Areivim, I understand your point, but I think anyone who uses a thread like this to veer off the derech is looking for excuses. Also, I think its important to point out that everyone in this thread has unequivically stated that whatever happened, Hashem was the ultimate catalyst. I think thats a point many people miss – however the world was created, it was done so at Hashem’s will and direction.
Ames, I am totally with you on that. Even in my modern orthodox high school they really wouldn’t discuss this. They didn’t outright call it kefira, but they were not open to discussion. I think the teen years are when most people start really questioning life and Judaism. If you make a topic so taboo and just give people mussar, they will never be satisfied. Unfortunately, teens have many questions that just do not get answered and I think that leads to so many of them going off the derech.
Now, my childhood Rav thinks evolution as presented is 100% garbage. I never asked him if it was the man-monkey connected or just the general theory. I think I’m going to discuss this with him the next time I see him – he is well educated in biology so he has a lot more insight than I do!