is very much appreciated and helps keep this free resource up and running!






  
Copyright © 2017       l       Joy In Our Journey.com      l