The debate continues in the United States with regards to children and faith. Empirical research data continues, however, to demonstrate the power of faith for carrying those with faith through difficult, disturbing periods of their lives.
Using and providing life experiences to instill in the lives of children the importance of faith is one of the greatest intangible gifts parents/caregivers can give them. Grounded in their parents’/caregivers’ unconditional love, faith has been demonstrated to eliminate one of the most basic fears children universally have been found to have—a fear of losing love.
The value of faith extends far beyond its ability to counteract fear. Faith is the fulfillment of the human need to deal with the mysterious aspects of each and every person’s life that the mind cannot explain, grasp or understand. Far too many among humankind are dismissive of faith as primitive, nonsense and irrelevant in a so-called post modernistic world. Yet the most learned thinkers/scientists who have ever lived have been able to live knowing, understanding or explaining all the information their senses have provided them. Faith, therefore, is science beyond that which can absolutely be explained.
Faith is not just a leap into the unknown. Faith actually fosters the study of the unknown by challenging humanity to examine the marvels of the unknown. A child is fortunate whose youthful senses of the world around them are under girded by parents/caregivers who recognize the value of a faith based life and are willing to help extend their faith. Such childhood experiences have been found to be the foundation of good living, strong characters and happiness among these children.
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