THE SPIRITUAL NURTURE AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
Progressive, Interfaith,
Pluralistic Programs and Resources for Families and Spiritual Communities
by JIM BURKLO
Jim Burklo is a pastor and writer living in Northern California. He is the author of OPEN CHRISTIANITY and BIRDLIKE AND BARNLESS. KIDSOUL is "under construction" as a future website for providing families with programs and resources for the spiritual growth of children and teenagers.
Jim Burklo leading story time with kids in worship
SPECIAL PAGE: CONFIRMATION: COMING OF AGE FOR YOUNG TEENS
KIDSOUL's guiding principles:
- KIDSOUL
believes that children are spiritual beings, whether or not they are
exposed to formal spiritual education. But their spirituality can be enhanced and developed
through the practices and experiences that KIDSOUL suggests.
- KIDSOUL
serves families that have long-standing faith traditions, mixed religious
backgrounds, or no religious backgrounds at all. KIDSOUL has answers to the question: "What will we tell
the kids?" It offers activities, books, events, groups, and resources to
help families raise more spiritually-aware children... and parents, too!
- KIDSOUL
promotes religious pluralism, which is the principle that other religions
can be as good for others as my religion is good for me. While some religions, or
sects within religions, claim to be the only true faith, KIDSOUL
respectfully challenges this perspective, while at the same time helping
kids and parents to discover the wonderful values and practices in all
faith traditions. KIDSOUL also serves families that don't have or want any particular religious affiliation.
- KIDSOUL
encourages families to embrace what is good in the religious traditions in
which they were raised.
KIDSOUL doesn't encourage families to convert to any particular faith. But it does help families discover
and practice what is beautiful in other faiths. And it encourages kids and parents to follow their own
inner lights in evaluating which aspects of religious traditions are
of value, and which should be set aside. KIDSOUL believes that progressive, pluralistic spiritual education can encourage young people to become more compassionate toward themselves, toward other people, and toward the planet.
- KIDSOUL
believes that kids and parents don't need to take religious scriptures
literally in order to take them seriously and benefit from them. If a scripture story looks
mythological, it probably is!
But myths can be very powerful and spiritually formative. KIDSOUL believes that faith and
spirituality need not clash with mainstream science and good common sense. It is healthy for kids and parents
to question any religious doctrine that contradicts what can be observed
and verified.
KIDSOUL
carefully reviews all products and programs that it advertises or
promotes. We welcome feedback
about these products and programs, and suggestions about others to highlight,
from families who use our network.
SUGGESTED RESOURCES:
Resources for interfaith families: Dovetail Institute: dovetailinstitute.org
Bookstore in San Francisco with an excellent selection of interfaith children's
books and materials: Vedanta Society - www.sfvedanta.org - 2323 Vallejo at
Fillmore, San Francisco
Godly Play (Montessori-based, very flexible Christian education program, which
can be used at home): www.godlyplay.org for background, www.godlyplay.com for
materials
Interfaith chants: CD's by Robert Gass and On Wings of Sound
Ideas for progressive, non-dogmatic, pluralistic Christian education for kids:
The Center for Progressive Christianity - www.tcpc.org
BOOKS:
For the very young:
Bless Us All - A Child's Yearbook of Blessings -- by Cynthia Rylant, Little
Simon Books, 2004. A little hard-paged book A blessing for all sorts of things
and places - each month gets a different poem of blessing.
The "ECS" series produced by Skylight Paths Press - these are little
hard-paged books with an interfaith, pluralistic perspective on spirituality,
responding to the common religious questions of pre-school kids:
Where Is God? by Lawrence and Karen Kushner - 2002
What Does God Look Like? by Lawrence and Karen Kushner - 2001
What Is God's Name? by Sandy E. Sasso - 1999
To Everything - by Bob Barner, Chronicle Kids Books, 1998 - the beloved chapter
from Ecclesiastes, illustrated simply for children
The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch
A Small Miracle by Peter Collington (Christmas book in illustration only)
Places of Power by Michael DeMunn
All I see is part of Me by Chara Curtis
Grandad's Prayers of the Earth by Douglass Wood
For elementary school aged kids:
Books by Sandy E. Sasso - all interfaith and pluralistic in their approach to
religion (not claiming one religion to be superior to another) -
In God's Name - Jewish Lights Press, 1994 - How people of different faiths talk
about God.
Noah's Wife - Jewish Lights Press, 2002 - Lifts up a female character in the
Bible in a creative way
God's Paintbrush - Jewish Lights Press, 1992 - Explores the ways we directly
experience God in everyday life - an introduction to practical mysticism for
kids!,
What Is God? by Etan Boritzer - Firefly Press, 1990. An interfaith meditation
on the nature of God
Books by Tomie de Paola - wonderful artist, with a broadly Catholic
perspective:
Parables of Jesus - Holiday House Press, 1987
Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland - Holiday House Press, 1992
Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi
The 11th Commandment - Wisdom for our Children by the Children of America -
Jewish Lights Press, 1996 - kids from many religions and cultures add to the
Ten Commandments (which are listed in the book as well) - illustrated by
kids... very cool!
