The spiritual formation of children

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to sit through a service in a synagogue. I was amazed as I watched the children interacting with their parents and grandparents. Instead of silencing them, or sending them off to “children’s synagogue,” the adults answered the children’s questions as they observed the Torah being read. They encouraged them to keep asking questions about other elements of the service.

I decided to do some research into other religions as to their plan for the spiritual formation of children. I studied parental involvement in spiritual formation in Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. In each one, parents were the connective tissue to implementing and maintaining the faith, and the religious institution was there to assist the parents in doing so.

The surveys that Canadian sociologist Reginald Bibby has conducted find that “there is nothing more important to Canadians than family life” and that “one in two adults who attend religious services less than once a month say they are open to greater involvement in churches – if they find it is worthwhile for themselves and their families.”

The conclusion “should be obvious,” Bibby writes. “Churches that want to have an impact on the lives of Canadians who are not involved need to make family ministry a front and centre priority. Churches that can enrich family for Canadians – help them with their children, add something to their marriages, help them as they deal with their aging parents – are churches that will play a significant role in people’s lives. The research is clear and consistent with central Christian values: good ministry will begin with good family ministry. Touch their families and you will touch their lives.”

—Marilyn Muller