New Directions for Holy Questions: Progressive Christian Theology for Families by Claire Brown & Anita Peebles
About:
Title: New Directions for Holy Questions: Progressive Christian Theology for Families
Author: Claire Brown & Anita Peebles
Publisher: Morehouse Publishing
Reading Age/Grade Level: 6-12 years old
Summary:
Rooted in the teachings of progressive Christianity for today’s kids and parents.
With accessible language, Bible stories, and connections to daily life, this book guides children and the adults who love them through the core teachings of Christianity. Kids have big questions about God and faith, and, while many of those questions don’t have one clear answer, Christians throughout the ages have given us helpful ways to think and talk about what we believe.
Each chapter includes simple spiritual practices and questions for reflection, either in solitary reading or through conversation between children and caregivers or ministers. It is oriented towards anti-racism, gender equality, economic justice, care of the environment, affirmation of LGBTQ+ folks, trauma-informed practice, and global citizenship.
(NOTE: The Rev. Claire Brown is an Episcopal Priest and The Rev. Anita Peebles is a member of the BPFNA community)
What our Vetting Team has to say:
“Middle grades (4th-8th); a great introductory book for seminary students or new children's ministers thinking about how to translate progressive theology into language that resonates for children; a great guide for parents who want to have deep faith conversations with their younger children.”
“The book is illustrated by diverse artists and so the stories are set in different cultural contexts. We see Jesus with a variety of skin tones and facial structures, wearing outfits from varying cultural traditions. The stories are told in straightforward, simple ways with little commentary, but the commentary added is always thoughtful and consistently points the children toward love and justice. The story bible does include some stories that are less well represented in kids' Bibles, like King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and stories of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.
“Yes, I would [especially recommend it] to my parents who have gone through deconstruction of their faith and are trying to figure out what they want to pass on to their children. Reading through these chapters as parents could be helpful as a way to shape how they want to talk to their children about topics such as sin, Jesus' death, and the traditions of the church.”
I love the justice stories that accompany each of the chapters. These stories lead children to make connections in the world by sharing stories of people of many backgrounds and religions and gender identities working for justice and love. They are an especially strong part of the book. I love that it is laid out in questions like "Who is God?" "Who Is Jesus?" and "What is the Church?" I think it could be really helpful to a children's minister in a progressive context trying to shape confirmation from scratch or wanting to provide a broad curriculum for children to get a full understanding of their faith from "start to finish".
Critical Review:
“Nothing gives me pause, but I do struggle with the best way to use the book. It's hard to imagine the middler age kids in my congregation using it alone, as a devotional type book, because even though it has suggestions for activities it is not set up as an interactive book, with a place for journaling or answering questions right in the book itself. It would need adapting to use it in the classroom setting, as well. Though I'm challenged by how to make the best use of it, I'm determined to do so because the way it lays out theological concepts for children and younger youth is exceptional.”
