Education vs Faith Development

In Essex Conversations: Visions for Lifespan Religious Education published by Skinner House, Barry Andrews said  "Being very intellectual to begin with, it is easier for us to approach the task of religious education in a highly conceptual, cognitive way.  Unfortunately, we end up teaching religion, not faith."

What a remarkable insight.  I feel that it is important to make sure that we provide opportunities to develop faith through experiences of transcendence.  Or at the very least build awareness of the things that we trust to be reliable in every day life. 

We want our children to be articulate in Unitarian Universalist values, and in religious history.  But more importantly I feel we need to give them a basis of trust, or faith, if you will in the beliefs that will sustain them throughout their lives.  As UU's there is some flexibility in what those specific beliefs are, but the need to have them is still present.  Our program strives to expose our children to many beliefs, teaches them to test and challenge those beliefs so that as they mature, they have developed personal beliefs that they can truly trust and hold as their own and depend on to see them through life's more difficult times.