Children's Interfaith Center

Despite the rich heritage of the world's many religions, people are very aware today that many of our conflicts are rooted in 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

Vision

An interfaith center with a central sacred and study space surrounded by rooms representing the world's major religions. These rooms would contain Montessori type materials representing the sacred writings, history and worship of each faith. The Center would be available for children (age 9+) of various traditions to come and study, through their hands, traditions not their own. Children, parents and other adults would also be welcomed for programs that compare particular aspects of various traditions (moral teachings, sacred writings, feasts and festivals...) and to pray together.

Means

Gather teams of Montessorians and religious leaders representing Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism to begin (or continue) to create materials following the guidelines used for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (a Christian, Montessori based, religious formation program). Simultaneously we will prepare the physical space for this center, apply for grants to fund both the study and the building, and coordinate the work of the teams.

First Steps

* established of a shelf of resources and materials in the 9-12 atrium at Christian Family Montessori School for each of the following traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. These materials and resources will become the initial set of materials for the CIC.
* Buddhist materials developed by Martha Lange, a Buddhist Montessori teacher in Washington DC. These were tried with the children at a conference in Florida in the summer of 2008. These materials will be reviewed and some chosen for duplication at the CIC.
* visit from the administrator and religious education director of the Alef Bet Montessori school in Bethesda, MD. This school will be developing and sharing with us materials for Judaism.
* presentation of "Children and the Language of Sacred Signs" by Catherine Maresca at Weaving Our Gifts in October, 2008. This will be published as one of the Center's Occasional Papers.
* initial contact made with Moslem and Hindu Montessori teachers willing to work on materials for their respective traditions.
* created an email list of interested persons to receive news and/or requests for help.

Roles

    Friend of the project: willing to receive ongoing news of our progress, prayerfully support the effort, watch for resources (human and financial) that would help us, offer financial support as able.

    Development: willing to approach grantors or donors for funds to develop the materials and space, help prepare grants, develop friendships that will support the project financially.

    Material developers: willing to create the materials to be tested with children, using the advice of Montessorians and theologians for one of the the following traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, other ___________

    Montessori expertise: willing to advise material developers on Montessori aspects of creating age-appropriate materials for one of the following traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, other ___________

    Theological expertise: willing to advise or work with material developers on the theological or spiritual implications of materials for one of the following traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, other ___________

    Observers: willing to introduce the materials to a group of children and observe their responses in one of the following traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, other ___________ Accepting this task implies that one would be willing to meet with the children for a year or more in an educational setting in their own place of worship.

    Other: Various kinds of advice and help will be needed as we proceed. Are you an artist, carpenter, financial expert, technological expert...? Let us know the gifts you would like to offer:

We are ready to begin! If you are interested in getting updates on this project, participating, or passing this information to someone who might want to know or contribute to this Children's Interfaith Center, please let us know! Write to us at cct@cctheo.org if you would like to be added to our CIC email list for future updates on this work.