Helping children experience
the world’s faith traditions.

Despite the rich heritage of the world's many religions, people are very aware today that many of our conflicts are blamed on religious differences. Many think the answer to this contradiction is to have no religion. We believe this would leave a huge spiritual and moral void in our children's lives. Instead, we would like to develop a means to deepen respect and understanding for each other's traditions while remaining rooted in our own. Our experience in Christian formation using the Montessori method has shown us that work with materials allows for this deeper understanding in a way books with photographs or guest speakers does not.

CHILDREN’S INTERFAITH CENTER

The purpose of this Center is to help children deeply rooted in their own faith deepen understanding and respect for other traditions.

We believe a good starting point for an interfaith experience is deep roots in the prayer and signs of one’s own tradition. The sacred signs of a tradition are like a language children begin to learn at their parents’ sides. They serve as a window into the Great Mystery, perceived through sacred objects, gestures and words. When children have a good foundation in their own sacred “language” they can begin to appreciate the deep meaning of other traditions’ sacred signs.

Children deeply rooted in their own faith are open and interested in world religions at ages 9-12. This corresponds with the years the older child is curious about all aspects of culture – their own and others. Our materials invite children into an experience of the heart of a religion, focusing on each one’s sacred signs.

Our thirty year experience in Christian religious formation with children ages 3-12 using the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has allowed us to observe the following: at ages 3-6 the child’s spirituality is deep and personal; at ages 6-9 this spirituality becomes interpersonal, with communal prayer and the moral implications (effects on the community) becoming very significant; and at ages 9-12 children's focus widens to include the world, with interest in the both the wider context of their own tradition as well as the existence of other religions.

The method is derived from the work of Maria Montessori and Sofia Cavalletti, using concrete materials to explore the meaning of essential acts, beliefs, and signs of the worlds’ religions.

Rather than rely on descriptions and pictures of religions we use materials that can be handled. These materials offer an experience of a meaningful story, object, or gesture from the world’s religions. This sensory experience invites the child into the mystery embedded in the sacred sign.

Montessorians representing Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity are in the process of developing materials for use by older children and adults.

Hands on Buddhism is available now. Several stations allows a group to experience eleven key aspects of Nichiren Buddhism. These may be explored in various settings – retreats, workshops, interfaith days, or religious education programs.

The themes introduced in Hands on Buddhism include

• The Basics of Nichiren Buddhism: Faith, Study and Practice
• Faith
• Study
• Practice: Chanting at the Altar
• Practice for Others and Kosen-Rufu
• Karma
• The Gohonzon
• Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
• Mentor and Discipe
• Unity
• The Story of Nichiren Buddhism

The Hands On Buddhism packet includes a set of 11 envelopes, each containing carefully selected aspects of Nichiren Buddhism or from it's scripture, meditation questions, a tented instruction card to describe each activity to users, a list of easy to collect materials to aid the start the activity, and simple instructions for use with either children or adults. Hands On Buddhism packet $40

The faciltator of the experience need not be a Buddhist to use the materials well, although the presence of a Buddhist is wonderful to answer questions about living Buddhism.

The Children's Interfaith Center is a project
of the Center for Children and Theology.