Session 1: Exploring Your Own Spirituality
I think one of the biggest challenges for parents in teaching their children about spirituality is that they are not sure about their own beliefs. Here I am listing some websites and resources for exploring your own beliefs and values. They range from fun (belief.net quiz) to more serious exploration of faith.
Just for fun, although it may get you thinking. This quiz created by belief.net claims that you may not know what faith you are but Belief-O-Matic does.
Belief-O-Matic
Unitarian Universalist Resources
Are My Beliefs Welcome? This is a place to find some great introductions to Unitarian Universalism.
Recommended Video:
Voices of a Liberal Faith
Books:
Parker Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness, particularly chapter 3 on "Explorations in True Self"
Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation
Podcasts and Videos:
Parker Palmer, Center for Courage and Renewal, Leadership and Change
Recommended Practice:
One of the practices that I find particularly helpful is to share or write your faith journey. What has led you to this point in your journey of faith? What were the highlights? What are some of the low points? What are the faith communities that have been important along the way? What role did religion and faith play in your family? As we explore in the class together, I will be writing more about this and encourage you to share with one another your faith journeys.
Just for fun, although it may get you thinking. This quiz created by belief.net claims that you may not know what faith you are but Belief-O-Matic does.
Belief-O-Matic
Unitarian Universalist Resources
Are My Beliefs Welcome? This is a place to find some great introductions to Unitarian Universalism.
Recommended Video:
Voices of a Liberal Faith
Books:
Parker Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness, particularly chapter 3 on "Explorations in True Self"
Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation
Podcasts and Videos:
Parker Palmer, Center for Courage and Renewal, Leadership and Change
Recommended Practice:
One of the practices that I find particularly helpful is to share or write your faith journey. What has led you to this point in your journey of faith? What were the highlights? What are some of the low points? What are the faith communities that have been important along the way? What role did religion and faith play in your family? As we explore in the class together, I will be writing more about this and encourage you to share with one another your faith journeys.
Session 2: Answering the Big Questions
One book I highly recommend to all of you is Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting by Michelle Richards. It is well written and a great resource. I have based a number of themes in this class from Michelle's book.
A few more resources that emerged from our first hangout:
Brene Brown on Vulnerability - this a very popular and powerful TED talk. I highly recommend it and while I have not yet read her books they are on my "to read" list.
On Faith And Doubt
So I will shamelessly plug my own writing on this topic. I also preached a sermon on the necessity of doubt and faith.
There is another fabulous TED talk on this topic as well by Lesley Hazleton, The Doubt Essential to Faith.
Another favorite blogger and author of mine is Rachel Held Evans. She wrote a powerful piece on doubt. She has written a number of pieces on doubt and faith.
On Death
From Hospice an excellent article on talking to your children about death.
From the Unitarian Universalist Association Tapestry of Faith Curriculum a good leader resource on talking to children about death.
From Beacon Press, Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child by Earl A. Grollman
On Sex and Sexuality
This short on-line article is a great resource about being an Askable Parent.
The Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ, Our Whole Lives, curriculums are excellent resources and programs.
Books: It's So Amazing by Robie Harris - for younger children ages 7-10
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris, for children 10+
Changing Bodies, Changing Lives by Ruth Bell, for teens
A few more resources that emerged from our first hangout:
Brene Brown on Vulnerability - this a very popular and powerful TED talk. I highly recommend it and while I have not yet read her books they are on my "to read" list.
On Faith And Doubt
So I will shamelessly plug my own writing on this topic. I also preached a sermon on the necessity of doubt and faith.
There is another fabulous TED talk on this topic as well by Lesley Hazleton, The Doubt Essential to Faith.
Another favorite blogger and author of mine is Rachel Held Evans. She wrote a powerful piece on doubt. She has written a number of pieces on doubt and faith.
On Death
From Hospice an excellent article on talking to your children about death.
From the Unitarian Universalist Association Tapestry of Faith Curriculum a good leader resource on talking to children about death.
From Beacon Press, Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child by Earl A. Grollman
On Sex and Sexuality
This short on-line article is a great resource about being an Askable Parent.
