Book Description

Over a period of fifteen years, Johns Hopkins pediatrician Pat Fosarelli, MD, a professor at St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute, surveyed approximately 9,000 children, adolescents, and teens about their understand of God. This book reveals their answers to a single query: “If you could ask God a question, what would that question be?” The candid, unvarnished responses Fosarelli received from this racially and socioeconomically diverse group are hardly the precious, saccharine content of Hallmark cards. They are illuminating, profound, curious, and weighty, revealing how these children understand themselves and their existence. Some of their responses focus on the nature of God (“Who are God’s parents?”); others focus on themselves (“Why can’t friendships last forever?) and people around them (“Why are some people poor?”); some responses address suffering (“Why do people die?”) and creation (“Why do some animals hurt people?”) and heaven (“Will I see my mother?”). Fosarelli guides readers through children’s stages of development, explaining how these stages correlate with the content and sophistication of their questions, and suggesting how parents and teachers can respond most effectively to questions children may ask about God. In the final chapter she explores how these children’s questions can help parents, teachers, and other child/youth professionals better understand the dreams, concerns, anxieties, wishes, and fears of young people today.