Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Riddle and Mystery: A Program on the Big Questions for Grade 6

Taking It Home: Religion to the Rescue

This is my living faith, an active faith, a faith of verbs: to question, explore, experiment, experience, walk, run, dance, play, eat, love, learn, dare, taste, touch, smell, listen, argue, speak, write, read, draw, provoke, emote, scream, sin, repent, cry, kneel, pray, bow, rise, stand, look, laugh, cajole, create, confront, confound, walk back, walk forward, circle, hide, and seek. — Terry Tempest Williams

Talk about the quote with family and friends. During which activities do you feel a greater sense of faith? Of spirituality? Of religion?

WHAT WE DID TODAY

Today's Big Question is "What are we?" We said that one possible answer to that is that we are Unitarian Universalists. We asked another question that is big for us: "What are Unitarian Universalists?" We answered that partly with a story and partly with our own ideas. We thought about what religion, faith and spirituality have in common, how they are different, and what each might mean to us as a UU.

We made murals about answering congregations and questioning congregations. We said that the Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion because instead of telling people all the answers, it supports the individual's search for answers and accepts that we all do not have to share the same beliefs about everything. We discussed some of the beliefs UUs do share and how we put our Faith in Action.

ANSWERING TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

What do family members and friends have to say about the question: "What are we?"

SHARED SEARCH

Go together to a place that is special to your family. Sit quietly together at the place and talk about what the place would tell a stranger about your family. You might try the same thing with some of your friends.

REFLECT ON YOUR RELIGION

What do people in your family mean when they use the words "faith," "religion" and "spirituality"? Ask them. The definitions may be different from those we heard and shared in the group.

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Photograph something that shows what you are as a person—an item you like to have, or a place outside your house that feels like another home to you.

FAMILY MUSIC

Do something musical. Try making music by singing, or playing instruments together. Go to a concert that everybody will enjoy. Talk about any musical rituals your family has. Do you listen to certain songs at special times or holidays? Do a family's musical rituals help show who and what the family is?

FAMILY FAITH IN ACTION

Another way to answer the question "What are we?" is that we are citizens of the world. What does your family do to help others in the world? If you need a place to start, share the Kiva website and read about opportunities to make small loans that may help save lives.