What do Unitarian Universalists teach their children?
"The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own..."
-
William Ellery Channing
We believe that from birth, children's lives are filled with naturally religious and spiritual experiences, their sense of wonder and exploration, their play, their experience of family and friendship, and their endless questions about the world around them.
Our goal as religious educators is therefore to help children develop their own spiritual and religious life within a loving, accepting and inspiring community.
Our aim is to help them become compassionate, caring and thoughtful adults who are able to think and feel deeply about the world, and to act from their beliefs.
We encourage children to discuss and question as they learn, forming their own ides and beliefs while learning to respect the religious traditions of others.
We use award-winning Unitarian Universalist curricula, but our real learning arises out of many different sources, including the child's own experience. We use stories, songs, worship, activities and games from different cultures and religions, as well as from our liberal religious heritage.
As a liberal religious community, we do our best to live our values of love and acceptance into life in the world. By example and education, we encourage our children to do the same.
It should be noted that at this time we are hoping to re-establish our religious education programme for children. We are seeking young families to join our caring and friendly congregation, so that we can re-instate the active children's programme which has been successful over our 30 years as a Unitarian Fellowship, until very recently.
We look forward to seeing you and your family at Northwest, learning and growing together.
Our Purposes and Principles - Children's Version
We Believe:
- That each and every person is important.
- That all people should be treated fairly and kindly.
- That we should accept on another and learn together.
- That each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
- That all persons should have a vote on things that concern them.
- In working for a peaceful, fair and free world.
- In caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.
