How useful is religious language for expressing children’s spiritual concepts?

ABSTRACT

Previous studies noted that primary-aged children (5–11) were reluctant to use religious vocabulary for expressing spiritual concepts. This study explores if that was due to the difficulty of using religious words, or if religious language itself is less useful than other styles for expressing spiritual concepts. Children were presented with a story character who responds to life situations by praying in various styles. The children could choose which prayer they preferred, selecting from formal, poetic, natural or simple prayers. The first style employed religious language, the second had the cadences and literary metre of storybooks, the third mimics the speech of parents and the fourth seeks to emulate children’s own voices. Statistical analysis revealed that: children liked ‘special’ (but not necessarily religious) and ordinary language equally; their preferences were not dependent on comprehension; adult leaders mis-understood children’s preferences; formal language was strongly preferred for a particular situation; the children expressed complex attitudes towards God more than the adults. The paper concludes by suggesting practical applications of the findings and possible modifications of our theology of childhood.

KEYWORDS:

• Children’s spirituality
• prayer language
• religious vocabulary
• nurturing spiritual expression
• church liturgy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The supporting dataset can be found in the Apollo Repository, https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.80318.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fay Rowland

Fay Rowland is a teacher, broadcaster and author with published research in both theology and mathematical modelling, having studied at Nottingham University, Spurgeon’s College and Wesley House, Cambridge. She has written twelve books, with the latest, 40 Days With Labyrinths (Darton, Longman & Todd) published in January 2023. In addition, she regularly writes for the United Reformed Church and for the international blog, The Reflectionary. Her interests include the overlap of science and faith, children’s spirituality, and the use of labyrinths in spiritual practice. She worships at a large Anglican church in the English Midlands.