Taryn Strauss

Director of Religious Education

REflections

October 2008

The Evolution of a Religious Education Student

3 years old-5 Years: Children learn from the Chalice Children curriculum. This includes chalice lighting, an activity based on the seven principles, and reflection time. 

5-10 Years: Students follow a rotating pillar model. They learn about the four pillars of Religious Education: World Religions, UU Identity, Social Justice, and our Judeo-Christian Heritage. Classes offer interactive activities and always relate back to the seven principles. 

11-12 Years: Students break into separate genders for the “Hero’s Journey” and the “Sacred Sisters” classes. Classes foster self-esteem and connection to the power of woman/manhood. Sacred Sisters focuses on goddess-based spirituality, while The Hero’s Journey is based on Joseph Campbell’s work with hero archetypes. During alternate years, students learn from a variety of UU Identity curricula such as “You, The Creator,” “Making the Peace,” “Traditions with a Wink,” or “The Scripture of the Simpsons.” 

12-13 Years: Students enter the Our Whole Lives Program. This curriculum covers comprehensive sexuality education, teaching holistic information alongside the values of our UU faith. 

14 Years: Students enter the Coming of Age program. This multifaceted course offers a range of experiences to nurture and strengthen the spiritual life of each person. Every youth is paired with a UU mentor, a wise ally. Students learn the value of responsibility and leadership as they fundraise for a UU heritage trip to Boston. Through ritual and rites of passage, students form lifelong bonds and convey their personal belief systems to the congregation at an annual ceremony.

15-18 Years: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists empowers youth leaders as they plan social action activities, develop worship, and travel to meet other UU youth at weekend conferences. These youth graduate from our program with a strong identity as a Unitarian Universalist, and relationships that last a lifetime.