Nurturing Spirit: Families Shape Beliefs
In most religions, the family is the primary unit for spiritual education and moral upbringing. For instance, in Christianity, the family is often called the “domestic church,” where parents are seen as the first teachers of faith. The family unit is where we first learn what it means to love and to be loved. If we do not know how to love and be loved, it is doubtful that we will be able to love our neighbors, much less those who look and think differently. This link is made quite explicit in the scriptures and doctrines of many religions, which is why we see God described as ‘The Father’ or ‘The Mother’ and strangers described as our brothers and sisters. But what is your family? Is it just your mother, father, or grandparents? Does it not include the person who cooks for you every day? Or your classmate who sat next to you for ten years? Today, in a world where structures and norms are changing faster than the seasons and the world is becoming a global village, the very idea of...