What is God?

Written by Etan Boritzer and Illustrated by Robbie Marantz

What would you do if a child asked you this question? The reality is that this question can arise at any age. From my own experiences in teaching religion in high school, teenagers have a difficult time answering this question, even the most devout. Religion is a sensitive area of discussion. Personally, my religion influences how I live my life and see the world, but I have TONS of questions and issues concerning Church teachings. What can I say, I'm a work in progress! I think everyone is really. We're all at different points on our religious journey. If you were a parent how might you start your child on theirs?

1. What specifically do you like about how this book answers the question, "What is God?"

2. What would you have said that might have been different?

3. Many of you, in your Parenting Philosophy, discussed allowing your child, when he or she was older to choose a religion if the one they were being raised with was not appealing to them. Do you think that talking to children about other faiths at a young age encourages children to seek the answers they have in other religions? Does exposure to other faiths simply make them better citizens of the world? Explain your position thoroughly.

4. Many have argued that children are the most faithful when they are younger. Why do you think this is?

5. It not uncommon for teenagers to declare that they don't believe in God or that they have serious issues with the institution of the Church? What happens between childhood and the teen years that causes this to happen?