Children and Religion
There are people who refuse to talk about religion or politics, perhaps because they do not wish to give offence or perhaps because they are confused about their own thinking and do not want to be embarrassed. The danger of avoiding discussion of these matters is that they are fundamental to our lives.
For some people adherence to a particular religion – or refusal to adhere to any – is a matter of personal choice and the main motivator of their lives. Others, of course are indifferent to such matters. For many people, the culture in which they were brought up affects their adherence and the beliefs that frame their lives. Whether consciously or unconsciously, our beliefs are intertwined with all the other aspects of our lives. If we choose to ignore religious beliefs, then, we cannot deal with people’s needs holistically.
In recent years in some areas of life there has been something of a spiritual dumbing down, working to the lowest common denominator, in relation to religion, as if we should only talk about matters which no one will find offensive. This does no service to children. Children are naturally fascinated by other ways of life and therefore other religions, as part of learning about the world around them. They need to know that other people will have belief systems different from their own and to respect them. They also need to be taught those of their own culture, so that they understand the way it has developed and why people in their own community behave as they do and hold the beliefs they express.
The choice of beliefs will, for each child, be their own personal decision. The choice matters, because it will have implications for the child’s view of life, conduct and relationships with his or her family and community. Deciding one’s beliefs should not be a casual whim like deciding which sort of chocolate bar to buy, and it is important that children base their decisions on knowledge and understanding, rather than false images put about by opponents or inadequate information.
To take this line we need to be more explicit, not less. This may accentuate the differences between the various belief systems, and it may entail comparisons, which may be uncomfortable. But if our children are to live in a diverse world with a high level of travel and communication, they will need to learn to share and exchange ideas with a very wide range of other people and to respect to each other, not necessarily agreeing with, but at least understanding, each other.
As a magazine, our editorial line has been to acknowledge the importance of religious beliefs and practices and to include material which refers to them. Because the Editorial Board is based in Britain and because of the views of its members, the Christian festivals have been mentioned more than those of other faiths, but we are happy to encourage the publication of any material which we believe to be in the interests of children and young people, regardless of the faith base of authors.
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