The Unitarian Universalist Association and United Church of Christ, Our Whole Lives, curriculums are excellent resources and programs.
Books: It's So Amazing by Robie Harris - for younger children ages 7-10
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris, for children 10+
Changing Bodies, Changing Lives by Ruth Bell, for teens
Session 3: Ethics: Living Our Values
Race, Racism and White Privilege
Powerful piece on the difficult conversations African American women have with their sons.
Videos Explaining White Privilege
White People Insurance
Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly
Unitarian Universalism: Powerful piece about growing up in UUism as an African American. A challenge of how we respond to Ferguson.
Affirmative Consent/Feminism
Can I Wear Your Hat? Great video on consent.
Laci Green on Feminism
Ban Bossy - the Beyonce Video is amazing!
Cheating and Pressure to Succeed
Race to Nowhere film about the push for success
Parents and College Process
#banbusy
Article on 10 reasons to ban busy
Cheating: Talk to your children
Why kids cheat
Forgiveness
Stanford Forgiveness Project - Forgive for Good
Talking to Youth About Drinking Responsibly
These two articles focus on teaching youth and young adults about responsible drinking and are beyond the just say no approach. As I read them, he had good common sense advice to parents.
Teaching Responsible Drinking Encourages Rebellion? This is a response piece that was written to disagree with the idea of teaching responsible drinking.
Teach Safe Drinking to Your College Bound Teen
Powerful piece on the difficult conversations African American women have with their sons.
Videos Explaining White Privilege
White People Insurance
Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly
Unitarian Universalism: Powerful piece about growing up in UUism as an African American. A challenge of how we respond to Ferguson.
Affirmative Consent/Feminism
Can I Wear Your Hat? Great video on consent.
Laci Green on Feminism
Ban Bossy - the Beyonce Video is amazing!
Cheating and Pressure to Succeed
Race to Nowhere film about the push for success
Parents and College Process
#banbusy
Article on 10 reasons to ban busy
Cheating: Talk to your children
Why kids cheat
Forgiveness
Stanford Forgiveness Project - Forgive for Good
Talking to Youth About Drinking Responsibly
These two articles focus on teaching youth and young adults about responsible drinking and are beyond the just say no approach. As I read them, he had good common sense advice to parents.
Teaching Responsible Drinking Encourages Rebellion? This is a response piece that was written to disagree with the idea of teaching responsible drinking.
Teach Safe Drinking to Your College Bound Teen
Session 4: Practicing Faith at Home
There are so many resources on the web and various apps to help cultivate spiritual practices for individuals and in the home. I am going to curate a few favorites here and I will continue to add to it. I would love your suggestions.
Christian Resources
In my opinion, Lifelong Faith Associates is taking the lead in curating and creating resources for Christian families. They are educating ministers and educators in the creation of hybrid faith formation, curating materials from the web and encouraging multigenerational, lifelong faith.
Vibrant Faith At Home - a wonderful resource, including an app both Android and iphone.
Jewish Resources
My Jewish Learning
G*d Cast: Meaningful Jewish Screentime - I have met the founder and creator of this site and she is amazing. Great games and beautiful videos.
Unitarian Universalist
Full Week Faith - a Fahs Fellow project
Interfaith Resources
IFFP - Interfaith Families Project of the Greater Washington Area
On Being Both by Susan Katz Miller
Christian Resources
In my opinion, Lifelong Faith Associates is taking the lead in curating and creating resources for Christian families. They are educating ministers and educators in the creation of hybrid faith formation, curating materials from the web and encouraging multigenerational, lifelong faith.
Vibrant Faith At Home - a wonderful resource, including an app both Android and iphone.
Jewish Resources
My Jewish Learning
G*d Cast: Meaningful Jewish Screentime - I have met the founder and creator of this site and she is amazing. Great games and beautiful videos.
Unitarian Universalist
Full Week Faith - a Fahs Fellow project
Interfaith Resources
IFFP - Interfaith Families Project of the Greater Washington Area
On Being Both by Susan Katz Miller