Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education
Experts do not agree on the definition of spiritual development although positive spiritual development benefits society in many ways. Without agreement on the definition of spiritual development and a common understanding of spiritual development, parents, teachers, and pastors who are entrusted wi...
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University of North Texas
2009
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ndltd-unt.edu-info-ark-67531-metadc98232017-03-17T08:36:12Z Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education Thomson, Donna R. religious Early childhood curriculum and instruction Spiritual life -- Christianity. Christian education of children. Children -- Religious life. Experts do not agree on the definition of spiritual development although positive spiritual development benefits society in many ways. Without agreement on the definition of spiritual development and a common understanding of spiritual development, parents, teachers, and pastors who are entrusted with the task of fostering positive spiritual development in Christian settings face the challenges of determining what spiritual development is (definition), the desired goals (culmination) of spiritual development, and the most effective ways to meet those goals (context and content). The purpose of this study was to use data, from the social sciences and Christian points of view, to inform Christian education programs and arrive at recommendations for fostering young children's spiritual development. Data sources include textual literature from the social science and Christian points of view. In addition, the researcher gathered interview data from twenty children's pastors. Research results included: 1. It is possible that spirituality is associated with sensory awareness. 2. Examining spirituality as sensory awareness may lead to focusing on innate qualities of spiritual capacity with a more focused inclusion of children with special needs in faith-based programs, a God-given conscience, and consideration that children may be born with spiritual gifts to express their spiritual nature. 3. Congregations/parishes under utilize intergenerational activities, time for quiet and reflection, and opportunities to talk to children about spiritual matters. University of North Texas Morrison, George S. Camp, William E. Kinnison, Lloyd Fossey, Richard 2009-05 Thesis or Dissertation Text url: 451078189 untcat: b3795645 https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9823/ ark: ark:/67531/metadc9823 English Public Copyright Thomson, Donna R. Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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English |
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Others
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religious Early childhood curriculum and instruction Spiritual life -- Christianity. Christian education of children. Children -- Religious life. |
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religious Early childhood curriculum and instruction Spiritual life -- Christianity. Christian education of children. Children -- Religious life. Thomson, Donna R. Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
description |
Experts do not agree on the definition of spiritual development although positive spiritual development benefits society in many ways. Without agreement on the definition of spiritual development and a common understanding of spiritual development, parents, teachers, and pastors who are entrusted with the task of fostering positive spiritual development in Christian settings face the challenges of determining what spiritual development is (definition), the desired goals (culmination) of spiritual development, and the most effective ways to meet those goals (context and content). The purpose of this study was to use data, from the social sciences and Christian points of view, to inform Christian education programs and arrive at recommendations for fostering young children's spiritual development. Data sources include textual literature from the social science and Christian points of view. In addition, the researcher gathered interview data from twenty children's pastors. Research results included: 1. It is possible that spirituality is associated with sensory awareness. 2. Examining spirituality as sensory awareness may lead to focusing on innate qualities of spiritual capacity with a more focused inclusion of children with special needs in faith-based programs, a God-given conscience, and consideration that children may be born with spiritual gifts to express their spiritual nature. 3. Congregations/parishes under utilize intergenerational activities, time for quiet and reflection, and opportunities to talk to children about spiritual matters. |
author2 |
Morrison, George S. |
author_facet |
Morrison, George S. Thomson, Donna R. |
author |
Thomson, Donna R. |
author_sort |
Thomson, Donna R. |
title |
Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
title_short |
Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
title_full |
Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
title_fullStr |
Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
title_full_unstemmed |
Growing in Favor with God: Young Children's Spiritual Development and Implications for Christian Education |
title_sort |
growing in favor with god: young children's spiritual development and implications for christian education |
publisher |
University of North Texas |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9823/ |
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AT thomsondonnar growinginfavorwithgodyoungchildrensspiritualdevelopmentandimplicationsforchristianeducation |
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