Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 November 2005 07:11:52
Andy Goodliff has posed an interesting question on his blog, "has the family abdicated its role of teaching children about God to youthworkers?"
Now there are huge questions implicit in here about are we abdicating responsibility generally by putting the burden of responsibility onto professionals? However, I'm not going to wade into that one, (for the moment).
I don't think we are, but I think the previous uniformity of teaching and example may be disappearing. Now I know, to some extent, my way of childrearing and indoctrination of my daughter ;-) with my beliefs, (sorry, teaching my Third Party about God) is not necessarily the norm, but it may show clearly what is happening to a lesser degree more generally.
I am v.glad that Third Party is part of a vibrant youth group, not just for the social element but because I know that it is teaching her the "institutional version" of belief, (i.e. standard evangelical basics). However, at home she experiences a much less evangelical more broadly radical / liberal version of Chrisitianity through example and discussion. At the end of the day I want her to be able to be able to safely explore the Christian faith in all its richness understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different perspectives, in order to make her own choices as she grows up as to whether to accept or reject Chrisitainity as a faith perspective, (or aspects of it) but also within that to make her own decisions, with God, as to what "version" she wants to buy into if she does accept it.
Also I believe that it is v. important for Third Party to know she can view youth group as a v. seperate space from me and so I think that a clear seperation of the work of the family and the youth worker is important, but that the two should compliment each other.