Tapestry of Faith: Signs of Our Faith: A Program about Being UU Every Day for Grades 2-3

Alternate Activity 3: Different Beliefs

Activity time: 30 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Newsprint, markers, and tape

Preparation for Activity

  • At least three weeks ahead of time, recruit three or four UU guests to talk to the group about their different theologies. Seek diversity not only in theologies, but age (try to include at least one youth), ethnicity, and gender.
  • Help guest prepare a short (about three minutes) presentation on their theology. You might ask each guest to cover basic questions, such as whether they are theist or non-theist, spiritual practices, and how their theology relates to Unitarian Universalism. It will be especially important to work with a guest who may not have much experience with young children; make sure their presentation is interesting, appropriate, and relevant. Encourage the use of audio/visual material and make sure you will have necessary equipment on hand.
  • Remind each guest about the session a week in advance.

Description of Activity

Children recognize the theological diversity in the congregation.

Tell the group that they will hear from guest speakers who are all UU, but who have different theologies. Explain that Unitarian Universalism can be embraced by people who have unique beliefs about God, heaven, and other religious questions. This is another way recognizing each person's uniqueness is a sign of our Unitarian Universalist faith.

Introduce guests and facilitate their presentations. After each presentation, lead a question-and-answer time. Thank the guests for visiting.

Afterward, ask the group some of the ways their beliefs are unique to each other.