The Lord's Prayer - artist: Tim Ladwig - Eerdman's Press, 2000. A very moving
illustration of the Lord's Prayer.
The Donkey and the Golden Light - by John and Gill Speirs - Abramsbooks.com,
2004. The Christmas story, gorgeously illustrated
Books on world religions by Demi (simonsayskids.com):
Buddha
Buddha Stories
Muhammad
Gandhi
The Dalai Lama
These are gorgeously illustrated and make great introductions to world
religions and world religious leaders. They are sensitive to the perspective
within each of the religions. For instance, Muhammad's face is never shown in
Islamic art, to avoid idolatry, so the artist portrays him as a golden
silhouette.
The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories - Pilgrim Press, 2003 - well-done and
relatively open-minded, non-dogmatic rendition of the most important Bible
stories for kids, with illustrations. A great introduction to the Bible as a
whole.
For pre-teens: A Wrinkle In Time - by Madeleine l'Engle - 1962. A classic of
children's literature. I read it in the 6th grade and it deeply impressed me -
got me thinking about matters spiritual. It is not an overtly religious book
but L'Engle's deep personal spirituality comes through. (I have a copy in my
office.) For teens: Franny and Zooey - by J. D. Salinger, 1955. Another classic!
Among many other themes, the book includes the experience of a young woman who
begins to practice the repetition of the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ,
have mercy upon me") - a famous Christian mantra. The book is a great way
for teens to engage with spirituality - it's full of conversations and
arguments about God. For excellent suggestions of other books from all faiths:
http://www.tanenbaum.org/elementary_school_reading.html
INTERFAITH CALENDAR OF HOLY DAYS from
the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/tools/calendar/index.shtml
D'Angelo, the church monkey, memorizing scripture
MEMORIZATION OF
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES by Jim Burklo
Certain passages
from sacred texts can live in your heart and nourish you from within for a
lifetime, giving your soul a voice in times of joy and of crisis. You can make
it a family affair! Pick out passages to memorize together, reciting them at
mealtime or bedtime. This is a list of special biblical treasures that are well
worth committing to memory. I strongly recommend using the New Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, as it is the most faithful in directly translating from
the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek into English, with minimal
theological filtering. (I suggest avoiding "youth Bibles" with
inserted boxes on the pages containing commentary on the passages - they tend
to be very conservative in their interpretations.) You can read and look up
passages at this site:
http://www.hti.umich.edu/r/rsv/simple.html
.
For scriptures and
writings from other faiths for memorization, have a look at the United Religions
Initiative website: http://www.uri.org/Religions_and_Traditions.html
Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament):
en Commandments:
Exodus 20:1-4,7-8,12-17
The Aaronic
Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26 Ruth's Promise: Ruth 1:16-17
Elihu's Speech:
Job 37:14-24
Psalms: 8, 23, 46:1-2a,
10, 92:1, 95:1-2, 100 or 100:1-2, 118:24, 121 or 121:2
Proverbs: Proverbs
ch. 8
Prophecy: Isaiah
2:2-4, 11:1-3a, 11:6-9, 40:1-11,27-31, 61:1-2 Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:8
New Testament:
Beatitudes of
Jesus: Matthw 5:3-10
Jesus - Light:
Matthew 5:16
Jesus - Love
Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48
Lord's Prayer:
Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus-
Do Not Be Anxious:
Matthew 7:25-34
Jesus - Asking:
Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus - With You
Always: Matthew 28:20
Jesus - Children:
Mark 10:13-16
Jesus - Communion:
Mark 14:22-25
Magnificat: Luke
1:46-55
Simeon's Blessing:
Luke 2:29-32
Jesus - Golden
Rule: Luke 6:27-31
Jesus - Law of
Love: Luke 10:27
Jesus - Parables
of Mustard and Leaven: Luke13:18-21
The Word: John
1:1-5
For God So Loved
the World: John 3:16
Jesus ’Äì Love One
Another: John 13:34-35
Jesus - Lay Down His Life: John 15:12-13
Hope: Romans
8:18-28
Hold Fast to the
Good: Romans 12:9-12
God of Hope:
Romans 15:13
The Body of
Christ: 1 Corinthians 12
The Love Chapter:
1 Corinthians 13
Be Kind: Ephesians
4:25-32
Armor of God:
Ephesians 6:10-17
Put on Compassion:
Colossians 3:12-17
Doers of the Word:
James 1:19-25
God Is Love: 1
John 4:7-12
He First Loved Us:
1 John 4:19-21
River of Life:
Revelation 22:1-5