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Cover of Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development

Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development

by Elizabeth M. Dowling

Book Details

Publisher:SAGE
Published:2006
Pages:553
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

Age Range:6-10

About This Book

Focuses on the developmental process of religion and spirituality across the human life span.This encyclopedia joins a recent trend in research and scholarship aimed at better understanding the similarities and differences between world religions and spiritualities, between expressions of the divine and between experiences of the transcendent.

Our Review

This comprehensive reference work offers a systematic exploration of how religious understanding and spiritual awareness evolve throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The encyclopedia examines the developmental milestones of faith formation, providing valuable insights into how children naturally progress from concrete religious concepts to more abstract spiritual thinking. Parents and educators will appreciate the research-based approach to understanding how young minds grapple with questions of meaning, morality, and transcendence across different cultural and religious contexts.

What distinguishes this resource is its balanced focus on both organized religious traditions and personal spiritual experiences, making it equally valuable for families within specific faith communities and those exploring broader existential questions with children. The comparative approach helps adults recognize universal patterns in children's religious development while respecting distinctive beliefs. This thoughtful compilation serves as an essential guide for nurturing a child's innate capacity for wonder and ethical reflection during their formative years.

Themes

Juvenile Nonfiction

Subjects

Juvenile Nonfiction