Talking to Kids About God

This article was exactly why my book "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" was written! Sex shouldn't be an easier subject to talk about with our kids because God created life and sex for procreation in the beginning. "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" would help to answer these questions easily and truthfully about death, life and everyday occurrences that go on in kids daily lives and not feel lost or uncomfortable talking about it. And my book will also educate you with misconceptions and lessons missed while you were a child attending church. I share the exact scripture that answers our everyday questions yet simplify the answers so we all, parents and kids, can understand. I believe that once the parent has this resource then the child will feel at ease when asking questions of ANY sort, because they know it's the truth. You can find "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" at www.amazon.com or my site at: www.ball-publications.com for more info. May God Bless!

This article was exactly the reason why my book, "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" was written! Sex shouldn't be a easier subject to talk about with our kids because God created life and sex for procreation in the beginning. "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" would help her to answer these questions easily and truthfully about death, life and everyday occurrences that go on in kids daily lives and not feel lost or uncomfortable talking about it. And my book will also educate you with misconceptions and lessons missed while you were a child attending church. I believe that once the parent has this resource then the child will feel at ease when asking questions of any sort, because they know it's the truth. You can find "Kids Ask The Darndest Things About God And The Beginning" at: www.amazon.com or my website at: www.ball-publications.com for more info. May God Bless you!

Kathleen - If you are interested to learn more about your Faith you might consider asking your Pastor if you could audit their RCIA program - basically CCD for adults. The Catechism is also a great reference for doctrinal questions, such as on the theory of evolution. It provides and explains the Teaching of the Church.

Pax et bonum

Pax et bonum

Quick Quote - Humani Generis, Pope Pius XII, 1950 AD

"...the Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter -- for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God. However this must be done in such a way that the reasons for both opinions, that is, those favorable and those unfavorable to evolution, be weighed and judged with the necessary seriousness, moderation and measure, and provided that all are prepared to submit to the judgment of the Church, to whom Christ has given the mission of interpreting authentically the Sacred Scriptures and of defending the dogmas of faithful[11] Some however rashly transgress this liberty of discussion, when they act as if the origin of the human body from preexisting and living matter were already completely certain and proved by the facts which have been discovered up to now and by reasoning on those facts, and as if there were nothing in the sources of divine revelation which demands the greatest moderation and caution in this question."

Catholic Church Teaching Authority does not hold the theory of evolution to be a fraud, but is in fact open to the possibility of human evolution with respect to the physical body.

Pax et bonum

sad but true., most of the people don't know their reason of birth. The truth is that...we are not born at "random" .we have a purpose to live . that purpose is not to earn wealth , gain knowledgeor live a happy life..we , as muslims beleive in the life after death ...that life depends on what you sow here in this world full of illusions...

I was saddened to read your article and realize that many people probably feel as you do. It seems to me that maybe the trouble you have with your religion (and explaining it) is that you are using your life to define your religion instead of your religion to define your life. Religions tend to have a completeness or perfection about them which those that adhere to them strive for. However, if your life defines your religion - what is acceptable and what is not, then, by your own admission, you are at a loss to answer questions that don't coincide with what you truly believe about life in general, and yours in particular.

I was raised in the Episcopal church, not TOO different from Catholic. Your concerns sound very familiar to me!

Recently I did a study circle with some friends in town using a workbook called "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit", organized by the local Baha'i community. It was very enlightening. Nothing contradicted what I learned in church and there was a lot of insights into the soul and the soul's relationship to God, not to mention the "Does God have arms" kind of questions!

You should really see when there might be a study of "Reflections on the Life of the Spirit" in your town.

-Jeff

If we're "stumped" why do we give in to our impulse to give an answer? Why, when responding to our children, must we constantly try to provide the definitive solution? There is an element of dishonesty when we feed this impulse. Our interactions with our children give us numerous opportunities to be honest with ourselves, but time and time again, we fail to do so. If the depth of your soul can't summons an answer, use the opportunity to explore this mystery with your child, and let that child see that you don't have all the answers.

It just goes to prove what the bible says about the path to heaven being narrow and few finding it. So heaven does not have to be a very large place.

For those interested in finding answers the the spiritual problems that many are encountering, there is a web site with Biblical facts to help those searching for Bible facts: www.jcpm.com under Bible studies

But in defense of Catholics if in any way it seems that i am on the attack let me say that some of the best people i know are Catholics. my momma is catholic and she is the closest thing to a saint i have every met. It all goes back to personal flavors, my mom likes the flavor of the church and when i visit her so do i and when i am on my own i go back to other flavors - thats just me - i have never told my mom to leave the church or try this or that - there is no need - she is happy and what if i was really concerned like her soul was in jeapordy or something silly like that i would be talking to my Daddy in heaven (prayer) about it and not her and believe me long ago that was exactly what i was doing until he spoke to me and i am at peace as she prayes on in the Catholic church which is cool for her but again a game that i just couldn't play not wrong just not for me. i like mint chocolate chip ice cream and she likes strawberry, i like strawberry too but if i have my preference i will eat mint chip and we both enjoy a cup of ice cream just different flavors.

I will hand you that - Catholics must be the smartest people on earth. i was raised Catholic and everytime i asked for answers i got some serious homework. i always admire the intense brain food going around in the Catholic church it is seriously deep like an ocean. i just don't have what it takes to stick with a religion that made me jump so many hurdles that i constantly found myself on the floor with skinned knees and bloody lips. i cannot curse the game and the hurdles that were set up just because i couldn't run the game well but admire those who are so smart and able to swing such a technical obstical course with apparant ease. i look to the big boy ballers in government like i used to look to the priest as an alter boy and trust that they were playing right because i did not understand all of the ins and outs just that i was called to serve and if it didn't work out i would pick up a bus to st. elsewhere and try to get over my shame at not living up to the expectations of those over me. i am confident that Hillary is the one to lead us and i am confident to serve in my small ways - i pray she is shooting straight because regardless the truth comes out into the light sooner or later yo.

