Should Your Child Go To (UU) Sunday School?

[morningdove3202]

Here is an excellent argument for religous education for our Youths in general, with specific information on the UU philosophy on "Sunday School".....

Should My Child Go to Sunday School?
Tony Larsen

Should my child go to Sunday school? That's a good question. And it deserves a thoughtful answer. After all, one might argue that your child would

Comments

[seaivy]

I suppose part of the decision is based on the desire to be part of a defined group or apart from it.
Yes, religion like sexuality needs to be part of a child's education. There are some parents who can do both just fine all by themselves.

Let me explain...

[morningdove3202]

Yes, there are two different issues here....

1) to be in a group or not
2) to teach Religious Education to your kids or not

I'm not really arguing the first one, as that's a personal choice, I'm arguing the second one. I just happen to love the argument put forth by this article.

Not teaching your child about religion is exactly like not teaching them about sexuality. Someone else will teach them first, and it might not be the messages you want them to have!

In my experience, many parents want to teach their kids about religion and are in favor of religious literacy and tolerance, but don't have enough resources or their own knowledge to do so. Unlike sex education, there aren't lots of resources on Religious Literacy for parents.

The good news is that the UU has been teaching religious literacy to kids for at least 50 years, if not longer. It might be a good resource either by participating in a Sunday School program (weither or not you join) or just buying some of their excellent books.

Dove

Re: Let me explain...

[seaivy]

good point about books!
Resources are needed and where to get them needs to be out there. Probably most people don't know that the UU has books and can be a source of information.

Re: Let me explain...

[morningdove3202]

EXACTLY!

[dawa_lhamo_9]

2) Ours is a predominantly Jewish and Christian culture, and anyone who doesn't know about the Bible is culturally illiterate;I understand his point, and I agree inasmuch as that's why I intentionally took Christianity classes in college, but I disagree with the way and degree he stated it

[morningdove3202]

Did you know that Shakespeare references the Bible over 200 times? Also consider that the Bible is often miss quoted, and it's worth knowing what it really says, especially when it's misquoted by politicians. This essay was written quite a few years ago, and the USA probably is less Christian/Bible centric, I will agree with you there, but there is a literacy issue if you don't know common Biblical reference that come up in conversation and in well known literature. I suppose the art references are about art history, Michaelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, things like that.

[dawa_lhamo_9]

I wasn't saying there was no worth in learning about the Bible. If I'd thought that, I wouldn't have "wasted" thousands in tuition on taking classes about it! As a person raised outside of Christianity, I am well aware of how much it is infused into the culture.

I was saying that the words "culturally illiterate" are wrong (they state the case too strongly) and offensive. ^_^

[morningdove3202]

Perhaps the book "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know But Doesn't" by Stephen Prothero might persuade you other wise.

[willowwolf76]

And that's why Matt and I have decided that, wherever we end up, we will join the local UU so Liam can have a religious education of OUR choosing. There are enough, to quote a friend, Prot Fundy Whackjobs out there and I'd like our son to be able to think about religion objectively instead of being a sheep.

[biotechman75]

I say arm the boy with ammuniton to fend off the PFW babes for Jesus!