All My Children

Like other Protestant denominations, Presbyterianism sees the Bible as the ultimate source of authority, guidance, and inspiration. Presbyterianism teaches that God employs chosen men to reveal divine intentions, but no man should intercede between God and the individual. In contrast to Catholics, Presbyterians offer their confessions directly to God rather than to a minister.

The Presbyterian religion has few symbols or ornate icons. In fact, most Presbyterian churches display only an empty cross. Presbyterians believe that Christ’s Resurrection, not his Crucifixion, should be the center of mankind’s attention. I would recommend that you mention this to your child and then inquire: “What do you think about when you see the cross in church?”

The Baptist religion also grew out of the Reformation and then later out of the Separatist and Puritan movements. As a result of these influences, Baptists have retained an independent and distinct character among Protestant denominations: In particular, Baptists have been noted for purity, responsibility, and tolerance of other religions in their worship.

Baptists believe that every church member is an evangelist; that means that every member is responsible for spreading Baptist ideas and the worship of God to others. Baptists also believe that every person must choose to be a Christian for himself or herself. Therefore, Baptist parents do not baptize their children at birth, for baptism must be a rite freely chosen by each boy and girl. Try to probe your child’s view of baptism. Does your child understand how Baptist views and practices differ from some other Christians? Explain why you think free choice is important.

In keeping with their emphasis on individual decisions, Baptists stress the independence of local churches rather than the authority of a central church. They are strong advocates of religion as independent from state or political considerations. Theologically, Baptists, unlike many other Protestants, do not recognize divorce, except in cases of adultery. Interestingly, while Baptists have faith in a life after death, most do not readily accept the notion of a loving God who condemns some of His children to eternal hell. That topic is a natural one for family discussion if you feel your child won’t be frightened by it. You can begin with a broad query like, “Where do you think people go after they die?”

Episcopalians are the Protestants who perhaps most resemble Catholics in their beliefs and practices. If you are Episcopalian, you can tell your child that the church is one of the self-governing organizations within the Anglican Communion of Churches, more commonly known as the Church of England. Since the time of the English monarch Henry VIII, the Church of England has been the mother church for all Anglican churches.

Episcopalians see their bishops as their main spiritual figures and symbols of cohesion within the Church. While believing Protestant and Catholic ideals, Episcopalians reject the dominion of the pope but retain many traditional rituals. There is also some variation from Catholic practices. For instance, Episcopalians believe in confession but make that practice optional. Episcopalians do not demand that priests remain celibates. Suggest that your child speak with a Catholic friend and a Protestant friend of a different denomination, and see how being an Episcopalian compares and contrasts with these other neighboring religions.

You can also refer to The Book of Common Prayer along with the Bible as sources of information about worship. One emphasis which you may wish to pursue, which distinguishes the Episcopal religion from others, is the interaction of reason and Gospel teaching. Episcopalians attempt to look at life rationally and this influences their view of religious dogma. Thus, they see salvation as synonymous with religious health and wholeness of life. You may choose to speak with your child about how rational thought and faith can exist side by side, as so many Episcopalians believe.

Suggestions for Protestant Parents

Offering general suggestions for Protestant parents is a bit more difficult than for other parents, given the amount of diversity of Protestant denominations. But there are a few ideas that many Protestant parents may want to bear in mind.

The first thing that you should consider doing is distinguishing for your child the major differences among the Protestant denominations themselves. Some children are confused about what distinguishes a Methodist from a Lutheran, or what differentiates specific denominations. To avoid confusion, try to explain the basic differences to your child, or take him to the library and find religious books for children.

For youngsters who are old enough to comprehend categories, a simple chart of religions—like a spelling chart—may prove helpful. With a solid foundation in the different religions, your child will be able to follow world or local events that involve religious groups. Your child’s awareness will be heightened in a variety of ways if he or she learns more about different religions.

Protestant families should also spend extra time discussing how Protestant religious themes have worked their way into American culture. Protestant children should be aware of the religious views of the Pilgrims and the founding fathers of ou country. They should know, for example, that men like Georg( Washington and James Madison were devout Episcopalians an( that the Protestant work ethic is the belief that hard work reaps its own reward. These are clear examples of Protestant religious values that have been assimilated by the country in a secular way.

Because many Protestant groups are very education-oriented and even intellectual (e.g., Unitarians, Presbyterians), you may wish to balance this with discussion of religion as a visceral or emotional experience. Remember to keep in mind that Protestant religions focus on faith in God alone, and faith is as much an emotional as an intellectual experience. You can say to your son or daughter, “For me the presence of God feels like …” And you follow that with the question, “When you think about God, what does that feel like to you?”

In my contact with Protestant children, I have detected a view of a God who is very concerned with the orderliness of the universe. Protestant children often talk about religion in terms of how it provides order and structure in people’s lives. According to twelveyear-old Mark, a Baptist child, God provides order through “help problem solving” and “making sure that things happen in a way that makes you learn from them.” Ask your son or daughter, “Howl did God organize the world?” and “Is there a way you wish God would make things clearer or more orderly?”

You can also discuss how God affects the life of your child. Among other questions that you can consider are the following, compiled to address the needs of Protestant parents from a variety of denominations.

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