Neighboring Faiths
Exploring Religion with Junior High YouthBy Christine Reed and Patricica Hoertdoerfer
- Theme and Description
- Inspired by the UU classic, Church Across the Street, this yearlong curriculum helps youth in grades 7-9 learn about their own Faith and other faith traditions through interactive experience such as field trips and interviews. These encounters with other religions are given meaning through periods of reflection and discussion about Unitarian Universalist and personal beliefs and values.
- Goals for Participants
- To learn about other faith traditions;
To consider the universals of religious experience;
To deepen one's own faith;
To strengthen one's understanding of and respect for cultural diversity.
- Age Range
- Grades 7-9
- Space Requirements
- A comfortable room for discussions within the group and for interviews of guests and the ability to visit other religious communities.
- Number and Length of Sessions
- 34 sessions, 11 units
Length: 90 minutes - Leader Training
- No special training in world religions is required, although a willingness to learn is essential. Co-leadership is recommended.
- Leader Preparation
- Requires substantial planning ahead for the many visits that must be scheduled.
- Strengths
- Engages youth by taking them out of the conventional classroom.
Engages participants in thinking seriously about their own faith.
Develops interfaith ties between the UU congregation (and its youth) and other faith communities in the area.
Puts into practice Unitarian Universalist valuing pluralism and diversity.
Fosters communication between parent and youth through parent information sessions and parent help with field trips and interviews.
It is an attractive program to teach, so teacher recruitment is usually not difficult.
Includes important global faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. - Limitations
- The 90-minute sessions might be longer than a congregation's "allotted" RE timeframe.
The travel to other faith communities can be a challenge outside metropolitan areas. - Adaptability
- Can be adapted for use with senior high youth.
- Unitarian Universalist Values
- This program is a cornerstone of Unitarian Universalist religious education. It explicitly addresses Unitarian Universalist Principles and draws from the UU Sources. It promotes understanding and respect for other cultures while nurturing Unitarian Universalist identity.
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Curricula
