Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation: Four Views (Perspectives Series)
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Overview
Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation presents in counterpoint form the four major views on how faith is cultivated in children and their respective methods of Christian education with a goal of clarifying which one is most faithful to Scripture. A prominent representative within each category writes his or her corresponding main chapter, and all contributors respond to all presented viewpoints.
Views and methods detailed here include the Contemplative-Reflective Model (cultivating a quiet, worshipful spirit), Instructional-Analytical Model (involving child evangelism and Bible memorization), Pragmatic-Participatory Model (focusing on high-energy activities, often seen in megachurches), and the Media-Driving Active-Engagement Model (using a video-based curriculum with limited teacher training).
Top Highlights
“One of the tensions between theologians who explore children’s spirituality issues and pastors who do the work of children’s ministry is reconciling theory and practice.” (Page 1)
“‘Spirituality is all about the human search for identity, meaning, purpose, God, self-transcendence, mystical experience, integration and inner harmony. Thus there are spiritualities related to all religions and to many human pursuits which arise in the human spirit.’2 Seen in this way, perhaps each faith tradition has something to add to our understanding and is worthy of consideration.” (Page 7)
“An old adage says, ‘He who defines the terms controls the argument.’” (Page 6)
“In this case the component parts of forming a theology of children’s spirituality are fourfold: determining when a child is old enough to become aware of personal sin (i.e., age of accountability), the means by which spiritual regeneration should be initiated (i.e., child evangelism), when a child should be baptized, and finally, how a child grows spiritually while taking into consideration the cognitive, emotional, relational, and psychological realities of maturation.” (Pages 24–25)
“The most effective means of exploring the theology, philosophy, and theoretical development of children’s spiritual formation is to examine the major children’s ministry programs with a critical eye toward their rationale. Examining each of the four major programs of children’s spiritual formation will be the focus of this book.” (Page 1)
Contributors
Contributors to Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation include:
- Scottie May
- Gregory C. Carlson and John K. Crupper
- Trisha Graves
- Tim Ellis, Bill Baumgart, and Greg Carper
Product Details
- Title: Perspectives on Children’s Spiritual Formation: Four Views
- Author: Michael Anthony
- Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 286
About Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony is Professor of Christian Education at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. He received his Ph. D. from Claremont Graduate School and has authored several books on Christian education. Anthony lives in Irvine, California.
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
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