Kathleen,

I hope in your future education of your daughter in critical thinking, you arm her with the facts. Your statement (implied) that the Catholic Church has as one of its tenant's that evolution is a fraud, is patently WRONG! The most recent statement (July 25, 2007) on the debate between Catholic faith and evolution made by Pope Benedict declared ???This clash is an absurdity because on one hand there is much scientific proof in favor of evolution, which appears as a reality that we must see and which enriches our understanding of life and being as such.??? He said evolution did not answer all the questions: ???Above all it does not answer the great philosophical question, ???Where does everything come from??????? No Pope, nor the Catechism has ever stated that evolution was a fraud.

Pope John Paul II stated eloquently the Church's stand on all things scientific; "Reason illuminates faith, and faith illuminates reason." Since you are a "cafeteria catholic", I suggest you sit down and enjoy the bountiful salad bar of catholic intellectual thought and critical thinking (If you read some St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas you might think the Catholic Church invented critical thinking.) Try reading the encyclicals Evangelium Vitea (The Gospel of Life) and Humanea Vitea (On Human Life).

My education in my faith began when my daughter was born. Part of that education was in response to the miracle of birth I had witnessed, and part was to prepare myself for those questions that my children would undoubtedly ask.

If you think you can teach your child to think critically about momentous life questions without giving them the facts from an educated faith perspective, you have ignored a gift of 2000 years of intellectual thought.

Good luck to you, and God bless you on your journey.

Steve M

Kathleen,

I hope in your future education of your daughter in critical thinking, you arm her with the facts. Your statement (implied) that the Catholic Church has as one of its tenant's that evolution is a fraud, is patently WRONG! The most recent statement (July 25, 2007) on the debate between Catholic faith and evolution made by Pope Benedict declared ???This clash is an absurdity because on one hand there is much scientific proof in favor of evolution, which appears as a reality that we must see and which enriches our understanding of life and being as such.??? He said evolution did not answer all the questions: ???Above all it does not answer the great philosophical question, ???Where does everything come from??????? No Pope, nor the Catechism has ever stated that evolution was a fraud.

Pope John Paul II stated eloquently the Church's stand on all things scientific; "Reason illuminates faith, and faith illuminates reason." Since you are a "cafeteria catholic", I suggest you sit down and enjoy the bountiful salad bar of catholic intellectual thought and critical thinking (If you read some St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas you might think the Catholic Church invented critical thinking.) Try reading the encyclicals Evangelium Vitea (The Gospel of Life) and Humanea Vitea (On Human Life).

My education in my faith began when my daughter was born. Part of that education was in response to the miracle of birth I had witnessed, and part was to prepare myself for those questions that my children would undoubtedly ask.

If you think you can teach your child to think critically about momentous life questions without giving them the facts from an educated faith perspective, you have ignored a gift of 2000 years of intellectual thought.

Good luck to you, and God bless you on your journey.

Steve M.

A very well respected doctor friend of mine Dr. V. once said in cool down to earth reality (my favorite) is "Keep it real" Those simple words always work for me when i share my faith to others. Real is i don't know if i am right or wrong or have all the answers , real is i am a weak shallow and evil person who is only going to heaven because of what Jesus did 2000 years ago for me PERIOD. i don't try and be fake and act like i am something i am not and my faith says that is cool no matter what God loves me and is always there for me -not because of the building i sit in or the $ i drop in or the hours i volunteer in a shelter but because of what Jesus did - again - PERIOD. If it were complicated or tough to figure out i would have to say I'm out but God called fools and babes, prostitutes and pimps, and whoverer with a my yoke is easy and my burden is light I am the way the truth and life message - yeah easy that is what i need and i can keep the Real. If you keep it real you cannot help but share your faith because it is real and not some Fake scam i smell a rat a thon. Thank God he is merciful and forgives me daily cause if anyone needs it is me. As far as Muslim or Jew or whatever - i am not God and i am not worried about trying to convert anyone - hey if i could hack all of the rules and regulations of the other religions i would but i am weak sauce and Jesus is a good sheperd who makes it easy to follow - His rod and His staff they comfort me.

As a cafeteria Catholic, perhaps you've been spending too much time at the appetizer bar. What makes you think the church teaches that evolution is a fraud? According to George Coyne, a Jesuit priest, astronomer, and director of the Vatican observatory, evolution, not intelligent design, is the fundamental church teaching. (http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=18524) And I have a suspicion that "thinking critically" means that you hope your daughter will adopt a stance less conservative than the traditional Catholic position on the issues you enumerate, a stance that probably reflects you own position. (And why will this encouragement to critical thinking come "someday," rather than right now? How are you encouraging the child to think now?)

You say you think you'll have an easier time answering your daughter's questions about sex than about religion because you know where babies come from but remain uncertain on the details about God. Educating children about sex requires more than just telling them the mechanics of how the baby gets into the mother. as parents, we must also transmit our values about intimacy, faithfulness, and the responsibilities one takes one when one chooses to engage in this way with another person. In the same way, educating children about matters of faith requires more than merely taking them to a weekly event (at least in the winter) and exposing them to the lists of the rules and practices of a single denomination. We must be cleaar about our own values and beliefs concerning our relationship with the divine before we can help our children develop an enduring one that gives them hope and joy in the sometimes harsh and lonely world.

You take a nice picture and are a most beautiful woman if i may say so.