Black and white fire: the interplay of stories, imagination and children's spirituality

Abstract

This paper explores the potential for using narrative to foster children's spiritual growth. It discusses the nature, origin and appeal of story and presents theoretical perspectives which form a rationale for using non‐sectarian children's, adolescent and young adult literature for spiritual development. Such books avoid church‐and‐state controversies while providing a fresh approach to educators where religious and spiritual education are mandated.

Keywords:

• Children's spirituality
• Narrative
• Children's literature
• Reader response to literature

Notes

Corresponding author. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Peabody Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA. Email: [email protected]

I am grateful to Professor Roy Heller for this insight.

Peter Pitzele cites this portion of Midrash as a basis for his approach in using dramatization to invite people into the life and heart of Bible stories. The concept of black and white fire can be found in the Hebrew Book of legends (Schocken Publishers, New York, 1992, p. 82), which traces it to two earlier sources, The Palestinian (or Jerusalem) talmud, Shekalim 6:1 and Yalkut shimoni, Berakhah, paragraph 951.

Similarly, Hay cites Alister Hardy's claim that religious or spiritual experience is biologically natural to all human beings, having evolved through the process of natural selection.