During my week's
work I visit two Schools to do “Bible”. Both schools, Kaeo and
Riverview, welcome the Bible-in-schools programme. Both are lovely
groups of children (age 9-11), bringing occasional challenges to the
abilities of this non-teacher, but a real buzz in compensation.
They also teach me.
Recently I learned about differences among peoples within our one
nation.
At the moment, the
Riverview class is using a different book from that used at Kaeo. It
means that when the topic of God came up, there was a different entry
point. At Riverview, it connected with the theme of creation – the
amazing world we live in. At Kaeo, it started with the story of the
burning bush.
At Riverview we
began by singing Creation Rap, a favourite song for sure. “God
made everything. And it was good.” The kids were buzzing with
comments, so I got it focussed by gathering up our questions and
listing them on the board.
If God made the
world, who made God? Where does God live? Wasn't it our parents who
made us? What was there before there was anything? Did God make
aliens?
These children don't
take God as a given. They are of an age and cultural environment
that sees God as a question, specifically the question: is there a
God and how do you know?
After a brainstorm
on the questions, I talked to them about two ways of looking at the
world – science and faith, facts and values, evidence and trust.
And the key question for each: science asking “how?” and faith
asking “why?” Finding cause and effect, in contrast to
discovering worth and goodness.
They spent the whole
session on the mat, engaged. At the end a number came to me and said
“thank you” and “that was really interesting”.
At Kaeo we began
with a children's video of Moses and the burning bush. With
appropriate drama and special effects we saw a talking bush that
didn't burn up and the fun scary bits too – Moses' stick turning
into a snake and back again and his hand getting diseased and then
healed.
They were totally
engrossed. Then totally in tune with the discussion about what the
story says God is like. First the tapu that means you take off your
shoes – the wow factor that is also a bit fearful, in the sense of
being very careful and respectful; next, power that never burns out;
then one who hears cries for help, who listens and cares, and who
then does something about it (sending Moses); finally one for whom
the word “impossible” does not apply.
For the Kaeo
children, in their cultural environment, the question “is there a
God?” doesn't come up. Same age and yet a different way of
relating to the world. The question that interests them is what this
God is like that they simply take as part of reality.
The western world's
standard mindset is just one way of seeing things. It's not the only
way, nor is it the superior way. It's just different.
It's part of what I
grew into through education and interaction in a predominantly Pakeha
part of New Zealand. And yet, growing up where I did, on a farm and
with the Christian faith as a way of being more than a set of
beliefs, meant that “what we call God” (as Dad used to say) was
just part of reality. Philosophy at university did nothing to
undermine that sense of spiritual givenness.
I thank the classes
at Riverview and Kaeo for being different from each other and setting
out so clearly these two sides. Two sides, two cultures, that are
both part of our country. And both part of me.
Rangimarie Peace Shalom
Robyn
