Spirituality and children – a new study says it's good for their happiness.
Today,
we’re putting science and spirituality together for some surprising
conclusions about happiness. The Happy Lab, a research group at the
University of British Columbia, has new facts that say spirituality
helps kids become happy. The scientific group’s founder joins us to
examine that study today.
And we’ll watch families try to navigate
some of the deepest mysteries of how children absorb spiritual ideas
that are Christian. Like what about Easter? That holiest of Christian
holidays?
THE GUESTS
Dr. Mark Holder
Dr. Holder completed his Ph.D. at the
University of California at Berkeley in 1984. He then completed his
postdoctoral training at the Brain Research Institute at UCLA where he
conducted brain transplants to reverse impairments caused by brain
injuries. He accepted an Assistant Professor position at Memorial
University of Newfoundland where he studied how natural chemicals, 200
times the strength of heroin, were released when people ate chocolate
chip cookies. During this time he worked as a Biological Consultant
with the NutraSweet Company to determine whether aspartame is safe for
pregnant mothers and their offspring. He also spent a research
sabbatical at the University of Hawaii swimming with dolphins in
studies of their language and creativity.
Dr. Holder is now an Associate Professor at the University of British
Columbia where he is conducting research on happiness. His research
team is identifying factors that contribute to happiness in children
(e.g., temperament, social relations, leisure, and spirituality). His
team is also investigating the neural correlates of happiness in
adults.
Dr. Phillip Wiebe
is a Professor of Philosophy at Trinity Western University and and a
Shroud expert. He is also one of the Founding Members of the Vancouver
Shroud Association. He has been teaching at TWU since 1978. He
received his Ph.D. from Adelaide University on a Commonwealth
Scholarship to Australia (1970-73). Dr. Wiebe’s areas of
expertise include analytic philosophy, philosophy of religion, and
religious experience. He has lectured at Oxford University
(1993), Concord College (1997), University of Toronto (2000), Lublin
(Poland) Catholic University (April 2002), St. Francis Xavier
University (Sept. 2002), University of McGill (2007), and at more than
thirty conference or public venues.
Is it really Jesus Christ? Shroud exhibit goes up at Trinity Western University.
Langley, BC—
It stands over 14 feet tall. The cloth is made of herringbone twill and
flax. The eerie face and body of a man can be made out.
Could this be the image of Jesus Christ, or is it someone else?
That question has baffled and been debated by scholars and researchers
for centuries as they grapple to answer the mystery of the Shroud of
Turin.
Wiebe says, “The possibility
that we might be looking at Jesus Christ gives his life – and
death – more significance than it already has. The Shroud revives
universal interest in a person who continues to speak to humanity
beyond the grave, even if the person depicted is not Jesus.”
The real Shroud of Turin, housed in glass in the Cathedral of Saint
John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, is receiving considerable attention.
The cloth is famously known as being a burial cloth resembling the
outline of a naked male figure after being crucified. The biggest
debate has been and continues to be about the Shroud’s origin and
if the man on the cloth is in fact Jesus Christ. As more and more
scientific data and research is examined more and more questions
remain. There is now even a term, Sindonology, which describes
the study of the origin of this legendary cloth.
In Wiebe’s office at Trinity Western University, a 7 foot tall
replica of the Shroud overtakes the room laden with books typical of a
professor. It pales in comparison though to the life changing
experience Wiebe had after viewing the real Shroud. The Professor
had been lecturing for years on the artifact and after hearing that the
Shroud was on display he decided that he should go and see it.
It was during this viewing of the original cloth in August 2000 that Wiebe had a spiritual experience. “The
Shroud, or God, if you will, spoke to me. The first thing I heard
was ‘the resurrection is real Phillip’ – which
immediately put aside my old doubts. The second message I received was
that if this man had such a remarkable end to his life, his remarkable
beginning – the Virgin Birth – was also credible” says Wiebe. “And
the third message was in the form of the question: ‘Why would
such a remarkable being die?’ So seeing the Shroud was a huge
culmination of a 30-40 year quest for me about his identity. It
was a wonderful conclusion to a very long search and I was privileged
to put to rest my own questions about Jesus and his deity.”
Bruce W. Stacey is the founder and President of Chelsea Road
Productions, and creator of God Rocks! He along with wife, Elaine, and
daughter, Sheryl, work together at Chelsea Road Productions.
