Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World's Religious Traditions [Paperback]

Karen-Marie Yust (Editor), Aostre N. Johnson (Editor), Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (Editor), Eugene C. Roehlkepartain (Editor), Vishal Agarwal (Contributor), Arik Ascherman (Contributor), Sherry H. Blumberg (Contributor), Richard C. Brown (Contributor), Marcia J. Bunge (Contributor), Elizabeth F. Caldwell (Contributor), Ellen T. Charry (Contributor), Kathy Dawson (Contributor), David C. Dollahite (Contributor), Adrian Gellel (Contributor), Roberta Louis Goodman (Contributor), Rita M. Gross (Contributor), Marcia Hermansen (Contributor), Monte Joffee (Contributor), Aostre N.Johnson (Contributor), Débora Barbosa Agra Junker (Contributor), Ruqayya Yasmine Khan (Contributor), Ilmee Hwansoo Kim (Contributor), Kevin E. Lawson (Contributor), Benny Liow (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2005

Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World's Religious Traditions provides a forum for prominent religious scholars to examine the state of religious knowledge and theological reflection on spiritual development in childhood and adolescence. Featuring essays from thinkers representing the world's major religious traditions, the book introduces new voices, challenges assumptions, raises new questions, and broadens the base of knowledge and investment in this important domain of life. It specifically and intentionally focuses on theological and philosophical perspectives from within religious traditions, creating space for the religious traditions to find their voices. Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality is firmly grounded in the language and priorities of religious studies, and helps stimulate explorations of whether and how religious communities are tapping their own wisdom and strengths in nurturing today's young people in a complex and changing world. Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality will set the stage for new waves of scholarship and dialogue within and across traditions, disciplines, and cultures that will enrich understanding and strengthen how the world's religious traditions, and others, understand and cultivate the spiritual lives of children and adolescents around the globe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...successful as it is interesting and thought provoking and should instigate discussion and thus re-examination of religious spirituality and its relationship with children. (International Journal Of Children's Spirituality )

The editors deserve commendation for providing a volume of great interest and use to serious students and scholars of religious studiesssss (Choice )

The editors deserve commendation for providing a volume of great interest and use to serious students and scholars of religious studies (Choice )

About the Author

Karen Marie Yust, Th.D., is associate professor of Christian education at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education. Aostre N. Johnson, Ed.D., is associate professor of education at Saint Michael's College, where she teaches curriculum and pedagogy courses and directs the master's program in curriculum. Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, D.D., is the rabbi of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. Eugene C. Roehlkepartain is senior advisor and director of Family and Congregation Initiatives for Search Institute, Minneapolis. He serves as co-director for the institute's initiative on spiritual development in childhood and adolescence.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (December 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074254463X
• ISBN-13: 978-0742544635
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A theological underpinning to a wide range of possibilities, November 26, 2006

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World's Religious Traditions (Hardcover)

In the preface, the editors state the question that confronted them at the start of the process for this book - `How do you do justice to the wisdom of multiple religious traditions within a single volume - particularly on a "fuzzy" topic like spirituality?" Even with an idea of being as inclusive as possible, some selectivity had to be put in place - the focus was set on `theological or philosophical perspectives from within religious traditions', those traditions being primarily Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism (with some voices from a few others). This is not intended as a definitive text, but rather as a starting point for conversations between the traditions, cultures, and people.

It is unusual in history for cultures to not be concerned about the future (modern political discourse in the West has a very high rate of reference to children and families), and yet the specific concerns of children and adolescents, both in terms of what they need and what they want, are often missing. This is also true in the area of religion and spirituality. `Despite the popular buzz about spirituality, relatively little critical attention has focused on the spiritual lives of children and adolescents. Much of the literature of spirituality has focused instead on adults.' There are various ways in which churches and other religious institutions try to incorporate children and young adults, but they often fall short for various reasons, sometimes due to stereotypes or outmoded views, and sometimes due to narrow focus, or lack of attention. `An important opportunity to enrich the lives of children and adolescents is being lost, set aside by most religious traditions and religious studies scholars as unworthy of critical attention.'

My own interest in this subject comes from a few different angles; first, I have a personal connection with a few of the contributors and editors of this volume. Second, I am interested in spiritual practices and how they develop in people. However, I am now in my eighth year as a chaplain at a retirement community, and we have no children in the immediate community. This is not to say that children are not important - on the contrary, virtually everyone in my community is a parent, grandparent, and even great-grandparent, and virtually everyone is concerned at how things will continue and be passed down. This led me to the fifth section of the text - Who is Responsible for Nurturing Spirituality? The essays here have given me insights to share with my community, of things for them to consider and to share with their own families. Also, there are practices and ideas that, while designed and intended for children, might also have application for older adults as well - ideas such as narrative theology and storytelling, and ideas of prayer, holy days and blessing such as found in the essays in section three: Rituals and Practices to Nurture the Inner Life.

This is an academic text, as the editors point out in their postscript. `Although these dialogues have intrinsic merit, we believe they need to be strengthened and enriched by also engaging in sustained dialogue with young people themselves as well as their leaders, educators, and parents.' This is not a how-to manual, but rather a book to lay a theological underpinning to a wide range of possibilities.