Using high quality animation, original music, books and other creative
resources, God Rocks! was designed to teach kids important lessons from
the Bible in a fun way. The God Rocks!® cartoon characters and
universe is based on Luke 19:40, "If the people fall silent, the stones
will cry out." Fun rock characters, including main character Chip
Livingstone, live in the imaginary town of Rocky Ridge, where they live
to sing and praise God - just in case the people fall silent!
WHAT IF ROCKS COULD TALK?
If rocks from Bible times could talk would they keep silent about the
amazing events they witnessed? No way! That's why every God Rock has
something important to say! God Rocks! video episodes and books
entertain as they teach children important Bible stories and scripture!
Life lessons are drawn from Bible truth and presented in fun stories
that children will want to watch again and again!
PARENTING RESOURCES FOR KIDS:
Celebrating the Easter Season- Don’t miss the opportunity to use this special season to teach your children about God. www.family.org/parenting/A000004119.cfm
Big Idea: Veggie Tales videos and activities for kids! www.bigidea.com
To enhance the spiritual and moral fabric of society through creative media
Focusing on kids ages 15 and under…You’ll find us wherever
kids and the people who love them are looking for biblically-based
products that teach and inspire children to learn and live out their
faith!
We at Psalty's Kids Co! are dedicated to serving the Lord and His
command to "FEED MY LAMBS". After 20 years of ministry to kids, we want
you to continue to be assured that when you buy a Psalty product it
will teach kids & families the Word of God! There is no compromise!
You will find Young Life leaders sitting in the stands at hockey games,
walking the streets of inner-city neighborhoods, driving carloads of
kids to the shopping malls or tutoring students in study centres after
school. In fact, you will find them almost anywhere you can find kids.
Young Life leaders model trust, respect, and responsibility to their
young friends, and they do it within a meaningful relationship, within
the context of a teenager's world.
THE SCOOP: These 15-minute weekly devotions will work great for parents
who lack confidence in leading family devotions, as well as devoted
devo-holders who've exhausted other resources and want something
different. Two charming, but occasionally cheesy hosts (think
Régis and Kelly bantering through the Sunday sermon) share a
topic, verses, great quotes, and stories. Man-on-the-street interviews,
conducted by a witty, cool "journalist" liven up the content, along
with entertaining videography. At pause points within each devotional,
families stop to answer questions related to the themes-discovering God
and communicating with God.
Craig Hill: Author of Bar Barakah - A Parents Guide to the Christian Bar Mitzvah
This practical guide helps parents to understand and plan the blessing ceremony for their son or daughter at puberty.
Preparatory Time — an 18-month process which includes the parents
reading books, both together and with their child.The Ceremony —
the time in which the child is publicly released into adulthood, cut
from childhood ties to the mother and set apart by their father’s
words into their identity and destiny.The Celebration — a
party/reception following the ceremony. Read ideas and testimonies from
parents who have planned a blessing ceremony
Awana offers mutli-facted programming for your entire church. Our
variety of special programs, events and opportunities will help you
reach your community, evangelize unsaved parents, stretch your young
people's faith, empower your volunteers and expand your congregation's
vision for missions and ministry.
In the book “Children Matter”, a trio of childhood educators challenge
us to look at our metaphors when it comes to children and
spirituality. Are kids a sponge? Are they wet cement to be quickly
molded? Are they pilgrims on a journey with you? I like the metaphor
of a dance. The parent and the environment places the music of God
around a child. As a child gets older, it’s their own responsibility
to include God’s music in their environment. I’ve met a lot of adults
who’ve lost God’s music. For a variety of reasons, it’s been tuned
out. Then along comes the need to answer a child’s innate curiosity
about God. It takes them on a search to find the music of God once
again. Where will that environment be to get the right dance going?
Church, Bible stories and songs, families and schools who teach the
notes that once again start the music of God. Doing nothing about a
child’s spirituality isn’t an option. As a team, we’ve listed some of
the spiritual resources that shaped our childhood and our parenting.
I’ve blogged some ideas on this – and the resources featured on today’s
program are listed for you at listenuptv.com.
Listen Up with Lorna Dueck is available ON-LINE in a variety of ways.
Click here to find out more!
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Read Lorna's Globe & Mail columns by searching
our archive.
Read 'Media & The Message'. Lorna says if the church wants to impact society, we need to share our stories.
On April 30, 2005 Lorna was privileged to receive an honorary Doctorate of Christian Ministries from Canada's largest Christian university, Trinity Western University. Lorna was recognized for the witness and leadership that Listen Up TV has provided in public messaging: "a leader in the voice of evangelical life in Canada."
